Determining Coordinates via External Services
Using External RINEX Services
Another method is to use an external RINEX post-processing service operating in your region. For example, for France, IGN services (instruction) and Orpheon are suitable, and for the rest of the world, NRCAN. Such services are usually paid.
Recording the Measurements
First, enable the “File Service” and record the measurements. You need at least one full day according to Greenwich. The fact that recording is in progress is visible on the Logs page by the increasing size of the rtcm3 file. For this, only one file should be recorded per day. Turning off the device or stopping the file or main service will result in the daily archive being unsuitable for conversion to RINEX.
Converting to RINEX
After recording, go to the Logs page. Click on the pencil icon next to the full-day ZIP archive file. Unfortunately, only ZIP-format files can be converted to RINEX. Ideally (and for Centipede), use an archive older than 15 days so that the service can form final satellite orbits.
A window like this will open. For NRCAN, select “Nrcan”, for IGN - “Ign”, and click the “Create RINEX file” button.
A message indicating the file creation process appears. Wait a few minutes.
The RINEX file is created. Click “Download it!” to download it.
During the download, a message about unsafe downloading may appear. Click “keep”. The downloaded file size is 6-8 megabytes.
After downloading, the created file can be seen in the log list for re-downloading.
Registering with NRCAN
Next, you need to register (or log in) on Nrcan.
Click “New User: Create an account!” and fill in the details. After completing the form, click “Submit”.
You will receive a message that an email has been sent to you.
Open the email and activate your account by clicking on the link.
You will receive a message confirming successful registration and a prompt to log in.
Click “Sign in” and log in.
You will be greeted with a message congratulating you on successfully logging in. Click on “Geodetic
tools and data”.
You will land on the “Geodetic tools and data” page. Click on “Canadian Spatial Reference
System Precise Point Positioning (CSRS-PPP)”
You will be taken to the PPP calculation page. Select ITRF (not NAD83) and Static (not Kinematic).
Scroll down the page. Click “Choose File” to select the RINEX file, and then click “Submit to PPP”.
After processing, you will receive a message that the result has been sent to your email.
Open the email and click on the “summary” link.
Follow the link to view the coordinates in the ITRF2020 frame.
Another interesting section in the report is “Orbits and Clocks Used”. In our example, it shows
“Ultra-rapid”, but if we had waited 15 days, we would have received the much more accurate “Final”.
