Need a cell phone app for tracking field work?

[farmerwanttobe]

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone knows of a cell phone app that tracks tractor position in field. I use a pasture sprayer that has a 36ft. wide coverage. But I would like to more precisely spray such that I don't miss areas or double spray. Does anyone know of a good cell phone app that you could have track your position in the field with a 36ft. coverage? Thanks all.

 

[s219]

Accuracy of cell phone GPS is at best 10 feet, and is more like 15-20 feet under normal conditions. To me, that is too much error band on something that's 36 feet wide.

 

[kneedeep]

Farmlogs has a upgrade that will do it but it is $$$$$$$$. I have been trying to find one for a while, nothing that doesn't require expensive equipment and service subscription for a app that I have found. Nothing free is going to work.

Maybe a real good GPS would be better.

PS. I put flags out and drive straight to them when I can. Miss some spots and overspray others in the odd shape places. Go back with UTV sprayer for missed places.

 

[pwright]

As s219 said, no phone GPS is going to have better than 3 meter accuracy. Doesn't matter what software is run on it.

 

[joefromga]

You can get high precision with an external antenna with Bluetooth that connects to your phone.

Comparing Bluetooth GPS Devices | Fulcrum

 

[kneedeep]

You can get high precision with an external antenna with Bluetooth that connects to your phone.

To get less than 2.5 meters accuracy you will have to dig deep in the wallet. For spraying applications, I don't really think anything on a smartphone is going to give the accuracy needed to use as a guide for areas covered with a Bluetooth setup. Neither review had a moving test, all where points only and took several minutes to lock on to satellites. A tractor needing to move at a consistent speed while trying to follow a track that may or may not be locked on or up to 10 feet +- is kinda like milking a bull. Don't think you will get what you started after! LOL-
Seriously-
The setups for auto-steer tractors are accurate to within inches and not meters (yards). You got to be a BTO for that kind of setup. I have been thinking about getting a single foam marker under the sprayer so I can at least tell where the tractor was on the last pass. Maybe just get rig a removable 27' boom and use it with foam on each end and still have the broadcast head for those tight places
My Boomless Rig


27' boom


Foam Marker Kit

 

[joefromga]

Half The ones from the site I listed had accuracy of 1cm to 60cm. How accurate do you need?
The phone is just for the mapping software. The GPS antenna transmits to your phone viable bluetooth.
You save cost in having the phone already. The GPS antenna is the important part.
Once you get a first time lock with any GPS device it doesn't take minutes after that. Only the initial setup takes a few minutes.
Phones are less accurate because they need to lock fast and they estimate you're traveling on highways not in Fields.

These devices are for highly accurate field applications.

 

[kneedeep]

Those were pretty expensive. I barely make enough over inputs and mantanence to cover taxes and utilities. I was basing my opinion on ROI and for that accuracy, lot better options to get the job done.
JMHO

 

[dickfoster]

As others have said you will not get the required accuracy from a Cell phone GPS. Take it from someone who took part in developing the technology. You'll have to spend big bucks to get a GPS device with the accuracy you need for what you intend to do and it won't be included in a cell phone. You can probably find something much simpler with sufficient local accuracy to do the job you want for a lot less money. Maybe some sort of a laser based device.

 

[bdog]

The Trimble ez guide 250 can be found for less than 1k and will do what you want. It is not differential and accurate enough for precision planting but works great for spraying. I have one on my tractor. A cell phone even with an external antenna isn't going to cut it.