Choosing an RTK GNSS Receiver: CHCNAV Rovers Compared – Latnet Technologies

Short answer: for everyday topographic and construction work, an IMU-RTK rover such as the CHCNAV i83 or i89 covers most jobs. Add cameras (i89, i93, i76) if you do a lot of stakeout, a laser (i85) if you measure points you can't reach, and LiDAR (ViLi i100) if you regularly work under canopy, beside buildings or under structures.

CHCNAV RTK receivers compared

Model	What sets it apart	Best for
i83	1,408 channels, iStar, Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/NFC/UHF/4G, about 34 h battery	All-round surveying and construction
i83 Pro	200 Hz Auto-IMU, optional Trimble RTX and OmniSTAR	Remote sites with no base or network coverage
i76	About 450 g, 1,892-channel StellaX chip, dual-camera AR stakeout with VPT	Lightweight rover for long field days
i89	1,408 channels, iStar 2.0, dual cameras, video photogrammetry, 60° tilt	Stakeout and hard-to-reach points
i93	Dual cameras, 3D visual stakeout, video photogrammetry	Visual survey in obstructed areas
i85	1,892 channels, green laser (2 cm at 5 m, 3 cm at 10 m), dual cameras, PointSky corrections	Points behind fences, across ditches or near hazards
ViLi i100	LiDAR fusion (860,000 pts/s), SFix 2.0: 5 cm within 20 m of GNSS loss, real-time earthwork volumes	Forests, urban canyons, under bridges
iBase	Integrated base with 5 W UHF (up to 25 km in ideal conditions), 4G, repeater mode	Base-rover work without external radio and cables

Five questions that narrow the choice

1. Will you use a network or your own base?

In Alberta, the LATNET CORS RTK network delivers corrections over cellular (NTRIP), so a single rover is enough where there is coverage. Outside network and cell coverage, pair a rover with an iBase over UHF, or consider the i83 Pro with Trimble RTX.

2. How much stakeout do you do?

Camera receivers (i76, i89, i93, i85) show your design points over the live camera view in LandStar, with Virtual Pole Tip (VPT) keeping the target visible near your feet. On busy construction layouts this is noticeably faster than following numbers on a screen.

3. Do you measure points you can't physically reach?

The i85's laser measures inaccessible points without walking to them. The i89 and i93 can extract coordinates from video, and the ViLi i100 captures several 3D points from a single photo.

4. How often are you under canopy or beside buildings?

All CHCNAV receivers use multi-constellation tracking to hold a fix in difficult conditions. If you lose GNSS often — dense forest, downtown, under viaducts — the ViLi i100's LiDAR-based SFix 2.0 keeps you working where a standard rover would drop to float.

5. What does your crew carry all day?

Weight matters on long days. The i76 is about 450 g; tilt compensation on every current CHCNAV rover means you don't have to level the pole for each shot.

Software and workflow

All of these receivers run CHCNAV LandStar on Android controllers, which reads and writes common survey formats such as FXL, JXL, DC and CAL, so you don't have to change your office workflow. Our team can help set up your coordinate systems, geoid model and CORS login.

Try before you buy

Rent an iBase + i89 base/rover kit from $1,250 per week, or ask for a live demo and a quote on any receiver. LATNET is an authorized CHCNAV dealer in Calgary and ships across Canada.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a base station in Alberta?

Not where the LATNET CORS RTK network and cellular coverage are available — a single rover receives corrections over NTRIP. For remote areas without cell service, use a base such as the iBase with UHF.

What is IMU tilt compensation?

An inertial sensor in the receiver measures the pole's tilt, so you can record accurate points without levelling the bubble. Current CHCNAV rovers support tilt of up to about 60°.

Are CHCNAV receivers compatible with my existing software?

LandStar exports and imports common formats including FXL, JXL, DC and CAL, and data can be processed in CHCNAV Geomatics Office or third-party packages.

Which receiver works best under tree cover?

The ViLi i100 is designed for it: its LiDAR fusion and SFix 2.0 hold about 5 cm within 20 m of GNSS loss. Camera and laser models also help by letting you measure points from open sky.