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RTCM3 Messages

The LC29H(DA) accepts RTCM3.x correction messages as input for RTK rover operation. The LC29H(BS) outputs RTCM3.x messages for base station use. RTCM messages are binary-framed (not NMEA) and share the same UART port.

RTCM3 messages use a binary frame format distinct from NMEA text sentences:

D3 [length_hi] [length_lo] [message_data...] [CRC24Q_hi] [CRC24Q_mid] [CRC24Q_lo]
FieldBytesDescription
Preamble10xD3 — identifies the start of an RTCM3 frame
Reserved6 bitsReserved, set to 0
Length10 bitsMessage data length (0–1023 bytes)
Message DatavariableRTCM3 message content
CRC3CRC-24Q integrity check
MessageTypeDescription
1005Stationary ARPReference station antenna reference point (ECEF X/Y/Z)

Message 1005 provides the base station’s known position in Earth-Centered Earth-Fixed coordinates. This is the foundation for all differential corrections — the rover uses this position to compute its own baseline vector.

MessageConstellationDescription
1019GPSGPS satellite ephemeris parameters
1020GLONASSGLONASS satellite ephemeris parameters
1042BeiDouBDS satellite ephemeris parameters
1044QZSSQZSS satellite ephemeris parameters
1046GalileoGalileo I/NAV satellite ephemeris parameters

MSM4 messages include pseudorange and carrier-phase observables. Suitable for most RTK applications with moderate bandwidth.

MessageConstellation
1074GPS MSM4
1084GLONASS MSM4
1094Galileo MSM4
1114QZSS MSM4
1124BeiDou MSM4

MSM7 messages include all observable types at full resolution (code + carrier phase + Doppler + SNR). Higher bandwidth than MSM4 but provides additional signal quality information.

MessageConstellation
1077GPS MSM7
1087GLONASS MSM7
1097Galileo MSM7
1117QZSS MSM7
1127BeiDou MSM7

Use PAIR432 to select MSM4 or MSM7 output on the BS variant:

ModePAIR432 ValueMessages Output
Disabled-1No RTCM output
MSM401005 + ephemeris + MSM4 (1074/1084/1094/1114/1124)
MSM711005 + ephemeris + MSM7 (1077/1087/1097/1117/1127)

Antenna reference point (1005) and ephemeris messages are independently controlled via PAIR434 and PAIR436.

When connecting to public NTRIP casters like rtk2go.com, the correction stream typically contains:

MessageDescriptionTypical Rate
1005Base station position (ECEF)Every 10 seconds
1074/1077GPS observationsEvery 1 second
1084/1087GLONASS observationsEvery 1 second
1094/1097Galileo observationsEvery 1 second
1124/1127BeiDou observationsEvery 1 second
1230GLONASS code-phase biasEvery 10 seconds