SparkFun RTK Facet

Designed and manufactured in Boulder, Colorado, USA, the SparkFun RTK Facet is your one-stop shop for high precision geolocation and surveying needs. For basic users, it’s incredibly easy to get up and running; for advanced users, the RTK Facet is a flexible and powerful tool, with full calibration by the NGS. With just a few minutes of setup, the RTK Facet is one of the fastest ways to take centimeter-grade measurements. By connecting your phone to the RTK Facet over Bluetooth®, your phone can act as the radio link to provide correction data as well as receive the NMEA output from the device. This is exactly how $10,000 surveying devices have been operating for the past decade - we just made it easier, smaller, and a lot more economical.

The RTK Facet works with common GIS software for Android and iOS including SW Maps Android / iOS, Field Genius, SurvPC, Survey Master, Vespucci, QGIS, QField, and any GIS software that supports NMEA over Bluetooth.

Under the hood of the SparkFun RTK Facet is an ESP32 WROOM connected to a ZED-F9P as well as some peripheral hardware (LiPo fuel gauge, microSD, etc). Additionally, housed under the dome of the RTK Facet is a surveyor grade L1/L2 antenna. It is the same element found within our GNSS Multi-Band L1/L2 Surveying Antenna. The built-in antenna has an ARP of 61.4mm from the base to the measuring point of the L1 antenna and an ARP of 57.4mm to the measuring point of the L2 antenna. The RTK Facet is programmed in Arduino and can be tailored by you to fit whatever your needs may be.

This device can be used in four modes:

  • GNSS Positioning (~30cm accuracy) - also known as 'Rover'
  • GNSS Positioning with RTK (1.4cm accuracy) - also known as 'Rover with RTK Fix'
  • GNSS Base Station
  • GNSS Base Station NTRIP Server

At Power On the device will enter Rover or Base mode; whichever state the device was in at the last power down. When the POWER/SETUP button is pressed momentarily, a menu is presented to change the RTK Facet to Rover or Base mode. The display will indicate the change with a small car or flag icon.

In Rover mode the RTK Facet will receive L1 and L2 GNSS signals from the four constellations (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou) and calculate the position based on these signals. Similar to a standard grade GPS receiver, the RTK Facet will output industry standard NMEA sentences at 4Hz and broadcast them over any paired Bluetooth® device. The end user will need to parse the NMEA sentences using commonly available mobile apps, GIS products, or embedded devices (there are many open source libraries). Unlike standard grade GPS receivers that have 2500mm accuracy, the accuracy in this mode is approximately 300mm horizontal positional accuracy.

When the device is in Rover mode and RTCM correction data is sent over Bluetooth® or into the radio port, the device will automatically enter Positioning with RTK mode. In this mode RTK Facet will receive L1/L2 signals from the antenna and correction data from a base station. The receiver will quickly (within a second) obtain RTK float, then fix. The NMEA sentences will have increased accuracy of 14mm horizontal and 10mm vertical accuracy. The RTCM correction data is most easily obtained over the Internet using a free app on your phone (see SW Maps or Lefebure NTRIP) and sent over Bluetooth® to the RTK Facet but RTCM can also be delivered over an external cellular or radio link to a 2nd RTK Facet setup as a base station.

In Base mode the device will enter Base Station mode. This is used when the device is mounted to a fixed position (like a tripod or roof). The RTK Facet will initiate a survey. After 60 to 120 seconds the survey will complete and the RTK Facet will begin transmitting RTCM correction data out the radio port. A base is often used in conjunction with a second RTK Facet (or RTK Surveyor, Express, etc) unit set to 'Rover' to obtain the 14mm accuracy. Said differently, the Base sits still and sends correction data to the Rover so that the Rover can output a really accurate position. You’ll create an RTK system without any other setup.

In addition to supplying position data the RTK Facet is capable of logging NMEA, RAWX, and SFRBX for post processing making it ideal for research and advanced positioning applications.

The RTK Facet is an open source hardware product meaning you can fully obtain, see, and even modify the electrical and mechanical design files. This allows for easier maintenance and repair over time.

Note: The SparkFun RTK Facet is just the enclosed device with thread adapter, charger, data cables, and carrying case. It does NOT include serial telemetry radio or associated mounting poles. These items will need to be purchased separately.

Important: The SparkFun RTK Facet is not designed for permanent outdoor mounting. Please use the L1/L2 antenna (which we've had outside constantly for over three years in Colorado UV) mounted outside with a cable running to the RTK Surveyor that is located inside or protected from the elements. Or, for a cheaper solution, the ESP32 attached to our ZED-F9P breakout is a great way to go. See our How to Build a DIY GNSS Reference Station tutorial for more information.

Supported GIS Data Collector Software:

Overall Device

  • Enclosed Facet Design IP53 - Protected from limited dust ingress and water spray
  • Internal Antenna: L1/L2 with ≥5dBi gain
  • Internal Battery: LiPo 6Ah with fast 1 amp charging
  • Radio Port: 3.3V TTL Serial (57600bps RTCM TX/RX)
  • Data Port: 3.3V TTL Serial (115200bps NMEA)
  • Qwiic Port: Supports I2C based add-on devices
  • microSD: Compatible up to 32GB
  • Embedded OLED Display for positional accuracy, available satellites, data logging, etc.
  • Single push button control
  • Weight: 583g (1.3 lbs)
  • Dimensions: 136mm x 146mm x 80mm (5.35in x 5.74in x 3.14in)
  • Works with common GIS software including: SW Maps, SurvPC, Field Genius, et al.* Open Source Hardware Certified Project
  • Manufactured in Boulder, CO USA

GNSS Receiver: ZED-F9P

  • Concurrent reception of GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou
  • Receives both L1C/A and L2C bands
  • 184-channel u-blox F9 engine
  • Current: 68mA - 130mA (varies with constellations and tracking state)
  • Time to First Fix: 25s (cold), 2s (hot)
  • Max Navigation Rate:
    • PVT (basic location over UBX binary protocol) - 25Hz
    • RTK - 20Hz
    • Raw - 25Hz
  • Horizontal Position Accuracy:
    • 2.5m without RTK
    • 0.010m with RTK
  • Max Altitude: 50km (31 miles)
  • Max Velocity: 500m/s (1118mph)

Bluetooth® Transceiver: ESP32 WROOM

  • Xtensa® dual-core 32-bit LX6 microprocessor
  • Up to 240MHz clock frequency
  • 16MB of flash storage
  • 520kB internal SRAM
  • Integrated 802.11 BGN WiFi transceiver
  • Integrated dual-mode Bluetooth® (classic and BLE)
  • Hardware accelerated encryption (AES, SHA2, ECC, RSA-4096)
  • 2.5 µA deep sleep current

SparkFun RTK Facet Product Help and Resources

How to Build a DIY GNSS Reference Station

October 15, 2020

Learn how to affix a GNSS antenna, use PPP to get its ECEF coordinates and then broadcast your own RTCM data over the internet and cellular using NTRIP to increase rover reception to 10km!

Setting up a Rover Base RTK System

October 14, 2020

Getting GNSS RTCM correction data from a base to a rover is easy with a serial telemetry radio! We'll show you how to get your high precision RTK GNSS system setup and running.

SparkFun RTK Facet L-Band Hookup Guide

June 9, 2022

Setup the RTK Facet L-Band in minutes to begin gathering millimeter level geospatial coordinates.

How to Upgrade Firmware of a u-blox GNSS Receiver

March 26, 2021

A few steps and you'll upgrade to the latest features on a u-blox GNSS receiver.

SparkFun RTK Facet Hookup Guide

December 16, 2021

Setup the RTK Facet in minutes to begin gathering millimeter level geospatial coordinates.

Core Skill: DIY

Whether it's for assembling a kit, hacking an enclosure, or creating your own parts; the DIY skill is all about knowing how to use tools and the techniques associated with them.

1 DIY

Skill Level: Noob - Basic assembly is required. You may need to provide your own basic tools like a screwdriver, hammer or scissors. Power tools or custom parts are not required. Instructions will be included and easy to follow. Sewing may be required, but only with included patterns.
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Core Skill: Programming

If a board needs code or communicates somehow, you're going to need to know how to program or interface with it. The programming skill is all about communication and code.

3 Programming

Skill Level: Competent - The toolchain for programming is a bit more complex and will examples may not be explicitly provided for you. You will be required to have a fundamental knowledge of programming and be required to provide your own code. You may need to modify existing libraries or code to work with your specific hardware. Sensor and hardware interfaces will be SPI or I2C.
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Core Skill: Electrical Prototyping

If it requires power, you need to know how much, what all the pins do, and how to hook it up. You may need to reference datasheets, schematics, and know the ins and outs of electronics.

2 Electrical Prototyping

Skill Level: Rookie - You may be required to know a bit more about the component, such as orientation, or how to hook it up, in addition to power requirements. You will need to understand polarized components.
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Comments

Looking for answers to technical questions?

We welcome your comments and suggestions below. However, if you are looking for solutions to technical questions please see our Technical Assistance page.

  • Member #1847339 / about 3 weeks ago / 1

    Well I'm hooked, I bought this to use with a drone using RTK. After getting that to work I had a firmware issue an update solved that problem. I've started playing around with the unit in rover mode and began marking points around my college before I head to class to see how it works, it does. The software is a little technical but after a couple of weeks I think I grok!

    • Thanks! Can you leave a review, too? ;)

      • Member #1847339 / about 3 weeks ago / 1

        I would if I could Nate, but I don't see anything like the comment box on the review page.

  • Member #1757920 / about a year ago / 1

    Thank you Nate. But is just a matter of time, eventually ill be calibrated right?

    • It's highly likely, but we can't say for sure (and I don't want to give anyone false info). There's always the risk that the units fall outside of the allowable antenna variations.

  • Member #1757920 / about a year ago / 1

    when do you think the antenna of the facet will be calibrated byt the Noaa?

    • Sorry, we don't have a good estimate. We have submitted units for calibration but they cannot provide an ETA.

Customer Reviews

4.3 out of 5

Based on 11 ratings:

Currently viewing all customer reviews.

3 of 3 found this helpful:

Would not charge when received, RMA experience poor

10/28 Update- No detectable activity or response from tech support.

I was very excited to receive the unit. My use case is that I'm building a house in a rural area and wanted to collect data points to generate a high resolution topo map and precisely map power and water lines, sprinkler boxes, etc..

The unit would not charge right out of the box. It powered on fine, and would communicate with my laptop fine. The charger worked with other devices, and other good charging block/cables did not work on the Facet. So- RMA (shipped at my expense). Sparkfun tech support has shown little motivation to understand/fix the problem and get the unit back to me. Tech support has been polite and matter-of-fact through email (they don't provide ANY phone support). After receiving it on 10/13, I was told yesterday (10/21) that someone would look at it on 10/25. POOR!

I used the unit until the battery died and it did what I expect and needed for the time it worked. I'm sure I would have posted a pretty positive review if not for this out-of-the-box quality issue and the poor R&R experience.

1 of 1 found this helpful:

Super Useful tool with high accuracy

The RTK Facet is a really useful tool and I've been using it with SWMaps to perform many tasks around the farm. Field and fence layouts, locations for lines etc... It's a really awesome tool and accuracy was confirmed in horizontal and vertical using a local monument with precise H and V coordinates. Thanks Sparkfun for an awesome kit. For some reason it won't let me leave 5 stars. It deserves all 5 though.

1 of 1 found this helpful:

As a surveyor - I ADORE THIS THING

Great work sparkfun on putting together a unit that competes with some of the best GNSS receivers in the market from Trimble, Leica, Sokkia, etc.

The possibility of tuning this device to cater to your needs is another huge advantage that I've found very useful. F9P chip is next level. I've been enjoying 14mm accuracy on my projects and aiming to tune that down to 6mm with some least squares adjustment!

Great work sparkfunners!

1 of 1 found this helpful:

Very good Equipment for survey, easy to use, good replacement for the conventional and expensive brands.

We bought a couple gnss, base and rover, we had used trimble, sokkia and emlid Gnss, and this is a good begining for surveyors, maybe sparkfun can develop a simple software like emlid flow for a most simply interface, and more capabilitys for take point for postprocessing. Good Job.

1 of 1 found this helpful:

Great hardware, at the mercy of traditional survey pricing for corrections

I've only used it a little so far but overall impressed. Compares very favorably to traditional survey units, amazing for the price. Only real issue is that you are still at the mercy of expensive correction services if you want to use it as a rover with NTRIP rather than buying 2 and running Base+Rover.

Muito Bom

Excelente capacidade de conexão muito acima das grandes marcas do mercado. É uma excelente solução. Produto muito bem concebido. Parabéns Sparkfun.

Excellent for Upcoming Surveyors

I have been operating this device using Landstar 7 software and utilizing a local CORS station and I've been getting Fix solutions and rarely Float Solutions. However my Landstar 7 Subscription expired and now using Field genius for Android. Unfortunately, I'm getting DGPS solution in FGA.