RTK Quick Start for facility APS3G


Equipment Setup
ALWAYS connect a UHF antenna before powering ON the APS-3, use the 440-470MHz antennas.
Install two batteries per receiver.
Setup APS-3 labeled base over your fixed base control point and record instrument height.
If not specified below, use the default settings that are already programmed into the controller.


Survey
Press power on Archer2 and start Septentrio FieldGenius
Select New Project, name it, select and change Project Settings:

Project settings: Set Units and Scale(default is Meters), and select Coordinate System.
Coordinate System: Select UTM Zone.  If not in pulldown, select Edit List and Add Predefined.
Horizontal Datum:  Recommend using UTM Zones, NAD83
Vertical Datum:  Recommend Ellipsoidal


Base setup


Rover Setup

*RTK Fixed will be displayed if tolerances are met.  If not met, you will receive RTK Float, or Auton(Autonomus).  Note that these tolerances can be edited under the instrument tool, and then sensor configure.
When the survey is finished, hold down the power button on the receivers until the lights shut off, and in the controller, select the plumb bob symbol and the Exit.  All data will be saved on the controller.


Troubleshooting

Radio link—currently the radio link is set to transmit at 0.5W.  If you are surveying a large site, have a good line of site between base and rover, and are experiencing dropped radio connection, you may want to turn this transmit power up to the maximum 1W.  This is done by connecting the GNSS reference, select the tool icon, select Link Configure, and then select Setup under Link Device.  Change the power from 0.5 to 1W and exit back out.

No RTK Fix or Float—Make sure that your GNSS Reference (Base) receiver is setup with a very good skyview.  If the base and rover are not able to see the same five satellites, you will not get a fix.  So, the more satellites the base can see the better chance of the rover seeing the same satellites.



Article ID: 862
Created: March 13, 2017
Last Updated: March 13, 2017
Author: Keith Williams

Online URL: https://kb.unavco.org/article/rtk-quick-start-for-facility-aps3g-862.html