Which simple gps system for a dairy farm?

Sparkymark

Sparkymark

Member
Hi, there seems to be so many systems out there now. Does anyone have any advice on which system would be a very simple one that was easy to use and good value. I'm not interested in lots of bells and whistles, i'm just a dumb farmer who needs to know where i should be driving.
Spraying and fert spreading in grassland would be my main uses for it.
Any advice welcome.
 
Kidds

Kidds

Member
Horticulture
Location
Near Beeston Castle
My question would be how can it save you enough money to justify itself.
If you want a new toy that's fine but would the savings in overlap/misses ever warrant needing one?

Or are you really unable to get is near enough by eye?
 
milkloss

milkloss

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
East Sussex
If you are looking for steered/corrected gps then great but a 'simple' gps system will not be much good for 12m spraying without a fair overlap because of driver error trying to follow the line. I would go blobber in this situation. GPS great for measuring and happy-go-lucky fert application though. All imo.
 
milkloss

milkloss

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
East Sussex
holwellcourtfarm said:
A basic GPS guidance system is at least as accurate as a foam blubber once you get used to it and works on multiple machines. How do you fit a foam blob marker to a disc fertiliser spreader?

Most foam blob marker kits cost almost as much as a basic GPS unit too and, in my experience, become unreliable after a few years unless cosseted or parts replaced frequently.

My first system, a second hand Trimble Easi-Guide 250 cost me £800 second hand.

I also found that it was useful for other jobs (measuring fields, opening up parallel mower lands etc).

Go for it.
Click to expand...

Don't get me wrong, they are great bits of kit but it's best you know it's not going to work magic before you buy it!
 
___\0/___

___\0/___

Member
Location
SW Scotland
I have installed agribus navi on my tablet for free and picked up a gps reciever for £50 thanks to badshots recommendation. Havent tried it yet so not sure what its limits are.
 
holwellcourtfarm

holwellcourtfarm

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Glen Clova, Angus, DD8 4RD
milkloss said:
If you are looking for steered/corrected gps then great but a 'simple' gps system will not be much good for 12m spraying without a fair overlap because of driver error trying to follow the line. I would go blobber in this situation. GPS great for measuring and happy-go-lucky fert application though. All imo.
Click to expand...
A basic GPS guidance system is at least as accurate as a foam blubber once you get used to it and works on multiple machines. How do you fit a foam blob marker to a disc fertiliser spreader?

Most foam blob marker kits cost almost as much as a basic GPS unit too and, in my experience, become unreliable after a few years unless cosseted or parts replaced frequently.

My first system, a second hand Trimble Easi-Guide 250 cost me £800 second hand.

I also found that it was useful for other jobs (measuring fields, opening up parallel mower lands etc).

Go for it.
 
Sparkymark

Sparkymark

Member
Thanks for the info. I will have a look at blackbox. I had it in my head that i should be able to be up and running with a decent basic guidance system for £1000.
I'm not keen on idea of foam blobbers, i kind of think were in 21st century now and these guidance systems have been around a few years to make them affordable to livestock farmers. I do have around 700 acres so should justify one?
 
holwellcourtfarm

holwellcourtfarm

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Glen Clova, Angus, DD8 4RD
Also bear in mind that if you have lots of trees overhanging field boundaries you may have some signal reception issues. For grassland where you'd most likely be using a sprayer or spreader you would probably be far enough from the trees to hang on to your satellite coverage but it can be an issue for some (many systems lose coverage if driving under trees and some take while to recover afterwards).

Good luck.
 
RobFZS

RobFZS

Member
You should be able to make it pay with 700 acres, we have 100 acres and the gps would probably be worn out and need a new one by the time it's paid for itself here
 
rusty

rusty

Member
Location
Buxton Derbyshire
I got a tee jet centre liner 220 about 6 years ago, cost £1000 then. Use it on grassland for fert spreading and spraying, both at 20m. Actually set it to 19.5 meters for spraying and rarely get any missed.
Also good for opening fields up when mowing.
You could try www.tractorgps.co.uk for a basic system for £400. I have no experience of them so don't know how well it works but looks good value for money. When you think what you get with a car sat nav for £100 tractor GPS systems are very dear!
 

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