RTK for free: is this a scam?

Imagine: you go to a farmers' forum, and someone says — "I use RTK, and it costs me nothing monthly." First reaction? Right, disbelief. After all, everyone knows that precise navigation requires a subscription fee. Monthly. Regularly. No alternatives.

But there's a nuance here. RTK for free isn't a tall tale. It's a very real thing that saves farmers tens of thousands of hryvnias every year. Of course, you will still have to make certain investments, namely — purchase a Nav-Agro RTK antenna. But further use of it will be practically free, without monthly subscription fees or other payments. Sounds like an advert? No, just simple maths.

RTK is like GPS on steroids

Seriously, RTK (Real Time Kinematic) is like GPS, but maxed out. Standard GPS tells you coordinates with an accuracy of "somewhere around here, plus or minus a few metres." RTK for free gives you accuracy down to 2 cm. Feel the difference? It's like comparing a coin toss to a laser sight.

How does it work? RTK corrects the satellite signal via a network of base stations in real time. And here's where it gets interesting — for such beauty, you usually have to pay. Monthly. Now imagine you can get RTK for free (well, almost).

Why such precision? Look at the numbers: overlap of passes when working a field "by eye" is 10–15%. This means you spend 10–15% more on seeds, fertiliser, fuel. Now multiply that by the area of your fields — and you'll see the real money that goes into the ground every year.

Numbers that will make you think

Why even bother with this RTK for free? Look at these figures: when you drive across a field "by eye", pass overlap is 10–15%. This means every tenth kilogram of seed goes to waste. Every tenth litre of fuel — into thin air. Multiply that by your field area and you'll see a sum that's a bit depressing.

• Seed savings — up to 4–5% (and it's not cheap these days, is it?)
• Reduced fuel consumption — up to 5% (and fuel needs no comment)
• Savings on fertilisers and plant protection products — up to 3–4% (also not pennies)
• Increased productivity — up to 10% (time is money, as they say)

If you have a 500-hectare farm, savings on seeds and fuel alone will amount to tens of thousands of hryvnias per season. And that's without considering that you apply fertiliser more accurately and don't drive over the same spot three times because you forgot where you've already been.

Subscription fee — a word we don't like

Most RTK networks work like this: you pay monthly for access to their base stations. These stations are all over the country, they need maintenance, electricity, internet. And for all this, of course, users pay. From 500 to 1500 hryvnias monthly — depending on how lucky you got with the tariff.

Let's calculate further: per year, that's 6,000–18,000 hryvnias. Just so your tractor knows where it's going. And these aren't one-off costs — you have to pay every year. Every season. Every month. You see where we're going with this? RTK for free sounds better and better, right?

The secret of free RTK: build your own

This is where the magic begins. There are two ways to get RTK for free. The first — find open, free NTRIP servers (they exist, but that's a separate story). The second, more reliable one — install your own base station. Sounds complicated? Actually, it's simpler than it seems.

The Nav-Agro RTK antenna is a bit of a transformer in the world of navigation. It can work both as a rover (receiver) and as a base (correction transmitter). You set up one antenna as a base somewhere on the farm, and connect the rest of the machinery to it. All this works via LoRa radio or Bluetooth — no internet, no SMS, no subscription fee. Beautiful!

Technical capabilities of Nav-Agro RTK

Characteristic	Value
Accuracy in RTK mode	2 cm
Satellite support	GPS, Galileo, BeiDou (198 channels)
Time to fix	about 60 seconds
Update rate	up to 10 Hz
Operating temperatures	from –20°C to +70°C
Interfaces	RS-232, Bluetooth, LoRa

The antenna works reliably in Ukrainian conditions — from frost to heat. An update rate of 10 Hz means that even at a speed of 20 km/h, the machinery receives coordinate updates every 50 cm of movement.

Why your own RTK system is great

When you set up your own base, you gain complete independence. It's like having your own well instead of paying neighbours for water. No mobile internet coverage in the field? No problem — corrections are sent directly from the base to the machinery. It even works in remote areas where the signal is so weak that an SMS arrives on the third day.

The economics are simple as can be: instead of 10,000+ hryvnias annually for a subscription, you pay once for the equipment. Payback is achieved in 1–2 seasons. After that — pure money in your pocket. RTK for free stops being a dream and becomes reality.

And another point — flexibility. The base can be installed where convenient, configured as needed, new machinery can be added whenever you want. No calling the operator, no approvals, no "do you have coverage in our area?". The system is yours, do what you want with it.

Important points (so you don't blame the technology later)

Your own base isn't just "take it and set it up". The antenna must be positioned correctly: at a height, with a good view of the sky (the satellites need to see your antenna too). Plus power supply, plus proper communication with the rovers. The LoRa radio channel can transmit the signal for several kilometres, but that's in open terrain.

If your terrain is hilly, the range may drop. But for most farms up to 1000–1500 hectares, one base is more than enough. And if you have more — you can set up several bases. RTK for free will still be cheaper than a monthly subscription fee over the years.

To sum up

RTK for free is not a marketing trick or a fairy tale. It's a fully workable scheme for Ukrainian farmers who want to save money and nerves. The Nav-Agro RTK antenna provides the opportunity to create your own precision navigation system without monthly payments. 2 cm accuracy, reliable operation in any weather, and complete autonomy — that's what a real farm needs.

Savings on seeds, fuel, and fertilisers recoup the investment faster than you'll have time to regret the expense. And most importantly — you gain independence. No need to call the operator, no need to wait for them to expand coverage, no need to pay every month. RTK for free — pay once, use forever. It's logical, profitable, and simply works.