DJI Phantom 4 RTK

Connect the DJI Phantom 4 RTK to RTKdata.com for centimeter-level positioning. The P4R is a legacy survey drone still widely used for photogrammetry and mapping. This guide covers the complete NTRIP setup using the GS RTK app.

The Phantom 4 RTK uses the GS RTK app, NOT DJI Pilot 2. All menu paths in this guide refer to GS RTK.

Requirements

• Aircraft: DJI Phantom 4 RTK (model designation P4R)

• Controller: DJI P4R controller with built-in screen (or optional CrystalSky monitor)

• Software: GS RTK app — installed and updated to the latest available version

• Firmware: Aircraft firmware updated via DJI Assistant 2

• Internet: USB 4G dongle strongly recommended (see warning below)

• RTKdata account: Active subscription with NTRIP credentials

The P4R controller's built-in Wi-Fi module is known to be weak. Phone hotspot connections are unreliable beyond a few meters of distance. For professional field use, a USB 4G dongle plugged directly into the controller is strongly recommended. This is the single most effective upgrade for reliable RTK connectivity with the P4R.

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Step-by-step setup

1

Power on and link

Power on the Phantom 4 RTK and the controller. Wait for them to connect.

2

Connect to the internet

Plug in your USB 4G dongle, or connect to a phone Wi-Fi hotspot through the controller's Wi-Fi settings.

3

Open GS RTK

Launch the GS RTK app on the controller and enter the flight/camera view.

4

Open RTK settings

Tap the RTK menu button (located on the left sidebar or in the top status bar area).

5

Select Custom Network RTK

In the RTK settings screen, select Custom Network RTK as the correction source.

6

Enter NTRIP connection settings

Select your region and enter the corresponding server details:

North America

• Host (domain): rtk.rtkdata.com

• Host (IP fallback): 13.56.117.10

• Port: 2101

• Username / Password: From RTK Credentials in the internal dashboard (not website login)

• Mountpoint (ALL CAPS): AUTO (recommended) — or AUTO_WGS84, AUTO_ITRF2020, AUTO_ITRF2014

Europe

Australia

Only these four mountpoints are valid. Typing local CRS names as mountpoints will result in no corrections. Always use ALL CAPS.

7

Connect and verify

• Tap Connect to save and apply the settings

• Move the drone outdoors to a location with clear, open sky — the P4R needs a GNSS satellite fix before it sends position data to the NTRIP server

• Monitor the RTK status indicator in GS RTK:

Status	Color	Meaning	Typical Duration
SINGLE	Red	Basic GPS fix. No corrections applied.	Immediate
FLOAT	Yellow	Correction data being processed. Accuracy improving.	30–60 seconds
FIX	Green	Centimeter-level accuracy achieved. Std dev below 2 cm.	60–120 seconds

The P4R has a smaller GNSS antenna than newer DJI enterprise drones, so convergence takes slightly longer. Allow up to 2 minutes in partially obstructed environments.

Check the standard deviation readout in GS RTK. When both horizontal and vertical std dev show values under 0.02 m (2 cm), you have a reliable FIX.

Battery swap procedure

This is the most reported issue with the Phantom 4 RTK. The GS RTK app does not always automatically reconnect to the NTRIP server after a battery swap. Follow these steps every time:

1. After powering back on, go into the RTK menu and tap Connect again

2. Wait for the status to progress back to FIX before resuming your mission

3. Plan your flight missions to complete within a single battery whenever possible to avoid reconnection delays

Vertical reference (heights)

RTK corrections deliver ellipsoidal heights (height above the WGS 84 ellipsoid), not orthometric heights (height above mean sea level). If your workflow requires orthometric heights, apply a geoid model in your post-processing software.

Troubleshooting

Problem	Cause	Fix
"Connection Failed" or timeout	No internet on controller	Open a browser on the controller to verify internet access.
"Connection Failed" or timeout	4G dongle not detected	Remove and reinsert the dongle. Some older controller firmware has USB detection issues.
"Connection Failed" or timeout	Wrong port number	Verify the port is 2101. Do not use default ports from other NTRIP services.
RTK never leaves FLOAT	Obstructed sky view	The P4R's smaller antenna is more sensitive to obstructions. Move to a completely open area.
RTK never leaves FLOAT	Out of base station range	Ensure you are within 50 km of an RTKdata base station.
RTK never leaves FLOAT	Insufficient wait time	Allow at least 2–3 minutes before concluding FIX is not achievable. The P4R converges slower than newer models.
GS RTK app freezes	Controller hardware limits	Close and reopen GS RTK. If persistent, restart the controller entirely.
Connection lost after battery swap	Normal P4R behavior	Re-enter RTK settings and tap Connect after every battery swap.

Tips

• Use a USB 4G dongle, not Wi-Fi. The P4R controller's Wi-Fi antenna is notoriously weak. A 4G dongle provides significantly more stable internet for NTRIP corrections in the field.

• Firmware still matters. Even though the P4R is a legacy product, DJI has released firmware updates that improved RTK stability. Ensure you are on the latest available version.

• Photo geotagging: The P4R writes RTK-corrected coordinates directly into photo EXIF data. Verify this in your photogrammetry software by checking that coordinate accuracy values are present in the metadata.

• GS RTK only. The Phantom 4 RTK works exclusively with GS RTK. Do not attempt to use DJI Pilot 2 — it does not support the P4R.

• Cold starts take longer. If the drone has been powered off for an extended period or moved to a new location, initial GNSS acquisition and RTK convergence will take longer. Allow extra time.

• Survey-grade results: For best photogrammetry accuracy, fly overlapping grid patterns at consistent altitude with RTK FIX maintained throughout. If FIX is lost mid-flight, note which photos were captured during FLOAT for post-processing quality control.

• End of life planning. The P4R is no longer manufactured. Consider migrating to the Mavic 3 Enterprise RTK or Matrice 4 Enterprise RTK for continued DJI support and firmware updates.