Upgrading GPS Receiver from Topcon to Novatel

[HESOYAM]

Still new to more less everything regarding my equipment.

I have a Fendt 724 ProfiPlus which has a Topcon receiver mounted. As someone mentioned in another post, Topcons are old and do not support Auto TI and Auto Turn functionalities, but Novatel/Trimble does.

I'm looking into buying a used (or new) Novatel receiver (Novatel Smart 7 perhaps). Trying to avoid dealers because their prices are so high.

Is buying a used Novatel receiver and plugging it into my Fendt myself feasible?
Will I get all the Auto features in my FendtTerminal?
I still don't understand the ownership of features and unlocking so please bear with me.

btw Where do you guys usually buy your equipment when trying to avoid dealers?

 

[Northern farmer]

You got it a bit wrong, you can have Auto TI (position based triggering of headland automation) with the older Topcon receiver. You cannot have Auto turn with Topcon. Seems Auto Turn and Auto TI are now combined as a single option.

You will need a dealer visit if you want to change to Novatel/Trimble, the tractor SW needs to be updated. You will not get Auto TI/Auto Turn just by installing a new receiver, you need to have that feature activated by the dealer (discussed on another thread, I think it was about 2600 Euros).

How much does a new receiver cost for you if you don't purchase it from a dealer? Hope it isn't stolen from a UK tractor. Otherwise probably not a big difference.

 

[HESOYAM]

Oh, thanks for clarification!
So, there is no manual way of updating tractor SW without going through the dealer? Activating AutoTI/Turn needs some work from them as well, no chance of installing it on my own, right?

Still not sure about the actual prices, I saw couple of Novatel receivers on ebay going from 1500$ (US)

 

[Wombat]

Oh, thanks for clarification!
So, there is no manual way of updating tractor SW without going through the dealer? Activating AutoTI/Turn needs some work from them as well, no chance of installing it on my own, right?

Still not sure about the actual prices, I saw couple of Novatel receivers on ebay going from 1500$ (US)

Remember you also need the controller with the smarts in it as well as the receiver

 

[HESOYAM]

Remember you also need the controller with the smarts in it as well as the receiver

Controller with the smarts is this? (see image1 in attachments)
If so, already got that in my tractor, thanks!

 

[Northern farmer]

Controller with the smarts is this? (see image1 in attachments)
If so, already got that in my tractor, thanks!

No, you need the "GSM controller", the one that was on sale on another thread where you posted.

Are you sure the $1500 Novatel is RTK capable and activated?

 

[zeltini1401]

Hello. Can you tell me where to look for an Internet cable for the Smart7 antenna, connect to PC?
Maybe it is possible connect to antenna with tractor com port with null modem cable or another way?

 

[zeltini1401]

Still not sure about the actual prices, I saw couple of Novatel receivers on ebay going from 1500$ (US)

You can check the unlocked status novatel antenna with serial number. Need register.

 

[Wombat]

As I understand it only the specific Agco ones will work with the internal Agco system. It checks the receiver is an Agco version and if not it won’t play.

 

[zeltini1401]

Oh, thanks for clarification!
So, there is no manual way of updating tractor SW without going through the dealer? Activating AutoTI/Turn needs some work from them as well, no chance of installing it on my own, right?

Still not sure about the actual prices, I saw couple of Novatel receivers on ebay going from 1500$ (US)

I bought one for 1500 usd + customs 300 usd. Now shelved and gathering dust.

Thanks for providing the information about the receiver. I am afraid to say that this SMART7 will not work with the AGCO terminal, this is because the VD0x is looking for a NovAtel SMART7 locked to the AGCO config. The SMART7 you have acquired does not have the specific AGCO config code, therefore there will not be full communication between your SMART7 and VD0x.

The only alternative option would be to purchase an AGCO configured SMART7 receiver from you local AGCO dealer.

 

[zeltini1401]

Can the smart7 be connected to a tablet to mount on an old tractor?

 

[Northern farmer]

I bought one for 1500 usd + customs 300 usd. Now shelved and gathering dust.
...

If this Smart7 was RTK capable, I would consider it for a base. A bit expensive compared to F9P but Smart7 supports many codes that F9P does not. If I remember right, you just didn't need a private base.

 

[zeltini1401]

Receiver have:
GPS+GLO+QZSS, L1/L2, SBAS L1, RTK+PPP+Single Point+DGPS PNT, 20 Hz Data Output Rate, Base Station Corrections + Measurements, SPAN Enabled, Profiles/Heave enabled, Entry level IMU Includes GLIDE & RAIM

 

[Northern farmer]

Receiver have:
GPS+GLO+QZSS, L1/L2, SBAS L1, RTK+PPP+Single Point+DGPS PNT, 20 Hz Data Output Rate, Base Station Corrections + Measurements, SPAN Enabled, Profiles/Heave enabled, Entry level IMU Includes GLIDE & RAIM

Must be Galileo & BeiDou compatible too? GPS L1, L2, L2C, L5, not only modernised GPS satellites like F9P (an issue for some time) etc.