Overview
The PointPerfect Flex service is designed to provide high-precision GNSS corrections to suitable receivers (e.g. u-blox F9 platform products) within a client system to allow for decimeter-level location accuracy. The product page for Pointperfect Flex includes technical specifications of the PointPerfect Flex Service including reference frame, GNSS signal support, and more information on data format and other distribution details. Additional information about our PointPerfect Flex service is shared in this Guide.
GNSS corrections can be distributed to your receiver in various ways to suit your needs. For more details, see the Data Distribution Protocols section.
Service Coverage
Our Service Coverage page shows where we currently provide our PointPerfect Flex service. Coverage includes up to 12 nautical miles (roughly 22 kilometers) off continental coastlines.
Note: some distribution methods may not be available in all areas and bandwidth estimations may vary.
Device Provisioning
The service allows for device provisioning through the User Interface of the Thingstream platform, or through the API interface for programmatic provisioning.
For more information about Device Provisioning see the: PointPerfect Flex Getting Started Guide
For more information about Zero Touch Provisioning see the: PointPerfect Flex Zero Touch Provisioning
Data Format
Supported SPARTN Messages
PointPerfect Flex correction data consists of a collection of messages in the SPARTN 2.0 format. SPARTN is an industry-recognized standard that supports wide and global area broadcasts along with other performance requirements.
The SPARTN message format is an evolution of other legacy state space representation (SSR) formats that have been made available by different players in the GNSS industry. The table below shows supported SPARTN message types which are also described in the F9 Integration Manual. [1] Refer to the output of the UBX-RXM-COR message to review how this information is received.
Supported RTCM Messages
The RTCM data format applies a standard for the network communication and encoding of GNSS data. It was the first published standard by the Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Services for Differential GNSS and is used today by many high-precision GNSS receivers
Data Distribution Protocols
PointPerfect Flex corrections can be delivered through NTRIP protocols for IP-based connections, or via L-band satellite.
The links below go to pages that describe each distribution method, including related architecture and other protocol usage details.
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PointPerfect Flex Localized Distribution: Deliver PointPerfect Flex corrections specific to your receiver location (Internet) .
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PointPerfect Flex SPARTN over NTRIP Distribution: Corrections delivered using NTRIP protocol.
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PointPerfect Flex RTCM Distribution: Corrections delivered using RTCM protocol.
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PointPerfect Flex L-band: Distributes continental-wide PointPerfect Flex corrections to your receiver via L-band satellite.
Client Authentication and Encryption
Each client must authenticate with the PointPerfect Flex service to apply corrections to the device. Credentials are provided for each device (aka ‘Thing’) in our Thingstream platform.
Clients using L-band plans must acquire dynamic keys to access the corrections data. Corrections delivered via NTRIP or with the Localized distribution are not encrypted.
The implementation of encryption & authentication for SPARTN messages is described in section 8.15 of the SPARTN 2.0 specification.[4]
Client Authentication with NTRIP
Client Authentication for NTRIP uses a device specific username and password. The port used to connect to the NTRIP caster will designate if you wish to apply additional TLS encryption for your credentials. For more information, see our PointPerfect Flex SPARTN over NTRIP Distribution or PointPerfect Flex RTCM Distribution pages.
Message Decryption with Dynamic Keys for L-band
This section applies to solutions that use our service via L-band satellite delivery. It does not apply when implementing our NTRIP delivery method or Localized distribution.
The SPARTN messages published as a Continental stream are encrypted per section 8.15 of the SPARTN specification.[4] For more information on how these messages are delivered see the PointPerfect Flex L-Band Configuration guide. When using u-blox high precision GNSS receivers (e.g. u-blox F9 platform products), the decryption of the messages and the validation of messages using the SPARTN Group Authentication Message[4] is performed in the module itself.
Dynamic keys are rotated approximately every 28 days. When obtaining the dynamic key lease, the message will contain two keys labeled “current” and “next” with details of each key validity period. You can find these keys under the Credentials tab in Thingstream and compare them to the content of the UBX-RXM-SPARTNKEY message on your device.
Still need help?
If you need more help or have any questions, please send an email to services-support@u-blox.com.
Reference Documentation
[1] ZED-F9P Integration manual, UBX-18010802
[2] PointPerfect Flex Service Coverage page
[3] Thingstream Knowledge Base – Services Support
[4] SPARTN: Secure Position Augmentation for Real Time Navigation (spartnformat.org)