Guidance & GPS

Q: My AutoTrac on my planter or drill tractor has little wiggles in it or acts strange.
A: There are some ground conditions having a profound effect on guidance we’re seeing this week. Soft, dry, even powdery conditions (especially for conventional tillage practices) are making steering a little more difficult than normal. One tip is to make sure your front wheel assist is turned on, if the vehicle is so equipped. Having MFWD on can have a profound effect on guidance performance because the vehicle is able to acquire the correct position much more quickly while keeping over-reaction to a minimum. Another way to compensate for different ground conditions is using Advanced AutoTrac settings. If you have an ATU on your vehicle you already have these settings, or if your vehicle has an integrated valve you can see if these settings are available by going to Menu -> GS2/3 -> Guidance -> Guidance Settings tab -> Advanced AutoTrac Settings. Advanced AutoTrac Settings is only supported on certain integrated vehicles, check with your dealer for a possible software update to enable them or see if they’re available if the button isn’t showing.

There was a good sized Geomagnetic event last week that really disrupted some things in the middle of the week (as evidenced by this thread on New Ag Talk forums). Some were affected more than others, and unfortunately there’s not much any of us can do about it other than let nature run its course. The NOAA / NWS has a Space Weather Prediction Center website with lots of information regarding current conditions affecting GPS signals. The satellite environment plot is good to watch for current conditions and the Alerts and Warning page is good for forecasts as well. When the Geomatic sudden impulse gets to G1 or higher expect issues.

Another situation we ran into this week is receivers somehow reverting to the old Starfire Frequency. Even if you updated your software earlier this year, check out my earlier post on setting the frequency change. I’ve been recommending operators go into Menu -> Starfire -> Setup tab, then uncheck Defualt and enter 1539.8725 in the white box. If your receiver for some reason decides to switch to the old signal it may go to WAAS (and thus not run allow AutoTrac to run) or in a rare case I saw myself, run somehow without differential correction at the vehicle and have very poor guess rows. Just change it and be done with it.

Product Application & Documentation / Display

Q: I’m having trouble with my Tank Mixes changing
A: Tank mixes are setup in Apex, the only one you can modify on the screen is the Custom tank mix

Q: My touchscreen display highlights items on the screen in Red, Blue or Green
A: No worries, this is for running the display with the buttons on the back or the remote. If you have a R series tractor or S series combine that doesn’t have a touchscreen, or an 1800 display, this is the same highlighting effect as scrolling through different items. The Red, Blue or Green is generally the last item pressed.

Remember to be trying to document field work as best as possible, its always better to have a map and not need it than not have a map and need it.

Apex

Talked to a couple of customers the past two weeks that had difficulty saving prescriptions to their card. First, make sure your software is up to date. Make sure your computer is connected to the internet, then, while in Apex, go to Help on the upper portion of your screen and click Automatically Check for Apex Updates. Click next, yes, etc. and proceed through the steps. Do this until Apex says its fully up to date. If the update doesn’t want to run check out this answer center solution. Next, go the Save to Card in Apex. Make sure Prescription is checked in the Save to Card Filter, then go through the check boxes Enterprise, etc. below. Watch the grey box on the right for the list of items that will be saved to the card.

Averaging yield maps together: Apex can average multiple years of yield maps together using the composite maps function. Open all the different yield maps you want to average together and click the Composite maps button (looks like two pages) at the bottom left hand of your screen. This can be useful to see different zones throughout the field while minimizing year to year variability. I have several customers that write prescriptions based on these zones.

SeedStar 2 / Planter Questions

Reminders on downforce / margin for 2011 and 2012 planter operators : If you have downforce on the screen you are setting lbs of downforce or margin, not PSI like the old systems with manual gauges. Margin is defined as the difference between the total lbs of downforce the planter is putting down and the lbs the earth is pushing back up. Margin is measured at the gauge wheels, too much of it and you’ll have sidewall compaction (or big ridges in this year’s dry soils), too little of it can lead to inconsistent depth. Margin and downforce can be really confusing, but Deere’s ReadyToPlant.com has several good videos that can help. Remember if you have the Active Pnematic Downforce system you’ll be setting Margin when it’s turned on, if not (or if Active PDF is turned off) you’ll be setting the lbs of downforce in the air bags.

As always the disclaimer on the about page applies. Questions and comments welcome in the comments section below, on Twitter @AaronBobeck, or my email is on my about page.

Related articles

• IMPORTANT: Deere StarFire GPS Frequency Migration (agsnap.com)
• AMS Questions of the Week – April 9-15, 2012 (agsnap.com)

Prescriptions
Q: I’m running a SeedStar Gen II planter with a Original GreenStar monitor (aka “brown box”) beside a 2600 or 2630 display, what do I need to do to get it to work?
A: On your Original GreenStar display go to Setup -> Planter -> Rates -> More rates -> JDOffice and turn it on. This is the rate to run your Rx that will be received from your primary monitor.

Q: I can’t see my prescription as a background map
A: Go to Menu -> GS2 or GS3 -> Mapping -> Maps tab -> Map Settings. Setup the appropriate items for what you would like to see background and foreground. You may also have to zoom out, I’ve found the latest update zoomed in maps so far users aren’t able to see anything. By going to Menu -> Layout Manager you may be able to set this up on certain home pages as well.

Q: What is the Look Ahead and Prescription Multiplier?
A: The Look Ahead is designed to control the time at which the controller tells the hydraulic drive to actually change rates. It’s designed to make up for the mechanical delay for the ramp up and ramp down down times on hydraulic drives. The number you chose here depends on your equipment and how you’re using it, but many are running 0-3 second Look Ahead settings. Watch your target population, and actual population to see how quick your system reacts to changes in rates. Prescription multiplier takes all your rates in the selected prescription and multiplies them by the % in the white box. Default is 100%. For example: 100% multiplied by 35,000 population is still 35,000. Example 2: 110% multiplied by 35,000 pop is 38,500. This effects every single rate in the Rx, including loss of GPS and Out of Field rates. It is to be used in situations where say the field is in poor condition and you’re worried about final stand. You might put in 110% to bump up all the populations.

Q: I have shape files for Prescriptions, what do I do with them?
A: That would depend on which display you are operation that actually sends the Rx. If you have an Original Display you must use Apex (or JDOffice if you’re still using it) or the JD Rx Converter. If you have a 2600 or 2630 I highly suggest the built-in convertor on your display, but Apex is optional as well. Just put the files in a Rx folder in the main portion of your card (not within any other folders). On a 2630 you will have to import the shp files before converting them. More info on this quick reference guide. (PDF file)

Important note on the 2630 display: it has a limit of 120 prescriptions, so keep this in mind and delete some already used if necessary.

You can find more answers to other prescription questions on the StellarSupport Answer Center: http://bit.ly/HJFBUB
Don’t forget your operator’s manual is an important resource too!

Section Control (formerly called Swath Control Pro)

Micheal Kline explains this product’s setup better than I can. Just remember setup, measurements, and speed are key and “gotta dig!”

If the Section or Swath button doesn’t appear you may need an update to your planter software your dealer can perform for you. See your local dealer if you have this issue or others related to section control

Guidance

Q: Guidance won’t engage, or the steering wheel or pie wont’ show up
A: Go to Menu -> GS2/GS3 -> Diagnostics on your GS2 or GS3 display. Select AutoTrac from the dropdown box. This will tell you almost anything you need to know. There are parts like PVE and EH valves that go bad from time to time, contact your dealer for more help here. Sometimes the occasion unplug it and plug it back in can help here too, but more than likely its an issue that is only going to get worse.

Q: My guess rows are off, what should I do?
A: There are many things to consider here: setup / offsets, TCM calibration, software updates, GPS signal type / strength, tractor ballast, tire inflation, implement drift, front wheel assist being on, and the list goes on. My suggestion is to start simple. Start with the tractor alone. Look through setup, are all of your offsets correct? If you’re running any receiver or implement offset to one side or the other get rid of them to start with. Look at the Setup tab in your StarFire receiver: make sure your height is correct. Don’t guess, measure. To be be consistent many measure to where the green and yellow meet on the receiver. Do a proper TCM calibration, don’t just sit in one place, turn it around and line up the fixed axle.  Run it back and forth, flagging the drawbar (don’t trust the tires are set perfect just in case). Then go to the field with the implement and try it out. Make multiple passes, measure each time and write it down. Now’s the time to consider implement offsets if nothing else works. Experiment, write things down, try one thing at a time. Remember to adjust steer sensitivity and if you have Advanced AutoTrac options consider using them too.

Data

Q: I have a 2630 display, why do things change when I import data?
A: Check out your Ops Manual (also found online PDF), it has specific examples. Best practice is to export before you import anything in my opinion.

Don’t forget your software updates as well, its generally important to stay up to date and if you have issues this is most likely the first question your support contact will ask as well! Download updates here: http://stellarsupport.deere.com/en_US/categories/downloads/

Other items

Don’t forget about the diagnostics button in both Menu -> GS2/3 -> Diagnostics – AND / OR – in your Planter or Blockage Monitor. No reason to be scared of them, they’re a great source of information!

DISCLAIMER: Everything discussed here falls under the disclaimer on the About AgSnap.com page.

As always comments welcome below!
Use social media and tell everyone your story: use the #DeereAMS, #AgTech, #PrecisionAg, and #Agnerd hastags on Twitter and follow me @AaronBobeck

Related articles

• Multiple Variety Documentation on 2600 and 2630 Displays (and how to make multiple varieties go away) (agsnap.com)
• The Power of Documentation (agsnap.com)
• IMPORTANT: Deere StarFire GPS Frequency Migration (agsnap.com)

Heck, you can even document male seed rows as "row not planting" and come back later and fill them in. (read: pretty maps)

Unfortunately there has been been some frustration and confusion as well.

I’ve had several people get caught with many varieties on the documentation screen (see below) and being unable to remove varieties from the list of items available to assign to rows.

Several varieties have been added to the list, but only two are actually documenting (match colors with the rows at the bottom)

Fortunately, there’s a very simple fix for this problem. For example: say we want to remove the 1792 variety, which is the yellow above. If we press on 1790 the display will open up the box below called “Add/Edit Variety”. From this screen we select the the white drop down box next to variety and change it to “—–” (dashes), the press the right facing arrow called Accept.

Add/Edit Variety screen - this appears after selecting a variety, or add a variety in the documentation screen

After pressing accept the variety has been removed from the documentation screen and you can feel free to add or remove varieties as you wish (see below).

The 1792 variety that was assigned the yellow color is now gone and the other remaining varieties have replaced the yellow in the bar below

Hopefully that helps clear up some confusion with multiple variety documentation on your GreenStar display. Be sure to comment below if you have any questions or comments. Thanks!

Get Setup to do Documentation

I hope we’re all taking the time to do documentation as much as possible, especially if we already have the hardware to do so. Many times a producer using auto steer already has all the necessary to document the variety of the seed, chemical, or type of operation being done, such a form or tillage, with their existing equipment. Sometimes a producer might need to purchase an input device, such as a certain type of height switch, other times they can use a hydraulic remote for a recording source; or it could be as simple as pushing the record button on the screen. If you’re an operator with multiple monitors in a cab don’t forget that sometimes they can be hooked together for proper documentation too. Take a Raven SCS controller for example: many of these have serial ports that can be tied into other brand displays with an inexpensive cable and a little bit of setup. Many displays can document rates and sections for other controllers, and even send prescriptions in certain cases. It might take some time, help from others, and a small investment, but getting documentation going could be very powerful for your operation.

Store Your Documentation

Even if you don’t think you need it anymore, its important to hang onto documentation data. Get your data into farm management software on your computer and keep it. In an age where computer storage is virtually unlimited and cheaper than ever, using that delete key is rarely necessary. See my post on purchasing the right computer for your farm if you’re shy on storage for your needs.

The Future of Documentation

 I think we’re only on the tip of the iceburg on the power of documentation. Acreage reporting using precision agriculture equipment is coming quickly, and I think we’ll see the day when it is required within a matter of years. It was very interesting to hear the progress that’s being made and how government agencies, such as the USDA, are working with the precision agriculture industry at the InfoAg conference last year. John Deere Crop Insurance is already offering their “Automated Crop Reporting” service, for example. No doubt, with technology on the increase, documentation via precision agriculture will become increasingly valuable.

Thanks for reading and be sure to share your thoughts in the comments! – Aaron

Related articles

• Multiple Variety Documentation on 2600 and 2630 Displays (and how to make multiple varieties go away) (agsnap.com)
• 2012 Precision Ag Outlook (agsnap.com)

Deere has announced that the satellites that send down the SF1 and SF2 signals are changing frequencies and specific action needs to be taken by March 22, 2012 in most cases.

I’ll try and break it down what that means for you by which StarFire receiver you own:

• If you own a Starfire 3000…
  - You MUST to power it on, outside, and lock onto at least SF1 signal by March 22, 2012
  - You SHOULD update to the latest software 1.52C
• If you own a StarFire iTC…
  - You have two options:
  1. RECOMMENDED: Update software to 3.73D
  2. -OR- Change your frequency manually, based on your location, see note below and bottom table here
• If you own an Original Starfire…
  - You will HAVE TO CHANGE YOUR FREQUENCY, based on your location, see note below and bottom table here

NOTES
- The two satellites that cover the continental U.S. are now named 98W and 54W, 98W, so you’ll use 1539.8725 MHz or 1539.9925 MHz. See the official Deere announcement for instructions.
- You can update software for free using the GreenStar Live Update tool by clicking on your display HERE. Install it, select displays, download update, put in card / usb flash drive, and click Copy. Put in your display and it should pop up with updates or if it doesn’t try pressing on your clock, A, select your GPS receiver and select reprogram and the software version listed above. Contact your local dealer if you have problems with the update.
* If you have an Original GreenStar aka “Brown Box” display paired with your receiver, please see your dealer, or a buddy with an 1800, 2600, 2630 or GS3 CommandCenter display to do the updates OR change the frequency on your iTC or Original.
- Read the official Deere statement here: http://stellarsupport.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1893/kw/frequency

I’m sure there will be lots of questions, please contact your local John Deere dealership if have questions, concerns, or comments. Refer them to DTAC 91144

For your convenience I’ll cover a few here:

Q: I have RTK does this affect me?
A: Yes, RTK is based off SF2 technology, follow the process above and you’ll be good to go.

Q: I don’t use AutoTrac or SwathPro / Section Control does this affect me?
A: Yes, at least somewhat. If you don’t follow the above process by March 22, 2012, your receiver will not lock onto any Deere signal level. It will instead use the free WAAS signal. That’s OK for a light bar, parallel tracking, yield mapping, etc.., but please follow the process, SF1 signal is free and is almost always far better than WAAS. If you have questions regarding signal level Mike Cline has an excellent article about signal levels on his blog, click here.

I’ll try to keep this up to date and answer questions in the comments below, but please see your dealer if you have questions.
Last Update: 2-20-12 9:30PM EST

*****DISCLAIMER: StarFire (TM) and GreenStar (TM) and Command Center (TM) are trademarks of Deere & Company, this post is simple informational only and is provided without any liability to myself or anyone else. You can read the full disclaimer on the About AgSnap Page*****

A small amount of snow partially covers fall plowed ground. Photo by my sister April Bobeck - aprilbobeck.com