Just noticed a feature of the new Fluke 424D. It has a compass in addition to a 360? clino.

No idea how good the compass is. The manual says that the direction is displayed in degrees and an alpha symbol and declination can be corrected, but accuracy is supposed to be 8 points/22.5??

http://www.fluke.com/fluke/uken/Laser-Distance-Meters/Fluke-424D.htm?PID=74290

That looks nice. I wonder if work will buy me one?

Could really do with one of those, got loadsa surveying jobs to do. Can't find a price though... 

R.S. catalogue ? 185-00
O. G.

owd git said:

R.S. catalogue ? 185-00
O. G.

Click to expand...

That's not bad actually O.G. A DistoX board for my A3 was ?150 on it's own... If I sold the A3 this would be even less. Can you post a url to where I can find the calalogue? Ta.

So, has anybody yet contacted them & told them that by improving the compass, adding a bluetooth aerial and improving the protection to IP67 they would then wrap up the vast (100 units per year?) UK cave survey market?

The compass accuracy for the Fluke 424D compass is +/-22.5 degrees (one eighth circle) as per the manual and that is after calibration and you must not tilt it more than 10 degrees to the side.
The compass is not meant for navigation, just an indication.

Other manufacturers have been approached about a Cave Survey device and when told the likely production quantities have politely declined.

100 per year in the UK ? It is very much less.