RTKBase: a GUI for your own Gnss Base Station

Stefal · June 20, 2020, 6:58am

Hi!
RTKBase v2.0.2 is available!

This new release will help you to run your own GNSS Base station with a Single Board Computer.
A ready to flash image is available for Raspberry Pi and Orange Pi Zero.
It’s fully open source and it’s available here: https://github.com/Stefal/rtkbase

New Features:

Web Gui
Automated installation
Automated setup for usb connected Ublox F9P
Satellite levels
Map
Settings
Update from the Gui.
Manage Raw data
Multiple simultaneous output streams (Raw/Rtcm/Ntrip)

GUI tour on video:

Brofarm · June 20, 2020, 8:28am

That looks like an easy install.
Just missing a ‘survey in’ function to set base position without having to run u-center on another computer?

Stefal · June 20, 2020, 12:24pm

I’ve never used the survey-in function.

As RTKBase is mainly designed for permanent base station, I usually post process a 12 or 24H data file with an online PPP tools or with RTKlib, to get a really accurate position.

But, when you are on the status web page, the realtime location is calculated with RTKLib in static PPP mode, so after a few hours, the coordinates should be pretty accurate.
(When you leave the status web page, RTKLIB keep computing the localization for 15mn)

Is survey-in in U-center better to do this?

torriem · June 21, 2020, 2:38am

My base station used survey-in, but with my new shop nearing completion, I want to move my base station to its roof, and I was thinking about collecting data for post processing. Can you do that with U-Center? I know that Canada has a web site I can upload some files to for post processing to get an accurate position. I assume I can just hit record in U-center and record many hours of data, and then convert it using a tool from rtklib to rinex. I’ll have to give it a try and compare the results with survey-in.

I’d like to have GPS numbers that line up closely with my cousin’s machines, which are using Trimble Centerpoint RTX. I’m not sure right now how my coordinates match up for accuracy. I know I’m about 3 metres off of what Google Earth thinks.

Stefal · June 22, 2020, 1:15pm

I can’t say for U-Center, but RTKBase can log the Raw data. Then you can convert the ubx file to rinex, and send it to nrcan for a PPP process.

Stefal · July 23, 2020, 3:25pm

Hi!
RTKBase v2.1 is available.

New Features:

GUI → Status: Marker on the map with the fixed base’s coordinates.
GUI → Status: Optional Maptiler aerial image layer on the map (see ‘Advanced’ section in README.md)
GUI → Settings: Receiver dependent options on Rtcm and Ntrip output
GUI → Settings: Services diagnostic
GUI → Logs: Option to convert a zipped ubx archive to Rinex (for the IGN “Calculs GNSS Réseau en ligne”)
Gnss receiver (ZED-F9P): Disabling SBAS during configuration
Gnss receiver (U-Blox): During the first installation, if a U-Blox receiver is detected, -TADJ=1 will be added for Rtcm and Ntrip outputs. See #80
Gnss receiver: The config files extension is now .cfg
Miscellaneous: You can run install.sh from anywhere
Miscellaneous: Freeze python modules inside requirements

Bugfixes:

install.sh: Check if logname return a correct value
install.sh: Add dialout group to user
various bugfixes

Warning

If RTKBase 2.0.2 doesn’t detect this new release, see #93

The -TADJ=1 option is really useful if your rover use the F9P internal rtk engine. The fix is quicker and much more stable.

Stefal · July 30, 2020, 10:34am

RTKBase v2.1.1 is available!!

Bugfix:

rtcm services was sending data to the ntrip caster.

Valentin · July 31, 2020, 10:41am

Hi @Stefal,
Thank you for sharing the RTKBase project here. I’ve been using it for a few weeks and I can testify now that it is really reliable to work in the field. It can be used with any NTRIP caster (I use centipede.fr) or directly via TCP (opening a port on the box is necessary though).
My setup is the following :

Antenna ANN-MB-00 mounted on a square 20x20 cm ground plane (ardusimple)
U-Blox Zed-F9P on SimpleRTK2B board (ardusimple)
Raspberry pi 3B+ (8 GB micro SD card)
Ethernet wired connexion to internet (no wifi)

After some research, the alternatives I found are :

espRTK but you have to build your own PCB (lots of components and wiring, closed source firmware, http://esprtk.wap.sh/getting_started.html). It was implemented by darrenjlobb at least (RTK Base Station Project (ESPRTK, SimpleRTK2B, NTRIP))
using an Arduino Mega, an Ethernet shield and the code from woody_matt. Github here : https://github.com/MattWoodhead/NTRIP_LAN_Server_for_Arduino
using a Raspberry Pi and str2str (equivalent of strsvr but in command line), with a failsafe measure to restart the process automatically in case of powerdown or bug (RTKBase: a GUI for your own Gnss Base Station)

All things considered, RTKBase is in my opinion the simplest solution to deploy a base station. It is also fairly inexpensive and beginner friendly.

kris · August 2, 2020, 7:18pm

Would it work with PoE ? I have placed the antenna on a rooftop that is far away from any power source and even WIFI. I allready have a PoE switch but i dont know anything about Raspberry Pi! How many Gb does it need to be ?
https://www.kubii.fr/cartes-extension-cameras-raspberry-pi/2280-raspberry-pi-poe-hat-kubii-652508442105.html?search_query=poe+hat&results=24

Valentin · August 3, 2020, 7:05am

Hi @kris
Yes, this solution should work. I used a separate 5V DC power supply with longer wires, but a POE hat should work. Make sure that you have a Raspberry Pi 3B+ or a Pi 4 to use your hat. Any amount of RAM will work (1 GB (Pi 3), or 2, 4 or 8 GB (Pi 4)). Make sure the micro SD card is at least 8 GB though.
About the Ethernet cable, it would be recommended to choose a CAT6 rated, as it is less resistive for POE over large distances (no more than 100m though). Try it before mounting the cable in your building, it would be unfortuante to end up with a neat but not functional installation !

kris · August 3, 2020, 12:50pm

Yes, I allready have Ip cams over the place and Cat6 cable
Going to order Raspberry pi4 now

TERVUREN · August 3, 2020, 1:12pm

For manufacturing of the base a PI3 is widely sufficient, cheaperand especially produces a lot less heat than the PI 4

Stefal · August 3, 2020, 2:13pm

Hi!

Yes, POE is a good solution. If you already have a POE Switch, you can the official raspberry POE Hat, or a POE (at least 802.3af) extractor, I use a Trendnet TPE-104GS.

BTW: If you ethernet cable is partly outdoor, use a … outdoor ethernet cable.

calum.sangster · August 4, 2020, 12:29pm

Hi all, I am setting up a base station with a raspi 4. I have downloaded and etched the software onto an SD card. After I start up the raspi and everything is installed I am asked for basegnss login in and password. Could anyone tell me what that would be.

Cheers,
Calum

GialucaRav · August 4, 2020, 2:40pm

the password is “admin”

i have set up the rtk base, i can enter to web page created by raspberry pi but i don’t see any message from f9p. I am using a survey config from Franz Husch

calum.sangster · August 4, 2020, 3:48pm

What is the base gnss login?

Stefal · August 5, 2020, 6:09am

Default Web access:

password: admin

Default ssh access for the raspi image:

login: basegnss
password: basegnss!

calum.sangster · August 5, 2020, 1:19pm

Perfect, thank you!

HolgerHey · August 20, 2020, 2:38pm

Hi @Stefal,
Thank you for the RTKBase project.

I’ve been testenig it for a weeks and it works fine.

My setup is the following :

Antenna Trimble Zephyr 2 Geodetic on a tripod.
ZED-F9P RTK GNSS receiver board with SMA from https://www.gnss.store/
Raspberry pi 3B+ (16 GB SD card)
Ethernet cable connection.

I have a question, is there an option to add a serial port (RS232)
as an output for use with a UHF radio as a link to the rovers?

Stefal · August 21, 2020, 8:08am

Thanks for your report.

I have a question, is there an option to add a serial port (RS232)
as an output for use with a UHF radio as a link to the rovers?

Not in the current release. It’s on my todo list but I don’t have any radio module to test this.