PointPerfect getting started

Introduction

Reach the mass market with your precise positioning solutions using PointPerfect. Precise, reliable, and easy to use, PointPerfect is a PPP-RTK GNSS augmentation data service that delivers centimeter-level accuracy in seconds. With 99.9% uptime availability via both internet and L-band satellite, you can rely on PointPerfect for mission-critical applications.  

Benefits

• Simple to integrate with the standard NTRIP messaging protocol.  

• Optimize your bandwidth usage with Localized Corrections, delivering precise data tailored to your device's exact location.  

• Zero Touch Provisioning makes it easy to deploy huge device fleets, eliminating the headaches of managing digital certificates.  

• Flexible price plans tailored to suit your needs. 

To use PointPerfect you will need a high-precision GNSS receiver, a multi-band antenna, and to be within our PointPerfect service coverage area.  PointPerfect L-band has additional receiver and antenna requirements as described in the PointPerfect L-band Distribution guide.   

Supported u-blox GNSS products

PointPerfect is pre-integrated and ready to use with u-blox X20, F9, and D9S high precision GNSS modules. Non-native SPARTN receivers can be supported by PointPerfect RTCM over NTRIP.   You can find u-blox high-precision GNSS products supporting PointPerfect on our product selector page.

Note: The NEO-F9P does not use PointPerfect GPS L5 corrections by default, so it will generally stay in RTK-Float mode with degraded accuracy.  A special configuration needs to be sent to the receiver before it will accept/force the GPS L5 corrections. The following application note, explains both the changes required to enable GPS L5 corrections plus highlights the warnings for some applications,  UBX-21038688 

Antenna requirements

• PointPerfect requires a multi-band antenna.  For optimal performance see antenna requirements under the 'Service Description and Price’ section in this page PointPerfect.

• For PointPerfect L-band, the NEO-D9S receiver requires an antenna that supports frequencies between 1540 MHz - 1559 MHz.  Please refer to section 4.2 of the NEO-D9S Integration manual to learn more about antenna requirements. [8] 

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Do's & Don'ts: Best Practices and Common Pitfalls 

Do's 

• Use a compatible antenna: Ensure you're using an antenna that supports L1 & L2/L5 frequencies for optimal performance.  

• Keep firmware up to date: Always update your device's firmware to the latest version to benefit from the newest features, fixes, and improvements.  

• Create a PointPerfect Thing: Set up your account and device via the PointPerfect portal to begin using the service.  

• Leverage Zero-Touch Provisioning (ZTP): Use ZTP to save time when scaling up deployments.  

• Access software and scripts: Visit the PointPerfect downloads section for essential software and sample scripts to streamline your setup. 

• Be aware of reference frame differences: PointPerfect uses the ITRF2020 reference frame (current epoch). This may differ from the reference frame used by your maps (e.g., Google Maps), which could impact positional precision.  

Don'ts 

• Don't use an L1-only antenna: This will limit signal reception and reduce accuracy.  

• Don't disable required signals: Ensure all necessary GNSS constellations and signals for PointPerfect operation are enabled. Disabling them will impair performance.  

• Don't test indoors: Indoor environments introduce interference and degrade accuracy. For optimal results, test in open, outdoor spaces.  

• Don't set a low baud rate on COMs: Avoid using a low baud rate, as it can slow down communication speed, reduce device responsiveness, and hinder correction performance.  

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Sign-up for our u-blox service platform

u-blox Thingstream is a service delivery platform providing a management console that you can use to enable and manage the entire suite of u-blox services. PointPerfect is a service under our IoT Location Services and your Location Things (the logical representation of your location device in the Thingstream platform.)   

Sign-up is quick & easy plus also free.  Just go to the  Thingstream portal and register with your company information. 

Note: If you already have a Thingstream domain for one or more of our other services (for example, AssistNow, CloudLocate, MQTT Anywhere etc.) you do not need to register again. 

Create a PointPerfect Thing

For an overview of how to create a new Thing that represents the device in the system see the Creating a Thing page.

Device Provisioning

Once you have created and activated a PointPerfect Thing in the platform, you are able to connect your device and receive corrections.  This is also known as "Provisioning".    

Note: Dynamic Keys apply to both L-band and IP plans when you use Continental corrections.   

NTRIP - Collect Delivery Credentials

To provision a device using NTRIP, simply expand the NTRIP Credentials section and collect the information for your client.  Have these credentials available when you connect with your NTRIP client.   

Note: If you do not see the NTRIP Credentials section we recommend deactivating & re-activating your Thing. The NTRIP Credentials section is included for both SPARTN/RTCM over NTRIP Things, though the actual credentials required for each will differ. 

Using u-blox Products: u-center and F9 receivers

Firmware Version:

Our F9 receivers require a firmware version of at least 1.3x to support our PointPerfect service.  Check your firmware version with a query of the UBX-MON-VER message on your F9 device using u-center. If necessary, obtain the latest firmware from the u-blox product page of your F9x under Documentation & resources section and update it using u-center. [2] 

Dynamic Models:

u-blox receivers offer dynamic platform models to optimize navigation for various application environments. These settings are adjustable without a reset, enhancing measurement interpretation for improved accuracy. Using an unsuitable model may degrade performance and position accuracy. See the relative Integration Manual links below for more information.  

F9P - 3.1.8.1 Platform settings: F9P Integration Manual 

F9R - 3.2.2 HPS dynamic platform models: F9R Integration Manual 

F9K 3.1.9.1 Platform settings: F9K Integration Manual 

Download u-center to Evaluate your PointPerfect Solution

u-center is the software provided by u-blox for easy installation and configuration of high precision GNSS modules such as the F9.  You can download the latest version of u-center from the u-center page.   Please also check the PointPerfect u-center guide for more details.  

Customize Your PointPerfect Correction Delivery

Choose how you receive PointPerfect corrections on your GNSS receiver, based on preferred delivery protocol, correction format, and distribution method.

• Delivery Protocols: Choose between IP (NTRIP) or L-Band Satellite.

• Correction Formats: Select SPARTN (u-blox) or RTCM.

• Distribution Methods:

  • Localized 

    • Optimizes bandwidth by delivering only necessary corrections.

    • Provides improved performance.

  • Continental 

    • Continental-wide for L-Band delivery.

    • Available over IP for “backwards compatibility for legacy applications". 

Setup and Configuration

For details and requirements, see:

• PointPerfect SPARTN Distribution - Localized SPARTN corrections delivered via NTRIP protocol for GNSS modules that natively supports SPARTN .

• PointPerfect RTCM Distribution - Localized RTCM corrections delivered via NTRIP protocol.

• PointPerfect L-band Distribution - Continental SPARTN corrections delivered via L-band satellite.

For more details about the service please see the PointPerfect Service Description. 

Zero Touch Provisioning 

If you have a large fleet of devices, we offer Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP) to simplify the provisioning process of many devices with pre-defined settings.  This will reduce your time and other related costs of per-device provisioning.  Learn more about the PointPerfect ZTP solution here. 

Python sample script: PointPerfect NTRIP Client 

If you are interested in evaluating PointPerfect with an NTRIP Client built-in your host application, we have a PointPerfect NTRIP Client sample python script available in the Thingstream Downloads PointPerfect page to help you get started. 

Reference Documentation

[1] ZED-F9P Integration manual, UBX-18010802
[2] u-center User guide, UBX-13005250
[3] u-blox F9P HPG 1.32 Interface description, UBX-22008968
[4] C099-F9P application board User guide, UBX- 18063024
[5] EVK-F9P-01 evaluation kit User guide, UBX-22038408 
[6] Thingstream Knowledge Base – Services Support
[7] u-blox information on positioning and location technologies - What is NTRIP
[8] NEO-D9S Integration manual, UBX-19026111