Share Internet Base Station Services

IBSS sharing simplifies connectivity with a single, unique user name and password generated for each correction stream. Instead of registering every rover, an Admin can simply Enable 3rd Party Access on a stream and distribute that single credential to multiple rovers (both Trimble and non-Trimble). Furthermore, the Make Publicly Visible option allows the stream's mount point to appear in the global directory for clients who cannot authenticate up front, solving the interoperability issue.

IBSS Sharing

  • Enables 3rd Party Access - Admins can check a box to enable third-party access for a specific base station. Crucially, the system generates credentials 'per correction stream' (e.g., one for RTCM3, one for CMRx) rather than per base station, as 3rd-party rovers typically only need a specific format.

  • Simplifies Credential Management - The system automatically generates an NTRIP user name and password for the stream. A single set of credentials can be used by an unlimited number of rovers concurrently, eliminating the need to create unique logins for a 50-rover fleet. The password can be regenerated or edited if you need to revoke access to a specific project or subcontractor.

  • Makes Mount Point Names Publicly Visible - This checkbox acts as an opt-in visibility toggle. If checked, the base station's mount point name becomes visible to any 3rd-party client on IBSS when they request the source table, even if they do not provide a user name and password during the initial connection.

Notes

  • As a WorksManager Admin, when you select a base station's correction stream and check Enable 3rd Party Access, a unique NTRIP user name and password are generated specifically for that stream.

  • When a correction stream has 3rd party access enabled, and you enter the generated user name and password into a Trimble rover from a different WorksManager account or a non-Trimble rover, the rover successfully authenticates against the caster and receives correction data.

  • When a stream has Make Publicly Visible enabled, and a 3rd-party rover or a Trimble legacy client (GCS) requests the IBSS directory without providing authentication credentials, the stream's mount point name is visible in the list of available base stations.

  • If a stream is currently being shared with multiple rovers, and the admin regenerates or edits the stream's password, all rovers using the old password immediately lose access to the correction stream.

Limitations

  • Non-Trimble Base Stations - The current scope exclusively supports non-Trimble rovers connecting to Trimble base stations.

  • Access Base to Construction - Sharing a construction-based system to a Trimble Access base is supported, but doing the reverse (sharing an Access base to construction) is not.

  • Role Restrictions - Only users with Admin privileges can share a base station with 3rd parties.

  • Complex Group Management - Technically, the API supports creating one user name that can access multiple base stations across different accounts, but a simple 1-to-1 relationship between a credential and a correction stream is highly recommended.

Sharing within WorksManager (Partner Accounts)

If you are sharing with a partner organization that also uses WorksManager, you can share the device directly into their account. A shared device remains linked to its primary account, meaning it can only connect to IBSS bases associated with that primary account.

Sharing with Third-Party & External Devices

To share your base station with external contractors, third-party software, or rovers not registered in WorksManager, you must generate shared credentials.

Create Shared Credentials for Third-Party Rover IBSS Configurations

Enable shared credentials for a base station and access the third-party configuration.

  1. Navigate to Internet Base Stations in WorksManager.

  2. Select a correction stream from the list (e.g., MP_Titan); this will open the right side panel.

  3. Click the Edit (pencil) icon behind 3rd Party Access in the right side pane.
    3rd Party Access is Disabled by default, and shared credentials do not exist for base stations. To create shared correction credentials, click the Edit (pencil) icon within this pane to open the Shared Correction Stream configuration window.

  4. Check the Enable 3rd Party Access box to generate shared credentials; this will enable the user name and password fields. The user name is generated automatically. Click Reset Password to create a custom password or auto-generate one.

    Although a password is also auto-generated, you can define a custom password by clicking the reset-password link. Clicking the reset password link will open the Reset Password window. You can choose to auto-generate the password by clicking the "auto-generate-password" link. Once you have entered a valid password, click the "reset" button.

  5. Click Done to create the shared credentials. These credentials can be distributed to third parties to enable a shared correction.

  6. You will get a confirmation message, “3rd party access enabled successfully”. Consequently, the value in the right panel has changed to 'enabled,' indicating that 3rd-party access is now active.

Delete Shared Credentials for Third-Party Connections

Use these steps to delete shared credentials for a base station.

  1. Navigate to Internet Base Stations in WorksManager.

  2. Select a correction stream from the list (e.g., MP_Titan) to open the right side pane.

  3. Observe the status of 3rd Party Access; this indicates the availability of shared credentials for the shared correction:

    • Enabled - Shared credentials are available.

    • Disabled - Shared credentials have not been created.

  4. To remove the shared credentials for a shared correction, click the Edit icon. This action opens the Shared Correction Stream configuration window.

  5. Uncheck the Enable 3rd Party Access option. This action will automatically clear the user name and password fields. Afterward, click the Done button.

  6. You will get a confirmation message. Click the Confirm button.

  7. The shared credentials for that correction will now be removed, and consequently, the 3rd party access in the right panel will be disabled.

Shared Device Rules for IBSS

  • ● If neither base nor rover is shared, then any rover from an account can get corrections from any base within the same account.

  • ● If the rover is shared with a partner account, then, ○ the rover can get corrections from any base in the partner account the rover can get corrections from any base shared with the partner account the rover CANNOT get corrections from any base of the parent/ owner account any longer.

  • ● If the base is shared with a partner account, then the base can send corrections to any rover within the partner account the base can send corrections to any rover shared with the partner account the base can continue to send corrections to any rover within the parent/ owner account as well.

Base Name Changes

And when base stations or rovers are shared into a partner account, the name of the base station (as it appears in the rovers) WILL change. With IBSS v1, the base would have the name Base-<Org> where org is the name of the organization/account that the base station is in. In IBSS v2, the base station will have the format Base__wm_ORG. This format allows future expansion with Geospatial and other systems. Remember that with Trimble Earthworks, the operator can normally not add new base station connections, you can use remote access to add these remotely.

 

Also see FAQs for Internet Base Station Service (IBSS)