RTK GPS using existing base station

Hello - Newbie here. I am working on a project with some students to build an autonomous mower that uses a SparkFun RTK GNSS device for localization.

Our school has an existing line painting robot from a commercial vendor (I believe it is a Turf Tank robot) that uses a base station that has been installed on our campus to paint the lines on the athletic fields.

Would it be possible for me to use this existing base station as a source for correction data for our project’s RTK GNSS rover?

Would the Turf Tank base station provide a correction signal in some open standard format?

Also, I’ve been told by our building and grounds crew that our city has its own RTK GNSS base station installed nearby that it uses for various surveying and engineering projects. Would I be able to use the city’s base station signals for our project’s rover?

Thanks in advance.

It sounds possible with either, but you’ll likely have an easier time using the city’s (I’m not sure what protocols the turf tank might use, they may be proprietary…the city likely uses something standard). You should be able to find a map or list of their locations, make sure one is within 10km :wink:

Worst case you can also always install your own base as well, we have a few options under $200! https://www.sparkfun.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=rtk

Thank you for the reply. I did some more investigating and it turns out it’s the state that has a base signal, but unfortunately it’s about 20km away so I think we’ll have to build our own base as well.

Thank you also for pointing out the lower cost base options. that helps a lot!

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