I'd be ticked off if I lived in Texas...

The Information Is Available Free From NGS CORS

Which might satisfy the Freedom of Information Act.

There are other states that charge a fee for live access and some allow private companies to charge you for access to the real time data.

It is in line with some counties providing free and full access to deed information, some counties charging fees and some allowing it through third parties.

Feek free to sue,

Paul in PA

There are companies in Texas running networks with technical support and some expectation of accuracy. TxDOT's network runs with no day to day knowledge of it's accuracy or coverage. They let their contractors use it but still expect them to do independent checks for accuracy and technical support is the contractor's responsibly. Some day the state may be rich enough to build a reliable accurate network, but running as competition to private businesses probably will not happen. Tax revenue from businesses in Texas rule the legislature.

This has been a bone of contention for quite sometime.
Trimble made some kind of deal with TxDOT and I don’t know why nobody has made a formal complaint. I was at a meeting a few years back when TxDOT & Trimble announced this “deal” and I made several objections to it but apparently my words fell on deaf ears.

Doesn't Tennessee ....

Doesn't Tennessee have a 'free' network ?

Going from memory which is scarey.

DGG

Doesn't Tennessee ....

There are several states I've read about with free networks.

Anyone using those have accuracy or reliability problems?

I don't it's a question of the state being "rich" enough to build one since it's already built.

On the outside, the biz vs. gov't argument makes sense, but does it really? Are these networks really that profitable?

As an employee of Ohio Dept of Transportation I feel the need to put in a shameless plug.
We have a statewide real time network (also through Trimble), that (currently) is offered free of charge. The original objective of this system was for ODOT surveyors and contractors, but wise decisions by several people in key places allowed it to be opened up to others. The system has been free (with registration for user name/password) but the ultimate goal has been to recapture some of the costs through a fee.
I would venture a guess that the TXDOT is limiting the usuage so as to limit its liability.

I can see why they are doing things the way they are. I don't think that it is a deliberate slap in the face, just a decision in light of our often litigious society.

Just my two cents.

Here in Alabama ALDOT has got CORS networks all over the state and it's free of charge. I've never had any huge issues with it. They have a overall configuration where it finds the nearest network however if you get within range or between two it will change reference points and get irritating. Also noticed when it does the position of your points normally change +-0.15' horizontal and +-0.07 vertical. So I've learned to do my research on my jobs and use a specific network so I don't have that problem anymore. Other than that never had any issues with it other than getting in a area with little or no cell service but you can't blame the GPS on that.

Do a lot of work in Georgia also. They don't have a free service that I know of. I use a service called EGPS (pretty pricy service to use) and never had an issue at all with it.

Good luck to guys in TX sounds like all the surveyors need to get a petition started and send it to the DOT.

Tennessee DOT's RTK reference is not free. It works out to $25 per month plus an application fee of $150 that can cover access for up to five rovers (each at $25 per month) but the entire fee is due for the application to cover the monthly charge through 6/30/2013. In other words, if you sent in the application today, you'd need to include a check for $600 for the first access and $450 for each additional rover you wanted to include on that application.

I haven't heard anything about what they are planning to do when the current agreements expire in a year and a half.

They have treated everyone the same though. Private companies, municipalities, and utilities all pay the same rate. No one gets a free ride but at $25 per month, the cost is certainly nominal considering the value of the service.

Doesn't Tennessee ....

Tennessee DOT's network is not free to use, they charge $25 per month and a $150 setup fee. Kentucky, North Carolina and Alabama all are free to use as is Ohio, I believe.

I have used the Ohio VRS and it was really nice. Never had any connectivity problems, and we got really good solutions compared to some OPUS DB points we had previously surveyed. Not only that but I have also had the opportunity to get entire county orthos for a $20 fee. Apparently Ohio is the only state that believes you shouldn't screw the taxpayers twice. I am in GA now and you have to pay for everything!!

Here in Missouri the VRS network run by MoDOT is free at this time.

We were fortunate the the state found the funds and made the investment when they did back in 2008...I doubt it would get done today.

We built the network for MoDOT. It is a great utility and a wonderful service for the people in the state. You just have to register and get a user name and password.

I agree with Gavin...speculation about Texas is pointless....contact them and ask them for the story.

I love ours being free, but I can fully understand a subscripiton fee to build up funding for maintenance.

Not everyone in Texas is upset. My county has crap for cell coverage due to pine trees and hills, so even if I could use it, it wouldn't work.

I actually have no problem with "pay to play" and work within the other VRS networks. Sadly, none are around me in my area of practice as my area of practice is pine trees and rural areas, so it doesn't really affect me.

I am not sure about its reliability after the many times I have located monuments that were set using its control. They do not necessarily match from project to project. That could also be due to a user problem and not their network.

Like Chris mentions, Northeast Texas is a RTK and VRS network nightmare because of canopy and the many hills and dales presenting nearly no horizon situations.

Without bashing Texas for its choice to not be more open with its Caster streams (for myself I want it low cost or free but concur with gschrock that there are real operating costs that just have to be covered somehow to have it at all)... But to ask a question using this old thread...

I have a Texas client who will need older RTCM 2.x message types 1,3,9 for some vehicle based corrections work north of Houston. And as he has a strong relationship with TxDot on the project, we presume he can get credentials for access to their CORS feeds.

I was going to take a look at the NTRIP Caster tables they send out to confirm that they even had RTCM 2.x streams (not RTCM 3.x), but I cannot seem to find the Caster URL/IP:Port list anywhere.

Can someone post the address (or addresses) for their Caster on the board or PM me with it. Better yet, where this detail is stated on the txdot.gov site? Many thanks in advance.

@dc-kelley

Would it be fair for a contractor with TxDot to use their RTK network to do public work that is not connected with TxDot contracts?

I see that as an unfair trade practice and an open violation of our ethics policy.

I also believe that the TxDot RTK should be open to use by all Texans since it was paid for by Texans tax dollars.

Missouri is free and is great! Illinois, as one would only expect, is very expensive and sucks. Kentucky is also free (I think) and works well, and I believe Arkansas is about to go live with theirs.

Not to point out the obvious, but Texas is huge and maintaining a network would be a very large undertaking and would defiantly be worth a fee. But then again the Texas GPS is larger than Canada's...(per Google search)

I'm spoiled by the N.C. RTN but our "one time fee sweet deal" is most likely due to the agriculture industry. I've been told that they are the largest user of the network. Why should taxpayers foot the bill for a statewide public RTN? If any state agency might need an RTN, it would be a DOT. Taxpayers pay for all DOT equipment. Can you run by and borrow a backhoe anytime you like?

I should have known using this thread might cause unintended issues.?ÿ As a NTRIP Caster vendor, we take no position on the topic of fees to cover costs.

To repeat my own core need...?ÿ Can someone post the address (or addresses) for their (the TxDot) Caster on the board or PM me with it. Better yet, where this detail is stated on the txdot.gov site? Many thanks in advance.

Yeah, I'd be raising some hell if my tax dollars paid for something I wasn't able to use (school buses anyone?).?ÿ They could easily put a disclaimer out there with regard to the accuracy so I don't buy that excuse.