Laser devices for timber cruising: Opinions?

[Mike LaMana]

All: I am considering investing in laser device to assist with forest inventory work, e.g. heights, upper stem diameters, point sampling, etc.

Does anyone own or have experience with TruPulse products such as TruPulse 200 / TruPulse360?

I am leaning toward a TruPulse RD-1000 (http://www.lasertech.com/innovate2/rd1000.php) because of it's apparent ability to do multiple BAF sapling, heights, distances and upper stem diameters.  Any input on these or other devices appreciated. Mike.

[Texas Ranger]

I guess I am old fashioned.  I use the stuff I was brought up with, prisms, Hagameter, tapes, etc, with one exception, I bought one of the sonic plot centers for some intensive cruise work we were doing.  That being said, if you can afford those devices, and have a better learning curve then I do, get after it.

[Tillaway]

The RD-1000 is nothing more than a electronic Relaskop... more or less.  It does have some cool features.  It works well on dark days and the upper bole measurement features are pretty cool but if you are well trained with a Relaskop you will find the Relaskop much faster.  The RD-1000 would be a good choice for someone that has no experience with a Relaskop but needs the same features.  It would be great for inexperienced cruisers.

I had one as a demo about three years ago, unfortunately it may have had a malfunction while we were using it.  It basically would not function at all and I'm not sure why, it was raining heavily, but it worked wonderfully the two days prior.  We were prepared to buy about 4 or 5 of them if they passed our real world test.  We purchased more Relaskops instead.

However do not let this condemn them.  A colleague of mine for many years uses one for his cruising.  The only thing he uses it for is variable plot tally.  He uses a laser for heights and distances, as most cruisers do here, and a Relaskop for upper bole measurements.  If you are skilled with a Relaskop upper bole measurements are made much faster with these.  You have to change functions and input data into the RD-1000 to make these measurements.  With a Relaskop you do it all in your head, no time wasted punching buttons.  The RD-1000 is a wonderful for tool for in and out trees.

We have a bunch of TruPulse lasers and a couple of Impulse lasers we use for primarily for tree heights.  These units function well.  The TruPulse seem to be more robust with the added advantage of being much smaller.  I have used the Impulse lasers since they came out maybe ten or so years ago.  They are pretty darn reliable too but a bit more fragile.

[verb]

Ask for a 30 day free trial before you buy.  I did this for one of the laser distance measure devices and was disappointed in its speed so did not purchase.