SW Maps

The best mobile app that we’ve found is the powerful, free, and easy-to-use SW Maps by Softwel. It is compatible with Android and iOS, either phone or tablet with Bluetooth. What makes SW Maps truly powerful is its built-in NTRIP client. This is a fancy way of saying that we’ll be showing you how to get RTCM correction data over the cellular network.

tip

Make sure the FPL-T is switched on and operating in Rover mode. Also, make sure that Bluetooth is enabled in the settings of your mobile device.

List of BT Devices in SW Maps — List of available Bluetooth devices

From SW Map's main menu, select Bluetooth GNSS. This will display a list of available Bluetooth devices. Select the Rover or Base you just paired with. If you are taking height measurements (altitude) in addition to position (lat/long) be sure to enter the height of your antenna off the ground including any ARP offsets of your antenna (this should be printed on the side).

Click on CONNECT to open a Bluetooth connection. Assuming this process takes a few seconds, you should immediately have a location fix.

You can open the GNSS Status sub-menu to view the current data.

NTRIP Client

If you’re using a serial radio to connect a Base to a Rover for your correction data.

We need to send RTCM correction data from the phone back to the RTK device so that it can improve its fix accuracy. This is the amazing power of the SparkFun RTK products and SW Maps. Your phone can be the radio link! From the main SW Maps menu select NTRIP Client. Not there? Be sure the SparkFun RTK instrument was automatically selected connecting. Disconnect and change the instrument to SparkFun RTK to enable the NTRIP Connection option.

SW Maps NTRIP Connection menu — NTRIP Connection - Not there? Be sure to select `SparkFun RTK` was selected as the instrument

SW Maps NTRIP client — Connecting to an NTRIP Caster

Enter your NTRIP Caster credentials and click connect. You will see bytes begin to transfer from your phone to the RTK device. Within a few seconds, the RTK device will go from ~300mm accuracy to 14mm. Pretty nifty, no?

Once you have a full RTK fix you'll notice the location bubble in SW Maps turns green. Just for fun, rock your rover monopole back and forth on a fixed point. You'll see your location accurately reflected in SW Maps. Millimeter location precision is a truly staggering thing.