GPS / Precision Stuff

[ddivinia]

Is anybody using GPS in their tractors? For spraying, mapping, etc? A buddy of mine keeps saying get Raven GPS to spraying and weed wiping. Foamers are OK, but a GPS could be a lot better.

Any experience out there?

Thanks,
Darin

 

[RickB]

AgTalk Home - Category & forums listing
Click on precision talk. These guys are the pro's.

 

[ddivinia]

AgTalk Home - Category & forums listing
Click on precision talk. These guys are the pro's.

Outstanding - I am looking for something simple to allow me to spray at night and just pitch the foamer.

Thanks,
D.

 

[chh]

I'm told the system Wylie sprayers sells is supposed to be good. I haven't tried GPS yet but I can sure see where it would help.

 

[Oleozz]

A friend uses an EZ Guide 500 for spraying and planting beans. It is accurate to several inches. There is an EZ Guide 250 that sells for around $1400 and is accurate to several feet, my friend paid $3000 for his 500. You can get accuracy to several inches with the 250 with the optional antenna.

 

[WTA]

What is a foamer? I'm saving my pennies for a tractor GPS and auto guidance system but it's a couple years off still for that. My only problem is spraying. I've tried the dye before and it's costing more than the weed killers I use to use enough of it where I could see anything. It would be nice to put down fertilizer in one pass but I cut my rate in half now and crisscross over the field twice just to make sure I don't miss anything. That's burning too much fuel.

 

[hudr]

I'm not using it on the tractor exactly, but I do have a handheld that I am using to map out all of our pastures and hay meadows. With the rising prices of fertilizer, I don't want to just eyeball a field and say "oh, that's about 30 acres" and put out that much fert when it may only be 25 acres. I have gone around several of our fencelines and then gone back around ponds and stands of trees to get a true measure of useable acreage. So far I am seeing some cost benefits from it as well. One field we had been calling 15 acres was really only 11.5 after taking into account areas we couldn't really fertilize or cut for hay/graze.

 

[Renovator]

I have a Raven GPS that I use for spraying, fertilizing and seeding, It saves 20-25% on chemical and fertilizer. It also prevents skips and tells the acreage and speed to help with calibration. When I am estimating jobs I use a rangefinder that golfers and hunters use. It is fast and suprisingly accurate.
Renovator

 

[ddivinia]

Good stuff - I just ordered a EZ-Guide 250. I hope to have it up and running this weekend.

D.

 

[WTA]

I just called one of the local dealers this morning for the 250 and got the scoop on them. It sounds great. Now I just have to talk my wife into another major expense. I guess the tax man will be giving it all back again next year too.
The 250 system locally is almost 1900 bucks. With the cost of fuel and fertilizer now I really don't see it talking long to pay for itself.

 

[ddivinia]

I just called one of the local dealers this morning for the 250 and got the scoop on them. It sounds great. Now I just have to talk my wife into another major expense. I guess the tax man will be giving it all back again next year too.
The 250 system locally is almost 1900 bucks. With the cost of fuel and fertilizer now I really don't see it talking long to pay for itself.

$1900 seems a tad steep.

I ended up getting 2 of them for $1650 each shipped with the AG15 antenna. Was that 250 the base model without the upgraded antenna?

D.

 

[Legdoc]

I purshased a Raven Cruizer $1900.00 from Wylie 3 weeks ago to compliment my new Kubota M9540. This was to assist and or replace foam marking. Well within about 4 hours of use it failed. Wylie was good enough to overnight another unit in. Well, I installed it this evening and as luck would have it the unit would not lock on to the satellites. So in the morning I will call or go to Wilie to see what they will do. At this point I am seriously considering demanding a refund! I can see some advantages of GPS but if it is going to be this much trouble I will stick to foam as it is simple and I will not be held hostage by technology. Technology is the Devil.
Anyone else had these problems?
Legdoc

 

[ddivinia]

I purshased a Raven Cruizer $1900.00 from Wylie 3 weeks ago to compliment my new Kubota M9540. This was to assist and or replace foam marking. Well within about 4 hours of use it failed. Wylie was good enough to overnight another unit in. Well, I installed it this evening and as luck would have it the unit would not lock on to the satellites. So in the morning I will call or go to Wilie to see what they will do. At this point I am seriously considering demanding a refund! I can see some advantages of GPS but if it is going to be this much trouble I will stick to foam as it is simple and I will not be held hostage by technology. Technology is the Devil.
Anyone else had these problems?
Legdoc

I have heard of a number of failures with the Raven. Check out the forum that was recommended. That was one of the reasons I went with the Trimble Ez-Guide - good reputation and longer warranty. I hope to have mine by Friday. I'll report back when I get it figured out.

Did you get the upgraded antenna (helix)? Where are you located?

D.

 

[Renovator]

I remember the brand I bought. it was the Envisio. The only prblem I had was that one satelite was shut down and the dealer had to reprogram it at no cost. It cost $2400 and i figured I paid for it in 1 year.
Renovator

 

[Legdoc]

I am near Victoria Texas and did get the helix.
Legdoc

 

[WTA]

I'm still wondering what this foam marker is and how it works. I've never heard of it before.
I'm going to give wylie a call too and price check that GPS unit before I really get on my wife about getting one. She shot me down last night and I just let it go. Maybe tomorrow after I go spend 2000 bucks filling up one fertilizer container and nearly 1000 on the other one, she will see the light.

 

[ddivinia]

I am near Victoria Texas and did get the helix.
Legdoc

Well, it sounds like no excuse for it to be working. Let us know what they say. I had heard some bad things about the Cruizer just failing. Maybe they can swap it for another brand or a refund, etc.

D.

 

[ddivinia]

I'm still wondering what this foam marker is and how it works. I've never heard of it before.
I'm going to give wylie a call too and price check that GPS unit before I really get on my wife about getting one. She shot me down last night and I just let it go. Maybe tomorrow after I go spend 2000 bucks filling up one fertilizer container and nearly 1000 on the other one, she will see the light.

Foam Markers basically are an air compressor and foam marker material (think dish washer soap). A nozzle on the end of the implement and it drops a load of foam on the ground out at the end (if you are lucky). Wind can blow it around, sun can make it dry up, the tank always seems to be empty, etc. The majority of the time, it works just fine. I just think a GPS would be slick so I can use it on all my implements.

I will be selling a nice unit when I get my GPS up and rolling if you are interested.

D.