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Working with a Laser Rangefinder

Updated September 19, 2018


This article applies to:
  • Terrain 3D
  • Terrain Forestry
  • RoadEng Civil
  • RoadEng Forestry

Laser rangefinders utilize a laser beam to determine the distance to an object. The most common of these rangefinders utilize the time of flight principle by sending a laser pulse in a narrow beam towards the object and measuring the time taken by the pulse to be reflected off the target and returned to the sender. This is generally a field technique and not used when high precision sub-millimeter measurements are required.

Download the LTI-RoadEng Interface Guide

Configuring the Laser Rangefinder (TRUPULSE)

Turn on Devices Bluetooth (Models 200B, 360B/R):

  1. Press and hold down arrow on side of unit, until (Units) is visible on the view finder screen looking through eye piece, then press down arrow again until (bt) is visible.
  2. Press FIRE button on the top of unit, the press down arrow on side of unit to scroll through bluetooth on/ bluetooth off (bt. on) (bt off).
  3. Press FIRE button to select (bt. on) - Bluetooth on. Bluetooth should now be on the device.

Pair the Device with your Computer:

Windows 7:

  1. Open Control Panel
  2. Find path Control Panel>All Control Panel Items>Devices and Printers. Or in the Control Panel search box, type Bluetooth, and then click Change Bluetooth settings.
  3. Click Add a device button, select TP360B-102260 | click Next
  4. Enter the pairing code for the device, default code is 1111.
  5. Device should now be paired with the computer.

Windows 10:

  1. Left click on the Notification Box in the bottom right corner.
  2. Right click on Bluetooth icon | Select Go to Settings
  3. Click on plus sign for Add Bluetooth or other device
  4. Click on Bluetooth (Mice, keyboards, pens, or other kinds of Bluetooth devices)
  5. Select TP360B-102260, default PIN number: 1111
  6. Device should be paired with the computer.

Using Rangefinder in Survey/Map

  1. Open Survey Map module
  2. Open a new traverse: Home | New Traverse | Select Traverse Document | OK
  3. Connect to device (TRUPULSE 360B): GPS/Laser | Connect button.
  4. Serial Setting Dialogue - Com Port: 3 (or select port device is configured for) | Baud Rate: 4800 | OK

Figure 1: Serial Setting Dialog Box

  1. A message comes up that says Port opened successfully. Press OK.

Figure 2: Port Open Successfully

  1. Device should now be connected and allow you to take and record readings.
  2. In the new Traverse Document, select FS (foreshot) from Type column in the traverse document. Click in Fore Azim Column enter an Azimuth from compass reading.
  3. Click in H.D. Column | sight next station | press FIRE button | press Enter Shot. This automatically sets the next shot station based on the distance of the shot.
  4. Select shot type from dropdown list: ForeShot (FS); BackShot (BS); RadialShot; IFS – Intermediate Foreshots (IFS); Side Shot Right (SSR) – IFS; Side Shot Right (SSR) – FS; Side Shot Left (SSL) – IFS; SSL – FS
  5. Press Enter Shot button.
  6. Click on SSL Slp. (%) S.D. Column | Shoot side shot left | Press Enter Shot.
  7. Click on SSR Slp. (%) S.D. Column | Shoot side shot right | Press Enter Shot.
  8. Click on next Fore Azim column. Repeat steps starting at step 7.
  9. To delete a shot, click on Fore Azim use you would like to delete. Traverse | Delete Shot. Select station(s) you would like to delete. Press OK. Confirm deletion of station, press OK.
  10. To insert a shot press Traverse | Insert Shot. Data can be inserted from a selected station or appended at the end of the traverse and the fields can be entered manually.
  11. File Button | Save As… Name file and save it.