Setup Guide · Trimble Access
Trimble Access has built-in NTRIP support. This guide walks you through creating a survey style with an internet data link, connecting to an NTRIP server and selecting the right mountpoint — for any Trimble controller and any NTRIP service.
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Requirements
Trimble Access version
The menu paths in this guide apply to Trimble Access 2022 and later. Earlier versions use the same settings but may have slightly different navigation. If your menus look different, check the Trimble Access help documentation for your specific version.
From the main menu, go to . Tap an existing rover style to edit it, or tap New to create one. Name it something descriptive like "NTRIP Rover".
In the survey style, set Survey type to RTK. Under Rover options, ensure your receiver model is selected correctly.
Inside the survey style, tap Rover radio (or Data link depending on your version). Set the Type to Internet connection.
Set Internet source to Controller internet — this uses the controller's own SIM or Wi-Fi connection. If the receiver has a built-in SIM, you can alternatively select Receiver internet.
Set the Use NTRIP switch to Yes.
Fill in the connection details from your NTRIP service. For RTKsub:
Leave Mountpoint name empty for now — Trimble Access will present you with a list of available mountpoints when you start the survey. You can also enter the mountpoint directly here to skip the selection step on each job start.
Leave Use NTRIP v1.0 unchecked. Trimble Access automatically negotiates NTRIP version 2.0 if the server supports it — which all modern services do. Only check this box if you encounter connection problems.
For VRS mountpoints, check Send user identity info (or ensure GGA transmission is enabled). This sends your rover's position to the server so it can generate a virtual reference station near you.
Tap Accept to save the survey style.
Open or create a job with the correct coordinate system. From the main menu tap Survey and select the NTRIP rover style you just created.
Trimble Access will connect to the receiver via Bluetooth, then establish an internet connection to the NTRIP server.
A list of available mountpoints appears automatically. The list can be sorted by Distance, Format or Mountpoint name. Tap a row to see more detail about that stream.
For Trimble receivers, select the MSM7 mountpoint — RTCM3_NL_MSM7 — for maximum precision. For baselines over 30 km, choose the VRS mountpoint RTCM3_NL_VRS.
Tap Accept. Corrections begin streaming immediately.
Watch the position quality indicator in the status bar. It progresses from Autonomous → DGPS → Float → Fixed. In good conditions with a nearby reference station, Fixed arrives within 10–60 seconds.
Once Fixed, your position is centimetre-accurate and you are ready to measure or stake out.
RTK Fixed confirmed
Trimble Access shows "Fixed" in the position quality bar. The solution indicator turns green. You can verify correction flow in Instrument → Receiver Status → Data Link — the bytes received counter should be incrementing steadily.
Trimble receivers work excellently with VRS (Virtual Reference Station) mountpoints. VRS eliminates baseline distance as a factor by generating a synthetic reference station close to your rover's position.
To use VRS in Trimble Access, the software must send your rover's NMEA GGA position to the NTRIP server. Trimble Access does this automatically when GGA transmission is enabled — which it is by default when NTRIP is active.
VRS and coordinate systems in Trimble Access
When you select a VRS mountpoint, Trimble Access may display a warning that the base data coordinate system differs from the job coordinate system. This is normal — the VRS stream is always in ETRS89/WGS84. Your job coordinate system (for example RD New for the Netherlands) is applied separately through the calibration or datum transformation in the job settings. Dismiss the warning and continue — the positions collected will be in your job's coordinate system.
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Cannot connect to NTRIP server | No internet, port 2101 blocked or wrong host | Test internet by opening a browser. Switch from Wi-Fi to mobile data. Check host address — no http:// prefix. |
| Sourcetable loads but no mountpoints match | Wrong credentials or server returns empty table | Verify username and password. Check subscription is active. Try logging in via a browser at the server address. |
| Stuck on Float — not reaching Fixed | Long baseline, obstructions, wrong mountpoint | Switch to VRS mountpoint. Check distance to nearest reference station. Move to open sky. |
| Warning: coordinate system mismatch | VRS stream in WGS84, job in local datum | This is normal. Dismiss the warning. Verify your job has the correct coordinate system and datum transformation configured. |
| Connection drops after a few minutes | Unstable mobile data in working area | Check signal strength. Use a dedicated mobile hotspot. Trimble Access automatically reconnects — wait for it to re-establish. |
| Fixed position has large offset from known points | Wrong coordinate system or datum transformation | Check job coordinate system. For Netherlands, verify RDNAPTRANS transformation is applied. For UK, verify OSTN15 is active. |
| Force NTRIP v1.0 message | Server or network does not support NTRIP v2 | In the survey style data link settings, check Use NTRIP v1.0. This forces the older protocol which is compatible with all servers. |
Trimble R12 and R12i: The R12i has a built-in IMU for tilt compensation. When using NTRIP with the R12i, ensure the receiver has achieved a Fixed solution before activating tilt compensation — the IMU requires RTK Fix to calibrate correctly.
The R12 supports all RTCM3 MSM levels. Use MSM7 for best results. The R12i's RealFill technology may require a brief additional initialisation period at longer baselines — this is normal.
Internet source: the R12 and R12i do not have a built-in SIM. Use Controller internet or tether the controller to a phone hotspot.
Trimble R10: A robust multi-constellation receiver that works well with MSM7 corrections. The R10 supports GPS, GLONASS and BeiDou — ensure the NTRIP service provides corrections for all three constellations (RTCM3_NL_MSM7 does).
The R10 does not have a built-in SIM. Connect to the internet via the TSC controller. For best Fix times, enable all available constellations in the receiver settings.
Trimble SPS986: Machine control receiver commonly used on construction sites. The SPS986 supports internal cellular connectivity — you can configure NTRIP directly in the receiver using a web browser at the receiver's IP address, rather than through Trimble Access.
When using the receiver's built-in internet, set Internet source to Receiver internet in the Trimble Access data link settings. The receiver handles the NTRIP connection independently.
Trimble R780: All-constellation high-precision receiver. The R780 supports all RTCM3 MSM types and works particularly well with VRS corrections at long baselines. Its advanced RTK engine resolves ambiguities faster than most receivers at challenging baselines up to 100 km.
The R780 can use either controller internet or its own built-in modem. If the receiver has an active SIM, set Internet source to Receiver internet for the most reliable connection as it avoids Bluetooth bandwidth overhead.