Carlson NR3 Product Review

Carlson NR3 RTK GNSS receiver is equipped with a 448 channel GNSS board from Septentrio. In combination with an RTK Subscription this receiver is capable of providing centimetre accuracy in real time. Because The Carlson NR3 supports GPS, Glonass, Galileo, Beidou, QZSS, IRNSS and SBAS satellite constellations it is capable of achieving this centimetre accuracy in tough conditions. Down below you can find which frequencies it supports. This receiver is also equipped with multi-path and ionospheric detection algorithms to maintain a high accuracy during shocks or vibrations. Specially designed to be compatibel with Carlson SurvPC and SurvCE. With the Hybrid+ function you can simultaneously work with the GNSS receiver and the Carlson CR+ Robotic total station.

• RTK Enabled for 1-2cm accuracy. Compatible with RTK Direct
• 448 channels
• GPS, Glonass, Galileo, Beidou, QZSS, IRNSS and SBAS
• 4G Mobile data
• UHF radio on 410-470Mhz frequency for rover/base setup 
• 2x hot swappable battery system for continuous surveying
• WiFi
• Bluetooth
• RS-232
• IP67

This receiver can be used in all applications where a centimetre accurate position is needed:

• Surveying
• GIS applications
• Earthworks
• Roadworks
• Construction
• Agriculture
• Mapping
• Landfill
• Hydrographic
• UAV Base Station

Rover setup

When using this device in a rover configuration you may need the following accessories besides the receiver itself

• RTK Correction service. To achieve centimetre accuracy your receiver will need RTCM correction data so it can calculate your exact position. Without an RTK provider your receiver won’t be able achieve a 1-2 centimetre accuracy.
• Surveying software. Your receiver provides you with the coordinates you need but you still need surveying software in order to process this information. Which software you need depends on your needs. We recommend keeping it simple and don’t pay for things you don’t need. Having that said, if you do have to do complicated surveying work make sure you get the right software. Some recommended options are Apglos, Carlson, Aplitop and FieldGenius. If you need help, feel free to contact us by phone or via the chat below!
• Data collector. You might need a tablet or controller to run your software on. The type of tablet depends on which software you have choosen as some are Android based and some are Windows.
• Bracket and Holders. These are used to connect your tablet to your surveying pole so the whole set is easier to handle.
• Surveying pole. In order to get the best performance out of your receiver you want to minimise the disturbances around you and give it a clear sight to the satellites above. That why its recommended attaching your receiver on a 2 meter minimum surveying pole. These come in fixed rods and in telescopic rods.

Rover/Base setup

When you don’t have access to an  RTK network you might have to setup your own base station in order to receive corrections. These are the accessories you might need besides the receiver itself:

• A second RTK GNSS receiver. preferably from the same brand. If you already have another one, then make sure they run on the same frequency.
• Surveying software. Your receiver provides you with the coordinates you need but you still need surveying software in order to process this information. Which software you need depends on your needs. We recommend keeping it simple and don’t pay for things you don’t need. Having that said, if you do have to do complicated surveying work make sure you get the right software. Some recommended options are Apglos, Carlson, Aplitop and FieldGenius. If you need help, feel free to contact us by phone or via the chat below!
• Data collector. You might need a tablet or controller to run your software on. The type of tablet depends on which software you have choosen as some are Android based and some are Windows.
• Bracket and Holders. These are used to connect your tablet to your surveying pole so the whole set is easier to handle.
• Surveying pole. In order to get the best performance out of your receiver you want to minimise the disturbances around you and give it a clear sight to the satellites above. That why its recommended attaching your receiver on a 2 meter minimum surveying pole. These come in fixed rods and in telescopic rods.
• Tripod and Tribrach. These are needed to setup your base station with the second receiver. The Tripod gives good stability so errors in sudden movements of the base station are avoided.
• External Radio. Most RTK GNSS receiver have an internal UHF radio build in. However, sometimes the power output is not strong enough to give you the workable distance you need and an external radio required. Internal radios can go up to 3 Watts that can work up to 8km. External radios can easily achieve 35 Watt outputs, thereby increasing your working range.

Global GPS Systems is currently in the process of independantly testing every single receiver on the market. In collaboration with an highly recognised surveying company we will be testing all receivers on its performance in increasingly more difficult environments, accuracy claims, Time to first fix, cold start and more. Want to know more about this? Please Contact us.

Carlson NR3 Specification