RTK

The RTK tab allows you to configure how the receiver will receive real-time kinematic corrections.

Note: The options presented within this dialog box are receiver specific and will vary.

Note: For effective base/rover communications, each receiver must be capable of achieving the same settings of the other receiver.

• Device: This list contains the supported methods that receive RTK corrections. The resulting configuration settings (wrenches button) will vary based on the selected device type.
  More Information

  Note: Where applicable, the configuration settings are shown per device.

  Based on the capabilities of the selected receiver, common Device types might include:

  • Internal Radio: For receivers that come with built-in radios (commonly UHF- and/or SSR-oriented frequencies), the radio can be configured to receive location corrections. This device type is commonly used in rural settings.
    

    Note: Make sure the rover radio settings exactly match that being broadcast by the base radio!

    More Information

    

    Note: The settings below will vary based on the type of radio and/or the Protocol being used.

    • Radio FW Version: Displays the current firmware version used by the radio.
    • Protocol: Specify the "language" the radio should use.
    • Power: Indicate the power level the radio should use.

      Note: Base radios are commonly set to higher power levels whereas Rover radios are commonly set to lower power levels.

    • Channel: Indicate the channel (analogous to television channels) the radios should use to communicate with one another.
    • Region: Indicate the locality where the radio is being used.
    • Hop Table Version: Indicate the preferred hopping schedule the radio should use to vary between frequencies.
    • Modulation: Indicate how the radio signal is to be modulated, commonly either:
      • GMSK: Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying is a low power, efficient modulation method and minimizes interference with neighboring frequency channels.
      • 4FSK: Four Frequency Shift Keying is an effective and efficient modulation scheme for UHF radio communication systems, offering high data rates, robustness to interference, and suitability for digital data transmission.
    • Channel Spacing: Indicate the frequency separation between adjacent channels in a UHF radio frequency band.
    • Forward Error Correction: Indicate if FEC (a technique used in communication systems to detect and correct errors that occur during the transmission of data over a noisy channel) should be used.
    • Scrambling: Indicate if scrambling (commonly used in military communications, law enforcement, and secure government networks) should be used.

    Note: Radio signal position corrections, often requiring local authorization, are typically constrained within a communication range of up to three miles (five kilometers) between the base and rover.

  • Receiver GSM: For receivers that contain integrated cellular communication capabilities, the cellular modem can be configured to receive location corrections. This device type is commonly used where reliable cellular signals occur at both the base location and at the rover location(s).
    More Information

    

    • Radio FW Version: Displays the current firmware version used by the radio.
    • Modem IP/Port: Indicates the IP address and port number being used by the GSM.
    • IMEI Code: Displays the numeric identifier associated with the GSM.
    • GSM Status: Indicates the connection status of the cellular GSM.
    • Provider: Indicate the desired cellular provider.

    Tapping Settings (Gears) permits the configuration of the APN settings for the selected Provider.

    

    Note: In most cases, the APN Server, APN User Name and APN Password will be preset to expected default values but consult with your cellular carrier for specific settings needed to properly access their network.

  • Satellite: For receivers that can receive and process satellite-based corrections, specify the source of the satellite corrections.
    More Information

    

  • Data Collector GSM or WiFi: As needed, positional corrections can also be conveyed via the cellular or WiFi signal of the data collector (controller). Also known as Data Collector Internet (or DCI for short), this is one of the most common methods for obtaining network-based RTK corrections.
    More Information

    

  • Cable or Generic Device: When selected, the user will need to specify the Port, Baud, Parity and/or Stop Bits of the device (commonly an external radio) that is connected to the receiver.
  • Satel BlueTooth: Specify this option if an external Satel BlueTooth radio is receiving RTK corrections.
  • Pacific Crest XDL BT: Specify this option if an external Pacific Crest (PacCrest) XDL BlueTooth radio is receiving RTK corrections
  • Do Not Configure: When selected, no positional corrections will be transmitted.
• Network: This list allows you to configure and connect to various networks.
  More Information

  Not every device will have a configurable network. For those that do, common options include:

  • TCP/IP Direct: For receiving base station corrections from a local Extranet address using TCP messaging.
  • UDP/IP Direct: For receiving base station corrections from a local Extranet address using UDP messaging.
  • TCP/IP Network: For receiving base station corrections from a specific Internet address and port using TCP messaging.
  • UDP/IP Network: For receiving base station corrections from a specific Internet address and port using UDP messaging.
  • NTRIP: For receiving base station RTCM corrections from (typically) the Internet through a port with additional login/access credentials.
  • SpiderNet: For receiving base station corrections through the Leica SpiderNet service.
  • Listen-Listen: For receiving base station corrections from Carlson's low-latency Listen-Listen network through Carlson-assigned base/rover port numbers.

    Note: See Carlson Knowledgebase Listen-Listen articles for additional information.

  • SkyNet RTN: For receiving base station corrections through the SkyNet RTN service.
• RTK Port: Indicate the port on the receiver from which RTK corrections will be received. This option will default in most cases, but may need to be set when a cable connection is used.
• Baud: Indicate the receive speed at which base station corrections are being sent.
• Message Type: Select the RTK message type that you wish to receive.
• Use server transformations: This checkbox should only be enabled when the NTRIP server in use is broadcasting the 1021-1027 position transformation messages.

  Note: For additional information, refer to Carlson Knowledgebase article #1259 - Use Server Transformations:
  https://web.carlsonsw.com/knowledgebase/kbase05.php?action=display_topic&topic_id=1259

• [Broadcaster]-Base: For the selected Broadcaster, indicate the desired Base.
  More Information

  

Note: It is recommended to go left to right through the tabs, from Current to Comms to Receiver to RTK, to ensure that all settings are correct, especially when configuring a new receiver for the first time.

Note: A walk-through example of Configuring a GNSS Receiver on a VRS Real Time Network is available on YouTube: