Best switchable GPS kit for Combine then to tractor?

Ben M · Oct 21, 2014

Currently looking at changing an aging NH combine, getting quotes for Claas JD and NH machines. We don't want to pay 7k (roughly) for laser pilot, instead spend a bit more on a universal type kit we cant switch across to different machines.

Got quotes from Trim,ble for their Ezi-pilot

JD combine comes with 2360 screen, receiver and sf2 (they will chuck in fitting kits and the steer wheel for tractor)

Never used the NH system, is it any good?

Claas GPS...is it swappable?

Any advice would be great

Thanks

TheEarlOfMoray · Oct 21, 2014

I had jd atu steering wheel on tt lexion this year and worked very well. Need to be pretty much on line before activating it though.

Clive · Oct 21, 2014

Claas GPS pilot with ATU wheel works well and can be moved to a tractor with loom fitted

personally I wouldn't by a manufacturer's system I would buy a universal kit from Topcon etc

Ben M · Oct 21, 2014

I think quotes from 3rd party companies are higher then the machine manufactors atm

Ben M · Oct 21, 2014

I will see what sprt of moneya Topcon system will be

Ben M · Oct 21, 2014

clive will a Topcon system talk to Gatekeeper easy enough?

Clive · Oct 21, 2014

Ben M said:
clive will a Topcon system talk to Gatekeeper easy enough?

yes, all good with gatekeeper

Its not the cheapest but I think its the best and no unlocks etc, be careful about those when your comparing prices

Steevo · Oct 21, 2014

NH/Trimble would be my option as long as your dealer is clued up. Half the price of Topcon, not tied to any manufacturer as NH is essentially Trimble, and easily switchable.

Brisel · Oct 21, 2014

JD was the first major precision farming outfit to work with Gatekeeper but they are up to speed with all makes now. I run several JD machines & Greenstar outfits including a JD combine with integral system but have no experience with Universal steering wheels.

@Ben M You'll find most of the major GPS providers in here @Robt @CPP @Robert Ramsay .There's also lots of users of Trimble, Topcon, Lecia & JD in here.

Northern farmer · Oct 21, 2014

Steevo said:
NH/Trimble would be my option as long as your dealer is clued up. Half the price of Topcon, not tied to any manufacturer as NH is essentially Trimble, and easily switchable.

Is that an apples-to-apples comparison? I cannot see how Topcon could sell any single unit if their cost was twice the price of a comparable product (or any other brand with that price difference).

Robert Ramsay · Oct 21, 2014

Ben, I don't supply in your area but this is a run down of what I use that is transferable.
I used to use 750 with EZ Steer on EssentialsNet RTK. I would transfer it between Claas combine and JD 6620.
I now use FMx (with yield mapping) and EZ Pilot (tidier) and transfer it to a bateman sprayer with Field IQ. All again on EssentialsNet RTK.
I changed as we had customers for my older kit and I wanted to Yieldmap with Trimble.
The reasons for using RTK is that combine efficiency is of paramount importance in terms of productivity and not damaging soil with excessive compaction. If drilling winter crops on hill ground we often do not put in tramlines which prevents winter run off so the sprayer has to be on RTK to use virtual tramlines.

Tractor Boy · Oct 21, 2014

I switch an EZ steer between three tractors and a combine. Each vehicle has a power lead a T2 baseplate and an antenna baseplate, and a ram mount for the CFX. It takes about 10 minutes to move the EZ steer, T2 gyro and CFX screen. Not as tidy as an EZ pilot but far easier to move about!

Robt · Oct 21, 2014

@Steevo , northern farmer is correct! Topcon isn't twice the price, I'm a good salesman but not that good! Like for like we are similar

Robt · Oct 21, 2014

Ben, I have some free tickets to croptec show in November if you want. Then you can compare all makes on the market

Robt · Oct 21, 2014

Ben, I have some free tickets to croptec show in November if you want. Then you can compare all makes on the market

Alistair Nelson · Oct 21, 2014

Running Agleader gear here have 3 kits which swop between combine (yield mapping and steering), sprayer (flow and section control and steering and boom levelling), and 3 tractors for steering them (vra fert spreading pk and optrx sensors for n, controlling vra rape and fert on rape drill, and vra corn drilling). On rtk and plumbed in systems as mentioned above talk to 3rd party suppliers as they can make it work best and aren't expensive if you de spec the combine appropriately. They are also best if you have a mixed fleet of machines and they specialists in that area solely so are fully able to support and understand the full capabilities of the kit and most importantly what it won't do!

Hope this helps abit

Cheers

Alistair

Steevo · Oct 22, 2014

Northern farmer said:
Is that an apples-to-apples comparison? I cannot see how Topcon could sell any single unit if their cost was twice the price of a comparable product (or any other brand with that price difference).

Robt said:
@Steevo , northern farmer is correct! Topcon isn't twice the price, I'm a good salesman but not that good! Like for like we are similar

I'm perfectly happy to be corrected, "half the price of topcon" was referring more generalising to that there is a significant margin, rather than being exactly 50% cheaper.

Taking the figures from this quote thread and my previous Trimble/NH experience of a likely RTK/EZ-Pilot cost of £9-10k vs. £18k for Topcon it doesn't seem too far out. Fine ok I'm 100% sure Topcon service provided by Rob and LH Agro is a HUGE amount better than any other dealer out there so admittedly not quite apples with apples....but still quite a difference.

Furthermore, you hear lots of talk of Fendt tractors being same price as others when specced up to the same level...but how many people actually use all features, and how many require them as standard. The fact is that the majority do not require them, and thus they are an extravagance for many.

Northern farmer · Oct 23, 2014

Steevo said:
I'm perfectly happy to be corrected, "half the price of topcon" was referring more generalising to that there is a significant margin, rather than being exactly 50% cheaper.

Taking the figures from this quote thread and my previous Trimble/NH experience of a likely RTK/EZ-Pilot cost of £9-10k vs. £18k for Topcon it doesn't seem too far out. Fine ok I'm 100% sure Topcon service provided by Rob and LH Agro is a HUGE amount better than any other dealer out there so admittedly not quite apples with apples....but still quite a difference.

Furthermore, you hear lots of talk of Fendt tractors being same price as others when specced up to the same level...but how many people actually use all features, and how many require them as standard. The fact is that the majority do not require them, and thus they are an extravagance for many.

I'm not familiar with either of the products mentioned above and cannot comment if this is an apples-to-apples comparison. Considering your clarification with a reference to the Fendt tractor makes me suspicious though. You have a very fair point about some features being useless to some, many or perhaps to most people. My initial comment however was about apples-to-apples comparison and it definitely does not make two products the same in comparison if one has features that many or even most people do not need. Did you make that assumption with the topcon versus Trimble comparison perhaps?

I could continue and ask why do farmers purchase Trimble products "when" the NH branded product is essentially the same? Perhaps it actually isn't exactly the same. Then depends on each individual farmer and his/her needs if the difference matters or not.

Steevo · Oct 23, 2014

Northern farmer said:
I'm not familiar with either of the products mentioned above and cannot comment if this is an apples-to-apples comparison. Considering your clarification with a reference to the Fendt tractor makes me suspicious though. You have a very fair point about some features being useless to some, many or perhaps to most people. My initial comment however was about apples-to-apples comparison and it definitely does not make two products the same in comparison if one has features that many or even most people do not need. Did you make that assumption with the topcon versus Trimble comparison perhaps?

I could continue and ask why do farmers purchase Trimble products "when" the NH branded product is essentially the same? Perhaps it actually isn't exactly the same. Then depends on each individual farmer and his/her needs if the difference matters or not.

The two products are as "apples to apples" as I can get with two different brands - both have touch screen unlocked to RTK, and an electric steering wheel. I can't see that there are VAST differences between them but am happy to be corrected.

Topcon make a great product. I cannot fault them in that at and the service is top notch as agreed pretty much universally. I am certainly not knocking their product at all.

Regarding your Trimble/NH comparison. Personally all things being equal I'd opt for Trimble, if only because underneath it's all Trimble....so call a spade a spade. However, if by sticking a different logo on it the price is suddenly significantly more competitive, or it means I can get support from my dealer who is only 20 miles away rather than a great deal more, then my initial reasoning is effectively irrelevant.

ajd132 · Oct 26, 2014

Ben, new holland screen is basicalky the same as what you used in my quad trac

Best switchable GPS kit for Combine then to tractor?

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