Emlid RTK GNSS Receivers & Surveying Tools (2025)

Emlid RTK GNSS receivers deliver reliable, centimeter-level accuracy for a wide range of applications, including surveying, UAV mapping, construction, GIS projects, and more. Designed for industry professionals who demand consistent results, these survey equipment solutions help streamline your workflows and ensure dependable measurements, even in challenging environments.

• Precision & Speed: Achieve survey-grade accuracy in seconds, whether you’re mapping with an Emlid RS3 or working in remote areas with limited sky view.
• Versatile Positioning: Multi-band support (GPS/QZSS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo) and IMU tilt compensation in the Emlid RS3 let you capture data from hard-to-reach spots without sacrificing accuracy.
• Robust & Long-Lasting: With up to 22 hours of battery life, IP67 ratings, and dependable operation in -20 to +65 ºС, these GNSS receivers endure harsh field conditions.
• Base & Rover Functionality: The Emlid RS3 and RS2+ can serve as both a base station and rover, offering flexibility and reducing the need for multiple devices.
• Cost-Effective & Easy to Use: Emlid’s cost-conscious entry point and user-friendly software shorten training times, letting you focus on delivering results rather than troubleshooting hardware.

Emlid was founded in 2014. Since then, it has grown rapidly, evolving from a niche RTK hardware provider into a trusted brand for surveying, UAV mapping, and other professional applications. Emlid’s community-driven approach and reliable customer support have helped establish its reputation and global presence.

Emlid products, including RTK GNSS receivers and survey equipment, are sold worldwide through an extensive network of retailers, with Advexure being one of its authorized U.S. dealers.

The RS3 introduces tilt compensation, allowing you to collect points without holding the pole perfectly vertical. It also features faster initialization times and an integrated IMU. Both RS2+ and RS3 are multi-band GNSS receivers with robust RTK capabilities, but RS3 offers enhanced convenience, flexibility, and overall efficiency. The RS2+ remains an excellent choice for users who require a proven, reliable solution without tilt compensation.

Reach RX is a pocket-sized network rover ideal for scenarios that prioritize mobility and simplicity. It doesn’t serve as a base station, so it’s best suited for projects where you’ll rely on existing NTRIP networks or another Emlid unit as a base. If you need to set up a local base station or tackle more complex surveys, the RS2+ or RS3 is the better option.

Having a dedicated base station, such as the Emlid RS3, ensures you have a reliable source of real-time corrections for centimeter-accurate positioning. While you can use local NTRIP services if available, relying on your own base station grants full control, greater flexibility, and improved data quality—especially in remote locations where internet access may be limited.

For remote areas with poor internet connectivity or tough terrain, the Emlid RS3 or RS2+ is ideal. Both provide multi-band tracking (GPS/QZSS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo) for faster fixes and stable performance under challenging conditions. Using a multi-band RTK module in these environments ensures consistent centimeter-level accuracy, even without a stable network connection.

The RS3’s tilt compensation uses an integrated IMU that continuously measures the receiver’s orientation. These measurements are processed in real-time, allowing you to record points accurately even when the pole is tilted up to 60 degrees. This eliminates the need to hold the pole perfectly vertical, speeding up fieldwork and ensuring accuracy in hard-to-reach spots.

To obtain centimeter-accurate coordinates with your RTK drone, you must provide it with corrections. While a local NTRIP service can supply these, it may require stable internet, incur subscription costs, and limit you to certain areas. Using your own Emlid RS3 as a base station bypasses these constraints, granting full control over your data and ensuring reliable performance anywhere.

If you configure your RS3 or RS2+ as a base station, you don’t strictly need NTRIP. The receiver can stream corrections directly over LoRa radio, or through local Wi-Fi networks. However, using NTRIP can be beneficial if you want to share corrections easily across multiple GNSS receivers”or integrate with existing RTK infrastructures.

While Emlid’s RTK workflow can reduce the number of GCPs required—especially when drone mapping—it doesn’t necessarily eliminate them. GCPs help verify and improve the accuracy of your final outputs. For critical projects, placing a few carefully chosen GCPs can further validate your survey results and ensure top-tier data integrity.

Emlid Caster is a free online service that simplifies broadcasting your base corrections over the internet via NTRIP. With Emlid Caster, you can connect your base station to a rover located anywhere with an internet connection. It’s not mandatory, but it streamlines workflows by eliminating complex network setups, making it easier to manage multi-receiver projects.

LoRa is a low-power, long-range radio technology built into Emlid receivers to transmit corrections over distances up to several kilometers, without relying on cellular networks. Emlid’s LoRa antennas are optimized for their own receivers (RS3, RS2+) and use RTCM3 corrections. While LoRa modules share a common standard, compatibility with third-party systems (like Trimble) often depends on their ability to accept RTCM3 corrections at the specified frequency. Emlid’s LoRa solutions typically work best within the Emlid ecosystem.

Emlid Flow is a mobile app for configuring your GNSS receiver, collecting survey data, performing stakeouts, and logging RINEX data for post-processing. It’s designed for both surveying veterans and newcomers, offering intuitive workflows, a rich code library, and support for a wide range of coordinate systems. Emlid Flow ensures seamless field-to-office data synchronization through Emlid Flow 360.

RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) provides centimeter-level accuracy on the fly by transmitting corrections from a base station to a rover in real-time. In contrast, PPK (Post-Processed Kinematic) records raw data from both base and rover, allowing you to apply corrections later. RTK is best for immediate results like stakeout tasks, whereas PPK is ideal when real-time corrections aren’t feasible, but you still need highly accurate final coordinates.

Yes. Emlid receivers output standard NMEA format, enabling easy integration with popular GIS and survey applications like QField, ArcGIS Field Maps, and MicroSurvey FieldGenius. Connect via Bluetooth or USB, configure “Position output” in Emlid Flow, and your third-party app will receive accurate GNSS data in real-time.

Firmware updates are handled through the Emlid Flow app or by connecting the receiver to a computer and using Emlid’s software tools. Regular updates improve system performance, add new features, and maintain compatibility with evolving standards. Detailed instructions are available on Emlid’s documentation website and community forums.

Emlid Flow provides a comprehensive coordinate system library, allowing you to select known datums, projections, and geoid models. You can also manually input custom parameters. This flexibility ensures you can work with local or global reference frames and easily export data in formats compatible with your existing workflows.

Emlid Flow 360 is a cloud-based platform that complements the Emlid Flow mobile app, enabling you to access and manage survey projects, coordinate systems, and code lists from a web browser. Emlid Flow handles fieldwork—data collection, stakeout, and device configuration—while Flow 360 simplifies project management, data review, and centralized library maintenance.

Multi-band receivers like the RS3 or RS2+ track multiple constellations (GPS/QZSS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo) to maintain stable fixes in challenging conditions. For best results, position your “base station” in an area with a clear sky view, use longer observation times, and consider employing PPK if real-time corrections are disrupted by signal obstructions.

Emlid provides a free PPK tool called Emlid Studio, which processes RINEX logs from your GNSS receiver. It supports various global PPP services (like OPUS and AUSPOS) and other third-party solutions. This flexibility allows you to refine your positioning results to centimeter-level accuracy, even without a live connection.

Emlid receivers typically achieve a fixed solution within a few seconds once they lock onto sufficient satellite signals and start receiving stable corrections. Conditions such as satellite visibility, baseline length, and the presence of a local base station or NTRIP source influence initialization time, but the system is engineered for rapid, reliable results.

Emlid RTK solutions perform best with shorter baselines—generally up to 60 km in RTK mode. Beyond this range, precision may decrease. For longer baselines (up to 100 km) and challenging conditions, PPK workflows or using a network of CORS stations can maintain high levels of accuracy.

Yes. Emlid offers detailed online documentation, tutorials, and an active community forum for troubleshooting and best practices. The community often shares project stories, tips, and tricks, helping both beginners and seasoned surveyors get the most out of their RTK and GNSS workflows.

Emlid receivers output standard formats like NMEA and RTCM3, allowing them to integrate with a variety of legacy hardware and software. Surveyors can easily incorporate Emlid into existing workflows, bridging the gap between modern GNSS solutions and traditional total stations or data collectors

Emlid GNSS receivers log RINEX data, a widely recognized format in the geospatial industry. You can easily convert, post-process, and integrate these logs into various software ecosystems. Emlid Flow and Flow 360 also provide export options like CSV, DXF, and SHP, ensuring smooth interoperability with different GIS and CAD platforms.

Yes. By recording raw data in RINEX format and submitting it to PPP services (e.g., OPUS or AUSPOS), you can achieve absolute centimeter-level accuracy anywhere in the world. This is useful for establishing reference points in remote areas where a base station or NTRIP corrections may be unavailable.

For best vertical accuracy, use multi-band receivers like the RS3 or RS2+, and make sure to configure the antenna height and coordinate systems correctly in Emlid Flow. You may also incorporate GCPs, use PPK processing, or integrate geoid models when working on geodetic projects requiring precise vertical datum alignment.

Emlid Flow supports custom coordinate systems, datums, and geoids. You can localize your project by connecting known points with surveyed points, allowing the software to compute transformation parameters. This ensures that your collected data align perfectly with local reference systems.

Yes. Emlid GNSS receivers can be installed on boats, buoys, or other moving platforms to perform tasks like shoreline mapping, bathymetric surveys, or environmental monitoring. Keep in mind that maintaining a clear sky view and stable mounting improves satellite reception and data quality on dynamic surfaces.

Yes. Emlid Flow provides real-time status indicators, satellite constellations in use, and solution type (FIX, FLOAT, SINGLE), letting you quickly assess data quality. Additionally, you can monitor correction latency, signal strength, and position statistics, making on-the-spot decisions easier and improving fieldwork efficiency.

Yes, if your robotic total station or laser scanner accepts external GNSS data streams. By connecting your Emlid receiver over NMEA (via Bluetooth or cable), you can integrate GNSS coordinates into combined workflows. This hybrid approach leverages strengths of both GNSS and total stations, providing more comprehensive project data.

Yes. Emlid Flow and Flow 360 support formats like CSV, DXF, and SHP. After collecting survey data, you can export it directly from the field app or later from the cloud platform. This seamless integration expedites data transfer into GIS, CAD, or mapping software, reducing manual steps and potential errors.

Yes. By using Emlid Caster or a local NTRIP server, you can broadcast corrections from a single base station (e.g., RS3 or RS2+) to multiple rovers. This setup streamlines workflows in multi-operator teams, enabling all parties to benefit from a single corrections source for consistent results.