1M sticky top

Darren Clemons

Well-Known Member
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Here's what mine looks like....2 1/2 years old.....I haven't used any cleaning supplies or chemicals at all on it....and as you can see.....haven't even taken care of the bird poop Adam was mentioning.....;)
This is, without a doubt, being caused by the exposure in the sunlight. It has been zipped up in a case every minute it's not being used....but we've used it basically five days a week - every week, for the 2 1/2 years we've had it.
 

Sean Joyce

Well-Known Member
Clifton,
Just curious, how do you store and transport your 1M? What type of environments are you working in?
Maybe that will shed some light on the deterioration of the cover.
For instance I keep my T2 in a tribrach at all times and it rides on my passenger seat to the job site.
Most of the work I do has the T2 set up in an open field in a rural setting, (no dust from construction etc.)
I bring it into my office every day after I use it.
The only time I have my hands on the T2 itself is to rotate it or remove it from the tribrach as needed, (not very much).
My L.S. is in the case for transport. I realize that everyone has a different way of doing things, but so far the my T2 is holding up.
 

Duane Frymire

Active Member
Looks like a job for "303 Aerospace Protectant". I'm not sure there's a more suitable material for encasing the unit. But many great materials for the intended use do need the 303 for long life under the sun. I use it on one of my canoes that was made of special material that can deform around a rock (for instance) and spring back to its normal shape, but does degrade in sunlight if not protected. Also use it on my jeep vinyl top. Guess I'll use some on the T2 just in case.
 

Clifton Keith

Active Member
I use mine in South Carolina, HOT and Humid. In the seat of the truck to the job and stored in the office at night. In the Sun for 7 to eight hours at least 5 days a week. This seems to be a problem that needs to be address1
 

Sean Joyce

Well-Known Member
Mine works but this a problem. I payed for better quality!

Well there you have it it's the sun like I suspected. Mine doesn't get the exposure like many of you.
I considered putting a UV protectant on mine a while back like Duane and Matt suggested but I declined because I didn't want to potentially
gunk it up and make things worse. The 303 protectant looks like a good product to use. I hope this problem is being looked at.
 

Nate The Surveyor

Well-Known Member
When you are as proud of your equipment, as we are, we are embarrassed when the gear looks like it is melting.
As a side note, there is a PROBLEM with materials selection, as in, getting plastics that don't interfere with the phase center.
An all weather cone for a base station, is very expensive, (1800 each) and are hand made, to make them NOT interfere with the GPS signal.
I don't know anything, but what I have been told. But, we the users would like to keep our gear nice and clean.

NAte
 

Duane Frymire

Active Member
Is there any likelihood of these products leaving enough of a layer to distort or delay SV signals?
I don't know about the tri-nova, but the 303 is not silicon or petroleum based, it's water based I think; it's good protection but wears off and needs re-application every few months. So, I don't think it would interfere with performance.
 

Duane Frymire

Active Member
Mine works but this a problem. I payed for better quality!
As far as quality, I would bet the plastic used does have UV protection of some form, otherwise all the units would be degrading not just the ones with extreme sunlight exposure like yours. But far as I know there is no plastic UV protection that is 100% affective. Lots of really smart folks working on it for years, and yet my plastic headlights still detiorate on all my vehicles over time. There's some in depth scientific articles about this on the web if you really want to get into plastics and UV. Not sure I'd want a steel covering on my GPS unit. But the search for the perfect material is ongoing in the solar, auto, marine, and probably GNSS receiver businesses.
 

Sean Joyce

Well-Known Member
I think I used to use the 303 on the Dacron? fabric wings of my ultralight. I believe it is a waxy substance that Like Duane says needs to be reapplied from time to time. I dont remember build up being a problem. Maybe thats the best we can do right now.
 

Sean Joyce

Well-Known Member
Did we ever determine if this is southern (exposure to sunlight) problem? My T2 is holding up well so far up here in the north.
I hope this issue is being looked at and corrected with the new T3.
 
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