GPS for tractor

[kthompson]

M5farms, on the fence post and cans sure that would be a big help, only thing my fields have no fencing. You don't see many fields in my part of the world fenced. We have hedges of woods or ditches around most fields here and need to cut them back yearly so anything erected like that would to be set up yearly. Still not talking that many post.
If you don't mind on the "agribus-navi" system I assume you use a tablet with it but what kind of antenna and how accurate it that set up? If you don't know that is fine. The package units I have seen for $1,000 or so are only light bar with about 10 to 12 inches accuracy which is much better than the 10 foot I missed spraying last Thursday, yep might pretty green weeds. I would like to have a system that does paint the area you have covered or otherwise it seems you need to skip an area for any reason you are lost on what you skipped. Those look to be say $1,600 to $2,000. That is with helix antenna.


I really do not see the use of auto steer for my fields and have figured might could do some testing with just making "U" turns at the end of field for spacing but that still would not keep me straight. Have issue with depth perception where I think objects are closer than they are. Keeps me from hitting anything with my bumper!

 

[M5farms]

Actually my Droid phone works better Than the pad does IMO I just use a universal mount and sick it to the windshield. as far as accuracy I've not actually pulled a tape on it but I have checked by stepping it a few times its within a few feet and once you know what the error is you can adjust it with overlap. I have not tried an external antenna but like I said I only use the app when boomless spraying with my RTV. I tried it when using the spreader buggy but I typically spread at about 8 to 10 mph and I must not be doing it right because I always sight my drive too object and between trying to follow the bar and my where im going and looking back its to much for my brain to process.

 

[kthompson]

thanks

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

I have one of Garmins top of the line hand held GPS units. Under the very best of conditions the location is + or - ten feet. Under normal conditions its + or - 15 feet.

There it is. You need differential GPS for this, not consumer grade GPS. I have taken logs from various consumer grade units for hours at a time, and compared them. They vary quite a lot from reading to reading, let alone from minute to minute. On a good day it's swinging +- 10 to 15 feet. Depends on the atmospherics and the position of the satellite constellation at the time.

Dedicated units have better accuracy than what you find in a smartphone, too. It's a better chipset and antenna.

The interesting thing is, because the variations are random, you can get some astonishing accuracy with averaging, for stationary points. Just a few hours of data logging will get you into the +- inches range, IIRC.

Not useful for tractor work, of course.

 

[kthompson]

I thought there would have been some here who use or have used guidance system for tractors but have decided probably not. They are (my opinion) mostly used on large farm tractors used in large fields and doubt there are many who have real need for one.

 

[rustydollar]

I am considering a GPS for spraying hay. I am not interesting in a steering system but would like a GPS that works well and simple. Want it to show where I have been (think that is called painting) and would like to be able to set it to spray in straight lines or follow the shape of the field. It would be nice if it calculated the size of the field but not required.

Open for recommendations. Thanks in advance.

 

[bdog]

I have a Trimble ez guide 250. It works well and paints and has a light bar. I paid $750 for it.

While waas on a Garmin isn't super accurate it is pretty darn consistent over short periods of time. If you mark a point and then come back tomorrow you might be ten feet off but pass to pass as used in spraying it will be close to a foot accuracy. The Trimble ez guide just uses waas and it is darn close over short periods but I have to create new AB lines each day.

 

[kthompson]

rustydollar that is interesting. Had no idea a foam marker was so simple.

bdog, that system is over $1,100 now. The Trimble. Think I am at the point not required now but have done a lot of checking for next year when must do something.

thanks to each of you.

 

[bdog]

You can find them used for much cheaper. Check eBay. I live in a major farming area and bought mine from the local precision ag company used. They had several of them they got as trade ins on the RTK systems.

 

[bdog]

Here is a picture of mine I took today while planting. Pass to pass I would say the accuracy is a foot or better. I was following the drill tire track with the tractor front tire and it was pretty much dead on with the GPS just with WASS. Any time I got off track just the slightest the GPS showed it.