Fendt Contour assistant

[shakalakka]

Hi,

This might be answered, but havent found quite what Im looking for re this. I see some people say you can now add contours based on the field boundary, but how do you get the field boundaries in the first place? Do you drive around the edges of your field first, and then create these contours? What about obstacles, do you drive around these too, to add a not-included type area?

Sorry for the newbie question, the tech looks great to have, Im just struggeling a bit to see how I get from standing on the edge of my fields to actually having something useful via Contour assistant or VarioDoc.

 

[Northern farmer]

Several ways to obtain field boundaries. You could have them uploaded before you drive to the edge of your field (then drive a bit into the field and VarioTerminal offers you the current field to be selected). You can also drive around the field and record field boundaries and large obstacles. Better to spend a couple of minutes with the VarioDoc/VarioGuide manual first. The screen has a quick guide manual too.

 

[shakalakka]

For germans they are not very clear on where to find all their documentation - or my google-skills has seriously taken a nosedive

 

[Northern farmer]

For germans they are not very clear on where to find all their documentation - or my google-skills has seriously taken a nosedive

With Contour assistant the tractor cannot be very old, you must have printed user manuals? The VarioDoc and VarioGuide manual used to be a separate book. I agree, German originated manuals are not always as easy to read as those for US products but it does not harm to read the manual once from top to bottom (OK, I would not spend time on all the warnings, probably a third even on a German manual).

A pity they do not share pdf copies to the owners. I happen to have a pdf of the older Topcon based product but I got it directly from the factory and obviously for personal use only. Other brands of AGCO have pdf-copies shared on their website, why not Fendt.

 

[shakalakka]

I havent actually bought the new one yet, but looking at a 516 profi plus with the trimble/rtk-package - just trying to clarify a little how this all fits together so i dont buy something and figure out later that i need a lot more to get the functionality i actually wanted But thanks, makes sense then that i cant find it online If you upload boundaries before driving onto the field, where do you get them?

 

[Northern farmer]

Makes sense to become familiar with the tractor before deciding to purchase it. Sometimes not easy to figure out all features and for the precision ag stuff it may be even more difficult. All the hidden activation codes and correction signal compatibility issues etc. need to be figured out for a proper apples-to-apples comparison.

The typical approach to map fields is to drive around the field with the tractor and record boundaries. If you have already done it with one tractor, you can try to read field info from one tractor to another one. Not always easy to figure out if that can be done or if some third party applications are needed for conversion etc. etc. You may also map the fields on google earth and transfer that data to your tractor. Many other options exist, with varying accuracy.

If you cannot figure out something on your own, better to ask here, specifically if you doubt what your sales person tells you (or if he/she does not know). On precision agriculture topics this is one of the most knowledgeable forums that I'm aware of and certainly has helped me a lot.

 

[shakalakka]

Appreciate your help! Seems like JD is almost worse then Fendt to get a good overview over the different receivers, activations and correction signals.. Looks like the Fendt just has to be Profi plus and have a Trimble or Novatel receiver right?

Im thinking about establishing permanent waylines as im going more no-till, and the rtk/variodoc would be a great help.