I'm planning an upgrade of my old GPS Base Radio. I'd like to be able to use the Utah RTN (VRS) network. One big problem is cell phone coverage. In many areas where I work it just wouldn't work dependent on a cell phone to connect. So the solution I've been looking for is to collect the RTN corrections where the cell phone works and then rebroadcast them via a 35 watt GPS base radio.
After some research and a few calls and emails I've found at least one solution. JAVAD through its ARWestcom radio affiliate makes an off the shelf radio with GSM that will connect via its NTRIP Client to the RTN and then transmit the data to rovers same as the standard GPS base/radio system. You don't need a base receiver. So far they only have it up to 4 watt versions. You could have a 35 watt repeater though. That would allow you to get even further into dead cell areas. You could set the 4 watt where there is cell service then set a 35 watt repeater further in the dead area and work just as you had a base receiver/radio station.
This would work for me and I'm probably going to try it out.
Here is link to the radio data sheet:
I'm sure Gavin will correct me on this if I'm wrong, but I think RTNs (such as VRS and MAC) rely on data flowing both ways. Does your rover have a enough radio power to get back to the repeaters? Perhaps this would only work with a single baseline solution. Good topic, I'll be interested in hearing what the experts have to say.
That's partially correct. What you would do at start up is send the lat/long via the cell connection to the VRS to seed it. It would then start send corrections based upon that lat/long and remain static at that point. I'd just seed it in the center of my work area. So you probably wouldn't want to get far away from that area (a few miles).
They also have a version of the radio that has a L1 GPS built in that will seed the RTN called a JLite. I think I'd rather seed the center of my work area and not just where the radio is.
I've been on the phone with the manufacturer.
Maybe someone who has used it will post. I think it's been available for maybe a year or so.
There are other vendors that have essentially the same thing if you want to compare. I am not aware of any that have the full 35W radio though.
Pacific Crest did have an offering, BUT I think they discontinued it.
SHG
The guy I've been talking with said he'd get the engineers to test their built in Bluetooth on board their radios for connection to some smart phones. I think it is going to work. Then I'd be able to use a smart phone with NTRIP Client to get corrections and have them transmitted by a 35 watt UHF radio. If I'm in an area with good cell coverage I'll just use the smartphone to connect to my TSC2 at the rover. He said nobody had ever asked about this before (using a phone to connect directly to their radios). If they can make it work they've got a new customer.
