I would like to know what is the approximate range of the RS3 base when locally broadcasting NTRIP corrections to a Phantom 4 RTK drone.
The corrections are sent to the drone from the RC so it’s the distance of your Wi-Fi signal from the base to the RC which reliably is about 20-30ft when connected to the base’s hotspot. Many of us use a 3rd device, like a phone hotspot, to network the receiver and the RC which effectively doubles how far you can get from the base. I have tried other methods like a Wi-Fi router which can get up to 100ft, or that device and a repeater to get 200-250ft away. I have seen others use more powerful networking devices and get further, but personally I have no issue setting a point where I am operating from so my phone hotspot does great. This also gives me a data connections so I can use the FlightHub 2 cloud connection which you can’t do with those other devices unless the router or some other piece of equipment has data service.
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Hi @jleon,
If you’re using the local NTRIP option, I’d say Michael summed it up well. When connecting the drone controller directly to the base’s hotspot, the range is usually limited to a few meters.
To extend this, you can connect both the base and the drone to an external network. If you have decent cell coverage in your survey area, Emlid Caster is another alternative.
For Reach RS3, as a multi-band receiver, the recommended maximum baseline for RTK is up to 60 km. For optimal performance, make sure there are no obstacles like trees or buildings between the base and the rover.
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