RTK corrections in Colorado
RTK Premium delivers network RTK corrections in Colorado in NAD83(2011), epoch 2010.0, over standard NTRIP. In a fixed solution it reaches under 1.5 cm horizontally and 2.5 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. Much of northwestern Colorado and the eastern San Juan Mountains have no RTK Premium network today, so check each site on the coverage map.
RTK Premium in Colorado
| Coverage | The coverage map shows networks over about 90% of Colorado's land area; no network across much of northwestern Colorado and the eastern San Juan Mountains; 2+ networks along the Front Range and across most of the eastern plains, and 1 network across most of the mountains and the Western Slope; check your site for 1 network or 2+ networks |
|---|---|
| Frame | NAD83(2011), epoch 2010.0; ITRF on request |
| Accuracy | Under 1.5 cm horizontal, 2.5 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, 01:00 to 15:00 Mountain 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 Colorado
Colorado crews choose between county networks, commercial network RTK, crowd-sourced base stations, satellite-delivered corrections and their own base.
| Type | Typical operator | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| County network | A county government; at least one Western Slope county offers free sign-up to the public. | 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 Colorado connection, and ITRF on request. Colorado uses three State Plane zones under NAD83: North, Central and South. On state highway projects the state DOT works in project coordinates: Colorado State Plane, modified by a combined elevation and scale factor for each project. Set the project, the controller and the correction service to the same frame and zone 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 Colorado
Farmland: Colorado had 34,900 farm operations on 29,200,000 acres operated in 2025, and farmers planted 2,150,000 acres of winter wheat. Drilling, spraying and pivot layout on that land run on a correction that holds pass after pass. (USDA NASS, State Agriculture Overview, 2025)
Roads: Colorado had 89,551 miles of public road in 2022, 68,338 of them rural. Grading, paving and drainage work on those roads is staked and checked against design. (FHWA, Highway Statistics, Table HM-10, 2022)
State highways and bridges: The state DOT maintains more than 23,000 lane miles of highway and 3,464 bridges, and keeps more than 35 mountain passes open year-round. Widening, rockfall work and bridge replacements on that system are set out from surveyed control. (Colorado DOT, CDOT by the Numbers, accessed Nov 2026)
Power plants: Colorado's power plants had a net summer capacity of 19,817 megawatts in 2024, and natural gas was the primary energy source. Plant sites, solar arrays and transmission routes are laid out from surveyed points. (U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2024)
Questions about RTK in Colorado
Which RTK correction service serves Colorado?
RTK Premium serves Colorado with network RTK in NAD83(2011), epoch 2010.0. Much of northwestern Colorado and the eastern San Juan Mountains have no RTK Premium network today. The coverage map shows where 1 network and where 2+ networks serve a site.
Is there a free RTK network in Colorado?
At least one Colorado county runs a real-time network that is free to the public once you sign up. Check its coverage near your sites and what it commits to on availability and support before you rely on it for paid work.
How much does RTK cost in Colorado?
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 Colorado?
RTK Premium delivers NAD83(2011), epoch 2010.0, with ITRF on request. Project the coordinates into the Colorado State Plane zone for your site, North, Central or South, or into the modified State Plane coordinates a state DOT project specifies.
Does RTK Premium work in the Colorado mountains?
RTK Premium serves most of the Colorado mountains on 1 network. The coverage map shows no network across much of northwestern Colorado and the eastern San Juan Mountains, and 2+ networks along the Front Range. Check each mountain site before you plan a job.
How accurate is RTK in Colorado?
In a fixed solution under good conditions, RTK Premium reaches under 1.5 cm horizontally and 2.5 cm vertically.
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 Colorado
Check each Colorado site on the coverage map, then run the 14-day trial there in your own State Plane zone before you commit to a plan.
