Trimble SiteWorks Base & Rover Setup Guide — Complete Workflow | 9JA Enterprise

Overview

How Base & Rover Work Together

Understanding the role of each component helps you diagnose problems faster. The base stays fixed and broadcasts RTK correction signals; the rover receives them to compute a precise position.

Component	Role	Key requirement
Base receiver	Stays fixed. Broadcasts RTK corrections via radio or internet.	Must be set on a known control point and must NOT move while transmitting.
Rover receiver	Moves around the jobsite collecting positions.	Must connect to the data collector via Bluetooth and receive base corrections to achieve RTK Fixed.
Data collector	Runs SiteWorks. Shows position, cut/fill, and design.	Must have the correct Project, Work Order, and Design open before connecting.
Radio link (UHF)	Carries RTK correction data from base to rover wirelessly.	Base and rover must be on the same channel and Network ID. Radio antenna must be connected before power-on.

△ Critical rule Always set up and start the BASE first, then connect the ROVER. This is the correct sequence in SiteWorks — reversing it is the #1 cause of connection failures in the field.

Checklist

Pre-Flight Checklist

Run through all of these before opening SiteWorks. Most field connection failures trace back to one skipped item.

Base receiver is placed on a stable, level tripod over the control point benchmark.
Radio antenna is physically connected to the base BEFORE powering on — powering on without it connected can damage the radio.
All batteries charged — base receiver, rover receiver, and data collector.
Antenna height of the base is measured and recorded (vertical height from benchmark to receiver reference point).
Control point coordinates are loaded into the SiteWorks project (imported .csv or manually entered).
SiteWorks is open with the correct Project, Work Order, and Design selected.
Base and rover have been powered on for at least 60–90 seconds to acquire satellites before connecting.
At least 11 satellites visible on both receivers.

Phase 1

Setting Up the Base Station

Complete all of Phase 1 before touching the rover. The base must be actively transmitting corrections before the rover can connect.

1

Physical setup of the base receiver

Set the tripod directly over the control point. Use a plumb bob or optical plummet to center precisely.
Level the tripod carefully — any tilt introduces elevation error in all measurements.
Mount the base receiver (e.g. R750, R780, SPS986) onto the tribrach/tripod adapter.
If using a Zephyr antenna: connect the yellow GNSS cable from the Zephyr to the base receiver. Use the black cable for an external dog-bone radio antenna.
Connect the radio antenna BEFORE powering on. Powering on without it attached can damage the radio board.
Measure the antenna height: vertical distance from the benchmark to the bottom of the receiver or antenna reference point. Record this number — you will enter it in SiteWorks.

2

Power on the base receiver

Press and hold the power button until LED indicators illuminate.
Allow 60–90 seconds for full boot and satellite acquisition.
The radio/transmit LED should blink green to indicate the radio is active.
Verify at least 11 satellites are being tracked before proceeding.

3

Connect the data collector to the base via Bluetooth

In SiteWorks, tap the Hamburger button (three stacked lines, top-left) → Project Setup → Connect Device → GNSS.
On the Receiver Setup screen set: Mode: Base | Connection Type: Bluetooth
Tap the scan icon — look for your receiver model + last 4 digits of serial number (e.g. R750-1234 or SPS986-5678). If not visible, move within 10 meters and rescan.
Set Correction Method: Radio in Receiver for UHF radio setups.

💡 Tip — Bluetooth PIN The factory default Bluetooth PIN for Trimble GNSS receivers is 0000 (four zeros). If it was changed via the receiver WebUI, use the updated PIN.

4

Set the radio channel and Network ID

SiteWorks will prompt for the radio channel and Network ID after connecting.
Common practice: match the channel to the first letter of your company name (A=1, B=2, C=3…). Use this channel consistently across all jobs.
SiteWorks will scan to check if the channel is already in use on site. If it is, select a different one.
The Network ID must match exactly on both base and rover.

5

Set the base position (control point)

SiteWorks will prompt you to select a Base Position from your control point list.
Select the point your tripod is set over — the control point name becomes the base station name broadcast over the radio.
Enter the antenna height you measured in Step 1.
Select the correct antenna type for your receiver, then tap Accept / Start Base.

6

Verify the base is transmitting

In SiteWorks, the base status should show Active and transmitting corrections.
The radio transmit LED on the receiver should blink green approximately once per second.
If the LED is not blinking: verify the radio antenna is attached and the UHF Transmit option is licensed on the receiver.
You can now disconnect the data collector from the base. Do NOT power off the base receiver.

💡 Tip — AutoBase If the base is placed on the same post/pole as the previous day and the same receiver is used, AutoBase may start transmitting automatically — the receiver remembers its last programmed position. Always verify the transmit LED is blinking before walking away.

Phase 2

Setting Up the Rover

1

Physical setup of the rover

Attach the rover receiver to the range pole/rover rod. Snap or thread it on securely.
Attach the data collector holder to the pole and slide the data collector in.
Ensure the pole bubble is level — check before every shot.
Set and confirm the pole height (default is typically 2.0 m). Any height change must be updated in SiteWorks immediately.

2

Power on the rover receiver

Press and hold the power button until LEDs illuminate.
Allow 60–90 seconds for satellite acquisition.
Power on the rover FIRST, then wake the data collector — SiteWorks can auto-reconnect if the rover is already booted.
Verify at least 11 satellites are visible before connecting.

3

Connect the data collector to the rover via Bluetooth

In SiteWorks, tap the Hamburger button → Project Setup → Connect Device → GNSS.
Set: Mode: Rover | Connection Type: Bluetooth
Select your rover receiver from the scan list (model + last 4 digits of serial).
Set Correction Method: Radio in Receiver
Set the Network ID — must match the base exactly.
Tap Accept / Connect.

4

Confirm the rover is receiving corrections

Watch the GPS status indicator in the SiteWorks toolbar. It should progress:

Autonomous → Float → RTK Fixed ✓

RTK Fixed is the target. Typical precision: ±10–15 mm horizontal, ±20 mm vertical.
Float means corrections are received but the solution is not yet resolved — wait 60–90 seconds. If it stays in Float, see the Troubleshooting section.
Autonomous means no corrections are reaching the rover at all — the base is not transmitting or the channel/Network ID is wrong.

💡 Most common cause of Float / Autonomous Base and rover are on different radio channels or Network IDs. Double-check these settings on both units before investigating anything else.

5

Enter the rover antenna (pole) height

In SiteWorks, tap the antenna height icon or go to Measure → Antenna Height.
Enter the current pole height in the correct units. Match your project setting (meters or feet).
If using a quick-release adapter, enter only the height to the bottom of the quick release — SiteWorks adds the quick-release offset automatically.
Incorrect antenna height is the #1 cause of elevation errors in the field. Always verify before collecting data.

Phase 3

Site Calibration

Site calibration ties your GPS coordinate system to the local jobsite grid. This is the most critical step — skipping or rushing it causes rework. The rover must be at RTK Fixed before starting.

△ Warning — Calibration is permanent Once you tap FINISH, the calibration cannot be adjusted. If the calibration is wrong, you must create a new project and start over. Also: a project calibrated with a Base Station CANNOT be used with VRS/Network corrections, and vice versa.

1

Start site calibration

With the rover at RTK Fixed, tap the Hamburger button → Project Setup → Site Calibration.
SiteWorks will guide you through the calibration wizard.
Minimum: 2 control points (one sets position and elevation, one sets orientation). Trimble recommends 3 or more for a multi-point calibration.

2

Measure each control point

Walk the rover to the first control point and level the pole carefully.
In SiteWorks, tap the control point from the list and select Measure.
Set the Observation Method to Observed Control Point.
Hold the pole steady and tap Measure. Repeat for all additional control points.
A control point shows red if the residual error is too large — this usually means the coordinates are wrong, the benchmark has moved, or the antenna height is incorrect.

3

Review residuals and accept calibration

SiteWorks shows the residuals table after all points are measured.
Target: Horizontal residuals under 25 mm. Vertical under 30 mm.
Investigate any point over these thresholds — verify coordinates, re-measure, or exclude.
Tap FINISH to accept. A .cal file and a .dc file are created in the project folder.

4

Perform a check shot

After calibration, walk the rover to a known control point and measure it.
Verify the displayed position matches the known coordinates within your tolerance.
This 30-second check can prevent hours of rework. Always do it before collecting production data.

Alternative

VRS / Network Corrections (No Physical Base)

If your jobsite has cellular coverage, you can use a Virtual Reference Station (VRS) network instead of a physical base — no base setup required.

1

Create the project with a coordinate system

When creating a new project, check Select Coordinate File and choose the correct county/state coordinate system (e.g. NAD83 state plane zone).
Select the appropriate Geoid file (GEOID18 is recommended).
This replaces the manual site calibration — the coordinate system defines the grid.

2

Connect the rover to the VRS network

In SiteWorks Receiver Setup, set Correction Method to NTRIP (or your network name — e.g. Trimble RTX, state DOT network).
Enter your NTRIP caster IP, port, mountpoint, username, and password.
The rover connects via the data collector's cellular or Wi-Fi connection.
Rover status should reach RTK Fixed once corrections are flowing from the network.

💡 Tip — VRS + Base station on same project You can set a base station on a VRS-calibrated project. Set up the base on a post/pole, measure its control point using VRS, then program the base to that point. This allows VRS rovers and base station rovers to work together on the same calibrated project.

Daily

End of Day — Proper Shutdown Procedure

△ Fire & data loss risk Storing rovers or data collectors inside closed hard cases while powered on can cause heat buildup leading to component failure or fire. Always power off completely before storage.

#	Step
1	Exit Trimble SiteWorks fully on the data collector. Do NOT use the sleep function — data may not save properly.
2	Power off the data collector completely: hold power → Shut Down.
3	Power off the rover receiver (press and hold power button).
4	Power off the base receiver.
5	Disconnect all cables. Remove antennas if storing in a case. Charge all batteries overnight.
6	Do NOT store any powered or charging devices inside closed hard cases.

Troubleshooting

Common Issues & Fixes

Problem	Likely cause	Fix
Rover stuck in Float — won't reach RTK Fixed	Base and rover on different radio channel or Network ID	Verify both units share the same channel and Network ID in SiteWorks. Reconnect both. Check base radio transmit LED is blinking green.
Rover shows Autonomous — no corrections at all	Base not transmitting / radio not reaching rover	Verify base shows Active in SiteWorks. Check radio antenna connection on base. Move rover closer to base. Ensure 11+ satellites visible on both units.
Receiver not found during Bluetooth scan	Receiver not fully booted, or Bluetooth in use by another device	Wait 90 seconds after power-on. Move within 10 m. Delete old pairings and rescan. Reboot the receiver if needed.
Bluetooth drops intermittently during the day	Degrading Bluetooth module (common on older/used units) or data collector OS issue	Reboot both devices. Delete and re-pair Bluetooth. If persistent, power-cycle the receiver completely. Known hardware issue on some older R8 units — may need repair.
Elevation readings consistently off by a fixed amount	Incorrect antenna height entered in SiteWorks	Recheck rover pole height and base antenna height. A 10 mm error in height entry = 10 mm error in every elevation collected.
Control points show red during calibration	Bad control coordinates, moved benchmark, or wrong antenna height	Re-verify control coordinates against the survey file. Re-measure the suspect point with the pole level. Disable the bad point and recalibrate.
Calibration accepted but all data is off	Calibration accepted before verifying residuals	Calibration cannot be edited after FINISH. Create a new project, re-import control points, and recalibrate. Always verify residuals before tapping FINISH.
"Building base list" message — won't proceed	Rover radio not seeing base radio transmissions	Stop the base in SiteWorks. Reconnect to the base radio via SiteWorks to wake it. Restart the base survey. Verify protocol settings match on both radios.
Base transmit LED not blinking after setup	UHF Transmit option not licensed on the receiver, or radio antenna missing	Confirm UHF Transmit is a licensed option (check WebUI → Options). Attach radio antenna firmly. Use SiteWorks to restart the base — not the power button alone.
SiteWorks won't connect after project was calibrated with different correction method	Base Station calibrated projects cannot use VRS (and vice versa)	Create a new project with the correct calibration method. Import existing control points and recalibrate. Correction methods cannot be switched on a calibrated project.
Position jumps or drifts after base was moved or bumped	Base receiver moved while transmitting corrections	Stop all rover work immediately. Reprogram the base using SiteWorks. Perform Bench My Rover or restart the full calibration if base position is uncertain.
Data collector overheats / SiteWorks crashes in the field	Device stored in closed hard case while powered on, or left in direct sun	Never store powered devices in closed cases. Keep devices shaded. Exit SiteWorks and restart. Always power off — do not use sleep as the end-of-day procedure.
SBAS / WAAS corrections preventing RTK Fix on VRS	Some VRS networks reject rovers broadcasting WAAS corrections in their NMEA string	Disable SBAS/WAAS tracking in receiver settings or SiteWorks connection options. Try an RTCM mountpoint if CMR fails.
Calibration cannot be resumed after closing SiteWorks	Base Station calibrations cannot be resumed once partially completed and closed	If you must stop mid-calibration, do not tap FINISH. Re-open the project and the in-progress .cal file will still be available. If it was accepted, create a new project.

Reference

Quick Reference

Bluetooth PIN

0000 Four zeros — factory default

Minimum satellites

11 or more On both base and rover

RTK Fixed precision

±10–15 mm H / ±20 mm V Typical in good conditions

Radio channel convention

A=1, B=2, C=3… Match to company name initial

Network ID

Must match exactly On both base and rover

Antenna height (quick release)

Measure to bottom of QR SiteWorks adds QR offset automatically

Calibration — min. points

2 minimum, 3+ recommended More points = better accuracy

Calibration — H residual

Under 25 mm Investigate any point over 30 mm

Calibration — V residual

Under 30 mm Investigate any point over 40 mm

AutoBase

Remembers last point Must reprogram if antenna height changes

End of day

Exit → Shut down → Power off rover → Power off base Never sleep inside a closed case

Calibration — permanent?

Yes, once FINISH is tapped Create a new project if wrong

Trimble SiteWorks Base & Rover Connection Guide

Trimble SiteWorks — Base & Rover Connection Guide

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