NovAtel Review and Top GNSS Correction Service Alternatives [2024]
Whether collecting location data for tasks like urban planning and underground pipe location or measuring land for property documentation and construction planning, GNSS correction services are not just useful but indispensable.
But, not all GNSS correction services are made equal. How does NovAtel measure up?
In this NovAtel review, we review NovAtel’s features and share some of the best NovAtel alternatives.
About NovAtel
NovAtel is a technology company that offers global positioning solutions for land, sea, and air navigation. Its products include OEM global satellite positioning tools, GNSS receivers and antennas, RTK correction services, and anti-jam technology.
NovAtel also offers GNSS receiver management software to monitor the status of GNSS devices, track GNSS satellites, and detect interference with signals. It has a GNSS resilience and Integrity Technology (GRIT) monitor with radio frequency detection and a dashboard showing all relevant information on a single page.
NovAtel Review
Here’s a review of the NovAtel application suite:
NovAtel GPS
NovAtel provides GPS solutions for companies and agencies in the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) industry. These solutions include GPS and GNSS smart antennas, which combine GPS receivers and antennas into a single unit, and GNSS inertial navigation systems.
NovAtel TerraStar Corrections Services
NovAtel TerraStar is a satellite-based correction service for NovAtel GNSS receivers, which can be used in precision agriculture, UAVs, and construction. An augmentation service transmits correction data to NovAtel receivers via an internet connection or a satellite link.
It offers 100 reference stations for global coverage and 3 network control centers. However, depending on your subscription tier on NovAtel TerraStar, you may only have access to some GNSS constellations. Some subscription plans even only give you access to two GNSS constellations.
NovAtel Corrections
Although NovAtel doesn't have a stand-alone RTK correction service, it provides GNSS corrections with NovAtel Correct.
This application offers various corrections, including Real-Time Kinematic corrections, precise point positioning, Satellite-Based Augmentation Systems, and Differential GNSS.
Their RTK corrections are customized for only NovAtel’s OEM7 and OEM6 receivers, which means they cannot be used with non-NovAtel receivers.
NovAtel's SPAN® GNSS Inertial Navigation Systems
NovAtel's SPAN® GNSS Inertial Navigation Systems integrate NovAtel GNSS receivers with inertial measurement units (IMUs) for enhanced positioning accuracy and reliability. This creates one compact system that provides 3D positioning, navigation, and timing solutions.
NovAtel GNSS Receivers
NovAtel manufactures a range of GNSS receivers that offer users multi-constellation and multi-frequency tracking. These receivers come in three forms: GNSS and GPS receiver boards in different software and configurations, ready-to-use card-level GNSS receivers, and ground reference and uplink receivers.
However, NovAtel has a relatively small number of reference stations—100—so this will limit the GNSS receiver’s accuracy in certain regions.
NovAtel Alternatives
Do you want to switch to a better NovAtel alternative? Here are some of the best alternatives to use in place of NovAtel.
1. Best RTK Corrections Service: Point One Polaris
Polaris by Point One is a modern RTK network for cm-accurate positioning. It has over ten times more reference stations than NovAtel, with over 1,400 modern base stations. It also has a system for automatically connecting or transferring the rover to the closest base station, ensuring continuous signal reception and minimizing downtime.
Polaris provides survey-grade accuracy, improved by its 99.99% uptime and 5-second convergence time for survey reliability. It also introduces simplicity by allowing connection to a single NTRIP mount point that users can set up in just five minutes.
Features & offerings:
- Built from the ground up for the cm-accurate GNSS positioning at 99.9% reliability
- Seamless switching between the top two datums for precise positioning—ITRF2014 and NAD83
- Highest overall density of U.S. RTK corrections networks and extra RTK base station redundancy in urban centers (top 50 cities in the US all have over 4 stations)
- Compatible with any dual-band GNSS receiver
- Tracks four major constellations: GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou
- Compatible with top devices such as Bad Elf Flex, Carlson BRX7, DJI Mavic 3E, and Emlid RS2
- Setup in 5 minutes by connecting to a single NTRIP mount point
Pricing:
- Standard: $125/mo; $1500/yr
- Enterprise customers can request a custom quote
Experience Polaris RTK with a free trial.
2. Best GNSS Receiver for Beginners: Emlid Reach RS2+
Emlid Reach RS2+ is an RTK GNSS receiver that offers centimeter-level precision via Real-Time kinematics (RTK) and Post-Processed kinematics (PPK). It supports storing location data in standard RINEX format, allowing for post-processing analysis.
The Emlid Reach RS2+ also has a 22-hour battery life and a built-in modem for transmitting RTK corrections without internet access. It supports the major coordinate systems: WGS84, NAD83, and GDA2020.
Features & offerings:
- Has support for both RTK and PPK modes
- Built-in LTE modem for transmitting RTK corrections when there is no internet access
- Long battery life up to 22 hours
- Coordinate systems supported by Emlid Reach RS2+ are WGS84, NAD83, and GDA2020
Pricing: $1999
3. Best GNSS Receiver for Professionals: Carlson BRx7
Carlson BRx7 is a lightweight GNSS receiver that can be used as an RTK rover or an RTK base. Specifically built for surveys, the Carlson BRx7 supports multiple frequencies and all major GNSS constellations. The Carlson BRx7 supports a quad-band GSM modem, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth for connectivity.
Features & offerings:
- Rugged, compact, IP67-rated housing, resistant to dust and water
- RTK powered by the Athena GNSS engine
- The BRx7 has tilt compensating ability
- Has the ability to receive signals from multiple satellite systems, including GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, QZSS, IRNSS, and Atlas L-band
- Integrated dual-band UHF transceiver and Quad-Band GSM modem with WiFi and Bluetooth supported
Pricing: Pricing information is only available by requesting a quote
4. Best Inertial Navigation System: Point One Atlas
The Point One Atlas inertial navigation system is a best-in-class solution for ground-truth precision. This inertial navigation system is affordable, scalable, and out-of-the-box, combining best-in-class hardware with RTK and Sensor Fusion. It’s used in autonomy, robotics, mapping, and other applications.
Point One Atlas has a modern user interface with on-device data streaming. This allows for real-time monitoring and analysis of positioning data. It integrates with Polaris RTK so users can get RTK corrections straight to Atlas–ensuring enhanced precision and reliability.
Features & offerings:
- Multifrequency high-precision GNSS receiver and antenna
- Automotive grade (ASIL-B) Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) with 6-axis Gyro/Accelerometer for enhanced accuracy and stability
- Doesn’t require any desktop application or software
- Users can access Polaris RTK for free for six months
- Plug-and-play set-up with self-calibrating capabilities for ease of use
Pricing: Users need to contact sales to get a quote
Choose the Best NovAtel Alternatives
NovAtel is a good platform for businesses and researchers looking for high-precision GNSS solutions. But if you want automatic connection and transfer to the closest local base stations, predictable transparent pricing, and modern equipment, consider the best NovAtel alternative: Point One Navigation.
Point One Navigation’s positioning solutions are designed for survey precision safely and reliably. From hardware products such as the Atlas Inertial Navigation System to open-source APIs and documentation that facilitate integration and a dashboard to manage all your connected devices, Point One prioritizes user-centric design.
Its suite of applications is built on three pillars: satellite-based navigation, cloud-based correction services, and edge sensor fusion algorithms. Each of these components works together seamlessly to deliver top-notch performance.
With Point One Navigation, you get unmatched transparency, from the location of base stations to the pricing of Point One products. You’ll also get a self-service portal for device activation and credential management.
You can get started with any of the products today:
- Atlas for best-in-class inertial navigation systems.
- Polaris for real-time kinematic corrections.
- GraphQL API for flexible and robust data querying.
