Second hand Auto Steer

[shelly reynolds]

Basically ,what are the things to lookout for. Some seem better value than other and some seem more expensive than most of these Chinese products

 

[Andy26]

What tractor are you hoping to fit to?

The benefit of the cheap Chinese are they don't need any unlocks for RTK or expensive satellite corrections like Trimbles Centrepoint etc...

If branded then Trimble are well built and user friendly, the CFX are very dated, so if budget allows look for a GFX.

 

[shelly reynolds]

What tractor are you hoping to fit to?

Jd 6930

 

[Jsmith2211]

What sort of cash do you need to put up for the trimble ones? I was told go trimble not JD as the JD system has a large motor which will hit your knees. I gather both will also add isobus. Mine will go on a puma but it's the same for any tractor I thought?

 

[Andy26]

What sort of cash do you need to put up for the trimble ones? I was told go trimble not JD as the JD system has a large motor which will hit your knees. I gather both will also add isobus. Mine will go on a puma but it's the same for any tractor I thought?

CFX and EZ Pilot £3.5k no Isobus on them, a bit more for an RTK unlocked one with modem.

GFX with EZ Pilot £5k and a few £k more for RTK unlocked.

 

[topcat2006]

basically - you pays your money and takes your choices...

Chinese ones - theyre cheap and cheap for a reason. they are engineered to a price, the support isn't there - at best you'll get someone in the UK who has sold a system and to compete with the cheap prices has very little margin in the product, and subsequently is poor at supporting it - at worst you'll get a chinese support line with someone who doesn't really understand the language and it'll be a frustrating experience. Generally if something fails - you throw it away and start again. They're starting to do CAN based systems and they can tell you that on a good day it works with a specific tractor and thats it.....

Known brands (Trimble, Topcon, JD) youll get a tried and tested system with good support in the UK having official distributors, dedicated support lines and repair services. Youll get a myriad of extra features that have been tested the world over and actually work. You'll also hopefully have the services of someone installing it who knows how to install these systems properly, has several years experience in doing this and the system will work and stay working.

 

[Adeptandy]

So far I’ve had
CHC Nav, admittedly it was one of the first in the country but struggled with back up and eventually had to bin both of them. ( £13k loss but have taken the supplier to court as the promise was don’t like it I’ll remove and £ back, hasn’t happen but did win the case )
FJD, so far back up has been good, running 2 x AT1’s
Just added a AgOpen from @Andy26 and finding it value for £ so far

 

[Jsmith2211]

just had a quote from JD for their system, 13k... seems a lot to me. or can get it for 2500 and 1500 a year for as long as you want to use it. Also seems a lot.

 

[Adeptandy]

Trimble sitting on the roof of the MF 7726, Agco wanted £5k to unlock then subscription on top, it can’t be that much better

 

[davidroberts30]

Trimble sitting on the roof of the MF 7726, Agco wanted £5k to unlock then subscription on top, it can’t be that much better

Agopen all the way

 

[Jsmith2211]

Agopen all the way

No isobus though and not sure how well that will tie in with variable rate control on a spreader for example

 

[davidroberts30]

No isobus though and not sure how well that will tie in with variable rate control on a spreader for example

Use its own rate control and let agopen do the steering
Or spend 10x the price on a brand

 

[Jsmith2211]

Use its own rate control and let agopen do the steering
Or spend 10x the price on a brand

How does that work with variable rate and auto section control? I thought was controled through tractor GPS?

 

[Northern farmer]

How does that work with variable rate and auto section control? I thought was controled through tractor GPS?

You must be talking about variable rate and section control on an ISOBUS implement? This is where AOG struggles at the moment. Might come later.

It still does not need to come "from the tractor", any screen that supports variable rate and section control would do. The screen would need position feed, any low cost GNSS receiver does it at a sufficient accuracy, AOG (typically) would give it at RTK accuracy.

Unfortunately these days add-on screens too often have section control and variable rate behind an unlock.

 

[alomy75]

just had a quote from JD for their system, 13k... seems a lot to me. or can get it for 2500 and 1500 a year for as long as you want to use it. Also seems a lot.

I’ve an ATU on a sprayer. I assume you’ve asked for rtk for that level of investment? If you’re buying used then it won’t cost half what you’ve been quoted. The steering motor is large but you can stick it to the side or forward if there’s room. Ez steer is awful if going Trimble; but they do an integrated steering wheel assembly now which is better. JD is by a country mile the best gps with the best resale, user friendliness and effectiveness. Try SF3 rather than rtk; effectively does the same thing and a fraction of the cost

 

[Zippy768]

So far I’ve had
CHC Nav, admittedly it was one of the first in the country but struggled with back up and eventually had to bin both of them. ( £13k loss but have taken the supplier to court as the promise was don’t like it I’ll remove and £ back, hasn’t happen but did win the case )
FJD, so far back up has been good, running 2 x AT1’s
Just added a AgOpen from @Andy26 and finding it value for £ so far

So u just added an AgOpenGPS on ur new tractor?

 

[David.]

Got a Trimble set up here, still in the boxes, unfitted, if anyone wants to make a serious proposal.
Nav 900, GFX750, replacement wheel and hub motor, Massey 6100 series platform kit.
Lost half of arable, and now just seems a bit pointless on sub 150ac, tbh, with annual subs, etc.

 

[andyinv]

No isobus though and not sure how well that will tie in with variable rate control on a spreader for example

Isobus is coming to aog. There's a separate group working on an open ISOBUS VT implementation, and already a proof of concept showing integration between AOG and ISOBUS. Once that is working well, the possibilities it opens up for farmers are going to be very exciting.

See this video from January. The project was held up as the main developer works for a major manufacturer and wanted to get permission from them they wouldn't get annoyed at his extracurricular activities. It's all sorted now and he's developing again.

When AgOpenGPS and ISOBUS collide...

Some of you that follow the AOG world might know there's a separate fantastic team working on ISOBUS, virtual terminals, implement control, that sort of thing. Today, Daan uploaded this PoC video - and I think you'll agree, it's pretty damn sweet eh ! This will be an interesting year for...

thefarmingforum.co.uk

 

[Two Tone]

Never had. Don’t miss any of it.
Seem to get on ok without it.

 

[Adeptandy]

So u just added an AgOpenGPS on ur new tractor?

Yes, Trimble unlock was extortionate