When I became manager of our VDC Layout & Mapping team, I was told to find a cheaper option than Trimble. The Hilti total station looked like a smart choice with low monthly pricing but it's been slow, buggy, and frustrating to use, has anyone else had issues with Hilti total stations?
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Trouble with the Hilti total station
- Thread starter Artof_War
- Start date
It feels like we're paying for headaches at this point, I might push leadership to reconsider Trimble despite the cost, it's hard to argue with reliabilityYeah yeah. I tried one on-site and it lagged like crazy during layout. I ended up going back to Trimble even though it costs more.
Thompson.assc
New member
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2025
- Messages
- 4
What about regular firmware updates and tight pairing with the right tablet, but even then, it's not always smooth sailing, I feel you, I dont know if anyone here has a better work around
LSurveySays_
New member
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2025
- Messages
- 4
I've also heard similar feedback from others who tried to make the switch to Hilti total stations for VDC layout.It feels like we're paying for headaches at this point, I might push leadership to reconsider Trimble despite the cost, it's hard to argue with reliability
Their monthly pricing can be appealing, but it's common to have issues with software stability, slow performance, and buggy prism tracking.
It seems like they're more geared towards simpler layout tasks than the complex demands of VDC, and the lack of a robust software ecosystem compared to Trimble can really hinder productivity.
If you're set to talk to your top guys, maybe also suggest exploring other alternatives like Leica or Topcon, which are generally more in line with Trimble's capabilities, even if the initial investment is higher.
Sometimes the cheaper upfront cost ends up being more expensive in lost time and frustration!