RTK corrections in California
RTK Premium delivers network RTK corrections in California in NAD83(2011), epoch 2010.0, over standard NTRIP. In a fixed solution it reaches 1 to 2 cm horizontally and under 3 cm vertically. It costs $900 per device per year, or $690 for RTK Core on a single network, and a 14-day free trial comes first.
RTK Premium in California
| Coverage | The coverage map shows networks over nearly all of California by area (98%); check your site for 1 network or 2+ networks |
|---|---|
| Frame | NAD83(2011), epoch 2010.0; ITRF on request |
| Accuracy | 1 to 2 cm horizontal, under 3 cm vertical, in a fixed solution |
| Service level | 99.9% monthly availability for RTK Premium where the coverage map shows an Eligible Area |
| Trial | 14 days on your own receiver; your account arrives by email within two working hours |
| Price | In the US, RTK Premium costs $900 per device per year, RTK Core $690 and RTK Access $350, excluding sales tax. Monthly plans run from $39 to $100. |
| Support | Business days, 00:00 to 14:00 Pacific Time (09:00 CET to 17:00 ET) |
| Stream | RTCM 3.x over NTRIP; caster rtkpremium.xyz, port 2101, mountpoint COMMON |
Check it before you commit
Setup guides
More than 100 step-by-step guides cover receivers, controllers, drones and machine control.
Test it yourself
RTKTEST.com compares up to three correction services against a surveyed point in one 15-minute session, and the 14-day trial runs on your own receiver at your own sites.
Correction services in California
California crews choose between the state's public network, commercial network RTK, crowd-sourced base stations, satellite-delivered corrections and their own base.
| Type | Typical operator | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Public state network | A university-based spatial reference center, with one single-base stream per registered organization and a one-time processing fee. | Distance to the nearest base for single-base work, coverage near your sites, whether an availability commitment is published, and support hours. |
| Commercial network RTK | A private provider with stations across several states. | How many correction sources serve your area, the published service level and its remedy, and the term. |
| Crowd-sourced network | Independent owners hosting single base stations. | Distance to the nearest base, station uptime, and how each base was surveyed. |
| Satellite or state-space (PPP-RTK, SSR) | A provider broadcasting an error model without a local base. | Convergence time, accuracy and vertical performance. |
| Your own base | Your crew, on a surveyed point. | The survey of the base point, range, and the time spent setting it up and guarding it. |
Coordinates and heights
RTK Premium delivers NAD83(2011), epoch 2010.0, on every California connection, and ITRF on request. California uses six State Plane zones under NAD83, numbered I to VI. Crustal motion across California is large enough that the epoch matters, so set the project, the controller and the correction service to the same frame, epoch and zone, and check a known control point before the job starts.
Setup
- Start the 14-day free trial on this site, or order a subscription. Your account arrives by email within two working hours.
- Enter the caster rtkpremium.xyz, port 2101 and mountpoint COMMON in your controller or receiver, with the username and password from your account.
- Measure a control point you trust before the job starts, and compare the result with its published coordinates in your project's frame.
Industries using precise positioning or RTK corrections in California
Highways: California's state highway system spans 15,018 centerline miles and 52,044 lane-miles. Paving, widening and bridge work on that system are staked and checked to the centimeter. (Caltrans Facts, 2023 data)
Farmland: California's farms and ranches received $64.7 billion in cash receipts for their output in 2025. Bed shaping, drip tape placement and auto-steer depend on a correction that holds row after row. (California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2025)
Ports: The Port of Los Angeles handled 10.2 million TEUs in 2025. Terminal paving, crane rails and yard layout are set out from surveyed control. (Port of Los Angeles, 2025)
Solar energy: Utility-scale solar plants in California generated 40.3 billion kWh in the first eight months of 2025. Pile layout and tracker rows on solar sites are staked from surveyed points. (U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2025)
Questions about RTK in California
Which RTK correction service serves California?
RTK Premium serves California with network RTK in NAD83(2011), epoch 2010.0. The coverage map shows where 1 network and where 2+ networks serve a site.
Is there a free RTK network in California?
California's public network, run by a university-based spatial reference center, offers one single-base stream per registered organization for a one-time processing fee, which schools and universities do not pay. Check its coverage near your sites and what it commits to on availability and support.
How much does RTK cost in California?
RTK Premium costs $900 per device per year, RTK Core $690 and RTK Access $350, with monthly plans from $39 to $100, excluding sales tax.
Which reference frame and zone do I use in California?
RTK Premium delivers NAD83(2011), epoch 2010.0, with ITRF on request. Project the coordinates into the California State Plane zone for your site, I to VI.
Why does the epoch matter in California?
Ground motion moves points by centimeters a year in parts of the state, so coordinates in the same frame but a different epoch can disagree. Match the epoch of your control and your corrections.
Do I need my own base station in California?
No. Network RTK builds the correction for your position from the surrounding stations, so there is no base to set up, survey or guard.
Can I try it before I buy?
Yes. The 14-day free trial runs on your own receiver and needs no payment.
Last updated: 7 November 2026
Try RTK Premium in California
Run the 14-day trial at your own California sites, in your own zone and epoch, before you commit to a plan.
