TinkerRTK WiFi Base Station and Rover Setup

Overview

This tutorial walks through setting up a complete RTK (Real Time Kinetic) positioning system using two TinkerNav boards connected via WiFi. One board acts as a stationary base station generating RTCM correction data, while the other operates as a mobile rover computing an RTK position fix.

What You'll Learn

• How to configure a TinkerNav as an RTK base station
• How to configure a second TinkerNav as an RTK rover
• Setting up WiFi communication between base and rover
• Accessing real-time position data through a web interface
• Proper GNSS antenna placement with ground planes for optimal signal quality

Hardware Required

• 2x TinkerNav RTK GNSS base boards
• 2x GNSS antennas (L1/L2/L5 multi-band recommended)
• USB-C cables for programming
• Optional: aluminum foil or metal ground plane for antennas
• Optional: 1S or 2S LiPo battery for portable operation

Setup Steps

1. Hardware Assembly: Connect GNSS antennas to the SMA connectors on each TinkerNav board. Place antennas outdoors with a metal ground plane beneath to reduce multipath interference.
2. Flash Base Station Firmware: Download the WiFi base station sketch from GitHub, open in Arduino IDE, and flash to the first TinkerNav via USB-C.
3. Flash Rover Firmware: Download the WiFi rover sketch and flash to the second TinkerNav.
4. Configure WiFi: Both boards connect to the same WiFi network. The base station broadcasts RTCM corrections via TCP.
5. Monitor Results: Access the rover's IP address in a web browser to view real-time RTK position data.

Tips

• Use a metal ground plane (at minimum aluminum foil) beneath each antenna to improve signal quality
• The base station should remain stationary at a known position
• Allow several minutes for the RTK solution to converge to a fixed position