Setting the position of the RT-Base

The easiest way to communicate with the RT-Base is to use NovAtel Connect, which can be downloaded from the following link:

http://www.novatel.com/support/search/items/PC%20Software

Disconnect the 9-way connector to the GNSS Configuration port and connect a serial cable:

Power on the RT-Base

Open NovAtel Connect. When the program opens it will present you with the following window:

Select 'New Connection'. This option can also be selected from the Device drop-down menu

Enter a name to save the connection as, select Device Type serial, the relevant COM port and baud rate 115200 bps:

If you are unable to communicate at 115200 bps, try 9600 bps

Click OK, then on the next screen select your connection and click Open:

You should see a number of windows appear including the Constellation Window and Console Window:

If either the Constellation Window or Console Window is not visible, then they can be enabled from the View drop-down menu.

The Constellation window should show the same number of satellites displayed on the LCD screen of the RT-Base. This ensures that you are communicating with the RT-Base correctly.

The RT-Base may be sending some undecipherable data over this port; these are the differential corrections. Ignore the data sent from the RT-Base.

In the Command input box type the following command, followed by a carriage return:

FIX NONE

Now enter the following command, followed by a carriage return:

FIX POSITION xx.xxxxxxxx yy.yyyyyyyy zzz.zzz

Where xx.xxxxxxxx is the Latitude in degrees; yy.yyyyyyyy is the Longitude in degrees and zzz.zzz is the Altitude in meters. You should enter at least 8 decimal places for the Latitude and Longitude and three decimal places for the Altitude. The altitude must be entered in EGM96, not WGS-84.

Check on the RT-Base display that the position you have requested has been received correctly and that the display matches the values you have entered.

You can save this location to the RT-Base by pressing the Save/Restore button on the RT-Base. Otherwise, the previously saved position will remain in the RT-Base but the new location will be used until power-off.

To use the RT-Base immediately you need to reconnect the Link Cable between the Radio Configuration and GNSS Configuration connectors. This must be done very carefully if the power is left on since it is possible to short between Pin 9 of the GNSS Configuration connector and the connector chassis; this will blow the internal fuse. It is recommended to save the new location to the RT-Base; turn off the RT-Base connect the Link Cable; turn the RT-Base on again and press the Save/Restore button to restore the new location.