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Our state has a real-time network. When is it better to run our own base?
Asked October 25, 2026
AI answer · not yet verified by a surveyor
Both have a place [1].
Network RTK (VRS) is good when:
- you have strong cell coverage,
- the network is well maintained and tied to the national datum, and
- you want quick starts without carrying a base.
Your own base is good when:
- cell coverage is weak,
- the project needs a local control system or a consistent base for the whole job,
- you need radio links, or
- you want full control over the base position and metadata.
Either way:
- Know the datum, epoch and geoid the network or base uses.
- Check into project control at the start, and periodically through the day.
- Record the network solution and corrections source for each session.
Many firms use network RTK for daily work and their own base for remote sites or high-precision control.
General information only. Answers here are not a survey or legal advice, and no one here can tell you where your boundary is. For your property, hire a licensed land surveyor in your state; for legal questions, a real-estate attorney.