Top 5 RTK GNSS Receivers for Construction and Infrastructure

Dense areas of (high) buildings can interfere alot with the satellite signals your RTK GNSS receiver tries to collect, so a GPS receiver with great performance is necessary in the infrastructure and construction business. 

 

Performance and price are 2 of the key ingredients of finding a good GPS receiver. Of course there are more components that play a role which we take in consideration as well. 

Here is our review process in detail:

1. Performance
2. Price
3. Connectivity
4. Compatibility
5. Features  

Top 5 Best RTK GNSS Receivers For Infrastructure and Construction in 2024

Below is a list of the top 5 best RTK GNSS receivers for the infrastructure and construction business that we think are cost effective and work well in the environments common in the infrastructure and construction industry.

Please note: As you probably know, a GPS surveying set is not complete without a good surveying software solution. Where the GNSS antenna determines the location its the software that allows you to determine what to do with this location. Wether this is uploading your DTM (digital terrain model) for staking out, or for point collection. In this review we focus on the GNSS antenna only because this is responsible for the performance. Please read the article below for a good software solution: 

• Software Help Guide – Best Land Surveying Software

The South Galaxy G3 RTK GNSS receiver is the receiver we recommend for the infrastructure and construction business. It’s a very strong and reliable GPS receiver that gets the job done.

The South Galaxy G3 is very sharp priced for its performance capabalities. With its 1598 channels and 60° IMU tilt sensor you just know that whatever obstacles you encounter, with this RTK GNSS receiver they won’t be a problem. With the new function ‘RTK Keep’ the South Galaxy G3 GNSS antenna is able to keep centimeter-level accuracy for a few minutes when the RTK correction is missing. 

The South Galaxy G3 GPS receiver doesn’t have an internet modem, but that won’t be necessary because your data collector probably does have one. So you’re able to connect with an RTK VRS correction network to get centimeter accurate. 

With a weight of only 790 grams the South Galaxy G3 is a very light GNSS receiver. So you won’t have to carry a heavy device the whole time when you’re measuring on the construction site. The receiver is still packaged with a magnesium alloy shell which makes it a very strong device that can take a beating. It also has an IP68 rating which makes it fully protected against blowing dust. 

The South Galaxy G3 RTK GNSS receiver uses the new Farlink protocol. The Farlink protocol let’s your South Galaxy G3 GPS receiver have a radio with a maximum range of 15 kilometers. Also the power consumption of your GNSS receiver is reduced by 60% with this protocol. This allows you to set up another GNSS receiver as a base station and be able to connect the two receivers with eachother for a distance of 15 kilometers. 

Here are some possible South Galaxy G3 setups

Here are some possible EFIX F7 setups

Here are some possible a-GEO Matrix 2 setups

Founded in 1983 in America, Carlson specializes in field data collection, machine control products, and CAD design software for surveying markets worldwide.

The Carlson BRx7 RTK GNSS receiver stands out as their flagship hardware product. With over 800 channels, this RTK GNSS receiver ensures reliable performance. Although its price is higher than many RTK GPS receivers, it provides the confidence to survey almost anywhere.

The Carlson BRx7 GNSS receiver is equipped with an IMU tilt sensor that can tilt up to 60° with a compensation accuracy of 5 cm, making it suitable for surveying in challenging environments. If you are unable to connect to a local RTK or CORS solution and prefer not to set up a base station, you can use the Atlas L-Band correction data for seamless operation anywhere.

Featuring a removable dual battery with a 12-hour working time, the BRx7 allows you to swap out batteries when they run dry, ensuring uninterrupted surveying. Additionally, if you plan to use the Carlson BRx7 GNSS receiver in a rover and base setup, you can leverage Carlson’s Listen-Listen, an industry-leading cloud-based service that eliminates the baseline length restriction of UHF radios. This service provides RTK baselines up to 50 km with fast acquisition times.

Here are some possible Carlson BRx7 setups

Here are some possible South INNO8 setups

Things to consider when choosing an RTK GPS receiver for Infrastructure and Construction purposes

 

1. Besides The GPS Antenna You Will Need Surveying Software As Well

With just a GNSS receiver you are not going to get far. Yes the GPS antenna provides you with the positioning data and the accuracy that you need but you’ll still need a place to process all of this. 

This is what land surveying software is for. Within the software you can attach data to your GPS positioning data. By uploading DTM (Digital Terrain Models) into your software you can stake out these points based on the positioning data your GPS system provides. 

The receivers listed above are all compatible with most of the GPS survey software packages so connecting should not be an issue. Now the questions remains, Which software package do I need? You can read the article below to find a good solution:

• Software Help Guide – Top 5 software for land surveying

 

2. Choose a Strong GNSS Receiver 

In the infrastructure and construction business the environments can be very harsh, because of that it is important to have a strong and rugged GNSS receiver. That’s why we always recommend a GPS receiver with an IP67 rating or higher. If something may happen it will be strong enough to survive it. This is ofcourse for minor things, not if a truck or something like that runs over it.