GPS system

[GraemeJ]

I’m new to guidance systems but I’m looking at getting a system accurate enough for drilling. What system is best at the cheapest price for going on to a New Holland 235 which has no auto steer installed.
thanks

 

[del_boy]

Is the tractor steer ready? New hollands with the side winder arm rest are usually steer ready which will help towards costs. If it is steer ready You'll need a trimble gps dome for the roof at about £2000 then the nav controller which is about £3000 ish. Dealer might have 2nd hand kits about. Then a rtx correction signal which is about £280 / year subscription

 

[clbarclay]

One bit of advice while you are shopping around. "Guidance" tends to refer to systems that only show the driver where to manually steer the vehicle. Driving a line following a screen or light bar precisely is easier said than done. Typically only accurate to around a foot.

The general term for systems which directly control the steering is "Auto steer", although many brands like to have their own names for it. Most auto steer systems will also provide guidance, but I certainly wouldn't recommend trying to drill with a guidance only system.

 

[Si85]

Cheapest and best in my opinion is always a Proper gps screen like Trimble or Topcon than built into tractors systems.
If it is not gps ready, a steering wheel motor like Trimble ez pilot would probably work out the cheapest and be fine for drilling.

 

[Kaupoi]

I'm pretty sure the cheapest would be AgOpenGPS+F9P

 

[GraemeJ]

Cheapest and best in my opinion is always a Proper gps screen like Trimble or Topcon than built into tractors systems.
If it is not gps ready, a steering wheel motor like Trimble ez pilot would probably work out the cheapest and be fine for drilling.

Thanks

 

[Northern farmer]

Cheapest and best in my opinion is always a Proper gps screen like Trimble or Topcon than built into tractors systems.
If it is not gps ready, a steering wheel motor like Trimble ez pilot would probably work out the cheapest and be fine for drilling.

I don't think it is that simple even for commercial products. Probably so for a non-steer-ready tractor but many tractors these days already have a screen that can handle auto-steer tasks. If they come with a pre-installed steer valve, all you need is the GNSS receiver on the roof. A Trimble or Topcon setup would need an additional screen and still may not work directly with the OEM steer valve.

Better to figure out the price for each option.

Also integration with the other tractor features like headland management are usually much more advanced with OEM parts.

 

[jcawley]

I assume you are looking for 15 cm or under in terms of accuracy. The Nav-900 antenna with a GFX-350 or GFX-750 would be a good start. You can upgrade accuracy with rangepoint RTX or Centerpoint RTX for 15 cm or less and 2.5 cm or less. Steering wise, the EZ-Pilot would be what id recommend but many people use EZ-Steer for this type of operation.

Steering Comparison Chart
Guidance Display Comparison Chart

 

[GraemeJ]

I assume you are looking for 15 cm or under in terms of accuracy. The Nav-900 antenna with a GFX-350 or GFX-750 would be a good start. You can upgrade accuracy with rangepoint RTX or Centerpoint RTX for 15 cm or less and 2.5 cm or less. Steering wise, the EZ-Pilot would be what id recommend but many people use EZ-Steer for this type of operation.

Steering Comparison Chart
Guidance Display Comparison Chart

Are there many used ones about?

 

[jcawley]

The 350s are fairly new so only get them sparingly on trade ups to 750s... i dont expect a lot of used ones out there for another 6 months or so

 

[Elliott]

Still got my Trimble 750 rtk for sale!!!

 

[Suppin Diesel]

Was told that later model Auto Steer ready New Holland tractors didn't need a nav controller? Is that right? And if so how can you tell if you need one or not.

 

[Northern farmer]

Was told that later model Auto Steer ready New Holland tractors didn't need a nav controller? Is that right? And if so how can you tell if you need one or not.

Do you mean "a separate nav controller box", it is integrated to the receiver box now. Trimble has changed to the same approach as e.g. Topcon for 15+ years.

 

[Suppin Diesel]

Yes a separate nav controller. Was told unless it was a very late model New Holland I still needed a separate nav controller. Which is very expensive

 

[del_boy]

I would say its going to be expensive wherever they put it. At least if its in the dome it'll be easier to move about. Its a bit of a pain removing the nav controller from under the plastic tray. Nav controllers can be picked up for about £2500.

 

[Slick]

If it's a tmr tractor, so 2018 ish and onwards it won't need a separate nav controller if you are using a GFX350/750 or XCN750/1050 with NAV900.
The NAV900 will need a CAN Autopilot licence though.

 

[Suppin Diesel]

Tmr tractor????? It's a June 18 tractor. Got Gfx 350 in another tractor that I could use.

 

[Slick]

Tmr tractor????? It's a June 18 tractor. Got Gfx 350 in another tractor that I could use.

Tractor Mother Regulations.
Anything registered after 1st Jan 2018 SHOULD be TMR.
If the GFX-350 has a NAV-900 receiver it will do the job, with a CAN Autopilot licence.
If it has a NAV-500 it can't do it.

 

[Suppin Diesel]

That's good news. Got the nav 500 but could trade up to a 900 if the figures add up. Sounds like the cheapest way for me to get auto steer.

 

[locksmith]

www.autosteer.co.uk