What is an RTK repeater?
An RTK repeater receives correction data from a radio base station and retransmits it to compatible tractor receivers. A suitably positioned repeater can help a radio link work around an obstruction. It relays the existing corrections; it does not become a new GNSS reference station.
Radio compatibility, positioning and a suitable power supply matter. Check the specific radio system with its supplier. John Deere’s repeater explanation describes this principle for its radio equipment; the product examples on that page are for the Australian market.
Do you need a repeater with RTK Solutions?
No radio repeater is needed for our NTRIP correction connection. A farm base sends corrections to a server over the internet. The tractor’s NTRIP client receives them through its own internet connection, usually mobile data. There is no direct base-to-tractor radio link to relay.
This avoids the need to position radio repeaters around the farm, but it still needs usable internet data in the fields. The GNSS receiver also needs adequate satellite visibility. A radio repeater cannot repair a mobile-data dropout or restore satellites blocked from the receiver.
BKG’s NTRIP overview explains how GNSS data is streamed over the internet. Our three-step tractor RTK guide shows the route from base to machine.
Radio repeater or NTRIP: what changes?
| Consideration | Radio RTK with a repeater | RTK Solutions NTRIP |
|---|---|---|
| Correction path | Base radio → repeater → tractor radio | Reference base/network → internet server → tractor internet connection |
| Coverage check | Radio path, terrain and equipment compatibility | Correction coverage, mobile data and NTRIP compatibility |
| Additional equipment | Compatible repeater, mounting and power | Compatible NTRIP client and modem/data connection where needed |
| Satellite reception | Still required at the receiver | Still required at the receiver |
Check the cause of an RTK dropout first
- Radio link lost: ask the radio supplier to check the path, antennas and whether a repeater is appropriate.
- NTRIP disconnected: check mobile data, login details, mountpoint and correction age.
- Corrections received but no RTK FIX: check receiver unlocks, correction format, satellite visibility and antenna condition.
A longer communication link does not remove the effect of distance from the reference base on positioning. Read about RTK accuracy and repeatability, or use our RTK troubleshooting guide.
Choose a correction service for your farm
We supply a farm-owned base with managed network access for multiple compatible machines, or Base-Free RTK for one compatible tractor per licence. Both use NTRIP, subject to equipment and working-area checks. See RTK subscription costs and setup requirements before comparing the complete cost.
RTK repeater questions
Does an RTK repeater improve GPS accuracy?
Can I change a radio RTK tractor to NTRIP?
Will NTRIP work where my tractor has no mobile signal?
Check the connection your tractor needs
Send your field locations and receiver, display and modem details. We’ll check whether NTRIP suits the machine and working area.