Anyone using an add-on long range radio for RTK?

[MDS (Tim)]

Has anyone successfully used an add-on radio for the RS2 (or RS+) for extended RTK range (ie up to 2 miles) for remote areas where there will be no cell service?

In the past, the range of the built in LoRa was not good so I have used the Emlid Caster with great success. But need radio solution for area with no cell service.

[liudmila.slepova]

Hi Tim,

LoRa radio is a low-powered radio. It’s quite sensitive to external conditions. To get a stable stream, it needs a clear line of sight. But if you’re working in more challenging conditions, external radios can be indeed handy. Some time ago, we tested Reach RS+ with external UHF radio. You can check more details in this post:

Reach RS+ tests with external UHF radio (450 MHz)

To collect cm-accurate data in the real-time, you need a reliable correction link between base and rover. With a set of Reach RS+, you can use built-in LoRa radio for RTK communication. This will work well for most applications on distances up to 8km (sometimes even up to 19km). In some cases, you might want to use other connectivity options of Reach RS to set up RTK link. For instance, if you send/receive RTCM3 corrections from RTK GNSS receiver of another manufacturer. With the good Inter…

Hopefully, other users can share their experience here about using external radios with Reach, too.