Power Safety and Connection Guidelines
All connections — including the antenna, power supply, SD card, and Ethernet — must be made only when the base station is unplugged from the power outlet. If you connect the antenna while the base station is powered, you risk burning out not only the antenna power circuitry but even the GNSS receiver itself.
Why Power Disconnection Matters
This is a common issue with all GNSS receivers powered from the electrical grid when used with fixed outdoor antennas. The reason is that most power adapters produce a voltage of 110 volts (half the mains voltage) on the device chassis. The resulting current is very small and harmless to people. However, fixed GNSS antennas are often mounted on grounded or electrically bonded building structures — or may come into contact with them accidentally. Similarly, the Ethernet cable may be grounded.
Unfortunately, modern electronics are more vulnerable to voltage than current. And while lightning protection can suppress brief surges, it will fail against sustained voltage differences. That’s why, before connecting a fixed antenna or Ethernet cable, always unplug the base station from the wall outlet.
Obviously, this warning does not apply to portable antennas. They can be connected while the device is powered. If you're running the base station on battery power, it's also generally safe to connect everything — except the SD card, which should always be inserted or removed with the power off.
Why Fast Charging Is Dangerous
One more important warning: please do not power the station using “fast” USB chargers or USB hubs from lesser-known brands. “Fast” chargers—those using QuickCharge or Power Delivery technologies—supply higher voltages, often 20 volts or more. This voltage level can permanently damage our base stations. Chargers from unknown brands may not handle the switching between normal and elevated voltage correctly. For example, one of our customers charged an iPhone using a USB hub with Power Delivery, and then connected the base station to the same hub. The hub failed to drop the voltage, and as a result, nearly everything inside the base station was fried.
Antenna and SD Card Setup
First, you need to mount the antenna on the roof or a high pole. For details on antenna installation, refer to our blog. The key is to give the antenna as much open sky as possible and minimize reflected satellite signals. The antenna itself is sealed, but its connector is not. Therefore, it is recommended to seal the connection point between the antenna and the cable with heat shrink tubing or special self-vulcanizing tape.
Inserting the SD Card
If you previously removed the SD card, your first step is to insert it into the right-hand slot. The SD card should be inserted with the metal contacts facing away from you and toward the board. If the text on the enclosure is upright (not upside down), then “toward the board” means the contacts face downward, and the printed label on the card faces upward.
Antenna and Port Connections
Next, connect the antenna to the IN port (SMA type). The OUT port (also SMA type) is the output of the built-in signal splitter. You can use it to connect an additional GNSS receiver, for example, one used for GEODNET.
Station Type Considerations
If you haven’t yet reviewed the differences between advanced (wired) and budget (wireless) base stations, refer to the sections “Choosing a Base Station Type” and “Feature list”.
Advanced (Wired) Base Stations
If you're using an advanced (wired) station and connecting via Ethernet, plug the Ethernet cable into the left-hand port. Then plug the power cable into the USB Type-C port on the right. The two USB Type-A ports on these stations are native Raspberry Pi connectors and can be used to attach peripherals such as radio transceivers, USB Ethernet adapters, or USB 5G modems. The HDMI ports on these models are disabled
Budget (Wireless) Base Stations
For budget (wireless) stations, the power cable should be plugged into the PWR IN port. The USB Type-C port on these models is the GNSS receiver’s port. It's used in cases where you need a standalone GNSS receiver instead of a full base station. Additionally, this port allows you to upgrade firmware or perform advanced configuration of the receiver.
Final Steps and LED Indicators
The LED indicators on the front panel show whether the station is powered on, whether there is an Internet connection, and whether satellite signals are being received. Details about these indicators can be found in the “LEDs” section.
And finally — plug the power supply into an electrical outlet. The included power supply comes with interchangeable plug adapters and supports most outlet types worldwide. For detailed steps on what to do after powering on the unit, refer to the section “Getting started”.
Important Note After Power-On
Important: After first powering on the base station, do not turn it off for at least five minutes. During this time, the system performs initial setup and configuration of the receiver, which can take a little while.
© Eltehs SIA 2025
