New York State Department of Transportation

NYSNet (New York State Spatial Reference Network)

CORS/Real Time GPS Network

Questions and Answers

Updated 8/26/2020

Registration & Account Info

About NYSNet

GLONASS

Mount Points and Ports

RINEX Data

Other

Registration/Account Info

1. How do I register for access to NYSNet?

· Click on the Create Account link on our website: https://cors.dot.ny.gov/SBC

· Complete the form (write down the user name and password, you will need them later), read and accept the Terms of Use and click Sign Up. The user name must be 16 characters or less. This user name and password are case sensitive and will be your login for the web site and the real-time network. You can now choose to create a second username and password for Ntrip login, separate from the website login. If these fields are left empty, the same username and password will be used for both.

· Wait for an email with a link in it, and click on the link. This link will expire 5 days from when it is sent.

· Once you confirm your account, you will receive an email that your subscription for All RTK and RINEX Products has been activated. This email will contain the URL for our RTN.

You will receive a total of 3 emails during the registration process. Please wait for the third one which states your subscription package has been activated before trying to log in to the real time network or the website. This third email will contain the URL address and information on how to find the ports and mount points for real-time network access.

2. It has been more than 5 days since I received the email with the link in it and now the link won’t work. What can I do? Do I need to register again?

No, you do not need to register again. Contact us at cors@dot.ny.gov and we can confirm your registration.

3. I forgot my user name and/or password. How do I find out what they are?

There is a 'Forgotten Password' link on the home page of our website. When you click on this link a new page will open. Enter your e-mail address to receive an e-mail message containing a password reset link . This will only function if your email address is up to date in your user profile. Users may also contact us at cors@dot.ny.gov for this information.

4. How do I make changes to my account?

To make changes to an existing account, log into Spider Business Center. Click on Account Details then User Profile.

5. We have two GNSS rovers in our office. Can we use both rovers with a single user account?

You will need one acount for each rover you would like to connect to the network.

6. How do I add additional rovers?

To request additional rover accounts, register each one using the steps listed in question 1 above.

7. Why doesn't my old user name and password for the website work anymore? What should I do?

Subscriptions to access the network have a 1-year expiration and can be renewed in the Spider Business Center. If you have trouble renewing your account, contact us at cors@dot.ny.gov.

8. How do I renew my subscription?

Log into your account and go to the shop page. Within two weeks of your subcription expiration date, you will see a "Renew" button. Click this and then select "Save".

9. I renewed my subscription, but am still getting emails saying it will expire. What do I need to do?

There is currently a glitch in the software and you will continue to receive emails through the expiration date. Your subcription will still renew and you should not see any disruption in service. We are working with the vendor to have this corrected.

About NYSNET

10. What is NYSNet?

NYSNet is a spatial reference network of continuously operating Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) reference stations (CORS) throughout New York State that can be used for differential GPS applications. Depending on equipment and procedures, this network can provide users the ability to achieve centimeter positioning for surveying applications or sub-meter positioning for GIS mapping applications. Position information from this reference network can be utilized by using static data in post processing or by using the real-time network (RTN).

11. Are there any fees for using NYSNet?

No. NYSDOT does not charge users a fee for access to the real-time network.

12. Does NYSNet provide Network RTK or VRS?

NYSNet provides real time products for both single baseline (nearest) RTK and network RTK (NRTK). NRTK is provided using the RTCM Master Auxiliary Concept (MAC). VRS is another method of NRTK.

13. What type of equipment is needed for RTK access? Does my equipment need to be NTRIP (Networked Transport of RTCM via Internet Protocol) compatible?

Real time data must be accessed through the internet. Most commonly, an internal or external rover cell modem or a data-capable cell phone with the ability to communicate with your rover and the internet are needed to access the network corrections. The rover needs to be NTRIP or NMEA compatible.

14. What type of cellular service is needed for RTK access?

Any GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) or CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) data cellular service will work with the network. Cellular data coverage at the location where you will be surveying is the most important consideration in choosing your cellular provider. An unlimited data plan is usually recommended.

15. How will users be notified if NYSNet will not be available?

The Spider Business Center login page at cors.dot.ny.gov includes a twitter feed for notifications (you do not need a twitter account to see this feed). Alternatively, you could access the twitter feed directly at https://twitter.com/nysnet . Users could follow this twitter account and setup alerts when a notification is posted. Email notifications may be sent occasionally. Please keep your email address up to date.

16. Is there a way to determine the current operating status of stations in the network?

You can check the Live Status of the network from Spider Business Center. Select Live Statue in the menu, then Site Status.

17. Where do I find real time network connection information such as the URL/ IP address, ports and mount points?

You can connect to the RTN using a url: RTN.DOT.NY.GOV If your equipment cannot use a URL, contact us at cors@dot.ny.gov . Information about ports and mount points can be found in the document 'RTN Ports/ Mount Points' on the home page of our website.

Mount Points and Ports

18. Where do I find a list of mount points?

From the home page of our website https://cors.dot.ny.gov/SBC click on 'RTN Ports/ Mount Points' link in the menu.

19. Where can I find a description of the mount points?

From the home page of this website, click on ‘RTN Product Descriptions’.

20. What are MAX and iMAX real time mount points?

MAX and iMAX are Leica Geosystems applications of the RTCM Master Auxiliary Concept (MAC) of network RTK. Both use a ‘cell’ of 6 CORS, usually the 6 closest to the rover, to compute the corrections.

21. What is the difference between MAX and iMAX real time products?

The main difference between MAX and i-MAX is when using a MAX product the procesing is done at the rover, and when using i-MAX the processing is done at our servers. Rovers using the MAX product should confirm their rover can make use of RTCM MAC messages, otherwise they should use an iMax product to make use of network RTK.

22. Which version of RTCM or CMR should I use?

Generally, it is best to use the latest version that your rover can handle – RTCM version 3 or CMR+.

GLONASS and Galileo

23. My rover is capable of receiving data from GLONASS satellites and Galileo Satellites. Does NYSNet utilize this data?

Yes, NYSNet is using data from the GLONASS and Galileo satellite systems. All NYSNet reference stations operated by NYSDOT and NYC are logging GLONASS data. The 'RTN Map' link shows all stations and the satellite sytems that each station is capable of. The ‘RTN Ports/ Mount Points’ and 'Current Coordinates MYCS2' documents show the GLONASS-capable CORS in red and show the Galileo capable CORS in green.

24. Do the RINEX files from GLONASS-capable CORS contain correction data from the GLONASS satellites?

Yes, NYSNet CORS which have GLONASS capable equipment are including GLONASS data in the RINEX files as of the date and time they are added back into the network after the GLONASS equipment upgrade. NGS is also providing GLONASS in their data now for those CORS that have the capability to collect it.

RINEX Data

25. How do I download static (RINEX) data?

You can submit a RINEX file request data through the Spider Business Center under the Post Processing > RINEX Data page. Once the request is confirmed, corresponding files will be available for download on the Results page. This is for RINEX v 3.x formatted data and includes GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and Beidou. Alternatively, you can access RINEX v 2.x which is GPS and GLONASS only from the RINEX v2 FTP link on the bottom of the Spider Business Center webpage.

Other

26. What do you mean by “NYSDOT CORS are not directly connected to NAVD88”?

Our network datum is NAD83 (2011) EPOCH 2010 MYCS2. Heights produced from this network are related to the reference ellipsoid for NAD83, GRS80. The National Geodetic Survey (NGS) provides GEOID models to support the conversion between ellipsoid heights and NAVD88. Refer to https://geodesy.noaa.gov/GEOID/ for information on this model. If your survey requires more accurate NAVD88 heights you should consider including NAVD88 benchmark(s) in your survey.

27. Does NYSDOT plan to add more CORS to NYSNet? If so, where?

NYSDOT has no plans to add any CORS of our own at this time. Connections to CORS in neighboring states are possible as they become available.

2. It has been more than 5 days since I received the email with the link in it and now the link won’t work. What can I do? Do I need to register again?

3. I forgot my user name and/or password. How do I find out what they are?

7. Why doesn't my old user name and password for the website work anymore? What should I do?

Subscriptions to access the network have a 1-year expiration and can be renewed in the Spider Business Center. If you have trouble renewing your account, contact us at cors@dot.ny.gov.

17. Where do I find real time network connection information such as the URL/ IP address, ports and mount points?

You can connect to the RTN using a url: RTN.DOT.NY.GOV If your equipment cannot use a URL, contact us at cors@dot.ny.gov . Information about ports and mount points can be found in the document 'RTN Ports/ Mount Points' on the home page of our website.

24. Do the RINEX files from GLONASS-capable CORS contain correction data from the GLONASS satellites?

Yes, NYSNet CORS which have GLONASS capable equipment are including GLONASS data in the RINEX files as of the date and time they are added back into the network after the GLONASS equipment upgrade. NGS is also providing GLONASS in their data now for those CORS that have the capability to collect it.

28. What element should RTN users consider when trying reliable consistent RTN positioning?

From the User Instructions and Technical Guide OPUS Projects (National Geodetic Survey NGS):

a. Communication: Strong robust wireless, or WIFI low latency communication is essential between the RTN and rovers during point locations. This technology continues to expand and become more robust.

b. Check-in often on known project marks: Checking in on a known mark with expected results before collecting new data and during the session leads to confidence in the RTN correctors applied and prevents blunders from being a bias throughout the entire initialization.

c. Redundancy needed: Being able to acquire redundant coordinates on marks within expected accuracy requirements provide reliable results and confidence in the RTN station coordinates.