How JACOB | MARTIN’S LTE RTK Workflow Boosts Reliability (with UHF Radio as Backup)

At JACOB | MARTIN, accuracy and reliability are at the heart of every project we deliver — from subdivisions in Lubbock, to infrastructure improvements in Abilene, to land development in Weatherford, and now our expanding work in San Angelo. Our survey crews depend on high-precision GNSS equipment like the Leica GS18 to make sure every line, point, and boundary is set exactly where it belongs.

For years, we’ve relied on a traditional RTK setup: one GS18 configured as a base, one or more rovers, and a SATEL UHF radio link carrying corrections from the base to the rover. That approach has served us well, but it isn’t perfect. Crowded radio frequencies, line-of-sight limits, and interference from nearby users can slow a survey down — and in this industry, downtime matters.

That’s why we’re moving forward with a new LTE-based correction workflow. This change eliminates interference issues, expands our operating range, and provides more reliable corrections. At the same time, our crews continue to carry a radio fallback for rural Texas projects where cell service is unreliable.

How the new connection works

Think of this as upgrading from line-of-sight radios to internet-based streaming — the corrections are the same, but the delivery method is smarter.

1. Base Station (GS18 with SIM and Static IP): We place a GS18 receiver on a known control point. Instead of attaching a UHF antenna, the base connects to the LTE network using a SIM card with a public static IP address. That static IP is critical — it gives the base a permanent “street address” on the internet, so rovers can always find it.
2. Correction Delivery Options:
   • Direct IP – Rovers connect straight to the base using its static IP address. This is simple but requires that the carrier provide a public static IP (many cellular networks use CGNAT by default, which blocks inbound traffic).
   • NTRIP Caster – The base pushes its correction stream to an NTRIP caster (a central hub, on-premise or cloud-hosted). Rovers then log into the caster using credentials and subscribe to the correction stream via a mountpoint. This setup is ideal for multiple rovers and adds security, scalability, and user management.
3. Rover Connection: Each rover is equipped with a multi-network SIM card (multi-IMSI). This technology allows the rover to automatically switch between carriers like AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile depending on which has the strongest coverage at the site. The rover connects either directly to the base (via static IP) or to the NTRIP caster and receives the correction data in real time.
4. Field Performance: Our rovers continuously monitor the “age of corrections.” With LTE, we typically maintain a delay of 1–2 seconds, which is ideal for maintaining a centimeter-level RTK fix. Bandwidth requirements are minimal — usually only a few kilobits per second — so even moderate cell coverage is enough.

Why this matters for our clients

• Reliability – No more dropouts caused by crowded UHF frequencies or blocked line-of-sight.
• Extended Range – As long as there’s cellular coverage, the rover can receive corrections — not just within a radio’s limited bubble.
• Scalable – With an NTRIP caster, multiple rovers (or even machine control units) can all connect to the same base simultaneously.
• Flexibility – Our crews can instantly switch between LTE or UHF depending on site conditions.

Still ready for rural Texas

We know not every site has cell service. That’s why our crews continue to carry the traditional base + radio + rover setup. If LTE coverage isn’t available, we can immediately switch to UHF and keep working. No delays, no excuses — just dependable results.

Same trusted Leica accuracy — smarter connection

We’re still using the same Leica GS18 receivers with tilt compensation and proven centimeter accuracy. The difference is in the connection path. By adopting LTE + static IP and multi-network SIMs — while keeping radios as a backup —JACOB | MARTIN ensures that our survey crews remain accurate, connected, and efficient across every Texas job.

What this means for you

• Less downtime – fewer signal interruptions and faster setups.
• Faster project delivery – layouts and as-builts completed more efficiently.
• Consistent precision – whether in Lubbock, Abilene, Weatherford, or San Angelo, you get the same accuracy with better uptime.

At JACOB | MARTIN, our mission is simple: deliver precise, efficient, and reliable surveying services across Texas. With this LTE upgrade — paired with traditional radios as backup — we’re giving our clients the best of both worlds: cutting-edge technology and proven field solutions.