Which gps?

[Bomber101]

I am looking at options for my first gps purchase. We have had some fields tested by Courtyard and have found some variability. I am now looking at buying the GPS system to give a signal to my sprayer and spinner. I have narrowed it down to the Trimble FMX or the NH Intelliview iv fitted into a NH T7.270. Both will have NAV II.
Option one is FMX on rtk with an extra platform kit in the Magnum. This will connect directly to control boxes in cab and do both vra and section control. It will also steer Magnum when drilling and cultivating. It is also the most expensive and will be a lot of boxes in the cab.
Option two is the FMX in the NH on Egnos, no extra platform kit so restricted to the NH. This will do the vra and section control. Cheaper and upgradable in the future but again a lot of boxes.
Option three is the NH Intelliview on Egnos. No extra boxes and I think will do the same functions as the FMX. Not transferable to the Magnum.

Which way would people jump. Drill is not ready to do vra yet, next one will be but not planning a change in the near future.

 

[Andrew K]

Are you really minded to keep swapping over all the time? I would imagine the NH will get the most use on spraying and spreading jobs but the Magnum will make best use of the Autosteer and VR drilling possibly.
Why not buy one FMX kit but ensure both tractors have their own platform/wiring harness/steering valve?

 

[AS_Comms]

Bomber 101, AS Communications are currently Trimble Resellers for the South of the UK, we would be more than happy to discuss requirements further in regards to your first GPS Purchase.

Please feel free to give us a call on (01480) 861824 or drop us an e-mail: [email protected].

www.ascommunications.co.uk

 

[SimonD]

If simply applying fert and spraying do you need RTK or looking to future proof the tractor? If you were really thinking about changing kit over i would seriously think about buying 2 sets of wiring and antenna, one for each tractor as a permanent fit and only swap over the FMX.
Stick with Trimble, don't look to other cheaper light bars as you will only end up wanting to upgrade to auto steer or VRA and Trimble is a worldwide manufacturer.

 

[AS_Comms]

Definitely stick with Trimble...

Web Address: www.ascommunications.co.uk
Facebook: AS-Comms
Twitter: @AS_Comms
You Tube: www.youtube.com/trimbleagriculture

 

[Northern farmer]

Definitely stick with Trimble...

Web Address: www.ascommunications.co.uk
Facebook: AS-Comms
Twitter: @AS_Comms
You Tube: www.youtube.com/trimbleagriculture

Off topic but as a representative of a particular product your recommendation reads to me: "AS_Comms makes best profit from this option and doesn't care about the customer". Now I'm 100% sure you do not mean this and you can do better and actually are considering the customer's interests (too), so why not add good arguments when posting, possibly along with sales slogans. Basically just a comment for all sales people, if they want to influence our decisions, they have to be careful or the influence could be exactly the opposite from the intended.

A bit back to the topic, I'm not familiar with the NH Intelliview product, is that a Trimble product too or something else?

 

[Bomber101]

Think I now know what I would like. The Intelliview 4 at present will not do VRA so will have to go either FMX or FM1000. I have been quoted £2 k for the extra Magnum platform kit, seems a lot. We will hope to get a FFIS grant and go RTK to try to future proof the setup. Lots to learn and hope I get the grant!!

 

[Clive]

Seriously vra would not be my priority

You will see way more effect on your yields, productivity, input use and bottom line spending GPS money on a decent steering system

Vra looks logical and the tech is exciting, pretty cheap and easy to understand but the agronomy is mostly flawed IMO

It's good agronomy that grows good crops and not computers

 

[AS_Comms]

Off topic but as a representative of a particular product your recommendation reads to me: "AS_Comms makes best profit from this option and doesn't care about the customer". Now I'm 100% sure you do not mean this and you can do better and actually are considering the customer's interests (too), so why not add good arguments when posting, possibly along with sales slogans. Basically just a comment for all sales people, if they want to influence our decisions, they have to be careful or the influence could be exactly the opposite from the intended.

A bit back to the topic, I'm not familiar with the NH Intelliview product, is that a Trimble product too or something else?

Northern Farmer, Sorry the above comment was meant to be tongue in cheek, apologies if this gave you the wrong impression of our company.

At AS Communications are aim is to look after all of our customers by combining high-quality GPS precision farming products with expert customer support and backup.

We will certainly look to convince you through good arguments in the future rather than just through sales slogans. Thanks for your comments.

 

[Bomber101]

Seriously vra would not be my priority

You will see way more effect on your yields, productivity, input use and bottom line spending GPS money on a decent steering system

Vra looks logical and the tech is exciting, pretty cheap and easy to understand but the agronomy is mostly flawed IMO

It's good agronomy that grows good crops and not computers

Why is the agronomy flawed? Surely using soil samples to assess where nutrients are needed, assuming soil is in good condition, is good agronomy? We have lots of old field boundaries in fields and therefore some varying indices across fields of the same soil type. It is also easier to cost in a saving in the short term and could be argued it is the way that GPS pays for itself rather than intangible chemical, weraing parts or diesel savings.

I agree it is a tool and should be used as such but as to flawed, we shall see!

 

[Bomber101]

Northern Farmer, Sorry the above comment was meant to be tongue in cheek, apologies if this gave you the wrong impression of our company.

At AS Communications are aim is to look after all of our customers by combining high-quality GPS precision farming products with expert customer support and backup.

We will certainly look to convince you through good arguments in the future rather than just through sales slogans. Thanks for your comments.

Ben, stop looking at TFF and send me my quote!!

 

[Northern farmer]

Northern Farmer, Sorry the above comment was meant to be tongue in cheek, apologies if this gave you the wrong impression of our company.

My apologies then.

 

[AS_Comms]

Northern Farmer,

My apologies then.

No need to apologise, fully appreciate your comments, sorry if we gave you the wrong impression.

 

[Clive]

Why is the agronomy flawed? Surely using soil samples to assess where nutrients are needed, assuming soil is in good condition, is good agronomy? We have lots of old field boundaries in fields and therefore some varying indices across fields of the same soil type. It is also easier to cost in a saving in the short term and could be argued it is the way that GPS pays for itself rather than intangible chemical, weraing parts or diesel savings.

I agree it is a tool and should be used as such but as to flawed, we shall see!

its been discussed before, don't want to drag it all up again but look closely at those pretty contour maps ! if you farm on indices you are farming with grossly over simplified agronomy IMO but that's a whole new thread !

 

[Andy Howard]

Why is the agronomy flawed? Surely using soil samples to assess where nutrients are needed, assuming soil is in good condition, is good agronomy? We have lots of old field boundaries in fields and therefore some varying indices across fields of the same soil type. It is also easier to cost in a saving in the short term and could be argued it is the way that GPS pays for itself rather than intangible chemical, weraing parts or diesel savings.

I agree it is a tool and should be used as such but as to flawed, we shall see!

A quick explanation. These vra applications are based on indices. Using indices to judge amount of fert to put on can be misleading. Just because you have a low index does not mean you are low in soil nutrient. Index measures availability which can be affected by many factors.

 

[Bomber101]

A quick explanation. These vra applications are based on indices. Using indices to judge amount of fert to put on can be misleading. Just because you have a low index does not mean you are low in soil nutrient. Index measures availability which can be affected by many factors.

I agree with everything you are saying and perhaps by using the term vra everyone assumes i mean using a SOYL based grid ststem. I am talking about soil zoning using a soil scientist to analyse my soils so i can variably apply nutrients or om where needed using best practice. I have been using far more than just indices, testing has been for OM and CEC amongst other things.

When there is "fields" ie zones within fields why treat the field as one, if it was a seperate field it would be treated differently! Indices are a useful indicator in fields with similiar om and cec and ca/mg proportions and I feel are therefore relevent agronomically.

I stand to be corrected, and perhaps as Clive has said in other threads in years to come will not use this vra ability but at the moment the zones are matching field experiences and expectations. Asking as driver to change rates at points he cannot see is too much to ask, using vra tech to do it is more sense surely.

It is a steep learning curve and increases the fields on the farm as each zone is a field in effect, only by asking the stupid questions will we learn from those who have made the stupid mistakes!!

 

[Andy Howard]

I agree with everything you are saying and perhaps by using the term vra everyone assumes i mean using a SOYL based grid ststem. I am talking about soil zoning using a soil scientist to analyse my soils so i can variably apply nutrients or om where needed using best practice. I have been using far more than just indices, testing has been for OM and CEC amongst other things.

When there is "fields" ie zones within fields why treat the field as one, if it was a seperate field it would be treated differently! Indices are a useful indicator in fields with similiar om and cec and ca/mg proportions and I feel are therefore relevent agronomically.

I stand to be corrected, and perhaps as Clive has said in other threads in years to come will not use this vra ability but at the moment the zones are matching field experiences and expectations. Asking as driver to change rates at points he cannot see is too much to ask, using vra tech to do it is more sense surely.

It is a steep learning curve and increases the fields on the farm as each zone is a field in effect, only by asking the stupid questions will we learn from those who have made the stupid mistakes!!

Fair enough. I had field zones done years ago. Now use them to decide where to sample but do not do vra with them. Could do but I do not think necessary. Can turn on and off. To be honest we have not applied hardly any bagged P and K for years. Been applying compost etc and that goes on even. Works well for us. Doing some soil tests when it dries up. May need to do something different depending on results.

 

[Clive]

Fair enough. I had field zones done years ago. Now use them to decide where to sample but do not do vra with them. Could do but I do not think necessary. Can turn on and off. To be honest we have not applied hardly any bagged P and K for years. Been applying compost etc and that goes on even. Works well for us. Doing some soil tests when it dries up. May need to do something different depending on results.

Similar approach here - we have maps and can vra but don't

Zones are useful to some extent though as you say. Of all the of maps I paid for I reckon the ec scans are the most useful when it comes to where I want to sample properly I guess

 

[Steevo]

Similar approach here - we have maps and can vra but don't

Zones are useful to some extent though as you say. Of all the of maps I paid for I reckon the ec scans are the most useful when it comes to where I want to sample properly I guess

Do you find when sampling that the areas within the zones test similar for all nutrients? i.e do they have the same nutrient characteristics as they do soil type (within reason, excluding muck heaps sites etc).

 

[Clive]

Do you find when sampling that the areas within the zones test similar for all nutrients? i.e do they have the same nutrient characteristics as they do soil type (within reason, excluding muck heaps sites etc).

Generalisation but within the same block of land to a degree yes. I guess the EC scans group soils, and it follows that soils of the same type in the same field will have similar analysis.
Certainly much better intel than a blunt basic soil sample