Using RIEGL VZ-600i with Emlid Reach RS2

The Emlid Reach RS2 can be used as a GNSS base station to provide RTK corrections in real time to a RIEGL VZ-series laser scanner. This article describes how to get this working with the VZ-600i.

The VZ-600i requires the RTK-capable GNSS receiver, Ri-RTKM, which is an optional accessory:

You will need the Emlid Flow phone app to configure the Emlid unit, and be signed in to your Emlid account. If you haven’t got one, you can register at http://auth.emlid.com.

The scanner HMI can be controlled from the mobile device via the RIEGL VZ-i series app, which is convenient if the scanner is mounted e.g. on the roof of a vehicle, or if the scanner is rotating in frame (“radar”) mode.

Modes of operation

1. Direct WiFi connection

This is the simplest setup, and it does not depend on any external infrastructure. As long as the two units are within WiFi range of each other, the corrections will be sent to the scanner. You will need to set up the base station in a central location with good GNSS signal and good visibility to the scanning locations.

The disadvantage of this setup is that the distance between the scanner as the base station is limited by the range of the WiFi connection.

Setup

Power on the Emlid base station, wait 30 seconds or so for it to boot up, and then connect your phone to the WiFi network being broadcast by the unit.

Open the Emlid Flow app, search for the Reach device and tap on it. Tap on “Base output”, and select “TCP Server”. This tells the unit to output corrections over the local WiFi network.

On the VZ-600i, tap the scanner’s WiFi status icon and join the same WiFi network.

Tap the VZ-600i GNSS status icon, and choose the correct GNSS configuration (see below).

2. Infrastructure WiFi connection

This option uses an existing (third-party) WiFi network, which both the Emlid and the VZ-600i are connected to. This has the advantage of extending the operating distance between the two units, as the correction will still be received by the scanner as long as it is within range of the WiFi network. This could be a useful option where you are scanning a large site that has WiFi coverage; for example, a university.

Disadvantages are that you will need to configure the Emlid to connect to the WiFi network using the Emlid Flow app, which is easy enough but requires some knowledge, and you will also need to connect the scanner to the WiFi network as well. This is simpler as you can configure the scanner settings directly on the unit. You also need to be able to set up the base station in a secure location that still has WiFi signal.

The Emlid will need to be configured to output correction over Local NTRIP, as for Method 1. The scanner GNSS settings are the same as for Method 1.

3. Emlid Caster service

This setup uses Emlid’s free cloud service, called Caster. This service allows you to upload your corrections from your base station to their cloud server, and then download them onto another device anywhere in the world. The Emlid Reach base station requires a SIM card, and the scanner gets its internet connection via a WiFi connection to a mobile phone that is acting as a WiFi hotspot.

The advantage is that you can move freely without being limited by WiFi network range, which means you can cover much larger survey sites. Potentially you can set up your base station in a more secure location, as you have more options about where to place it as you require only a mobile data signal, rather than a WiFi signal.

The obvious disadvantage is that you need to have a reliable mobile signal at the scanner in order to maintain the connection between both devices to the Caster server. This setup is also more complex and has more potential points of failure.

Setup

Power on the Emlid base station, wait 30 seconds or so for it to boot up, and then connect your phone to the WiFi network being broadcast by the unit.

Open the Emlid Flow app, search for the Reach device and tap on it.

Tap on “Settings”, and then tap on “Mobile data”. Ensure the “Mobile data” setting is switched on. Close this page and tap “< Receivers” to go back to the main screen.

Tap on “Base output”, and select “NTRIP” (note: this is different to the “Local NTRIP” setting that is used in Method 1 and 2). This tells the unit to use the Caster system.

Enable your mobile hotspot on your mobile phone. Tap the scanner’s WiFi icon and join your phone’s mobile hotspot. Remember to check the WiFi password as it will have remembered the last-used password and it is displayed only as asterisks. It is convenient to set your phone’s mobile hotspot to emlidreach, as this works for Method 1 as well as Method 3.

Tap the scanner’s GNSS icon, and choose the relevant GNSS setting.

GNSS profiles

The VZ-600i can store multiple GNSS profiles. The necessary settings are different depending on which of the above methods is being used to broadcast the corrections. If you intend to operate using more than one of the three methods, you can set up different profiles to suit.

To add a new GNSS profile, tap the GNSS status icon at the top of the scanner screen:

Tap the settings icon:

Tap the "New" button:

Once you have finished, tap the red "Save As" button:

Enter a filename - this cannot contain spaces or some special characters. It isn't going to be visible in the scanner interface, so make it something simple.

Profile settings for Method 1 (direct WiFi connectin)

Configure your Emlid Reach RS2 as follows:

Base Output:

• Channel: TCP Server
• Port: 9000

Base Settings:

• Coordinate entry method: Average SINGLE
• Averaging time: 5 min (longer is better)

Make a note of the IP address of the Emlid unit, as you will need this to configure the scanner.

Set up your scanner GNSS profile as shown: