A number of trends are converging to open some great, new opportunities to use TPC with GPS/GNSS, like the solution shown here.
What's Changed?
A solution like this wouldn't have been possible even a few years ago, but a lot has changed.
•GNSS - L1(Course/Acquisition) 1575.42 MHz, L2 1227.60 MHz and lots of satellites, L5?
•better cell phone coverage in the field
•better NTRIP networks and free Casters
•better GPS/GNSS equipment & prices
•better / free mobile/desktop apps
•better / free use of the web/cloud for data
Example TPC / RTK NTRIP solution
If you are already a TPC users, $2,600 can get you this solution
•*TPC 2023 R1 / laptop
•*cell phone / hotspot
•*range pole and bi-pod
•*ORGN NTRIP GNSS Network
•emlid Reach RS2+ $2,600
•emlid Flow - free mobile android app
•emlid Flow 360 - free web app
* already owned/subscribed
Solution Details
Here's a closer look at this example TPC / RTK NTRIP solution.
TPC 2023 R1 / Laptop
TPC Desktop 2023 R1 includes simplified workflows for importing and exporting GPS/GNSS CSV files, along with tools to better calibrate existing surveys with GPS/GNSS.
Running TPC on a laptop allows you to calibrate existing surveys to GPS/GNSS positions on the field, after which you can do additional corner searches and stakeout. Or, you can have someone in the office do the calibration and export points back to the cloud for use in the field. See Calibrating GPS/GNSS Data.
Cell phone / hotspot
This RTK NTRIP solution requires a WiFi connection to the ORGN NTRIP network via a hotspot. In this solution, the hotspot is provided by the cell phone pictured. But a hotspot can be provided by any capable device.
Emlid flow, running on the phone, uses the WiFi connection go get the RTK corrections from the NTRIP network.
Range pole and bi-pod
These were previously used, and still are used, for total station backsight setups.
The only modification made was to add a magnetic mount for the cell phone, which can be used on the range pole or just lifted off the magnetic mount and used separately. You can also purchase a pole clip for use with any tablet.
ORGN NTRIP GNSS Network
The emlid Flow mobile app on the cell phone has you log into your NTRIP account to get the RTK corrections.
Emlid Flow can get RTK corrections from
•an NTRIP network
•another emlid Reach RS2/RS2+ set up as a base station on a known point
•an emlid caster (permanent base station) that broadcasts NTRIP corrections
emlid Reach RS2+ $2,600
The emlid Reach RS2+ is a multi-band GNSS receiver at a competitive price, which also includes the LoRa antenna for communication with a base station.
When RTK is not available, it can be used to log data for PPK solutions.
emlid Flow - free mobile android app
Emlid Flow is a free mobile app that runs on any Android / iOS phone or tablet.
It provides basic data collection and stakeout, data sync in the cloud and RTK corrections and shows point locations on top of a street map like the one use in Google Maps.
It also provides all the user controls for any emlid receiver you are using.
It can be upgraded to emlid +Survey to provide additional functionality.
emlid Flow 360 - free web app
Emlid Flow 360 is a free web based app to manage your emlid survey projects and sync data with the emlid Flow mobile app.
emlid WiFi / Bluetooth
The emlid Reach RS2/RS2+ can be set to run it's own WiFi. This allows emlid Flow, running on your phone/tablet to communicate with the receiver when a hotspot is not available.
TPC is working on ways to share data with emlid Flow, in the field, without a hotspot, using these services. This provides more options for working remotely with an RTK base / rover.
TPC / RTK, NTRIP Solution (29:18) - we add an emlid Reach RS2+ to TPC and see how far we can go with this solution.
