Trimble TSC5 survey controller

So I am sure everybody seen or heard the news about the new TSC5 survey controller. As I am browsing through I figured that I will write everything interesting about it. Really exited about this controller since it can be a great replacement of the fav TSC3.

TSC5 survey controller by Trimble is the latest addition to the Trimble’s handheld family. TSC5 survey controller is an Android device with a nice 5″ anti-glare finger touch screen a full keyboard which is backlit-ed. It is lightweight and it is claimed to have a all-day battery power. Even thou it runs full blown Android version 10 it will run Trimble Access and Trimble Siteworks software.

What are TSC5 Survey controller features?

• 5 inch screen with multi-touch, anti-glare and finger or glove touch
• backlit alphanumeric keypad
• Android 10 operating system
• high resolution 13 MP camera
• GNSS compatible
• 2.2 GHz processor
• 4GB memory and 64GB storage
• Empower modules for additional functionality
• LTE enabled

Where can I find the News Release ?

As usual all can be found on Trimble’s web site. Here is a link to the News Release https://www.trimble.com/news/release.aspx?id=030221a

How is long does the battery last ?

At this point I can not speak from experience but according to specs sheet the TSC5 survey controller will last up to 15 hours using internal GPS and backlit. Now this compares to the TSC3 survey controller pretty good which specs say that it last up to 18 hours with GNSS RTK usage. I know this is not apples to apples. But it is promising that it should last a full day of busy surveying.

How about the weight of TSC5 controller ?

Next to the battery life this is exiting news the TSC5 survey controller actually weight a little less that TSC3. Standing at 934g (2.06 lb) the TSC5 controller is a 106g lighter than TSC3. This can be the TSC which we were looking for as a worthy replacement to TSC3.

What are Trimble Empower Modules?

So as usual there are some hardware modules which will enable to upgrade TSC5’s functionality from EM100 GNSS module which will give a user a GNSS receiver with integrated antenna, to EM120 2.4 GHS Module for use with robotic total stations, to EM110 1D/2D Barcode Imager Module for easy integration with barcode functionality, EM111 1D/2D barcode Imager & USF 902-928 MHz RFID Module – NA[North America] – EU [European Union} for barcode and RFID reader. For full list of functionality here is a link to Trimble’s web site: https://geospatial.trimble.com/products-and-solutions/trimble-empower

TSC3 vs TSC5 comparison

From the specs sheets which Trimble has posted on their page it seems that the TSC3 and TSC5 will be strong competitors. Only full blown field testing will show how they will stand up to the survey elements. Here is the comparison sheet provided on Trimble web page: https://geospatial.trimble.com/sites/geospatial.trimble.com/files/2021-03/022516-556_Trimble_TSC5_TSC3_ProductComparison_USL_0321_LR.pdf

TSC5 survey controller from Trimble specs sheet

Ok for more in depth specs here is a link to Trimble’s web site where you can find all the info you can dream of: https://geospatial.trimble.com/sites/geospatial.trimble.com/files/2021-03/022516-528_Trimble_TSC5_DS_USL_032_LR.pdf

Trimble’s Introducing the Trimble TSC5 controller video: