Home·Hardware·RTK GPS

Optional RTK GPS bundles

RTK GPS for Ditch Assist®.

Already own RTK? The kits run on it. Starting from scratch? We bundle Emlid Reach RS4 and RS3 receivers with Ditch Assist for affordable centimeter-grade GPS: RTK-ready out of the box, your own base and rover, no correction subscription required. The Ditch Assist-only bundle adds the base tripod, mount hardware, and the RTK GPS cable.

New to Ditch Assist? It turns centimeter-level RTK positioning into grade control for your own machines — see what it is or find your kit.

Get a Ditch Assist + RTK quote → Call 1-833-DITCH-AS

RS4 base + rover RS4 base / RS3 rover Kits take any compatible RTK Use beyond Ditch Assist Ditch Assist Lite runs on an RS3 or RS4

Who this bundle is for

Optional on the kits. Ditch Assist Lite runs on one of these.

Every Ditch Assist kit runs on any compatible RTK GNSS source. The bundle is for customers who do not have RTK yet or want an affordable, portable base/rover setup. Ditch Assist Lite is different: only a GPS on the blade, no wires, and that GPS is an Emlid Reach RS3 or RS4. It is guidance-only grade control for any machine or implement you can attach a GPS to.

Best for

Starting without RTK

Operators without RTK yet who want an affordable base/rover setup they own outright and can move from machine to machine, with receivers that still earn their keep on surveys and layout work outside Ditch Assist.

Already have RTK?

Keeping RTK that already works

Operators whose current RTK receiver already outputs compatible NMEA position data. Keep running it — the bundle is optional, not a requirement to run a Ditch Assist kit. Run a dozer or self-propelled scraper on an RTK GPS you already own? The Guidance Only Kit works with it. We review each machine first.

Why a bundle

A base and rover you own, ready for Ditch Assist.

Ditch Assist kits work with compatible RTK receivers you already own. We offer a Ditch Assist-only bundle because many customers start without RTK and want an affordable way to get it: receivers that arrive RTK-ready, a base and rover they own outright, and no recurring correction fee required to start grading.

Affordable RTK

Base, rover and radio link in one purchase.

The bundle gives Ditch Assist customers centimeter RTK as a complete base/rover kit: one purchase covers the base, the rover, and the radio link between them. Your quote can include the receivers, mounts, and cable your machine needs.

Base + rover

Your own base sends the corrections.

Most buyers use a local base and rover radio link, so they are not dependent on a paid correction subscription. NTRIP works too where you have cell coverage and a correction network.

Beyond Ditch Assist

Use it for other work too.

The same receivers can be used for field surveys, layout, drone base station work, mapping, or other compatible equipment and apps. They are standard RTK GNSS receivers, not tied to Ditch Assist.

Ditch Assist-only bundle

Receivers plus the tripod, mounts and cable.

This bundle is quoted only through Ditch Assist when receivers are being supplied with a grade-control system. It is not listed on Base & Rover because it includes the Ditch Assist install pieces: the base tripod and extender, mount hardware, and the RTK GPS cable.

RTK receivers

RS4 / RS3 base-rover pair.

Choose the receiver combination that fits the job: two RS4 receivers, or the common RS4 base with RS3 rover machine-control package.

Base station hardware

Tripod, extender, and mounts.

The bundle includes the base station tripod, base station tripod extender, and mount hardware, so you can set up the base station in the field.

Ditch Assist connection

RTK GPS cable included.

The RTK GPS cable is included so the receiver can feed the Ditch Assist system without the customer sourcing a custom cable later.

Recommended Ditch Assist bundles

The receiver setups most customers choose.

Most setups, Ditch Assist Lite included, use one receiver as the base and one as the rover on the machine. When quoted through Ditch Assist, the receiver package can include the base tripod, tripod extender, mount hardware, and RTK GPS cable.

Bundle	Best fit	Why customers choose it
2 x RS4One RS4 base, one RS4 machine rover.	Best fitCustomers who want the RS4 at both ends of the RTK link, with all-band tracking on the base and on the machine.	Why customers choose itAll-band GNSS, LoRa and UHF radio, IP68 construction, long battery life, and the ability to move either receiver between base, rover, survey, or layout work.
RS4 base + RS3 roverRS4 at the base, RS3 on the machine.	Best fitLower-cost Ditch Assist bundle for customers who want the RS4's higher-power radio at the base and a proven rover on the machine.	Why customers choose itThe RS4 gives the base the higher-power radio. The RS3 on the machine has the same listed RTK accuracy as the RS4 at a lower receiver cost.
RS3 or RS4 + Ditch Assist LiteOne receiver on the blade, corrections from a network or your own base.	Best fitDitch Assist Lite on any machine you can put a GPS on: receiver, tablet, license, nothing else on the machine.	Why customers choose itNo control module and no cable — the app reads the receiver over its own Wi-Fi. Corrections usually come from a second Reach as a base, or a correction network over the receiver’s SIM. In the US and some other regions (not Canada), a new RS4 includes a year of Emlid Corrections, so one receiver can be enough.

Recommended base or rover

RS4

The Emlid Reach RS4 is the receiver we recommend for the base, or for both ends when you want the same receiver on each. It can run as a base or rover, tracks all major constellations and frequencies, and supports NTRIP plus radio correction links.

All-band GNSS with 672 channels and L5/L6 support for stronger multipath rejection.
RTK accuracy listed at 7 mm + 1 ppm horizontal and 14 mm + 1 ppm vertical.
LoRa 915 MHz up to 1 W in North America and UHF 450 MHz up to 2 W where licensing allows.
IP68 housing, -40°C to +65°C operating range, 16-hour RTK rover battery life.

View RS4 details at Base & Rover →

Field-proven rover option

RS3

The Emlid Reach RS3 is a strong lower-cost rover option for the machine, especially when paired with an RS4 at the base. It has been proven in Ditch Assist field use and still gives customers standard RTK GNSS for survey and mapping jobs.

Multi-band GNSS with 184 channels and up to 10 Hz update rate.
RTK accuracy listed at 7 mm + 1 ppm horizontal and 14 mm + 1 ppm vertical.
LoRa radio, UHF receive-only support with antenna, NTRIP, RTCM3, and NMEA output.
IP67 housing, -20°C to +65°C operating range, 18-hour RTK rover battery life.

View RS3 details at Base & Rover →

Compatibility

What a Ditch Assist kit needs from the receiver.

Any Emlid Reach RS4 or RS3 meets this after a one-time setup in the Emlid Flow app. Feeding a Ditch Assist kit from a different brand? Match the same settings. Ditch Assist Lite skips the cable: the app reads the receiver over its own Wi-Fi.

NMEA output

Standard NMEA 0183 GGA and VTG messages over a serial connection — the same messages the RS4 and RS3 output once set up.

Message rate

5 Hz or 10 Hz. 5 Hz is the standard rate; 10 Hz is supported when faster feedback is useful.

Baud rate

38,400. Set this on the receiver serial output before connecting the RTK GPS cable.

Correction source

Either works: a local base/rover radio link (LoRa or UHF) with no subscription, or an NTRIP network correction where cellular data is available.

Connection

Our RTK GPS cable carries the NMEA output from the Reach rover straight into the control module — no extra adapter needed.

Receiver setup guide, step by step →

Your RTK or a bundle

Two ways to get RTK on the machine.

With a kit, if your receiver outputs standard NMEA, it stays on the machine. Starting without RTK? The bundle is a complete base and rover you own outright: RTK-ready, its own radio link, no correction subscription required.

Ditch Assist grade control on pull-type scrapers, ditchers, tile plows, and levelers — and Ditch Assist Lite on any machine you can put a GPS on RTK surveys, tile route checks, benchmarks, and elevation control points Standalone receiver purchases through Base & Rover for customers not buying Ditch Assist

Use what you own

If your current RTK receiver can feed a Ditch Assist kit the position data it needs, keep using it. We are not trying to replace working RTK. During quoting, we can help confirm the practical details: receiver output, correction source, cable path, mounting location, receiver height setup, and whether your existing base or network correction will be reliable for grade-control work.

Bundle receivers when starting fresh

If you do not already have RTK, a base/rover bundle is the straightforward path: standard RTK GNSS you own outright, local corrections, and hardware that remains useful beyond Ditch Assist. The Ditch Assist-only bundle can include the receivers, base tripod, tripod extender, mount hardware, and RTK GPS cable, so the GPS side arrives as a working machine-control package instead of a list of parts to chase later.

How to buy

Bundle with Ditch Assist, or buy GNSS standalone.

Ditch Assist quotes can include the Ditch Assist-only RTK bundle when you need GPS for the machine. Northern Plains also operates Base & Rover as a standalone online GNSS store for customers who only need receivers and accessories.

Ditch Assist quote

Bundle receivers with your grade-control kit.

Tell us your machine, implement, job type, current GPS hardware, and whether you want automation, guidance, or Ditch Assist Lite with only a GPS on the implement. We will quote the Ditch Assist kit and the Ditch Assist-only RTK bundle together, or the Ditch Assist Lite license with the receivers you need.

Get a quote →

Talk it through

Call before choosing receivers.

Not sure whether to run two RS4s, an RS4 base with RS3 rover, one Reach or two for Ditch Assist Lite, or your existing RTK? Call Ditch Assist and we will match the receiver setup to your field conditions.

Call 1-833-DITCH-AS →

GNSS only

Buy receivers from Base & Rover.

Base & Rover is the Northern Plains online store for customers who only need Emlid GNSS receivers, accessories, or a standalone base/rover setup. The Ditch Assist install bundle is quoted through Ditch Assist, not listed in the store.

Visit Base & Rover →

Quote path

Get the RTK side sorted before the machine is ready.

The goal is not to make you piece together receivers, tripods, mounts, and cables after the grade-control kit arrives. Tell us what you are running, and we will quote the RTK package as part of the Ditch Assist setup.

1. Tell us the job

Machine, implement, and RTK status.

We need to know your machine and implement, whether you already have RTK, and whether the job is ditching, terracing, grading, land forming, tiling, leveling, contour levees, or excavator work.

2. Pick the receiver path

Use existing RTK or add a bundle.

If your current RTK is compatible, keep it. If you are starting fresh, we will recommend either two RS4 receivers or an RS4 base with RS3 rover; for Ditch Assist Lite, a Reach RS3 or RS4 on the implement, usually with a second Reach as the base.

3. Quote the complete kit

No missing install pieces.

The Ditch Assist-only bundle can include receivers, tripod, extender, mounts, and the RTK GPS cable in the same quote.

Start the quote →

FAQ

RTK GPS and Ditch Assist questions.

Compatibility

Do I need your RTK bundle to use Ditch Assist?

Not for the kits. They can use compatible RTK GNSS receivers you already own. The Emlid receivers we bundle are optional; we recommend them when a customer does not already have RTK or wants a portable base/rover setup that moves between tractors and machines. Ditch Assist Lite is the exception: only a GPS on the implement, no wires, and that GPS is an Emlid Reach RS3 or RS4.

Accuracy

How accurate is Ditch Assist?

As accurate as your RTK. With RTK Fixed, positioning is centimeter-level; with RTK Float, expect decimeter-level. Ditch Assist works from whatever position the receiver reports, whether it is raising and lowering the implement for you or showing cut and fill on screen while you work the controls.

Bundle contents

What is included in the Ditch Assist-only bundle?

The bundle can include the RTK receivers, base station tripod, base station tripod extender, mount hardware, and the RTK GPS cable. It is only quoted through Ditch Assist when receivers are being supplied with a grade-control package, so it is not listed as a standard Base & Rover store bundle.

Best bundle

Should I choose two RS4 receivers or an RS4 base with RS3 rover?

Choose two RS4 receivers if you want all-band tracking and the higher-power radio on both receivers, so either one can take the base job. Choose RS4 base + RS3 rover if you want a lower-cost machine-control package that still puts the higher-power radio at the base and a field-proven receiver on the machine.

Subscriptions

Can I run without an RTK correction subscription?

Yes, when you run your own local base and rover correction link. You may still choose NTRIP where a correction network is available, but that can involve cellular data or network fees depending on your region.

Standalone GNSS

Where do I buy if I only need receivers?

Use Base & Rover, the standalone Northern Plains online store for Emlid GNSS receivers and accessories. Use Ditch Assist quoting when receivers are part of a grade-control package, because the Ditch Assist bundle includes install-specific pieces such as the RTK GPS cable, tripod, extender, and mount hardware.

All modes

Are all Ditch Assist modes included with an RTK bundle?

On the Full Automation Kit and Guidance Only Kit, yes. The bundle is GPS hardware, not a mode license. Both kits include every implement mode — ditching, terracing, land forming, simple grading, tiling, leveling, and levee & contour — plus LiDAR Drainage Mapping, at no extra cost, no matter which RTK receiver feeds them. Ditch Assist Lite, with only a GPS on the implement and no wires, includes every mode, Excavator mode and LiDAR Drainage Mapping in its one-time license. Excavator mode in Ditch Assist Lite checks grade between cuts; live bucket-tip grade requires the Ditch Assist DIG™ Kit, a separate product.

Wiring

What NMEA output and baud rate does Ditch Assist need from the receiver?

Standard NMEA 0183 GGA and VTG messages over serial, at 38,400 baud, output at 5 Hz or 10 Hz. Emlid Reach RS4 and RS3 support this natively; other brands need to be configured to match.

Ditch Assist Lite

Which receiver does Ditch Assist Lite need?

An Emlid Reach RS3 or RS4. Ditch Assist Lite connects the app directly to the receiver over its own Wi-Fi; other brands are not supported. The kits accept any compatible RTK receiver.