free straight line smart phone app

[tony45]

I plant one acre sweet corn with a one row planter,starting the first row is some times time consuming, is there a free app for smart phone to at least start the first row, I could mount phone on tractor to follow straight line, Thanks tony

 

[Gary Fowler]

Ever try just putting in a string line to follow?

 

[bigtiller]

That's what the hood ornaments were for on tractors years ago. Maybe you could find one you like at a junkyard and bolt it on. When using it, sight over the top of it to the spot you want the row to end and drive toward it without moving your head or blinking to much.

 

[quicksandfarmer]

I plant one acre sweet corn with a one row planter,starting the first row is some times time consuming, is there a free app for smart phone to at least start the first row, I could mount phone on tractor to follow straight line, Thanks tony

The smart phone uses GPS to locate itself, which is only accurate to 20 feet or so, which isn't enough for your purposes.

There are technologies that can locate with a couple of inches but they are thousands of dollars.

 

[TheSpoon]

What you're looking for is called centimeter precision (or centimeter accurate) GPS and quicksandfarmer is mostly correct. There are some technology's close to offering this for a very small cost though.

Article (nearly a year old): Cheap Centimeter-Precision GPS For Cars, Drones, Virtual Reality - IEEE Spectrum

One company: 400 Bad Request

 

[tony45]

thanks gary and bigtiller used tobacco laths for many years as far as looking back I wired in a motorcycle horn and a limit switch on the cover wheel to let me know when the planter is planting, don"t have to look back just hear the horn every revulation of the cover wheel, when don"t hear beep know cover wheel is jamed,or sliding.

 

[newbury]

Not GPS based but a compass app might do. Or just get an old fashioned compass. Just be sure to account for metal mass.

 

[tony45]

well went and got a smart phone bracket at walmart 19.00+tax and compass for samson phone app, will try to go out tomorrow or sat. and mount it on hood of tractor,rows run north and south,will run in grass along field and see how straight I can make wheel tracks Thanks for input, Tony

 

[Whatswrong]

How about if you mount one of those Laser pointers that they use to blind pilots in airplanes .If you mount it on your tractor and have a marker you should be able to hit the marker with it and drive to the marker keeping the pointer on the marker giving a straight row .I'm not sure how your phone app is supposed to work but even with auto steer you don't get a perfect straight line if you are using a guide bar to give you guidance for your line .

 

[tbn7]

Ever try just putting in a string line to follow?

Simple is best.