If you’re a professional land surveyor and still running legacy RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) gear, you’re leaving money—and accuracy—on the table. This isn’t just about shiny new gadgets or keeping up with the Joneses. Upgrading your RTK system can deliver measurable returns in performance, productivity, and profitability.
Let’s cut through the noise. Here are the key reasons why making the leap to newer-generation RTK systems isn’t just smart—it’s necessary.
1. Old Equipment Is Bleeding You Dry
2. Modern RTK = Tilt Compensation + Multi-Frequency Tracking
3. Productivity Gains Pay for the Upgrade—Fast
4. Trade-In Incentives: Don’t Miss the Deal
6. It’s Not Just a Tool—It’s a Competitive Advantage
7. Stop Wasting Time Troubleshooting in the Field
8. Better UX = Faster Training + Fewer Mistakes
9. The Upgrade Isn’t an Expense—It’s an Investment
If your RTK gear is from a previous generation—Gen 2, 3, or 4—you’re operating at a serious disadvantage. Units like the generation 4 Sokkia’s GRx2, Hemisphere’s S320 and even newer 6th generation units like the Carlson BRx6 are all at a massive disadvantage compared to the latest RTK equipment.
Most of that older equipment wasn’t designed for today’s satellite environment. There are now four GNSS constellations in orbit—GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou—broadcasting multiple frequencies. Legacy gear is typically limited to GPS and GLONASS. But that is not all, there have also been new signals that have been released. Instead of the older units that simply run L1 + L2, GPS for instance now has 5 signals! Check out our article on how GPS has evolved: GPS In Surveying – From Weapon of War to Everyday Tool. In difficult environments, this translates to huge differences in performance.
Translation: fewer satellites and signals tracked = lower precision = more downtime. That’s real money lost, whether it’s in labor hours, failed data collection, or field rework. Check out the difference in performance between the S320 and S631.
And let’s talk service. If your gear is end-of-life (EOL) or end-of-support (EOS), your supplier can’t help you when things go wrong. If your crews are coming back from the field with little or no usable data—or if you’re constantly troubleshooting problems that shouldn’t exist—it’s not a team issue. It’s a tech issue.
You’re not just running old gear—you’re running a liability.
Tilt compensation is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. The latest RTK systems include built-in inertial measurement units (IMUs) that let you capture accurate points without leveling the pole. That might not sound revolutionary until you consider the time saved over hundreds of points per day.
We actually put it to the test to see how faster tilt makes you in the field. To do this we raced a tilt enabled Hemisphere S631 against a Hemisphere S631 with the tilt disabled. In our testing we found an efficiency improvement of 49.7%. We were able to collect double the number of points with tilt enabled in the same amount of time. This makes stakeout and layout way faster. You can read about our test and the results here: The Advantages of Utilizing Tilt in Surveying with RTK Receivers.
Even better, seventh-generation RTK systems support multi-frequency tracking across all modern constellations. This boosts your fix times, improves accuracy in harsh environments, and drastically reduces the time spent waiting for a reliable signal. This reduces your reliance on total station setups.
Why fight with a 10-year-old receiver that struggles under tree canopy, near buildings, or in urban corridors? You could be working faster and smarter with a unit built for today’s world.
Here’s where things get really interesting. Let’s say you upgrade your RTK system. After the upgrade you could gain 20% to 50% more productivity on your field work. That’s not hypothetical—it’s what many surveyors are actually experiencing.
Let’s break it down (You can swap in your own numbers):
Step 1: Calculate your current annual cost
Labour Cost Per Hour * Fieldwork Hours = Current Annual Cost
$50 / Hour * 2,000 Hours = $100,000
Step 2: Calculate New Time Savings
Annual Hours * (1 – Productivity Increase (%)) = New Hours Worked
Step 3: Calculate the Cost Savings
Current Annual Cost * (Annual Hours – New Hours Worked) * Labour Cost Per Hour = Cost Savings
| Productivity Increase | New Hours Worked | Cost Savings |
| 20% | 1,600 | $20,000 |
| 30% | 1,400 | $30,000 |
| 40% | 1,200 | $40,000 |
| 50% | 1,000 | $50,000 |
Depending on the system you choose, a high-end seventh-generation RTK system will likely easily pay for itself within the first year. This is not “maybe someday” ROI—it’s real-world, near-term savings.
Let’s say your current RTK still works. It’s old, but it’s not completely dead. That doesn’t mean it’s worth holding onto.
Why? Because many top manufacturers and dealers offer generous trade-in programs, especially when they’re rolling out new gear. Some will give you double credit on old equipment—even if it’s worth peanuts on the open market.
Example: If your old receiver is worth $3,000, you might get $6,000 in trade-in value toward new gear during a promotion.
But here’s the catch: these deals often aren’t advertised. The only way to know about them is to call your supplier directly or keep in regular contact. Make a habit of checking in once or twice a year—even if you’re not ready to buy. You could save thousands just by being in the loop.
A decade ago, working under tree canopy with RTK was a nightmare. You’d lose signal, drop accuracy, or worse—have to switch to a total station. That meant lugging more gear and spending more time on every point.
Fast forward to today: seventh-generation RTK systems can work reliably under canopy. Thanks to improved satellite tracking, smarter software, and advanced filtering algorithms, today’s gear can maintain a fixed solution where older systems simply can’t.
That means:
In short, you spend less time fighting the terrain and more time getting work done. We had one customer in central Tennessee who performed rural boundary surveys, who with his new Hemisphere S631 system was able to perform projects in a third of the time it took him with a robotic total station. Not having to cut lines, and run extensive traverses meant that he was able to bill at an effective rate of $1,300 USD an hour as his competition was still using conventional total stations.
The survey world is competitive. If your gear makes you faster, more accurate, and more reliable than the next guy, that’s more than a technical advantage. That’s a business edge.
Clients notice when your deliverables are consistent, when your site time is minimal, and when you meet deadlines without drama. They don’t care what generation RTK you’re using—but they do care about the results.
Upgrading doesn’t just make your life easier—it makes you look better, work faster, and deliver more value. That opens the door to better contracts, repeat business, and word-of-mouth referrals.
We’ve all been there. You’re on site, your crew is ready, and the gear won’t fix. You try rebooting. You move to higher ground. You restart the base. Ten minutes turns into an hour. And your client is watching.
That time doesn’t come back. Neither does the lost revenue or the hit to your reputation.
With modern RTK systems, setup is streamlined. Many units auto-connect, auto-calibrate, and even detect the best satellite configuration without you lifting a finger. Less fiddling. More surveying.
If your current gear makes you feel like a part-time IT tech, it’s time to upgrade. The time for cumbersome external radio setups, and finicky cable connections has long passed. With the new internal radios and network options, you can leave them in the past.
Newer RTK systems come with smarter interfaces, intuitive workflows, and touch-based field controllers. The result? Faster training for new hires and fewer field errors.
That’s a win-win:
Even experienced techs benefit from streamlined interfaces and better ergonomics. When the tool works with you—not against you—you get more done with less friction.
Here at Bench-Mark we also offer a comprehensive training library that you can access in the field. With Survey-Assistant.com, every single receiver case comes with a QR code that links to all of the how to guides on your procedures. You can access everything from how to setup your base and rover to performing a localization and more. With software like MicroSurvey’s FieldGenius, fieldwork is made a lot easier than many of the older software packages still out there.
Let’s be real. Upgrading RTK equipment is a capital expense. But it’s also one of the best investments you can make in your surveying business.
Why? Because unlike most expenses, this one:
And if you leverage trade-in incentives and financing options, the upfront cost becomes even more manageable. We even have a video coming out soon on how you can pay for your RTK systems. You can keep your eye out for it either by signing up for our Newsletter or by heading to our YouTube Channel: Bench-Mark Equipment and Supplies.
Surveying isn’t what it was ten years ago. The tools have changed. The expectations have changed. And the technology has evolved.
If you’re still running legacy RTK gear, now’s the time to rethink your setup. Whether it’s productivity, accuracy, field reliability, or supplier support, today’s seventh-generation RTK systems offer real, tangible advantages that directly affect your bottom line.
Stop letting outdated tools limit your potential. Start surveying smarter.
Ready to explore your options? Give us a call at Benchmark, and let’s talk about what’s possible.
Because older gear wasn’t built for today’s GNSS environment. Modern RTK systems track more satellites, more signals, and work in places legacy systems can’t—like under canopy or in urban corridors. Starting with up-to-date gear means fewer headaches, better accuracy, and way more uptime.
Tilt compensation and multi-frequency tracking should be non-negotiable. They cut time, boost accuracy, and let you work without constantly leveling the pole or switching to a total station. A good user interface and strong supplier support are also critical for fast learning and fewer mistakes in the field.
Speed and reliability. Upgrading to a seventh-gen system can increase your productivity by up to 50%, hold fixes under canopy, reduce downtime, and eliminate constant troubleshooting. That means more deliverables, less rework, and fewer missed deadlines.
Yes—and you should. Many manufacturers offer generous trade-in deals, especially when launching new models. Some will double the value of your old gear. But these offers aren’t always advertised, so it pays to ask your supplier directly.
In many cases, within the first year. If your new system boosts field productivity by even 30%, you could be saving $30,000 annually in labor costs alone. The ROI isn’t a long-term theory—it’s a near-term reality.
Bench Mark Equipment & Supplies is your team to trust with all your surveying equipment. We have been providing high-quality surveying equipment to land surveyors, engineers, construction, airborne and resource professionals since 2002. This helps establish ourselves as the go-to team in Calgary, Canada, and the USA. Plus, we provide a wide selection of equipment, including global navigation satellite systems, RTK GPS equipment, GNSS receivers, and more. We strive to provide the highest level of customer care and service for everyone. To speak to one of our team today, call us at 403-286-0333 or email us at [email protected].
Canada’s #1 supplier of land surveying equipment and instruments.
