Base-Rover Separation (Rtk Range Of Operation); Communication - ashtech Z-Xtreme System Manual

not initialize. The rover system will need to be moved to a more suitable location for
initialization.
Once the rover system is initialized, it will remain initialized as long as the rover
receiver remains locked on at least 4 satellites. If, at any time after initialization, the
rover receiver does not maintain lock on at least 4 satellites, initialization will be lost.
At this time, the rover system will automatically execute the initialization process
again.
The only time that the user must worry about initialization is when he/she is ready to
store the position of a point of interest or about to stake out a point. The user must
ensure that the rover system is initialized at this time. If the rover system is not initial-
ized, accuracy will be poor. Again, the field application software will display informa-
tion informing the user of the initialization and system accuracy at any given time.
Base–Rover Separation (RTK Range of Operation)
As the rover system moves further away from the base system during an RTK survey,
certain aspects of the system are affected. It's important to be aware of the affect on
system performance as the separation between the base and rover increases.

Communication

The RTK rover system must remain in constant communication with the base system
in order to determine accurate positions. As the rover system approaches the range
of the radio system used, communication will begin to get spotty. When the range of
the radio system is reached and/or exceeded, the rover system will no longer be able
to produce accurate positions since it is not receiving the required data from the base
system. The field application software will provide you will information on the status of
the communication link. The user is able to monitor this status to keep tabs on the
health of the link as the user moves further away from the base.
The allowable separation between the base and rover is very dependent on the radio
system used and the conditions at the survey site. Trees, hills, and buildings will
shorten the range of the radio system. A UHF/VHF radio system can allow ranges up
to 15 km (9 miles) under very good conditions. A spread spectrum radio system is
usually limited to a range of no more than 3 km (2 miles) under the best of conditions.
68 Real-Time Kinematic Surveying