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How to use PointPerfect with u-blox receivers
This tutorial explains how to configure the ArduSimple simpleRTK2B and simpleRTK 4 Optimum boards to achieve centimeter-level accuracy using the u-blox PointPerfect Flex and PointPerfect Live correction services.
The services include access to the Thingstream platform and its NTRIP caster. The u-blox Thingstream is a web platform that you can use to enable and manage PointPerfect correction services. In this tutorial we will show how to get access to:
- PointPerfect Live provides 1-2 centimeter accuracy and available in Europe and USA only. It is suitable for demanding applications as construction surveying, precision agriculture and mining.
- PointPerfect Flex provides 3-6 centimeter RTK-SSR accuracy and available in Europe, USA, Canada, Japan, Korea, Brazil, Argentina and Australia. It is suited for mass-market production of large fleets of outdoor robotics, automotive and UAVs.
So with this in mind choose the correction service that better fits your accuracy needs and available in your country, and we will guide you through the setup process.
If you are not subscribed to a PointPerfect service yet and would like to try a service for free, we offer Free PointPerfect 30-Day Trial.
Required hardware
- simpleRTK2B – Basic Starter Kit or simpleRTK 4 Optimum – Basic Starter Kit
- USB-C to USB-C cable (OTG)
- PC or laptop with an internet connection
Create PointPerfect Flex account
- If you want to try the PointPerfect Flex correction service, just include in your order an ArduSimple Free PointPerfect 30-Day Trial, it is free. You will receive an email to create your Thingstream account from it. Press Trial Activation.
- Input your email address, desired domain name and agree with the Terms of Use. Press Create Account.
- You will receive an email to activate your new account in your inbox. If you cannot find an email, please check Spam or Promotion folder of your email client, the letter often ends up there. Press Activate account.
- You will be prompted to input your personal data. Press Save and Continue.
- You are now logged in the u-blox Thingstream platform.
- After using the Ardusimple 30-day free trial voucher a new PointPerfect Thing (which will represent your GNSS device) has been automatically created for you inside the Thingstream platform. Go to Services > Thing List.
- If you used Free PointPerfect 30-Day Trial, a new PointPerfect Thing has been automatically created for you inside the Thingstream platform. Select the Thing named Ardusimple promotion with 1 month subscription to the PP IP plan.
- Press Activate.
- Select the PP Flex Developer plan which offers 40 hours of free usage during the 1-month trial period. Press Activate.
- The Pointperfect Flex Thing is now activated.
The PointPerfect Live service is based on classic NTRIP technology depending on ground stations and casters sending corrections to GNSS receivers over the internet. This provides a slightly better accuracy of 1-2cm compared to the 3-6cm PointPerfect Flex service accuracy, but the coverage is limited to Europe and North America.
- The u-blox Thingstream platform is also the way to create a PointPerfect Live account, but to have access to a trial period you will have to contact directly the u-blox customer service.
- Once the Thingstream account is activated for you by u-blox you will be able to access the platform and create a PointPerfect Live Thing.Go to Services > Thing List.
- Press Add Thing.
- Go to PointPerfect tab and press Add PointPerfect Live Thing.
- Input the desired Name and Region of the newly created Thing. Press Create.
- Select the PP Live IOT Developer plan which offers 40 hours of free usage during the 1-month trial period. Press Activate.
- The Pointperfect Live Thing will be activated and valid for 30 days.
- To provide corrections to a PointPerfect Flex or Live Thing associated device, you should collect its NTRIP Credentials which are going to be used afterwards by an NTRIP client. Go to the Credentials tab. The displayed NTRIP credentials (server, port, username, password, mountpoint) for your PointPerfect Thing device are shown. Download JSON Formatted Config or copy the credentials, as you will need them later in your NTRIP client.
Get PointPerfect corrections
- Now we will use the collected PointPerfect NTRIP credentials in an NTRIP client to get the PointPerfect corrections applied to your RTK board.There are 2 ways of doing it:
- via PC (you will need just your PC)
- via XBee plugin (requires additional plugin)
- To connect to an NTRIP client from a PC, follow the tutorials:
- For simpleRTK2B boards (u-blox ZED-F9P), please follow How to connect ZED-F9P receiver to a NTRIP correction service via PC.
- For simpleRTK 4 Optimum (u-blox ZED-X20P) and simpleRTK 4 Dual (blox ZED-X20D) boards, please follow How to configure u-blox ZED-X20P/X20D.
- To connect to an NTRIP service, you can use one of the ArduSimple XBee communication plugins
- 4G NTRIP Master: follow the 4G NTRIP Master User Guide.
- Ethernet NTRIP Master: follow the Ethernet NTRIP Master User Guide.
- WiFi NTRIP Master: follow the WiFi NTRIP Master User Guide.
Related products
If you want to follow this tutorial, we have all the necessary products in stock and ready to be shipped:
-
- Sale!Made in EuropeRTK starter kits
simpleRTK 4 Optimum – Basic Starter Kit
Original price was: 299,00€.275,00€Current price is: 275,00€. -
- Sale!Made in Europe
- Sale!Plugins
4G NTRIP Master
156,00€ This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
