RTK

This quick tutorial will walk you through how to setup RTK with your Astro or Alta X using the Pilot Pro with the Herelink or Doodle Labs radio module

Things you need:

• Astro / Alta X

• Pilot Pro with Herelink / Doodle Labs

• Freefly RTK Base Station

• Laptop / computer

• Ethernet Cable

• USB to Ethernet adapter (only if your laptop does not have an ethernet port)

• USB-C cable (USB-C on the RTK side, whatever your computer accepts on the other)

If using a Doodle Labs radio, you will need to enable the RJ45 ethernet port on the back of the module

Setting Up Hardware Connections

First, connect all required devices. You will need to connect the following connections:

• Pilot Pro connected to the computer with an ethernet cable

• Freefly RTK Base Station connected to the computer with a USB cable

RTK plugged into the computer over USB, with the Pilot Pro being connected to the computer over ethernet

Setup Computer Networking

Video Link: Setting up an ethernet connection on your computer with Pilot Pro

• On the computer, configure ethernet adapter IPv4 properties to a static IP:

  • IP: 192.168.144.199

  • Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0

Windows example of Static IP configuration

Configure AMC/QGC

Astro

In AMC on your companion device, Navigate to Settings > Comm Links > add to add a TCP comm link with the following settings: Name: <User Specified> Type: TCP Host Address: 192.168.144.20 TCP Port: 5790

Comm link setting

Under Settings > General > RTK GPS, you'll have the option for how the RTK base station location is determined. This setting will only appear when you activate AMC Advanced mode. Survey-In will listen for GPS for the specified observation time, and then allow RTK if the accuracy is below the specified number. If you know the exact base position, we would recommend to use the specified base position for higher accuracy

Recommended RTK option

Alta X

After going through the above settings, QGC is set to automatically connect by default, but if you do not see a connection, please follow the instructions below:

Adding a UDP Comm Link

In QGC on your companion device, Navigate to Application Settings > Comm Links > add to add a UDP comm link:

Where to add a comm link

When adding a comm link, use the following settings: Name: <User Specified> Type: UDP Host Address: 192.168.144.12 UDP Port: 14553

Comm link settings

Bypassing Firewall

If you already have a connection in QGC, you can skip this section. If you are still having trouble connecting the secondary device after going through the steps above, you may need to add an inbound firewall rule to allow QGC to receive the stream. Operating systems may vary in how this is done, we will go through a windows example below: This will require Admin permissions on the computer.

1. Open up "Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security"

2. Under "Inbound Rules" on the left, select "New Rule..." on the right

3. Create a rule with the following settings: - Port Rule - UDP Rule - Specific local ports: 14553 - Allow the connection - Rule applies to Domain, Private, Public - Give the Rule a name, and save!

RTK Options

Under Application Settings > General > RTK GPS, you'll have the option for how the RTK base station location is determined. Survey-In will listen for GPS for the specified observation time, and then allow RTK if the accuracy is below the specified number. If you know the exact base position, we would recommend to use the specified base position for higher accuracy

Recommended RTK option