Configuring Emlid Reach RX (MFi) for ArcGIS Field Maps on iOS

This video guide walks through the exact process required to configure your Emlid Reach RX network rover to function seamlessly as a high-precision external location provider with ArcGIS Field Maps on iOS devices.

⚠️ Critical Hardware Requirement: Please note that your Reach RX module will only establish this direct background location stream if it carries official Apple MFi (Made For iPhone/iPad) certification. This distinction will be clearly printed on the product's original packaging or designated via an explicit MFi hardware marking on the base of the Reach RX casing.

Step 1: Bluetooth Pairing & NTRIP Correction Setup

1. Open the native Bluetooth settings panel on your iOS device (iPhone or iPad) and select your Reach RX from the discovered peripheral list to pair it.
2. Once the secure connection is established, launch the main Emlid Flow mobile application layout.
3. Navigate to the device configuration dashboard and tap into the Correction input options card.
4. Select NTRIP over Bluetooth as your primary ingestion channel and pick an appropriate NTRIP network caster profile to feed local RTK corrections over the air into the receiver.

Step 2: Linking the Receiver to ArcGIS Field Maps

Once you confirm within Emlid Flow that your receiver is cleanly parsing correction packets and maintaining a stable fix status, close the app and open ArcGIS Field Maps.

1. Tap on your user profile avatar icon situated in the top menu corner to open the main app settings drawer.
2. Scroll down to the Location properties block and tap on the Provider preference row.
3. Tap the Add button option. The software engine should automatically detect your external hardware, displaying your Reach RX unit's unique serial number. Select it to append the device.

Step 3: Factoring Antenna Heights and Offsets

Tap the newly added receiver entry once more to configure its physical offset values. Input your total true field pole/antenna height, making sure to explicitly add an additional 0.145 m (145 mm) to your value.

💡 Geodetic Formula Offset: The extra 0.145 m value accounts for the built-in antenna phase center (APC) height offset measured from the physical bottom thread of the Reach RX shell housing to the internal receiving grid grid structure. Factoring this value directly into your profile setup prevents vertical datum compression errors on your data rows.

With your location provider targets locked and your vertical variables completely accounted for, your field software is ready to begin logging survey-grade spatial asset collection rows directly into your ArcGIS feature layers.