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User Guide: simpleRTK3B Pro
Product overview
You can use the simpleRTK3B Pro as a standalone board by connecting it to a PC or tablet. Additionally, it can be used as an add-on board for custom projects. e.g. as an Arduino shield.
The main component of the board is the mosaic-X5 Triple Band (L1/L2/L5) GNSS RTK receiver module.
Get started
Step A: Assembly and driver installation
Important: This is a traditional RTK module, so it is designed to work outdoors only. If you try to use it next to a window it will not work properly. Additionally, the module needs at least 10 seconds to initialize, so be patient.🙂
- Screw the GNSS antenna by hand to your receiver module antenna connector, do not use any tools.
- Connect the receiver to your PC via the USB port labelled as POWER+GPS.
- When you connect this product to a PC for the first time, the PC may not recognize it. You will only see a new Hard Disk in your computer. Open it and install the Septentrio driver.
- After installation is completed, disconnect and reconnect again, your PC will recognize the receiver. This only needs to be done once.
Step B: Connect to Septentrio web interface
- Open a web browser and input the address http://192.168.3.1 to go to the Septentrio web interface.
- The first time you connect to the web interface you might be asked to create and new user. Input your new User Name and Password, and the Septentrio Factory User Name RxAdmin and Password S3pt3ntr10.
- The web interface will open and show the general status of your Septentrio receiver module.
Step C: RTK corrections
In order to achieve centimeter level accuracy in your GNSS receivers, you have to get RTK corrections. So if you don’t have your own base station providing corrections, the easiest way to get RTK corrections are the available RTK Correction Services in your Country.
You just need to register into the service to get your NTRIP credentials such as server, port, username, password and mount point.
- Share your internet connection with the receiver via USB and receive RTK corrections by following this video tutorial.
- You will find incoming NTRIP corrections after waiting for a few minutes, and RTK Float or Fixed status.
Hardware
Pinout
Power
The simpleRTK3B Pro can be powered from 4 different sources:
- GPS USB port
- XBEE USB port
- Pixhawk connector
- Arduino rail
Only one source is needed to power the board. You can connect all of them simultaneously without any risk.
With the simpleRTK3B Pro, we introduce the new High-Power (HP) XBee socket. If you connect a high-power device to this socket, ensure your power supply can provide the required power.
- Use only high-quality USB-C cables no longer than 1 meter.
- If you connect the simpleRTK2B Pro through a low-power USB hub or to a PC with low-power USB ports, you must connect the second USB port directly to a wall plug or a high-power USB port.
GNSS Antenna
The simpleRTK3B Pro does not include, but requires a high-quality GPS/GNSS triple band (L1/L2/L5) antenna. In order to get the best performance we recommend using our Triple Band simpleANT3B series antenna.
The board is compatible with both active antennas (maximum output is 150mA @ 3.3V) and passive antennas.
Installation Notes:
- Always connect the antenna before powering the board. This is very important as some board components could overheat if no antenna is connected.
- Screw the antenna to the SMA connector by hand, never use any tools. You could break the connectors if too much force is applied.
- Install the antenna with the clearest possible view of the sky. Use it outdoors and as far as possible from surrounding buildings, mountains, …
- For best results, install the antenna on top of a metallic flat plate of at least 20cm side lenght (e.g. a car top surface).
For more information on how antenna installation impacts performance, follow our GPS/GNSS antenna installation guide and video.
Interfaces
The simpleRTK3B Pro board has several interfaces that we will now explain in detail.
USB GPS
This USB-C connector gives you access to the native USB port from the mosaic-X5 module. After connecting your PC, two new COM ports will appear, granting access to the Mosaic-X5 configuration using RxTools.
Alternatively, you can configure your new module directly from a web browser. The web address 192.168.3.1 opens the Septentrio web interface, which you can use to both configure and monitor the receiver.
USB XBee
This USB-C connector grants you access to the UART port of the device (e.g. XBee radio plugin) connected to the XBee socket, if any, via a FTDI USB-to-UART converter. Please find the FTDI VCP driver at https://ftdichip.com/drivers/vcp-drivers.
This connector is also specially handy when used to power the board, as it allows to connect or disconnect the GPS USB at will, without losing power to the board.
Most standard USB wall adapters can be used for this purpose (e.g. a phone charger).
Pixhawk connector
This connector is a standard JST GH that can be used to connect the simpleRTK3B Pro to a Pixhawk autopilot, but alternatively you can also use this connector to power the board.
The connector is following the Pixhawk standard:
- 5V_IN
- Mosaic COM3 RX (3.3V level)
- Mosaic COM3 TX (3.3V level)
- Timepulse output (3.3V level)
- Event input (3.3V level)
- GND
Please remember that this board is only providing GNSS positioning, and not heading as it does not have a magnetometer.
Arduino rails
The simpleRTK3B Pro board includes Arduino UNO compatible pin rails (with optional header connectors) to connect to any Arduino UNO compatible device. The main pins are:
- GND: Ground is available at the standard Arduino pins. You should always connect this line to the Arduino UNO board.
- 5V IN/OUT:
- When the LED next to this pin is OFF, the simpleRTK3B Pro board can be powered from this pin. For example, when plugged to an Arduino UNO board the simpleRTK3B Pro will turn ON (a minimum power of 300mA @ 5V is needed).
- Alternatively, you can use the simpleRTK3B Pro board to power other shield boards. Turn ON the switch 5V=OUTPUT and the simpleRTK3B Pro board will provide 5V output from this pin.
- IOREF: This pins affects the functionality of TX1, RX1, TX2, RX2 pins.
- When connecting the simpleRTK3B Pro board to an Arduino UNO or Raspberry Pi, this pin is used to define the voltage level at the communication pins (TX1,RX1,TX2,RX2).
- When a direct connection is present at the pin, the input voltage defines the voltage level at the communication pins (1.2V to 5.5V supported).
- When 3.3V is a valid voltage level at the communication pins there is no need to rely on the IOREF pin, just switch the IOREF=3.3V switch ON and they will be set to that voltage level.
- Communication TX-RX pins: These pins voltage level is defined by the IOREF setting.
- TX1: Mosaic COM1 TX
- RX1: Mosaic COM1 RX
- TX2: XBee UART TX (this pin is also connected to Mosaic COM2 RX).
- RX2: XBee UART RX (this pin is also connected to Mosaic COM2 TX).
High Power (HP) XBee socket
- VCC: which is a 3.3V output with a maximum current of 1A constant and peaks of 1.5A.
- XBee UART RX: at 3.3V level
- XBee UART TX: at 3.3V level
- GND.
Special function pins
- Timepulse (TPS): 3.3V configuration time pulse output. The logic in this pin is inverted from the web interface, so selecting HIGH at the web interface sets the pin output to LOW.
- External Event (EVT): Time synchronization input with a maximum voltage of 3.6V. This input is filtered to avoid glitches.
- Logging Button (LOG): Logging is normally controlled via the web interface, but this pin is available to setup a physical button to control it.
- Setting the LOG pin to LOW during 100 ms to 5 seconds toggles logging ON or OFF.
- Setting the LOG pin to LOW for more than 5 seconds and then releasing it unmounts the current SD Card, if present, and mounts a new one if not mounted yet.
LEDs
The board includes 7 status LEDs:
- POWER: Indicates that the board has power.
- PVT: Lights up when a position has been calculated from available satellites view.
- NO RTK: OFF with RTK FIX status, blinking when receiving RTCM data, ON when no RTK corrections are applied. (This LED is red).
- XBEE>GPS: The XBEE radio is receiving data over the air and sending it to the mosaic-X5 module.
- GPS>XBEE: The mosaic-X5 module outputs data to the XBEE radio, which is sending it over the air.
- 5V IN/OUT: Indicates that there is voltage on that pin.
- IOREF: Indicates that the IOREF pin is enabled and controlling associated Arduino rails pins voltage.
Buttons and switches
The board includes some configuration buttons:
- XBee Reset Button: Used for programming XBee radio modules (e.g. firmware updates). You will likely never need to use it.
- IOREF & 5V IN/OUT switch: Indicates whether the IOREF and 5V Arduino rail pins are set as INPUTS or OUTPUTS. In the second case the simpleRTK3B Pro board can be used to power external accessories like the Shield for a Second XBee socket or the Shield for Septentrio Native Ethernet, which you can use to configure your mosaic board remotely from the Septentrio web interface menu Communication > Ethernet.
Onboard datalogging (MicroSD card)
The simpleRTK3B Pro board incorporates a microSD card reader for data logging. You can configure the data logging functionality directly from the Septentrio web interface.
A peculiarity of Septentrio datalogging is that storage inside microSD card is done in batches. For example, if you only enable GGA messages for storage 1 time per second and you only leave the system up for 10 seconds, there will be no data inside the memory card because you did not reach the minimum data size for storage. We recommend raising the number of messages per second stored to ensure that a minimum number of trailing messages are lost when powering down.
In case you want to start/stop logging using a physical button there is a LOG labelled pin in the board for this purpose.
If you need additional information, such as upgrading firmware or configuring the receiver as a base-rover please refer to the Septentrio Configuration Page.
Accessories
You can add extra functionality to your simpleRTK3B Pro board by using one of our plugins connected to the XBee socket.
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PluginsRadio module Long Range (LR)
101,00€ This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page -
PluginsRadio module eXtra Long Range (XLR)
161,00€ This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page -
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Sale!
Made in Europe -
Sale!
Plugins4G NTRIP Master
156,00€ This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page -
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Sale!
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Sale!
Made in EuropePluginsPointPerfect L-Band Corrections Receiver NEO-D9S
Original price was: 125,00€.99,00€Current price is: 99,00€. -
How to add plugin
- To connect the communication plugin to the XBee socket, simply insert it into the XBee connector on the board.
- To use the plugin, go to the How to configure Septentrio mosaic-X5 and mosaic-H page and load the configuration file Send 1Hz full NMEA to Plugin onto your receiver following the instructions.
- The board supports a second XBee plugin. You can use two communication plugins at the same time by adding a Shield for Second Plugin Socket. To attach it, you will need the Expansion Headers Kit (not soldered) on the receiver, or order Expansion Headers Kit (soldered) if you want us to solder it for you.
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RTK3B Boards
simpleRTK3B Pro
From 569,00€ This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
