Trimble R8 NTRIP caster issue

Simon,
maybe I'm missing something here, but in my limited use of NTRIP - it has been solely for use with the rover, so I didn't need to set up or use my own base.
My understanding is that NTRIP is the means of transporting GPS data over the internet.
I don't know how NTRIP would work using your own base+rover.

> Hi All,
>
> I've been trying to set up our R8 for RTK over GPRS but there is one thing which I completely don't understand. This is a simple RTK, 1 base, 1 rover. I learned that the R8 has a built in NTRIP caster which can be configured through the WebUI (builtin webserver for configuration of the R8/R10). When I switch it on, the rover can connect dirrectly to the R8 and all is sweet, but...
>
> The issue is that this NTRIP caster will turn off when I perform a "start base receiver" on the R8 from my TSC3. In other words, once the R8 is out in the field and I start the "RTK-GPRS" measurement it automatically kills the caster and the only way to start it again is using the WebUI which is sooo overloaded, inefficient and complex (code-wise) I need a laptop with a real browser to open it up. I tried connecting to it using the TSC3 but it loads a white page.
>
> The other solution is to run a NTRIP caster on a PC but it's not perfect solution for us because of the unnecesary additional "PC" and also because the longer connection time (data from base has to reach caster in the office and then the rover).
>
> Did anyone figure out how to keep the caster running on the R8 (maybe R10 has similar behaviour) or how to easily turn it on?? I hope there is a reasonable explanation and solution to this, I really do... :-S
>
> Regards,
> simon

I setup an R7 over NTRIP using an old PC at the office. It works great so far. From my understanding, the R8 still has to have the TSC3 or a PC to operate the NTRIP connection. I use my cell phone as a WIFI hotspot and the TSC3 connects to the internet and on to the IP and port of my base PC. I dont know that the R8 has the ability to connect to the net and communicate without the TSC3 or other controller. If there is a way to have an R8 run directly to the net without a PC or Controller, I would be very interested in having a look.

we also use a cell phone (Verizon) connecting thru bluetooth to our TSC2.

I assume you are using the internal GSM modem of the R8 base station to transport the internet corrections, correct? If so, does the web interface of the R8 have the ability to configure the base position and parameters as well as start the broadcast of corrections? If it does, then there would be no need to start the RTK base from the data collector. If you do tell the data collector to start a base, then it is likely editing the settings and killing your current correction from the web interface.

On the rover side, you would treat the profile just as a RTK network and enter your parameters/configuration accordingly.

I have used a similar configuration from another manufacturer and it worked well.

Many thanks for all replies,

Joe: you are correct, NTRIP is a protocol but when you used it on your rover there had to be another base somewhere which was sending data that you received. Same as typical radio RTK. You might have CORS (or whataever) base near you so you don't worry about that.

WRQUINN: Search for a GSM Radio module for R8, it's a semi-circle shaped piece you install underneath the R8 in place of the 450MHz radio module (~6 screws are holding it to the GPS antenna).

Johnson5144: Yes, this is one solution but not always possible. If you mount the GPS on a tripod and height is important then you need to enter it after the GPS is mounted. But otherwise, yes, avoiding the "start base receiver" and presetting everything through WebUI before and then just starting the GPS with the power button does work.

gschrock: Yes, we have internal GSM modem on the R8 and we also have SIM cards with static IPs (local, not Internet) but the problem is with the caster application which is built into the R8 as it likes to terminate when we apply a new Survey profile from the TSC3. There is no option in the Survey Style profile to launch the caster. BTW, there can be up to 3 NTRIP casters on the R8 and each can work with up to 10 clients so 1 R8 can work with 30 rovers.

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I'm still looking for a better solution/fix but at the same time I'm trying to run the Lefebure NTRIP caster with R8 and CMRx encoding. I don't know if the issues is with the encoding or with the R8 but I think the server is not connecting to the caster (the client connected correctly). I think there is an issue with a password, the caster requires user login/password and also mountpoint password while the R8 doesn't ask for mountpoint password. Curious if anyone faced this. I'll check the code and let you know of my findings.