Idiots/beginners guide to sat nav steering.

[Drillman]

Currently considering a tractor upgrade and would like GPS steering.

What sort of cost would there be to fit a tractor up with something so it will steer itself down a field accurately enough for drilling?

 

[stevedave]

Are you going for guidance or guidance on a new tractor? We have gone to auto steer this year and have found it very good. Most companies will tell you to get full rtk for drilling but we haven't gone down that root and we have the Claas equivalent of omnistar which is satcor 5. It is a steep learning curve but well worth it, I use it for everything now except baleing. Cost will depend on what you want/need but you could go from £5k for a basic system on a steer ready tractor or name your price depending on what level of accuracy and unlock codes you need.

 

[Drillman]

Would like it accurate enough for drilling.

Want something where I can push a button and tractor takes over steering so I can pick my nose, scratch my balls and do texting?

And it would prob be a used tractor that mite not be steer ready.

Current drill tractor is 17 year old but can see little point in spending money on shiny paint unless there is a tangible gain somewhere.

 

[Lewis821]

Cheapest option https://agriculture.trimble.com/product/ez-steer-assisted-steering-system/

 

[SilliamWhale]

Probably a Trimble RTX system with a retro fit autopilot wheel - I expect you are looking at at least £6-7k now new.

 

[tweedale terrier]

Have you looked at any secondhand tractors that are auto steer ready? Any brand or model preference

 

[Drillman]

Have you looked at any secondhand tractors that are auto steer ready? Any brand or model preference

Not got that far yet. But when I do it will be a CNH product most likely.

 

[tweedale terrier]

Definitely worth speaking to your dealer to check your options or have a demo. Some are more user friendly than others

 

[Matt77]

Not got that far yet. But when I do it will be a CNH product most likely.

I’ve both here, factory fit steering and a bolt on system, both CNH stuff, the factory fit just works so much better, if you can, get a tractor with the valve and hardware already factory fitted, you can add receivers and nav controllers etc quite easily, if you can find them. As said above, RTK is the best signal but I know a few on just rangepoint drilling, with no real problem, that’s around £250 a year I believe.

 

[e3120]

2nd hand trimble 750/ez pilot was £3k in the spring from nh dealer. Rangepoint better than my steering, now £295/yr.

 

[Happy]

Probably a Trimble RTX system with a retro fit autopilot wheel - I expect you are looking at at least £6-7k now new.

Pretty sure there is a currently a Soil Essentials banner ad running on here for just such a system at £5800 fitted.

I bought a used CFX750 with ezipilot wheel through classifieds on here for £1800.
Was another £1000 for soil essentials supplying MF platform kit and fitting up the system.

Have done all spring and autumn drilling with it this year and very happy with the results.

 

[Rookie]

Probably a Trimble RTX system with a retro fit autopilot wheel - I expect you are looking at at least £6-7k now new.

You are not far off with your guestimate.

 

[Boysground]

If you are changing tractor I would suggest getting one steer ready it will be much easier in the long run. Then have a word with your dealer I moved up the accuracy levels by buying some second hand kit. It’s surprising what is available some times.

bg

 

[Farma Parma]

Trimble RTX Rangepoint doing the sowing job here with little issues. It even sows perfectly off a S Shaped field.
AutoGuide Ready Tractor is far far tidier imho just plug Screen & Antenna in & away you go. most even have a Steering activate button on armrest or the tractors joystick
and that makes it lovely to use.
I couldnt fit these after market motorized steering wheels thats just not for me.
Plus it turns all the time your steering is being controlled by the system.
The factory ones stay still.

 

[njneer]

Trimble RTX Rangepoint doing the sowing job here with little issues. It even sows perfectly off a S Shaped field.
AutoGuide Ready Tractor is far far tidier imho just plug Screen & Antenna in & away you go. most even have a Steering activate button on armrest or the tractors joystick
and that makes it lovely to use.
I couldnt fit these after market motorized steering wheels thats just not for me.
Plus it turns all the time your steering is being controlled by the system.
The factory ones stay still.

Yes factory fit is tidier but the versatility of the motorised wheel cannot be matched , gives you the flexibilty of moving the wheel , screen and receiver among several machines used at different times of the year. Tractor for drilling, sprayer, combine etc etc and ensures its utilised to its maximum especially paying for the higher accuracy signal.

The motorised wheels are much more compact and tidier than they used to be.
Another thing to consider is the package offered ,many offers look cheap in comparison often people opt for the cheaper option then decide they should upgrade to higher accuracy but when you break it down and look at the cost of “ unlock codes” for this optionand that option they end up being dearer in the long run.
Topcon for instance ,and I stand to be corrected, as I understand it looks a bit more expensive for ther motorised wheel system in comparison to others but when you consider variable rate and section control are free of charge ad the accuracy signal can be upgraded , at a cost , for a seasonal period of time ( drilling for example) over all it is bettter value for money.
Consider the future as well, where might you be , and what might your needs be in 3-5 Years , don’t just think what you need it for now.

 

[Pheasant Surprise]

I’d always go for an integrated steer ready machine myself.

You then keep all your options open to go for either a factory guidance system or third party guidance with minimal messing and the tidiest and best performing install.

But we are all different and I can see the flexibility angle of portable systems, by myself I don’t really like them.

 

[fermerboy]

I won 6 months use of Gps autosteer from my NH dealer.
They fitted a Nav 900 box on roof and a XCN1050 screen, with an Easy Pilot Pro steering column motor to my TM140 as thats as new as I have.

Its running on Rangepoint RTX signal which they claim is 6 inch accuracy. Its tons better than that pass to pass and more than good enough for drilling.
So impressed with it I bought it, and till now I had no intention of autosteer.
Transformed the spring time here, I didnt realise just how much till I tried it.
Sowed everything here, curved headlands too, all rolling, (every second bout, big slow turn at the ends) all fert, and it did the silage mowing in evening, then drive the forager next day too.

The price I see advertised is £5800 fitted just now.

Its transferable to another tractor if you swap and no reason it couldnt go in combine as well.
Will it save you money?, I dont think so, not very much anyway, I always have rhe right amount of seed/fert/spray in the field at rhe end of a job anyway but it will be better applied now with no overlapping. But it is like cab suspension/air con/cd player, makes life better.
Some would think I'm mad having it in an old TM but I like it and to be honest I cant see much reason orher than autosteer to move up to something newer.

 

[Farma Parma]

I won 6 months use of Gps autosteer from my NH dealer.
They fitted a Nav 900 box on roof and a XCN1050 screen, with an Easy Pilot Pro steering column motor to my TM140 as thats as new as I have.

Its running on Rangepoint RTX signal which they claim is 6 inch accuracy. Its tons better than that pass to pass and more than good enough for drilling.
So impressed with it I bought it, and till now I had no intention of autosteer.
Transformed the spring time here, I didnt realise just how much till I tried it.
Sowed everything here, curved headlands too, all rolling, (every second bout, big slow turn at the ends) all fert, and it did the silage mowing in evening, then drive the forager next day too.

The price I see advertised is £5800 fitted just now.

Its transferable to another tractor if you swap and no reason it couldnt go in combine as well.
Will it save you money?, I dont think so, not very much anyway, I always have rhe right amount of seed/fert/spray in the field at rhe end of a job anyway but it will be better applied now with no overlapping. But it is like cab suspension/air con/cd player, makes life better.
Some would think I'm mad having it in an old TM but I like it and to be honest I cant see much reason orher than autosteer to move up to something newer.

Thats a brilliant way to sum up Auto-guidance
It wont save you much money but it takes the concentration out of keeping all runs up n down the field no matter what the task is to where there should be
Yes you can then use your phone more & more importantly watch over the machine far far easier.
From an Owner/Operator/Bills Payer point of view its progress so dont knock it until you are able to try it or have a go in a neighbours & see for yourself

 

[Will 1594]

Try Andrew Manfield at weighton ,
Another thing to think about , your location what is best signal and will you lose it in the dale bottoms. ,

 

[Farma Parma]

Rangepoint RTX runs between 1-4cm pass to pass here
It only moves the first A-B line a little if you leave the field for a bit or come back the next day
but a half decent operator should be savvy enough to get around this anyways.