The NTRIP Base Station is designed to operate outdoors and is housed in a rugged splash-proof case. The unit can be powered either via the internal battery supply or from an external source via the power cable (RLCAB203).
If you are using an external antenna, it should be connected before you power on the NTRIP Base Station.
*Only used for VBNBS-NRG
The NTRIP Base Station (VBNBS-NRG variant only) does not have an internal GNSS antenna but will be shipped with an external antenna.
The external antenna must be connected to the Antenna port (SMA) on the NTRIP Base Station.
The unit/GNSS antenna must be placed in a position away from any buildings, trees, walls, high-wire fences or any other obstacles that could block or reflect satellite signals.
Place the unit/GNSS antenna at the highest available spot and/or on a tripod to ensure the best possible satellite reception. Make sure the legs of the tripod are fully extended to give maximum height.
If you intend to install the NTRIP Base Station in a permanent rooftop location, you must ensure that the unit/GNSS antenna is not shadowed by any other parts of the building or nearby objects.
The radio antenna for the NTRIP Base Station must be placed in the highest available position to realise the maximum possible transmission range. Where possible, the position should be close to the centre of the area over which the system is to be used.
Example:
If the system is to be used at a test or race circuit, mount the antenna tripod in the centre of the circuit to give equal radio coverage to all points on the circuit.
If your NTRIP Base Station is used in temporary locations, we recommend that you use a telescopic mast to raise the radio antenna as high as possible.
If required, you can purchase a suitable telescopic mast, including guy ropes, from Racelogic. Contact your local VBOX distributor for further details.
Erecting the telescopic mast is easy, but it's a two-person job. One person should hold and extend the mast to the correct height whilst the other person pegs out the three supplied guy lines.
Once the 3 guy lines have been pegged out, you can raise the antenna further to increase the guy line tension.
The radio antenna for the NTRIP Base Station can also be mounted on a rooftop when the NTRIP Base Station is installed in a permanent location. The radio antenna is supplied with a U-bolt fixing to enable mounting to a suitable upright pole.
You can mast-mount the radio by using a mast-mounted enclosure:
RLACS153 - 868 MHz and 915 MHz radios
RLACS336 - 2.4 GHz radios
RLACS153VAR - SATEL Radios
This greatly reduces the RF cable length between the transmitter and the antenna, which results in greatly reduced transmission line losses that, in turn, increase the transmission power and give better range. The mast mount enclosure is IP67 rated to protect the radio from harsh weather and is supplied with a 6 metre serial/power connection cable (RLCAB231 for all radios) that allows for full extension of the mast. The serial/power cable connects to the external Hirose connector on the NTRIP Base Station, ensuring that it remains weatherproof.
