What is RTK GPS and How is it Different From Normal GPS?
The GPS in your phone and the RTK GPS a surveyor carries are built on the exact same satellite network. The difference between 5 metres of error and 2 centimetres of error comes down entirely to one added ingredient: a correction signal. Here is how that correction actually works.
Why Regular GPS is Inaccurate
GPS satellites transmit signals that travel through the atmosphere before reaching a receiver. That journey introduces small timing errors — atmospheric delay, satellite clock drift, signal reflection. A standalone receiver has no way to know how much error is present in any given moment, so it simply accepts the position it calculates, with several metres of built-in uncertainty.
RTK vs Regular GPS: Side by Side
| Feature | Regular GPS | RTK GPS |
|---|---|---|
| Typical accuracy | 3-5 metres | 1-3 centimetres |
| Correction source | None | Base station or network RTK |
| Update rate | 1 Hz | Up to 20 Hz |
| Cost | Built into every phone | Specialized survey equipment |
| Use case | Navigation, mapping apps | Engineering survey, stakeout |
Two Types of RTK Correction
RTK GPS is the equipment behind almost every centimeter-accurate survey deliverable — GCP establishment, stakeout, boundary verification, and topographic point collection. When accuracy actually matters, RTK is not optional. Learn more about our DGPS and RTK survey services across India.
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