Leica ERR-003 Error: What It Means and How to Fix It

Applies to: Leica GS18, GS15, GS10 GNSS rovers

What Does ERR-003 Mean?

ERR-003 Age of Corrections on Leica GNSS receivers means the rover is not receiving fresh RTK corrections. The age of corrections value — displayed in Leica Captivate — shows how many seconds have elapsed since the last correction packet was received.

RTK corrections are most effective when they are less than 2-3 seconds old. Corrections aged 10-30 seconds degrade position accuracy as satellite geometry changes. Corrections older than 60 seconds are generally too stale for reliable fixed RTK operation.

Leica Captivate flags age of corrections above the configured threshold as ERR-003. The rover may still display a fixed solution with aged corrections, but that fixed designation becomes unreliable — the computed solution does not reflect current satellite geometry.

Common Causes of ERR-003

• Radio link interruption — terrain, trees, or distance breaking the UHF line of sight
• Cellular network dropout — lost LTE coverage in the working area
• Base station malfunction — stopped broadcasting corrections
• NTRIP server connection timed out — VRS network session expired
• Radio channel interference from other transmitters in the area
• Rover radio antenna not mounted or damaged

How to Fix Leica ERR-003 — Step by Step

1. Check the age of corrections display in Leica Captivate. Values under 5 seconds are normal; 10+ seconds indicates an active communication problem.
2. Verify the base station is still powered on and actively transmitting. A base station that ran out of battery or was disturbed will stop broadcasting.
3. For UHF radio: check line of sight to the base station. Move the rover to a location with fewer obstructions. The rover radio antenna must be fully extended and clear of the operator's body.
4. For cellular/NTRIP: check the cellular signal strength indicator. Move to a location with better coverage. Reconnect to the NTRIP server from Leica Captivate's network settings.
5. Power cycle the rover radio module. A radio reset often restores a stalled connection.
6. Reduce the distance between the rover and base station. Practical UHF radio range is 3-10km in open terrain.

When to Send It In for Service

If age of corrections consistently rises to high values even at short distances with line-of-sight to the base, the rover UHF radio may have a hardware fault. Contact an authorized Leica dealer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an acceptable age of corrections for RTK work?

Age of corrections under 2-3 seconds is ideal. Up to 10 seconds is generally acceptable. Above 30 seconds, RTK accuracy degrades significantly. Above 60 seconds, do not rely on the fixed designation for precise measurement.

Does high age of corrections cause a position error I cannot see?

Yes — when corrections are stale, the RTK filter uses extrapolated satellite positions, which introduces systematic errors that are not reflected in the displayed precision values. Always maintain fresh corrections before recording measurements.

Can I use a CORS network to avoid age-of-corrections issues?

Yes — CORS and VRS networks deliver corrections via the internet with consistent latency (typically under 1 second). They eliminate the range and line-of-sight limitations of UHF radio base stations, making age-of-corrections issues rare.

Related Leica Error Codes

Leica GNSS ERR-002 RTK Float | Leica GNSS ERR-004 Bluetooth Lost