Trimble Earthworks

Connect a Trimble Earthworks machine control system to RTKdata.com for centimeter-level RTK positioning on excavators, dozers, and graders. Earthworks provides a straightforward NTRIP configuration — no VRS confusion like in Trimble Access.

Key capabilities

Feature	Details
Compatible display	Trimble TD520
Compatible receivers	SNR930, MS992, MS995
NTRIP configuration	GNSS Configuration > Corrections > NTRIP
Correction format	RTCM 3.x via NTRIP
RTK license	Required on the receiver
VRS confusion?	No — Earthworks uses a simple NTRIP toggle, unlike Trimble Access

Requirements

• Trimble Earthworks software on a TD520 display

• GNSS receiver: SNR930, MS992, or MS995 with RTK activation

• Internet connection: Built-in cellular modem on the receiver or external modem

• RTKdata account: Active subscription with NTRIP credentials

Don't have an RTKdata.com account yet? Start 30-day Free Trial or View Pricing

Step-by-step setup

1

Verify RTK activation on the receiver

1. Confirm that your GNSS receiver (SNR930, MS992, or MS995) has an active RTK license.

2. RTK activation is tied to the receiver hardware, not the Earthworks software.

3. If RTK is not activated, contact your Trimble dealer.

Without RTK activation on the receiver, the NTRIP connection will not deliver corrections even if all settings are entered correctly.

2

Verify internet connectivity

1. Ensure the receiver has internet access via its built-in cellular modem (with active SIM card) or an external modem.

2. Verify signal strength on the display or receiver status indicators.

3

Open NTRIP correction settings

1. On the TD520 display running Earthworks, navigate to GNSS Configuration > Corrections.

2. Under NTRIP, set Use NTRIP to Yes.

4

Enter RTKdata.com NTRIP settings

Fill in the NTRIP connection fields:

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

Europe

Australia

Type AUTO manually in ALL CAPS. Do not browse the source table — enter the mountpoint name directly.

5

Connect and verify RTK status

1. Save the settings. Earthworks will initiate the NTRIP connection.

2. Monitor the GNSS/RTK status indicator on the TD520 display:

Status	Meaning
Autonomous / GPS	Basic satellite fix. No corrections applied.
Float	Correction data arriving and being processed.
RTK Fixed	Centimeter-level accuracy achieved. Ready for machine control operations.

1. Convergence to RTK Fixed typically takes 30–90 seconds with clear sky visibility.

For machine control operations, always wait for RTK Fixed before beginning grading, excavation, or dozing. Working in Float mode may result in elevation errors that affect cut/fill accuracy.

Vertical reference (heights)

RTK corrections deliver ellipsoidal heights (height above the WGS 84 ellipsoid), not orthometric heights. For machine control, you typically work with a local site calibration or localization. Configure the appropriate vertical datum in your Earthworks project settings.

Troubleshooting

Problem	Cause	Fix
"Use NTRIP" option not available	Outdated Earthworks software	Update Trimble Earthworks to the latest version.
RTK not available	Receiver not activated	Contact your Trimble dealer to activate RTK on the SNR930, MS992, or MS995 receiver.
No internet connection	No SIM card or signal	Verify the receiver's cellular modem has an active SIM card with a data plan. Check signal strength.
Connection fails	Wrong host or port	Double-check the host address for your region and confirm port is 2101.
Authentication error	Wrong credentials	Use the username and password from your RTKdata dashboard, not your website login. Credentials are case-sensitive.
Stuck on Float	Poor sky visibility	Ensure the GNSS antenna is mounted high and clear on the machine. Move away from buildings and dense structures.
Stuck on Float	Receiver issue	Power-cycle the receiver. If Float persists, verify RTK activation status.
Mountpoint error	Wrong capitalization	Type AUTO in ALL CAPS.

Tips

• No VRS confusion. Unlike Trimble Access (which has separate VRS and NTRIP options that cause confusion), Earthworks uses a simple "Use NTRIP: Yes/No" toggle. Just set it to Yes and enter your credentials.

• TD520 is the standard display for current Earthworks installations. Older displays may have slightly different menu paths but the same NTRIP settings apply.

• SNR930 vs MS992 vs MS995: All three receivers support NTRIP and RTK. The configuration is the same — only the receiver hardware capabilities differ (number of channels, tracking performance).

• Site calibration is critical. Perform a site localization to align RTK coordinates with your design surface before starting machine control work.

• Keep firmware updated on both the Earthworks software and the GNSS receiver for the latest NTRIP client improvements and constellation support.

• Multiple machines on one site can each connect to RTKdata.com independently. Each receiver needs its own internet connection and NTRIP credentials.