Integration of Reach RX2 with Mergin Maps for iOS

This tutorial provides step-by-step instructions on how to integrate your Reach RX2 with Mergin Maps for iOS.

Overview

Mergin Maps is a mobile app for iOS devices that allows you to collect, share, and publish geodata and collaborate with teams using instant sync with QGIS.

Reach works with Mergin Maps on iOS through Internal GPS. Once Reach is paired with your iPhone via Bluetooth Classic, iOS makes the Reach position available to Mergin Maps through location services. No TCP or NMEA stream configuration is required.

With Internal GPS, iOS may combine the Reach position with other location data and adjust the reported accuracy. Mergin Maps also doesn’t show the RTK solution status. Use Emlid Flow to monitor the solution status and accuracy.

To integrate your Reach RX2 with Mergin Maps, you will need the following:

• Reach RX2
• A device on iOS
• Mergin Maps mobile app installed on your iOS device
• Mergin Maps account

Workflow

To integrate your Reach RX2 with Mergin Maps follow the steps below.

Configuring corrections in Emlid Flow

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Reach RX2 uses Bluetooth and streams its position in the NMEA format by default. No pre-configuration is needed.

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For more information on how to receive corrections on your Reach RX2, refer to the Quickstart section.

To achieve centimeter-level accuracy when surveying with Reach RX2, set up your receiver to receive NTRIP corrections in the Emlid Flow app. Do as follows:

1. Open Emlid Flow and connect to your Reach.

   

2. Go to Correction input and tap NTRIP over mobile device.

3. Tap the Edit button to configure receiving corrections from the NTRIP base.

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   To start receiving corrections, make sure that your receiver has satellite visibility.

   

Enabling tilt compensation

Reach RX2 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.

Setting up NMEA stream in Emlid Flow

By default, Reach RX2 automatically streams the standard NMEA messages set. In this case, you need to set up your Reach receiver’s antenna height in your third-party software.

If you want to stream a compensated position of your Reach receiver, you need to enable it in Emlid Flow. In this case, the antenna height is included in the output, so you don’t need to set it up in your third-party app. To set up compensated NMEA messages, do as follows:

1. In Emlid Flow, open Settings and go to Integration with external software.

   

2. Turn on the toggle to enable streaming compensated position.

   

3. Set the antenna height. You only need to enter the pole height. Emlid Flow automatically applies the antenna phase center offset and adjusts the measurements accordingly.

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   If you use a quick release, turn on the toggle to include its height in the antenna height calculation.

   
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   When sending compensated NMEA messages, set the antenna height only in Emlid Flow. Setting it in third-party apps as well may cause discrepancies.

Paring Reach RX2 and iOS device

To pair your Reach RX2 with Mergin Maps, first, you need to pair it with the iOS device as follows:

1. Navigate to the Bluetooth configuration screen on your iOS device and enable Bluetooth.

   

2. Wait for your Reach RX2 to be listed as an available device.

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   Keep Reach within a few meters from the device.

   

3. Tap the name of your Reach in the list of available devices on the iOS device. You should see the note "Connected".

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   If your device requires a PIN code, enter 123456.

   

Configuring communication between Mergin Maps and Reach RX on iOS

1. Open the Mergin Maps app and create an account if you don’t have one yet to access the app.

   

2. Open or create a new project.

3. If prompted, allow precise location.

   

4. On the opened screen in the lower right corner, tap More and Settings.

   

5. In Settings, tap Select GPS receiver.

   

6. Choose Internal.

   

7. This step is only required when you don’t stream compensated NMEA position. Go back to Settings and set the antenna height. For Reach RX, the antenna height is the distance from the mark on the ground to the center point on the Reach’s bottom, antenna reference point (ARP), plus the height of the receiver to the antenna phase center (APC), antenna height offset. The antenna height offset equals to 145 mm.

   

8. Go to the GPS tab and check the RTK status and accuracy on the map. To check the detailed GPS info, go to Emlid Flow.

   

You have successfully set up your Reach RX with Mergin Maps. You can now use Reach for surveying in Mergin Maps.