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Integration of Reach RS3 with Aplitop TcpGPS for Android

This tutorial shows how to integrate your Reach RS3 with the TcpGPS app for Android devices over Bluetooth to collect and stake out data in the field in RTK mode.

Overview​

Aplitop TcpGPS is a mobile app for Android devices that allows you to collect and stake out data in the field in RTK mode.

To integrate your Reach with the Aplitop TcpGPS app, you'll need the following:

  • Reach RS3
  • A device on Android OS v7.0+
  • Emlid Flow v9.2+
  • Aplitop TcpGPS v2.6+

Workflow​

To integrate your Reach RS3 with the Aplitop TcpGPS app follow the steps below.

Configure Reach RS3 settings in Emlid Flow​

First, you need to configure the correction input in Emlid Flow. Follow the steps below.

  1. Open the Emlid Flow app and connect to your Reach using Wi-Fi.

  2. Go to Correction input, turn on Advanced methods, and select Bluetooth.

Configure Bluetooth connection in Emlid Flow​

Enable Bluetooth discoverability, so your device can be found by other devices. To do so, follow the steps below:

  1. Go to Settings in Emlid Flow and tap Bluetooth.

  2. Tap Discoverability and turn on the Discoverability option. Tap Save to apply changes.

Enable tilt compensation​

Reach RS3 supports IMU-based tilt compensation, allowing you to collect and stake out points even when the survey pole is tilted. The software calculates the tilt angle and distance to determine the pole tip position on the ground. To enable tilt compensation, follow the How to enable tilt compensation guide.

Set up NMEA stream in Emlid Flow​

To send position data to external applications, configure position streaming in NMEA format as follows:

  1. Go to the main menu. In Settings, select Position Streaming 1.

  2. Select Bluetooth and tap the Edit button.

  3. Select NMEA as format.

  4. Tap NMEA settings. Select GGA, GSA, GST, EBP, and ETC messages with 5Hz frequency and GSV message with 0.5Hz frequency. As Aplitop TcpGPS supports ETC messages, choose Do not compensate receiver position and make sure that ETC is enabled in Emlid Flow.

Configure communication between Aplitop TcpGPS and Reach RS3​

note

Make sure Bluetooth is enabled on your Android device.

  1. Open the Aplitop TcpGPS app and tap the receiver icon next to Device type.

  2. On the opened screen, select the following:

    • GNSS External Receiver (Bluetooth) for Device type
    • EMLID for Brand
    • Reach RS3 for Model

  3. Tap the Receiver button and select the Bluetooth device. If the receiver is not on the list, tap the Search button.

  4. Tap the Connect button and wait for the configuration of Reach.

  5. Tap the forward arrow button and on the opened Working mode screen, tap the Rover button.

  6. Configure NTRIP to send RTK corrections over Bluetooth.

  7. To set up the NTRIP server, tap the three dots button and specify the following parameters:

    • Name of the profile
    • IP
    • Port
    • User name
    • Password
    • Mountpoint

    After that, tap the OK button.

  8. Tap the Connect button and check that the number of bytes sent and received grows.

  9. Go back to the Working mode screen and tap the Tilt button.

  10. Enter the antenna height and tap the Activate tilt button.

note

Antenna height can be changed in the status bar after activating the tilt compensation and creating a project.

  1. Follow the instructions until Compensating status is shown.
  1. Tap the forward arrow button and select or create a project.
  1. Tap the survey button to start working with TcpGPS and Reach RS3.