Frequently Asked Questions

My receiver is not RTK unlocked. Can I still use NTRIP corrections?

No. The receiver must have the manufacturer's required RTK option or high-accuracy unlock before it can use RTK corrections. Contact your dealer about the appropriate unlock, or log in to see whether VKLink has any options for your equipment.

I am receiving correction data, but the receiver cannot get an RTK fix. What should I check?

Common causes include:

• An incorrect mountpoint, leaving the receiver connected to the start stream instead of the assigned correction stream.
• No valid GGA position being sent back to the server.
• The machine has not moved far enough for automatic base selection to confirm the most suitable stream for its location.
• The selected correction format, datum or message set is not compatible with the receiver.
• The machine is too far from the selected physical or virtual reference station.
• Poor satellite visibility, trees, buildings or another obstruction around the GNSS antenna.

Check the customer dashboard first. If the problem remains, contact VKLink with the receiver model, location and the status shown on the display.

Some manufacturers charge for NTRIP passthrough. Is there another option?

Yes. The VKLink NTRIP modem provides another path for getting correction data into a compatible receiver or display. It can use 4G, Wi-Fi or Starlink for internet access and supplies true RS-232 serial correction data to the machinery.

What if my farm is outside a coverage area?

Contact VKLink with the farm location and receiver model. Where the surrounding reference stations and correction data are suitable, we may be able to build and start a virtual base to get you working.

The best long-term option is a physical VKLink Additional Reference Point, or VKLink base, installed at or near the farm. This shortens the baseline, provides dependable local coverage and is compatible with more agricultural receivers than a virtual solution.

Do I need mobile coverage to use NTRIP?

The correction data must reach the machine through an internet connection. That connection can be 4G or another suitable mobile service, Wi-Fi, or Starlink. The reference station does not transmit NTRIP corrections directly to the tractor by radio.

Can I use Starlink for VKLink corrections?

Yes. Both the VKLink modem in the machinery and a VKLink base can use Starlink as their internet connection.

How does distance from a reference station affect RTK?

A shorter baseline generally gives the receiver its best opportunity to obtain and hold an RTK fix. Longer baselines can increase convergence time, reduce accuracy and make some agricultural receivers more likely to fall back to float. Use the VKLink coverage map to check the expected baseline at your farm.

Will VKLink work with my existing receiver or display?

Many older and current agricultural receivers can use VKLink, but their supported correction formats and connection methods differ. Check the receiver compatibility guide, then contact VKLink if your model is not listed.

Will my existing guidance lines stay in the same place?

They will only remain correctly aligned when the machine and correction stream use the datum expected by those lines. VKLink supports Australian agricultural equipment working in GDA94 and GDA2020. Confirm the receiver setup before changing streams or importing guidance data.

What is the cost?

VKLink charges $500 per connection per year, not per user.

Can I obtain corrections directly from an Australian government CORS network?

It depends on the state and the type of service. Geoscience Australia provides free individual-station streams after registration, but its correction streams are MSM7 only and are not suitable for many older agricultural receivers. Some state network products are only supplied commercially through authorised resellers. See the Australian NTRIP provider and government access comparison.