Can't get RTK Lock using PointPerfect w/Zed F9P

GPS/GNSS
1

I am attempting to use U-Center to get an RTK Lock for my base station, get a hyper accurate location, so that I can then use that base station location to generate correction data for my own rovers.

Here is the tech stack im using to get the base station location:

SparkFun MicroMod GNSS Function Board - ZED-F9P: SparkFun MicroMod GNSS Function Board - ZED-F9P - SparkFun Electronics

Sparkfun MicroMod main board: SparkFun MicroMod Main Board - Single - SparkFun Electronics

SparkFun MicroMod Artemis Processor: SparkFun MicroMod Artemis Processor - SparkFun Electronics

I have an L1/L2 survey-style antenna that can see 30+ satellites on a normal day.

I messed around with a few iterations of wiring in attempts to get the RTK lock, but I do not get past 3D/DGNSS accuracy.

Current wiring is Main board being powered via usb-c, and the ZED-F9 is connected to my computer via the usb-c port on the function board.

I have tried connecting the main board to the computer, but it required me to flash the processor with some passthrough logic to the serial port, so I figured going directly through the function board was better to start as that worked right away without any flashing.

I figure that PointPerfect works with the ZED-F9P function board as the boards came with the 1 month trial for point perfect. Obviously, on U-Center I put the point-perfect credentials in the NTRIP client, and it seems to be connected and receiving data, yet its not applying the correction data, it seems(?)

Am I doing something wrong here? Do I need to flash the processor with some specific code to then read the correction data and apply it to the output from the ZED F9? Or is what I’m looking for not possible given the hardware that I am using?

I am happy to supply any more details/logs. Please let me know, and I appreciate any and all help. TYIA!

2

How far away is your correction source? It only works up to ~10km, if it is farther than that you’ll need to create a base to send your own correction data to a rover

Also, how cloudy is it where you are testing?

3

I gotcha. I did know about the distance restrictions, but I saw the “PointPerfect Flex” coverage map ( Using PointPerfect Flex - SparkFun RTK Everywhere Product Manual ) and thought that there was no base station restrictions.

Im located in west metro Minneapolis for reference.

it was not cloudy on testing days.

But it sounds like I may just need to gather base station data for 4-8 hours and plug those into a post processor to get the base station exact location?

4

For initial testing: I would think you could connect the ZED-F9P function board to your PC and get a RTK solution from U-Center. Naturally, the trick is the antenna must be outside with a clear view of the sky.

5

The antenna is outside with a clear view of the sky, no clouds and can see 30+ satellites… still no RTK connection :confused:

2 Likes
6

Apologies, I missed that it was PP (even though it’s in the title and first post lol!) - did you try PP as described here?

As a backup-plan/test I’d go ahead and grab NTRIP credentials from a free provider (I recently used GNSS Realtime Data | EarthScope Consortium with quick success, another is rtk2go, or any similar) and see if testing with a traditional correction source works

7

I read through that manual, but I don’t know if the tech stack I’m using can be used in the same way. I don’t believe I have Bluetooth capabilities with what I have.

I’ll take a look into EarthScope, is that similar to PP in the sense that it’s not necessarily based off of proximity to a base station?

I looked into RTK2go but there wasn’t a base station near me unfortunately.

8

PP (or other PPP service) will be the only ones that don’t have a distance limitation…Earthscope and others are classic NTRIP providers

Is creating your own base with a 2nd unit an option? It doubles the price but that is the usual solution if PPP isn’t available/working

9

Yeah I actually have 2 of the same setup I plan on doing the own base station route.

My goal was to use PP to get an exact location of the base station, and then use those coordinates to load into my base station to generate the correction data for my own rovers.

I didn’t want to mess with recording the location for 8 or so hours and then post processing, as I’ve had issues with that in the past, but it sounds like that’s what I will need to do.

So is there no real reason why the PP should be working with my setup? I would assume it would considering the devices came with a code for a trial for it… lol

10

Yes, PointPerfect should work with your setup.
U-Center can be “quirky” with NTRIP (for me anyway).

Did you try again with only the function board (not MicroMod main board) ?

1 Like
11

To get any sort of output (and to even have it show up in my COM ports) it needs to be seated in the main board.

I get no lights or anything unless it is connected to the main board.