A long list of Q&A for the last month or so:

Hardware Issues

• For some reason this spring brought on a rash of wiring harness issues. If you know a harness got dinged up at some point, I’d highly recommend looking that over very carefully. In more than one case, software/setup was blamed when it was a wiring issue. So, if your sonar sensor doesn’t read boom height, or your wheel sensor doesn’t read speed, please check out the harnessing. Some of these wires are so thin and fragile, they may be broken inside even though they don’t look so bad on the outside.
• Custom projects and ISO VT – not always a good idea. Sure the idea that your planter or baler or boom height control system can hook to almost any modern is display is a good idea at face value, but when things go bad, they can really go bad. I would just caution folks from combining monitors, it’s not always a good idea. If you can, go with a controller that is the same brand as your monitor, like a Rate Controller on a liquid toolbar, or on a custom planter, a Precision Planting 20/20. Some of the newest generation monitors are getting better and offer split screen functionality, but I’d still use caution mixing brands, especially on custom projects.
• Take care of your sensors.. this spring was generally wet and saw a lot of mud. Make sure to get wheel speed and height sensors cleaned up, but try not to blast them too hard with a pressure washer. If you noticed something not working right, make sure to get it replaced or repaired
• AgExpress can repair some Deere 450 RTK radios, I did not realize this till as of late
• Swapnostics – just because diagnostics lists no TCM corrections as the reason you can’t AutoTrac, apparently doesn’t always mean your GPS receiver is at fault. This ended up being something strange happening to the internals of a 2630 display. Swapping displays quickly proved this, and luckily this display was saved by a field reprogram (see your dealer for this, it’s something like repairing a software installation on your computer). There is also a factory reprogram your dealer can do as well, but it’s generally a last resort.
• 2600 / 2100 displays – some of the cards are getting rather old in some of these displays. If your display is being slow, freezing, or doing other inexplicable things (and is up to date on software), a new card with setup data is the first thing to try. It would be a good idea to keep a spare on hand. Field and factory reprograms are an option as well. I’ve actually seen those processes make displays faster and touchscreens more responsive as well (although it doesn’t fix broken screens)
• Controller does show in the menu – Let’s say your planter or AutoTrac controller doesn’t show in the menu. It’s most likely not going to work. Sometimes power or wiring is the issue, but other times weird things just happen on the CANBUS. Try unplugging every other controller (even the GPS receiver), and cold booting the display.
• GPS Accuracy never builds – if you’re running SF1 or SF2 and have your receiver set to stay on 24 hours after key off, you may need to unplug and plug back in your receiver every once and a while. Just like a computer these things need to reboot sometimes, and running many days in a row, or parking machines inside at night may make this problem worse. Also, there still seems to be some on the wrong frequency (how I don’t understand since it’s been so long since the change..). Keep your software up to date or check out my post on the latest frequency change.
• Seat switches – if AutoTrac is randomly kicking out through the field, it may be a seat switch out of postion, or going bad. To see why AT is kicking out, always look at Diagnostics in the AutoTrac view last exit code first

Software Issues

• Implement shows backwards on display – this can happen for a number of reasons, and there are a number of solutions. This WILL mess up Section/Swath Control. Some older versions of display software actually dealt with this better than others, but some are worse. If you run and AutoTrac Universal wheel or no AutoTrac at all, you should have a directional cycle button in Menu – GS2/3 -> Guidance. I’ve also found going into Menu -> GS2/3 -> Equipment and the Implement Tab and changing implements to — then changing back to be helpful. Cold booting display and GPS can be helpful as well
• Hydraulic drive won’t work – if you’ve tried everything else (both mechanically and in the software), I did have one guy on Twitter that got his going by reprogramming the platner as a ground drive, cycling power as instructed, and then repgramming again as hyd drive. I don’t know why this worked, but it did
• Apex – looks like the conflict with antivirus programs in an earlier version has been fixed in the last couple updates
• Shift Track greyed out – Sometimes a display can get confused when you start a new line, but instead of pressing the cancel button, you go to home. Or maybe the display has just been running a long time. Assuming small or large shits are checked on, a cold boot (key off, unplug, plug back in) should fix this.
• Optimize Shading – I always have this turned on in the GPS receiver settings. I don’t know if software updates keep it turning this back off or what, but in my opinion, checked on is a good thing
• Section Control – Sounds like those who had issues with Spring 2015 software don’t have any this year, but some that didn’t have issues last spring, have some with this Spring 2016 software. So just keep an eye on it, backdate with caution in my opinion. This years display software is some of the best I’ve seen in a while, but not everyone else seems to be having that experience.
• Gen 4 Displays – Still recommending folks run everything other than AutoTrac through a 2630 on the corner post if they can (or have one). Have seen some very large file sizes from an ExactEmerge planter being run on a Gen 4

 

New Stuff

Some new hardware has come out in the last few weeks like the StarFire 6000 and AutoTrac Vision / RowSense for Sprayers. SloanSupport.com has very good write-ups on both of these. From what I’ve seen on Twitter, the camera is working very well. If you run SF2 on an iTC or 3000, I would highly encourage you to upgrade to the 6000. Sounds like SF2/RTK activation upgrades (transfers) from the iTC may be only for a limited time. You can see pricing on configurator.deere.com .

I see there is a new model rate controller out as well, model 2000, but it is limited release and functionality right now. Multi-product, single model dry/liquid, and more sections are all on the near future road map.

Also, I’m working on something myself that eliminates the need to reach up and touch the screen every time you shift track (which is a lot for some of you side dressing narrow rows), so stay tuned for that.

 

Advanced AutoTrac Tuning

Additional Thoughts

Variable Rate (Rx) – Some folks are writing prescriptions that there is no way the planter / applicator can keep up with the changes. Please just keep in mind the limitation of the controllers/drives/pumps. Yes, some of the electric drive stuff can change rates pretty quick, but I still question the need to change rates every 50 feet. It just seems unnecessary to me. There’s a phrase something like “if you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it”. I’d keep some variation of that in mind

Take pictures of measurements and timing settings, and save them to cloud storage! Use your smartphone, use the built-in screenshot functionality, or write them down. No reason to start from nothing every year, or forget settings.

As always, don’t be afraid to correct me if I have something wrong – @AaronBobeck on Twitter