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Getting started

DTED.org publishes TAK-compatible terrain through state endpoints. ATAK can use the streams with its built-in Elevation Tools; no plugin is required. Simple DTED Streamer (SDS) remains an optional ATAK client for the same endpoint. Each state page also provides an offline zipped-DTED download, configuration files, coverage, source information, and the quality result for one immutable release.

Before you begin

You need:

  • A TAK client with DTED support. ATAK includes native terrain support.
  • Optionally, the Simple DTED Streamer plugin built for the same ATAK version.
  • Network access to the selected STATE.dted.org endpoint.
  • A published state covering the area of interest. Check the live coverage map.

ATAK: streaming setup

  1. Open the selected state page, such as https://ca.dted.org.
  2. Scan the displayed QR code with ATAK's supported QR workflow or a scanner that dispatches tak:// links to ATAK.
  3. Review and approve ATAK's external-configuration prompt.
  4. In Elevation Tools, confirm that DTED streaming is enabled and the server is STATE.dted.org.
  5. If SDS is installed, it uses https://STATE.dted.org as the optional plugin endpoint.
  6. Pan to the enhanced coverage area and verify terrain-dependent tools against a known location before operational use.

The QR contains typed preference values. It does not contain credentials and it does not download terrain.

Configuration package or manual setup

Each state page also publishes:

  • STATE.DTED.org.zip — small TAK configuration package containing the endpoint preferences.
  • STATE.DTED.org.pref — standalone preferences file.

For manual Simple DTED Streamer setup, set the server URI to:

https://STATE.dted.org

The generated preferences configure:

<entry key="prefs_dted_stream_server" class="class java.lang.String">state.dted.org</entry>
<entry key="simpleDtedStreamer.streaming_dted_uri_key" class="class java.lang.String">https://state.dted.org</entry>
<entry key="prefs_dted_stream" class="class java.lang.Boolean">true</entry>

Replace state with the lowercase state identifier shown on the release page.

Offline DTED package

Each state page links STATE-DTED.zip, a ZIP containing only that release's enhanced state DTED cells in canonical longitude/latitude paths. In ATAK, use Import Manager to import the ZIP. ATAK recognizes zipped DTED and installs the cells into its local DTED store. This download can be hundreds of megabytes and does not include the global fallback terrain served by the streaming endpoint.

Other TAK clients can use the same artifact when they implement zipped-DTED import.

Stream layouts

Each endpoint publishes native quadrant archives at:

/elevation/DTED/dted_nw_hemi.zip
/elevation/DTED/dted_ne_hemi.zip
/elevation/DTED/dted_sw_hemi.zip
/elevation/DTED/dted_se_hemi.zip

The root cell layout and SDS index remain available for Simple DTED Streamer.

Troubleshooting

  • No enhanced terrain appears: verify the device is inside a colored cell on the state coverage map and confirm ATAK's Elevation Tools stream server.
  • The endpoint opens but tools use fallback terrain: confirm the selected state release covers the exact 1° cell and inspect its quality result.
  • A QR scan opens ATAK but changes nothing: confirm the external preference prompt was approved.
  • A request returns 404: compare the path with the release page. SDS cells are served from /{longitude}/{tile}.zip.

For the underlying format and its limitations, continue to Terrain science and data lineage.