GNSS basics
Accuracy
1–5 meters
1–2 cm
10–20 cm
1–2 cm
Correction Source
None (standalone)
Local base station or network (e.g., CORS)
Satellite orbits/clocks (precise ephemeris)
Hybrid: satellite + network corrections
Convergence Time
Instant
Seconds
20–30 minutes
Seconds to minutes
Range
Global
Limited to base station coverage (~10–50 km)
Global
Global (with network support)
Infrastructure Needed
None
Base station or RTK network
Internet (for precise ephemeris)
Internet + optional RTK network
Cost
Low
High (base station/network fees)
Moderate (subscription for corrections)
Moderate to high (hybrid corrections)
Use Cases
Navigation, asset tracking
Surveying, precision agriculture
Offshore, aviation, long-duration tasks
Urban canyons, mixed environments
Latency
Low
Low (real-time)
High (initial convergence)
Low (real-time with network assist)
Reliability
Moderate (ionospheric errors)
High (local corrections)
Moderate (depends on ephemeris quality)
High (redundant corrections)
Complexity
Low
High (setup, calibration)
Moderate (software-dependent)
High (integrates PPP + RTK)
Best For
General navigation
High-precision local work
Remote/offshore applications
Dynamic environments (e.g., drones, robots)
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