A complete list of all adopted RTCM 3 Messages with brief commentary.
The official release of the standard at this time is called:
RTCM 10403.4, Differential GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems) Services
– Version 4 (published December 01, 2023)
Purchase a copy from RTCM here.
Comments
If you are interested in the messages you are more likely to encounter in the real world, here is a link to our popular RTCM 3 cheat sheet summary. By contrast, the list below contains all official messages defined in the current published standard. [If you are not an active member of the RTCM SC-104 efforts, we do not recommend that you attempt to deploy the experimental messages the committee has in development at any given time as they are almost certain to change.]
The text below is taken from the pop-up tool tips that SNIP will display when decoding various messages from an NTRIP stream. Unlike most NTRIP Casters, SNIP has the ability to decode and process the RTCM messages to provide additional functionality.
The Message List
Msg# | Message Name & Usage Commentary |
1~100 | Experimental Messages The messages in this range are temporary value assignments used by the RTCM SC-104 committee to develop and validate new messages before formal adoption and assignment of a permanent value. |
1001 | L1-Only GPS RTK Observables This GPS message type is not generally used or supported; type 1004 is to be preferred. |
1002 | Extended L1-Only GPS RTK Observables This GPS message type is used when only L1 data is present and bandwidth is very tight, often 1004 is used in such cases (even when no L2 data is present). |
1003 | L1&L2 GPS RTK Observables This GPS message type is not generally used or supported; type 1004 is to be preferred. |
1004 | Extended L1&L2 GPS RTK Observables This GPS message type is the most common observational message type, with L1/L2/SNR content. This is the most common legacy message found. |
1005 | Stationary RTK Reference Station ARP Commonly called the Station Description this message includes the ECEF location of the antenna (the antenna reference point (ARP) not the phase center) and also the quarter phase alignment details. The datum field is not used/defined, which often leads to confusion if a local datum is used. See message types 1006 and 1032. The 1006 message also adds a height about the ARP value. |
1006 | Stationary RTK Reference Station ARP with Antenna Height Commonly called the Station Description this message includes the ECEF location of the antenna (the antenna reference point (ARP) not the phase center) and also the quarter phase alignment details. The height about the ARP value is also provided. The datum field is not used/defined, which often leads to confusion if a local datum is used. See message types 1005 and 1032. The 1005 message does not convey the height about the ARP value. |
1007 | Antenna Descriptor A textual description of the antenna “descriptor” which is used as a model number. Also has station ID (a number). The descriptor can be used to look up model specific details of that antenna. See 1008 as well. Search for ADVNULLANTENNA for additional articles on controlling this setting. |
1008 | Antenna Descriptor and Serial Number A textual description of the antenna “descriptor” which is used as a model number, and a (presumed unique) antenna serial number (text). Also has station ID (a number). The descriptor can be used to look up model specific details of that antenna. See 1007 as well. Search for ADVNULLANTENNA for additional articles on controlling this setting. |
1009 | L1-Only GLONASS RTK Observables This GLONASS message type is not generally used or supported; type 1012 is to be preferred. |
1010 | Extended L1-Only GLONASS RTK Observables This GLONASS message type is used when only L1 data is present and bandwidth is very tight, often 1012 is used in such cases. |
1011 | L1&L2 GLONASS RTK Observables This GLONASS message type is not generally used or supported; type 1012 is to be preferred. |
1012 | Extended L1&L2 GLONASS RTK Observables This GLONASS message type is the most common observational message type, with L1/L2/SNR content. This is one of the most common legacy messages found. |
1013 | System Parameters This message provides a table of what message types are sent at what rates. This is the same information you find in the Caster Table (this message predates NTRIP). SNIP infers this information by observing the data stream, and creates Caster Table entries when required. This message is also notable in that it contains the number of leap seconds then in effect. Not many NTRIP devices send this message. |
1014 | Network Auxiliary Station Data Contains a summary of the number of stations that are part of a Network RTK system, along with the relative location of the auxiliary reference stations from the master station. |
1015 | GPS Ionospheric Correction Differences Contains a short message with ionospheric carrier phase correction information for a single auxiliary reference station for the GPS GNSS type. See also message 1017. |
1016 | GPS Geometric Correction Differences Contains a short message with geometric carrier phase correction information for a single auxiliary reference station for the GPS GNSS type. See also message 1017. |
1017 | GPS Combined Geometric and Ionospheric Correction Differences Contains a short message with both ionospheric and geometric carrier phase correction information for a single auxiliary reference station for the GPS GNSS type. See also messages 1015 and 1016. |
1018 | RESERVED for Alternative Ionospheric Correction Difference Message This message has not been developed or released by SC-104 at this time. |
1019 | GPS Ephemerides Sets of these messages (one per SV) are used to send the broadcast orbits for GPS in a Kepler format. |
1020 | GLONASS Ephemerides Sets of these messages (one per SV) are used to send the broadcast orbits for GLONASS in a XYZ dot product format. |
1021 | Helmert / Abridged Molodenski Transformation Parameters A classical Helmert 7-parameter coordinate transformation message. Not often found in actual use. |
1022 | Molodenski-Badekas Transformation Parameters A coordinate transformation message using the Molodenski-Badekas method (translates through an arbitrary point rather than the origin) Not often found in actual use. |
1023 | Residuals, Ellipsoidal Grid Representation A coordinate transformation message. Not often found in actual use. |
1024 | Residuals, Plane Grid Representation A coordinate transformation message. Not often found in actual use. |
1025 | Projection Parameters, Projection Types other than Lambert Conic Conformal A coordinate projection message. Not often found in actual use. |
1026 | Projection Parameters, Projection Type LCC2SP (Lambert Conic Conformal A coordinate projection message. Not often found in actual use. |
1027 | Projection Parameters, Projection Type OM (Oblique Mercator) A coordinate projection message. Not often found in actual use. |
1028 | Reserved for Global to Plate-Fixed Transformation This message has not been developed or released by SC-104 at this time. |
1029 | Unicode Text String A message which provides a simple way to send short textual strings within the RTCM message set. About ~128 UTF-8 encoded characters are allowed. |
1030 | GPS Network RTK Residual Message This message provides per-SV non-dispersive interpolation residual data for the SVs used in a GPS network RTK system. Not often found in actual use. |
1031 | GLONASS Network RTK Residual This message provides per-SV non-dispersive interpolation residual data for the SVs used in a GLONASS network RTK system. Not often found in actual use. |
1032 | Physical Reference Station Position This message provides the ECEF location of the physical antenna used. See message types 1005 and 1006. Depending on the deployment needs, 1005, 1006, and 1032 are all commonly found. |
1033 | Receiver and Antenna Descriptors A message which provides short textual strings about the GNSS device and the Antenna device. These strings can be used to obtain additional phase bias calibration information. This message is often sent along with either MT1007 or MT1008. |
1034 | GPS Network FKP Gradient A message which provides Network RTK Area Correction Parameters using a method of localized horizontal gradients for the GPS GNSS system. |
1035 | GLONASS Network FKP Gradient A message which provides Network RTK Area Correction Parameters using a method of localized horizontal gradients for the GLONASS GNSS system. |
1036 | Not defined at this time This message has not been developed or released by SC-104 at this time. |
1037 | GLONASS Ionospheric Correction Differences Contains a short message with ionospheric carrier phase correction information for a single auxiliary reference station for the GLONASS GNSS type. See also message 1039. |
1038 | GLONASS Geometric Correction Differences Contains a short message with geometric carrier phase correction information for a single auxiliary reference station for the GLONASS GNSS type. See also message 1039. |
1039 | GLONASS Combined Geometric and Ionospheric Correction Differences Contains a short message with both ionospheric and geometric carrier phase correction information for a single auxiliary reference station for the GLONASS GNSS type. See also messages 1037 and 1037. |
1042 | BDS Satellite Ephemeris Data Sets of these messages (one per SV) are used to send the broadcast orbits for the BeiDou (Compass) system. |
1043 | Not defined at this time This message has not been developed or released by SC-104 at this time. |
1044 | QZSS Ephemerides Sets of these messages (one per SV) are used to send the broadcast orbits for QZSS in a Kepler format. |
1045 | Galileo F/NAV Satellite Ephemeris Data Sets of these messages (one per SV) are used to send the Galileo F/NAV orbital data. |
1046 | Galileo I/NAV Satellite Ephemeris Data Sets of these messages (one per SV) are used to send the Galileo I/NAV orbital data. |
1057 | SSR GPS Orbit Correction A state space representation message which provides per-SV data. It contains orbital error / deviation from the current broadcast information for GPS GNSS types. |
1058 | SSR GPS Clock Correction A state space representation message which provides per-SV data. It contains SV clock error / deviation from the current broadcast information for GPS GNSS types. |
1059 | SSR GPS Code Bias A state space representation message which provides per-SV data. It contains code bias errors for GPS GNSS types. |
1060 | SSR GPS Combined Orbit and Clock Correction A state space representation message which provides per-SV data. It contains both the orbital errors and the clock errors from the current broadcast information for GPS GNSS types. Note these are given as offsets from the current broadcast data. |
1061 | SSR GPS URA A state space representation message which provides per-SV data. It contains User Range Accuracy (URA) for GPS GNSS types. |
1062 | SSR GPS High Rate Clock Correction A state space representation message which provides a higher update rate than message 1058. It provides more precise data on the per-SV clock error / deviation from the current broadcast information for GPS GNSS types. |
1063 | SSR GLONASS Orbit Correction A state space representation message which provides per-SV data. It contains orbital error / deviation from the current broadcast information for GLONASS GNSS types. |
1064 | SSR GLONASS Clock Correction A state space representation message which provides per-SV data. It contains SV clock error / deviation from the current broadcast information for GLONASS GNSS types. |
1065 | SSR GLONASS Code Bias A state space representation message which provides per-SV data. It contains code bias errors for GLONASS GNSS types. |
1066 | SSR GLONASS Combined Orbit and Clock Corrections A state space representation message which provides per-SV data. It contains both the orbital errors and the clock errors from the current broadcast information for GLONASS GNSS types. |
1067 | SSR GLONASS URA A state space representation message which provides per-SV data. It contains User Range Accuracy (URA) data for GLONASS GNSS types. |
1068 | SSR GLONASS High Rate Clock Correction A state space representation message which provides a higher update rate than message 1064. It provides more precise data on the per-SV clock error / deviation from the current broadcast information for GLONASS GNSS types. |
1070 | Reserved for MSM This Multiple Signal Message type has not yet been assigned for use. |
1071 | GPS MSM1 The type 1 Multiple Signal Message format for the USA’s GPS system. |
1072 | GPS MSM2 The type 2 Multiple Signal Message format for the USA’s GPS system. |
1073 | GPS MSM3 The type 3 Multiple Signal Message format for the USA’s GPS system. |
1074 | GPS MSM4 The type 4 Multiple Signal Message format for the USA’s GPS system. This is one of the most common messages found when MSM is being used. |
1075 | GPS MSM5 The type 5 Multiple Signal Message format for the USA’s GPS system. |
1076 | GPS MSM6 The type 6 Multiple Signal Message format for the USA’s GPS system. |
1077 | GPS MSM7 The type 7 Multiple Signal Message format for the USA’s GPS system, popular. |
1078 | Reserved MSM This Multiple Signal Message type has not yet been assigned for use. |
1079 | Reserved MSM This Multiple Signal Message type has not yet been assigned for use. |
1080 | Reserved MSM This Multiple Signal Message type has not yet been assigned for use. |
1081 | GLONASS MSM1 The type 1 Multiple Signal Message format for the Russian GLONASS system. |
1082 | GLONASS MSM2 The type 2 Multiple Signal Message format for the Russian GLONASS system. |
1083 | GLONASS MSM3 The type 3 Multiple Signal Message format for the Russian GLONASS system. |
1084 | GLONASS MSM4 The type 4 Multiple Signal Message format for the Russian GLONASS system. |
1085 | GLONASS MSM5 The type 5 Multiple Signal Message format for the Russian GLONASS system. |
1086 | GLONASS MSM6 The type 6 Multiple Signal Message format for the Russian GLONASS system. |
1087 | GLONASS MSM7 The type 7 Multiple Signal Message format for the Russian GLONASS system. |
1088 | Reserved MSM This Multiple Signal Message type has not yet been assigned for use. |
1089 | Reserved MSM This Multiple Signal Message type has not yet been assigned for use. |
1090 | Reserved MSM This Multiple Signal Message type has not yet been assigned for use. |
1091 | Galileo MSM1 The type 1 Multiple Signal Message format for Europe’s Galileo system. |
1092 | Galileo MSM2 The type 2 Multiple Signal Message format for Europe’s Galileo system. |
1093 | Galileo MSM3 The type 3 Multiple Signal Message format for Europe’s Galileo system. |
1094 | Galileo MSM4 The type 4 Multiple Signal Message format for Europe’s Galileo system. |
1095 | Galileo MSM5 The type 5 Multiple Signal Message format for Europe’s Galileo system. |
1096 | Galileo MSM6 The type 6 Multiple Signal Message format for Europe’s Galileo system. |
1097 | Galileo MSM7 The type 7 Multiple Signal Message format for Europe’s Galileo system. |
1098 | Reserved MSM This Multiple Signal Message type has not yet been assigned for use. |
1099 | Reserved MSM This Multiple Signal Message type has not yet been assigned for use. |
1100 | Reserved MSM This Multiple Signal Message type has not yet been assigned for use. |
1101 | SBAS MSM1 The type 1 Multiple Signal Message format for SBAS/WAAS systems. |
1102 | SBAS MSM2 The type 2 Multiple Signal Message format for SBAS/WAAS systems. |
1103 | SBAS MSM3 The type 3 Multiple Signal Message format for SBAS/WAAS systems. |
1104 | SBAS MSM4 The type 4 Multiple Signal Message format for SBAS/WAAS systems. |
1105 | SBAS MSM5 The type 5 Multiple Signal Message format for SBAS/WAAS systems. |
1106 | SBAS MSM6 The type 6 Multiple Signal Message format for SBAS/WAAS systems. |
1107 | SBAS MSM7 The type 7 Multiple Signal Message format for SBAS/WAAS systems. |
1108 | Reserved MSM This Multiple Signal Message type has not yet been assigned for use. |
1109 | Reserved MSM This Multiple Signal Message type has not yet been assigned for use. |
1110 | Reserved MSM This Multiple Signal Message type has not yet been assigned for use. |
1111 | QZSS MSM1 The type 1 Multiple Signal Message format for Japan’s QZSS system. |
1112 | QZSS MSM2 The type 2 Multiple Signal Message format for Japan’s QZSS system. |
1113 | QZSS MSM3 The type 3 Multiple Signal Message format for Japan’s QZSS system. |
1114 | QZSS MSM4 The type 4 Multiple Signal Message format for Japan’s QZSS system. |
1115 | QZSS MSM5 The type 5 Multiple Signal Message format for Japan’s QZSS system. |
1116 | QZSS MSM6 The type 6 Multiple Signal Message format for Japan’s QZSS system. |
1117 | QZSS MSM7 The type 7 Multiple Signal Message format for Japan’s QZSS system. |
1118 | Reserved MSM This Multiple Signal Message type has not yet been assigned for use. |
1119 | Reserved MSM This Multiple Signal Message type has not yet been assigned for use. |
1120 | Reserved MSM This Multiple Signal Message type has not yet been assigned for use. |
1121 | BeiDou MSM1 The type 1 Multiple Signal Message format for China’s BeiDou system. |
1122 | BeiDou MSM2 The type 2 Multiple Signal Message format for China’s BeiDou system. |
1123 | BeiDou MSM3 The type 3 Multiple Signal Message format for China’s BeiDou system. |
1124 | BeiDou MSM4 The type 4 Multiple Signal Message format for China’s BeiDou system. |
1125 | BeiDou MSM5 The type 5 Multiple Signal Message format for China’s BeiDou system. |
1126 | BeiDou MSM6 The type 6 Multiple Signal Message format for China’s BeiDou system. |
1127 | BeiDou MSM7 The type 7 Multiple Signal Message format for China’s BeiDou system. |
1128 | Reserved MSM This Multiple Signal Message type has not yet been assigned for use. |
1129 | Reserved MSM This Multiple Signal Message type has not yet been assigned for use. |
1130 | Reserved MSM This Multiple Signal Message type has not yet been assigned for use. |
1131 | NavIC/IRNSS MSM1 The type 1 Multiple Signal Message format for the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (NavIC/IRNSS). |
1132 | NavIC/IRNSS MSM2 The type 2 Multiple Signal Message format for the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (NavIC/IRNSS). |
1133 | NavIC/IRNSS MSM3 The type 3 Multiple Signal Message format for the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (NavIC/IRNSS). |
1134 | NavIC/IRNSS MSM4 The type 4 Multiple Signal Message format for China’s BeiDou system. |
1135 | NavIC/IRNSS MSM5 The type 5 Multiple Signal Message format for the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (NavIC/IRNSS). |
1136 | NavIC/IRNSS MSM6 The type 6 Multiple Signal Message format for the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (NavIC/IRNSS). |
1137 | NavIC/IRNSS MSM7 The type 7 Multiple Signal Message format for the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (NavIC/IRNSS). |
1138 | Reserved MSM This Multiple Signal Message type has not yet been assigned for use. |
1139 | Reserved MSM This Multiple Signal Message type has not yet been assigned for use. |
1140-1229 | Reserved MSM This range of Multiple Signal Message types has not yet been assigned for use. |
1230 | GLONASS L1 and L2 Code-Phase Biases This message provides corrections for the inter-frequency bias caused by the different FDMA frequencies (k, from -7 to 6) used. |
1300 | Service-CRS The formal name of the Coordinate Reference System (CRS) in use for this data stream (service) and details needed to link it to any coordinate transformation messages, typically static. |
1301 | The 15 Parameter Transformation A set of time dependent parameters used to perform a Helmert transformation between two named regional or local plate-fixed reference frames. |
1302 | RTCM-CRS A message used to provide (sets of) links to external databases with information about Coordinate Reference System (CRS). |
1303 | BDS Network RTK Residual Message This message provides per-SV non-dispersive interpolation residual data for the SVs used in a BDS network RTK system. Not often found in actual use. |
1304 | Galileo Network RTK Residual Message This message provides per-SV non-dispersive interpolation residual data for the SVs used in a Galileo network RTK system. Not often found in actual use. |
4001-4095 | Proprietary Messages |
4095 | Assigned to: Ashtech The content and format of this message is defined by its owner. |
4094 | Assigned to: Trimble Navigation Ltd. The content and format of this message is defined by its owner. |
4093 | Assigned to: NovAtel Inc. The content and format of this message is defined by its owner. |
4092 | Assigned to: Leica Geosystems The content and format of this message is defined by its owner. |
4091 | Assigned to: Topcon Positioning Systems The content and format of this message is defined by its owner. |
4090 | Assigned to: Geo++ The content and format of this message is defined by its owner. |
4089 | Assigned to: Septentrio Satellite Navigation The content and format of this message is defined by its owner. |
4088 | Assigned to: IfEN GmbH The content and format of this message is defined by its owner. |
4087 | Assigned to: Fugro The content and format of this message is defined by its owner. |
4086 | Assigned to: inPosition GmbH The content and format of this message is defined by its owner. |
4085 | Assigned to: European GNSS Supervisory Authority The content and format of this message is defined by its owner. |
4084 | Assigned to: Geodetics, Inc. The content and format of this message is defined by its owner. |
4083 | Assigned to: German Aerospace Center, (DLR) The content and format of this message is defined by its owner. |
4082 | Assigned to: Cooperative Research Centre for Spatial Information The content and format of this message is defined by its owner. |
4081 | Assigned to: Seoul National University GNSS Lab The content and format of this message is defined by its owner. |
4080 | Assigned to: NavCom Technology, Inc. The content and format of this message is defined by its owner. |
4079 | Assigned to: SubCarrier Systems Corp. (SCSC) The makers of the SNIP NTRIP Caster The content and format of this message is defined by its owner. |
4078 | Assigned to: ComNav Technology Ltd. The content and format of this message is defined by its owner. |
4077 | Assigned to: Hemisphere GNSS Inc. The content and format of this message is defined by its owner. |
4076 | Assigned to: International GNSS Service (IGS) The content and format of this message is defined by its owner. |
4075 | Assigned to: Alberding GmbH The content and format of this message is defined by its owner. |
4074 | Assigned to: Unicore Communications Inc. The content and format of this message is defined by its owner. |
4073 | Assigned to: Mitsubishi Electric Corp. The content and format of this message is defined by its owner. |
4072 | Assigned to: u-blox AG The content and format of this message is defined by its owner. |
4071 | Assigned to: Wuhan Navigation and LBS The content and format of this message is defined by its owner. |
4070 | Assigned to: Wuhan MengXin Technology The content and format of this message is defined by its owner. |
4069 | Assigned to: VERIPOS Ltd The content and format of this message is defined by its owner. |
4068 | Assigned to: Qianxun Location Networks Co. Ltd The content and format of this message is defined by its owner. |
4067 | Assigned to: China Transport telecommunications & Information Center The content and format of this message is defined by its owner. |
4066 | Assigned to: Lantmateriet The content and format of this message is defined by its owner. |
4065 | Assigned to: Allystar Technology (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd. The content and format of this message is defined by its owner. |
4064 | Assigned to: NTLab The content and format of this message is defined by its owner. |
4063 | Assigned to: CHC Navigation (CHCNAV) The content and format of this message is defined by its owner. |
4062 | Assigned to: SwiftNav Inc. The content and format of this message is defined by its owner. |
4061 | Assigned to: Zhejiang GeeSpace Technology Co., Ltd. The content and format of this message is defined by its owner. |
4060 | Assigned to: ALES Corp. The content and format of this message is defined by its owner. |
4059 | Assigned to: Natural Resources Canada The content and format of this message is defined by its owner. |
4058 | Assigned to: Anello Photonics The content and format of this message is defined by its owner. |
4057 | Assigned to: Sixents Technology The content and format of this message is defined by its owner. |
4056 | Assigned to: China Dayou Positioning Intelligence The content and format of this message is defined by its owner. |
4055 | Assigned to: Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean engineering (KRISO) The content and format of this message is defined by its owner. |
4054 | Assigned to: GEODNET The content and format of this message is defined by its owner. |
4053 | Assigned to: Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. The content and format of this message is defined by its owner. |
4052 | Assigned to: Furuno Electric Co., LTD. The content and format of this message is defined by its owner. |
4051 | Assigned to: Hi-Target The content and format of this message is defined by its owner. |
4050 | Assigned to: STMicroelectronics SRL The content and format of this message is defined by its owner. |
4049… | Message Types 4049 — 4001 Are Reserved They are not assigned at this time (May 27, 2020). |
See Also
These related message sets may also be of interest to you.
A cheat sheet of common RTCM 3 Messages
A complete list of all adopted RTCM 2 Messages with commentary.
A complete list of all adopted SAE DSRC J2735 Messages with commentary.
Common NMEA-183 messages of interest to GNSS NTRIP users Site-1 and Site-2
The only way to truly understand the details of the RTCM 3 message set is to purchase a copy for yourself from RTCM, please do so if you have interest. Here is the web page with the standards you would need to do RTK or DGPS work.
SNIP is a robust NTRIP Caster, but it also has several built-in utilities useful for message decoding
Need to see the internal contents of these messages? Use SNIP‘s RTCM3 Decoder feature.
Need to use these messages in a navigation solution? Use SNIP‘s Graphical Display feature
Need to quickly plot the ECEF location of a base station? Use SNIP‘s Mapping feature.
Need to change the contents or format of these messages? Uses SNIP’s PFAT® features to do so.
Download your own copy of SNIP today, good for the Caster, good for msg decoders
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