Disto A8 question???

[John Chenger]

So do I understand correctly that the Disto A8 includes a pretty accurate clinometer, and thus can be used in place of both tape measure and clinometer for most surveys? What's the feeling on this application out there...does it work?

JC

[Martin Sluka]

So do I understand correctly that the Disto A8 includes a pretty accurate clinometer, and thus can be used in place of both tape measure and clinometer for most surveys? What's the feeling on this application out there...does it work?

JC

I use such combo (disto+digital clino - home made) more than 9 years and I may say IT WORKS for me.

m.

[Bob Thrun]

My only comment is that the Disto A8 is expensive, more than the cost of a Disto and digital clinometer.

I mounted a Smarttool module on my Disto Basic with Velcro tape. It is a crude mounting. The only thing cruder would be rubber bands and duct tape and I have heard of that being used. My mounting works find for getting passage cross sections. The Smarttool costs about $100. Search for it with the double-t. The Smarttool requires periodic calibration, which is simple. Calibrating the combo wivolves would involve shooting the laser beam point-to-point in two directions. If you calibrate just the Smarttool module, you will be assuming that the side of the Disto is parallel to the laser beam.

Sears sells a digital level for $50. It has something that looks like the Smarttool module and a laser pointer. Unfortinately for cave surveyors, it also has four powerful magnets in the base