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Base and rover setup

Introduction​

This tutorial will show how to set up two Reach M2 or Reach M+ devices as a base and a rover with the correction link over Wi-Fi.

Other use cases

For setting NTRIP base corrections, follow the steps from the Working with NTRIP service guide.

Rename Reach devices​

By default, every Reach has the same name. To distinguish between the base and the rover in the field, you need to rename them. Follow the steps below:

  1. Connect to Reach you want to use as a base.
How to define Reach M2/M+?

When you connect to your Reach, all LEDs will blink simultaneously. If you need to flash LEDs during a survey—tap the cell with your receiver’s name on the Receivers screen and get access to the Flash LEDs button.

  1. Go to Settings and tap Receiver info.

  2. In Receiver and hotspot name, change the name of your Reach to reach-base.

note

The name you enter will also be used as a Wi-Fi network label when Reach is in hotspot mode.

  1. Press Save.

  2. Do the same with the second Reach. However, use reach-rover name instead of reach-base.

Set up base station​

Now you need to configure RTK settings on the base. Follow the steps below:

  1. Connect to the base unit.

  2. Go to Settings and tap GNSS settings. Select the satellite systems depending on what Reach device is used:

Pick each of the satellite systems. Set the GNSS update rate at 1 Hz.

After configuring RTK settings, you need to set up broadcasting RTK corrections via TCP. Follow the steps below:

  1. Return to the Receivers screen and tap Base output.

  2. Choose TCP server.


tip

By default, the base will be configured as a localhost on the TCP port 9000.

  1. Go to the Base settings screen and wait until the base averages its position.

  2. In the list of RTCM3 messages, select to output the messages depending on what Reach device is used:

Select to output ARP station coordinates at 0.1 Hz, MSM4 messages at 1 Hz, and GLONASS code-phase biases at 0.1 Hz.

Set up rover​

When you are ready with the base, you need to configure RTK settings on the rover. Follow the steps below:

  1. Connect to the rover unit.

  2. Go to Settings and tap GNSS settings.

  3. Select the same GNSS systems as for the base, and set 5 Hz GNSS update rate. Apply changes.

When you are ready with the base, you need to configure RTK settings on the rover. Follow the steps below:

  1. Return to the Receivers screen. Go to Correction input and choose TCP client.

  1. Add the base IP address in the Address field.

  2. Add the base correction port in the Port field.

  1. Tap Save to apply settings.

  2. Go to the Status screen. If everything is configured correctly, you will see the Receiving corrections notification.

View results​

You can see the current solution status in the top right corner of the Emlid Flow app:

  • SINGLE means that the rover has found a solution relying on its own receiver and base corrections are not applied. Precision in standalone mode is usually at the several-meter level.

  • FLOAT means that the rover receives corrections from the base but cannot resolve all ambiguities, and in this case, the precision is usually at the submeter-level.

  • FIX means that the rover using corrections from the base resolved the ambiguities in its positional calculation and achieved the solution with the centimeter-level precision.

After a short period of time, the rover gets a fixed solution. In good environments, it will take a couple of minutes to get a fixed solution. In tough conditions, it may take a little longer. Once rover gets FIX, you are all set for surveying.

You can also find the current solution status as well as your position in real time on the Status screen.

note

For more information on placing the receivers, check the Antenna placement guide.