Private or farm share RTK system

[workboots]

https://efarmer.mobi/shop/field-bee-antenna-rover/

I haven’t researched deep into what’s available for RTK systems that a farmer can install on farm. The above link looks promising. I like the idea of having a system that belongs to me, where I don’t have to pay some annual fee / per acre like what is being offered now.

Someone correct me if I’m wrong but all RTK (Real Time Kinematic) is, is a ground reference point to Sharpen up the satellite drift.

Why would I pay for a service that I should be able to purchase fairly cheaply for myself. I like the idea of having a more accurate gps track but I feel like I should be able to own this stuff.

All we run on our farm is the basic bob sf1,
what are others moving to for more accuracy


Note: I’m not interested in paying some annual fee for a system, I just want something that works and belongs to my business.

I assume the most difficult part of this will be finding something that works reliably and can be plumbed into my existing machinery with ease.

[workboots]

So everyone is keen on paying Annual fees for a tech that could be a cheap on farm unit ?

Gps and auto steer technology like any technology is evolving but somehow farmers are paying more for it.

doesn’t this make sence?


So the question is what type of RTK systems are out there and what are guys paying?

I hear Farmers complaining about farm expenses so why not discuss ways of making farms more efficient. The tech is available for less so why are we overpaying for something that can be a farm asset with 10 -15 year life.

What do you need?

Yield mapping and data logging?
1-4 cm accuracy on auto-steer?
Variable rate Fertizer on 3 different zones?

All this togeather should be a one time $5-10k farm investment that last 10-15 years, Instead of this relentless cash flow suckhole.

[Tucker]

I just bought a pair of https://emlid.com/reachrs/ Emlid ReachRS receivers . They have a 30-hour battery, LoRa radio, GPS antenna and the receiver board in a waterproof package. One is set up as the base and the other as the rover. I plan to move the base to each field while I'm working in it. It sits on a tripod with a 10 watt solar panel to keep the battery charged 24/7. I tested the pair and had solid RTK messages until about 1.5 miles apart through sheds and trees, not line of sight. The rover will connect to my Agleader display with a serial cable. Accuracy during my testing was 5mm horizontal and 13mm vertical with a 14Hz update rate. http://centimeter.ca/ Centimeter.ca is the Canadian dealer and I paid about $2000 for the pair.

[farmaholic]

With that kind of accuracy I could make water run up hill!

[farmaholic]

Is the hair splitting tech really necessary? I won't judge because we haven't been yeild mapping or variable rate seeding and fertilizing. Otherwise, for guidance only the basic stuff is good enough for me. Do you guys do tram lines? What about longterm compaction from using the same trails all season. Is the tech useful on variable fields( water sloughs some years and not the next, or seeded around in spring and harvested through in fall).

[Tucker]

There was a booth at AgDays in Brandon selling these receiver pairs to be used with DitchAssist software on a tablet in the cab. Somehow a sticker over the Emlid logo bumped the price to $6500. Ha. Gotta love capitalism. Screw the farmer.

[Tucker]

Is the hair splitting tech really necessary? I won't judge because we haven't been yeild mapping or variable rate seeding and fertilizing. Otherwise, for guidance only the basic stuff is good enough for me. Do you guys do tram lines? What about longterm compaction from using the same trails all season. Is the tech useful on variable fields( water sloughs some years and not the next, or seeded around in spring and harvested through in fall).

I'm using only WAAS right now with a Novatel receiver and the accuracy isn't good enough. Sick of nudging the line all the time. North and south passes aren't bad but east/west passes really wander. Not really good enough for autosteer on a swather. RTK accuracy isn't stupid expensive any more and it's all due to drones and autonomous robots craving greater position accuracy. Small companies are starting to eat Trimble/Agleader/Outback's lunch.

[farmaholic]

Tucker, some of our topography is pretty challenging and depending on what angle you approach it, side draft can be a problem. Stuff that smart hitches can't even fix. We just accept the imperfections....

[workboots]

I was in that same line of thinking farma, but when you consider the tramping loss from fall decicate and the spring seed overlap you can probably pay for a more accurate steering system in a year. And if you have some hills, I’m sure you miss or overlap is just that much worse..

Regarding the different areas of a field and the yield potential of those different zones. I think one could argue more fertilizer is valuable in one area and less is better in another. Maybe 80% of your field fits in a particular category but the other is a bit lighter so why not tone down the rates a smidge and in that one area where it really poor out, flog the fert! . Simple ways of finding this stuff out and tayloring your seeding system to the maps.

Its about squeezing a bit more profit into the operation and it’s getting more affordable to adopt the tech to do this every year.

Tucker, never heard of that outfit but it sure is nice to see gear like this. Cutting edge stuff at a reasonable price point. This is not expensive Tech and Farmers need to stop overpaying.

[farmaholic]

Work boots, our autosteer has terrain compensation that helps.

[biglentil]

Had RTK subscription ran out could not see a difference with seeder. No overlap set. After the 1st set of sprayer tracks, the autosteer stays off, find less trampling that way.

[SASKFARMER3]

I had he third Deere auto steer ever bought in canada and looked and tried RTK and unless your doing major landscaping or leveling for flood irrigation it’s not needed.

[bgmb]

There was a guy at ag days selling an rtk ditching program with hardware and software for 12,000 the price is sure coming down

[Tucker]

Bgmb I think those were the same receivers I saw. They are the same gps units I bought with a new sticker and a $6500 price instead of the $2000 I paid.

Sask3 when you can go straight to RTK accuracy for damn near what a Starfire yearly subscription costs why wouldn't you?

[SASKFARMER3]

You don’t want to know how much we paid for that original Deere system. Family I farmed with just about went nuts.

Yes stuff has come down.

Wish the Deere monitor was cheaper a iPad is way less in price and does more