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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>You may recall that 6 to 9 months ago I was having
difficulty with our new DistoX </span></font><span lang=EN-NZ><a
href="http://paperless.bheeb.ch/">http://paperless.bheeb.ch/</a>. </span><font
size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>It
would not calibrate properly. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>This is just to let you know that it would seem that
all the problems are resolved, and it is now our preferred surveying device.
It took us a while, but we did our first completely paperless cave survey a couple
of weeks ago (after a few above ground practice runs). The finished map
was done by lunchtime the next day, with minimal effort compared to an equivalent
‘paper survey’. A bit more time is spent sketching in the
cave, but much more detail tends to be collected, and it would appear to be
more accurate.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>There are a few rough edges to the software, so it
pays to practice the whole process before doing a real survey. With luck
these will be ironed out in due course.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>The problem with the distoX calibration was resolved
by replacing the circuit board (Beat provided this service free of charge).<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>There was a short term problem after this, because
the compass behaviour was erratic – increasing counter-clockwise etc.
This was due to the calibration being carried out in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Switzerland</st1:country-region>
where the earth’s magnetic field is weaker than where we were using the
device in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">New Zealand</st1:country-region></st1:place>.
So even though in theory a calibration is valid for use anywhere on earth, in
practice this is only the case if the magnetic field is weaker than where the
device was calibrated.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Cheers<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Bruce<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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