Who Moved My Base story

Shawn Billings

Shawn Billings
5PLS
I was surveying in a rural neighborhood with lots of trees near a Corps of Engineers lake. There were not many base locations nearby, so I had to find a place about a mile by road (or 3500' straight-line) from my site to set up the base. The choices were few, but I found a place that was clear near the side of a public road about 600-700 feet from a house. I set up and started my job. All was going well and I had about 30 minutes - an hour left before I would be finished with the job. It was promising to be a productive day! Then my LS reported that my base had moved!!! I ran for my truck and quickly navigated the windy roads back to where I set it up. Adrenaline was pumping as I considered that my base was likely stolen. I showed up, semi-relieved, to see a woman standing by her car, arms folded near where my base once stood. I immediately figured this was the property owner where I put my base and she wasn't happy with my trespass. She gave me a good verbal lashing. I simply wanted my base back so I sheepishly agreed that I was in the wrong for putting my threatening equipment on her property a five feet or so from the top bank of the road ditch. About thirty feet away, they had some old culvert pipes stockpiled. There, the owner had stuffed my still-running Triumph-2 on the tribrach and tripod into one of the culverts. The HPT435BT, also still running, was plugged into my large deep-cycle battery which was placed behind the culverts. I still don't know how she didn't damage any of it by moving it from the setup and shoving it into the 12" pipe. She took my picture as I loaded up my truck and I waived affably offering to give her a business card so she'd know who I was. She replied with a few more expletives and I was on my way. I ended up completing the job with my total station (the first time I've used it in many months). But I was extremely thankful for the base guard feature that immediately warned me of trouble at my base and even more thankful that I was able to recover it and that it is still in good working order.

To take advantage of the base guard feature, make sure that your Javad base receiver is calibrated. You can do this by connecting to the base in base/rover setup and then going to the calibrate screens in J-Field. Calibrations made while the base is connected will calibrate the base instead of the LS. Once done, be sure the base guard feature is checked on.
 

Darren Clemons

Well-Known Member
Wow. How many times I’ve done the exact same thing Shawn. We tend to have to “do what we do” and “hope” people are amicable.....some just aren’t. I’m quite sure Adam meant to replace the 5 letter word that ends with ...itch with a different beginning consonant in describing the woman you encountered.....I certainly would.

The only thing one could hope with how she acted was that someday she’ll need a favor or help from someone and she’ll run across someone who's just as big an ass as she was.

Sorry to hear you had to experience that but glad you’re equipment survived.
 

Peter B

New Member
Reminds me of the time I had my base set up in a park maybe 50 yards from a playground. When I got back to collect the equipment, a frantic looking lady and several police officers were all standing around the receiver (nobody touched it thankfully). Apparently she thought the base was a camera and I was trying to take videos of the children. The officers figured out pretty quickly what was going on and let me gather my stuff and leave but it was a funny "oh boy" moment.
 

Steve Douty

Well-Known Member
Reminds me of the time I had my base set up in a park maybe 50 yards from a playground. When I got back to collect the equipment, a frantic looking lady and several police officers were all standing around the receiver (nobody touched it thankfully). Apparently she thought the base was a camera and I was trying to take videos of the children. The officers figured out pretty quickly what was going on and let me gather my stuff and leave but it was a funny "oh boy" moment.
Near Federal buildings, State buildings and Post Office will also get the attention of law enforcement and Homeland Security. I put a company decal with name and phone number on all of my equipment. Sometimes I leave a sign that attempts to explain what is happening and a request to please call me with any questions on the tripod. I have considered labeling the equipment with a radioactive or biohazard warning, but was afraid this would get me arrested.
 
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