With record high fertiliser prices this year, many farmers are looking at ways in which savings can be made. At the same time, manual GPS guidance technology is more affordable and more accessible than ever.

For 2022, the move to an entry level guidance kit for those who already haven’t is now a more lucrative investment than ever before, especially with nitrogen prices in excess of €1.97/kg.

To put this into context, an annual saving of 1t of nitrogen at €890/t (bulk bags) would see the majority of the guidance options outlined below repaid for in just two seasons by simply placing fertiliser more accurately.

Modern machines with larger bout widths unaided by GPS lead to higher levels of misjudgment, inevitably leading to considerable losses and inefficiencies.

The options outlined below encompass the majority of entry level manual guidance options on the Irish market. Although prices of each system may vary, the level of functions and capabilities generally tend to follow respectively.

In essence it comes down to both budget and the needs of your farm.

Trimble GFX-350

Vantage Ireland is the main distributor of Trimble Precision agricultural equipment in Ireland. The GFZ-350 replaces the now discontinued EZ-Guide 250 as Trimble’s entry level manual guidance solution.

Although not as simply operated as the EZ-Guide 250, the GFX-350 offers a lot more functionality including IsoBus task control and other features such as record-keeping functions.

The GFX-350 features a 7in full touchscreen Android-based display and comes coupled with the NAV-500 receiver.

Either EGNOS or Trimble’s own RTX satellite correction service proving accuracies between 15cm and 20cm can be used. Trimble’s higher-specification NAV-900 receiver is also compatible with the GFX-350.

The GFX-350 comes auto steer (EZ-Pilot pro only) and section control ready. As before, A-B line guidance as well as curved, pivot and 3D guidance options can be chosen from.

Other features include the ability to select between saved tractors and implements.

Field boundaries and field data can also be saved on the display’s internal memory, with the ability to show saved fields in order of closest proximity to current position.

The GFX-350 is also both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth compatible.

The next step up from the GFX-350 is the GFX-750 10in display coupled with the NAV-900 receiver offering advanced capabilities.

For example, it can accommodate 256 sections instead of the 24 sections on the GFX-350 for applications such as individual nozzle control.

The GFX-350 and Nav-500 is priced at €2,300 plus VAT.

Agricision OnTrak

The onTrak solution is the most basic and cheapest guidance solution available.

EasyTrack based in Ferbane, Co Offaly, is the main Irish distributor of the Agricision OnTrak system.

The OnTrak is arguably one of the more simple solutions on the market and therefore is entirely aimed towards the livestock farmer for jobs such as fertiliser spreading, spraying or mowing etc.

The receiver unit and charger is essentially all that comes in the box. It is a rechargeable positioning receiver/ LED light bar with magnetic feet for mounting purposes.

During use, the unit is positioned front and centre on the tractor’s bonnet which according to the manufacturer is for accuracy reasons as well as visibility purposes. The light bar consists of seven LEDs to keep the operator on course.

Any Apple or Android smartphone or tablet can be used as the display once the free Agricision OnTrak app is downloaded. Pairing with the receiver is done automatically via Bluetooth once the app is open and the device switched on, making installation and setup quick and easy with no wires to contend with. Obviously the OnTrak kit cannot be used as an IsoBus display.

The unit works off GPS, GLONASS and Galileo satellite constellations with SBAS correction signals including EGNOS. The OnTrak system as a result offers an achievable pass-to-pass accuracy between 20-30cm.

According to the manufacturer the rechargeable unit has a run time of 24 hours and is waterproof. The OnTrak is priced at €785 plus VAT.

Topcon XD

The Topcon XD and AGM-1 receiver.

Topcon Positioning Ireland distributes the Topcon Agriculture solutions range.

For entry level users, Topcon offers its XD and XD+ touchscreen consoles coupled with its most basic AGM1 receiver. The XD is a 7in touchscreen display while the XD+ is essentially the same technology offered in a 12.1in form.

Some of the features within the XD and XD+ include the flexibility to become an IsoBus terminal for machine and implement control such as spreaders and sprayers. Both the XD and XD+ are autosteer and section control ready. The terminal can also act as a camera display monitor. Although, to reap the full functions of both terminals, unlocks will be required.

The AGM-1 is the firm’s entry level manual guidance GNSS receiver. It is compatible with both manual guidance and complete autosteering guidance.

The AGM-1 is also compatible with the entire range of Topcons X series consoles. Up to four satellite constellations including GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou can be tracked simultaneously for the most stable positioning.

The AGM-1 also features NavBridge technology which allows GPS signals to be approximated when coverage is interrupted by tree cover.

The XD console and AGM-1 receiver has a list price of €2,400 Plus VAT.

Patchwork Air

The Patchwork Air is distributed through Fossland Services in Co Tipperary.

Fossland Services based near Littleton, Co Tipperary, imports and distributes the Patchwork range of GPS guidance solutions.

The Patchwork range consists of four offerings right from its entry level free-to-air BlackBox Air through to its higher-end, more accurate BlackBox Stealth system with implement control.

In the box is the 7in BlackBox Air display terminal, roof receiver and a 12v power module with Bluetooth connectivity. A larger waterproof terminal is optionally available. The Air uses GPS and GLONASS satellite constellations with EGNOS and WAAS correction services for 15-20cm pass-to-pass accuracy. A terrain compensation feature improves accuracy on side slopes.

In addition to basic manual guidance, there are built-in features such as area measurement, field recognition, straight and 3D guidance modes as well as the ability to store farm fields and boundaries.

The BlackBox Air can be upgraded to the Air+ which allows additional functionality including job pausing, headland guidance, headland warning, Screen marker auto on/off and job recording as well as data sync and tracking.

The BlackBox Air is priced at €1,280 plus VAT with the Air+ upgrade costing an additional €370 Plus VAT. The larger waterproof terminal option is an extra €180 plus VAT.

Hexagon Ti5

The Hexagon Ti5 is imported and distributed through Wextec in Co Wexford.

Wextec Ltd based in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, is the official Irish importer and distributor of the Brazilian-manufactured Hexagon Agriculture guidance equipment range.

Hexagon’s entry-level manual guidance offering is the Ti5 kit. It features a 5in touchscreen display and GNSS L1 receiver offering 20cm pass-to-pass accuracy. It is free to air using GPS and GLONASS constellations with EGNOS and WAAS corrections therefore no subscriptions are required.

Like most of the other competitors it uses an on-screen light bar display to aid the operator. Operators can choose from simple A-B line guidance, curved A-B line, pivot or 3D guidance options.

Other features include field memory, section control/autosteer compatibility, area meter, implement saving and data export via USB as well as the ability to pause and resume jobs.

Those who want the flexibility of being able to use the console as an IsoBus terminal will have to opt for the larger 7in Ti7 kit.

Installation is straightforward, with the terminal only requiring a 12v power supply and connection to the roof receiver.

The Ti5 comes with a price tag of €1,200 plus VAT and is available through the Hexagon Irish dealer network. The larger Ti7 comes in at €1,700 plus VAT.

Teejet Matrix 430

The Teejet Matrix 430 comes standard with a patch antenna which can be upgrade to the RXA-30 antenna.

Enniscorthy-based company Wextec Ltd also imports the Teejet Technologies equipment range.

Within its GPS guidance lineup is the Matrix 430 and patch antenna kit which is aimed towards the livestock farmer or farmers with more basic needs. It features an intuitive 4.3in touchscreen display with a digital light bar system.

The Matrix 430 is a slightly more basic system to some of the others in that it doesn’t offer additional features such as section control/ auto steering.

It does, however, offer straight A-B line, curved A-B and circle pivot guidance modes.

Field data can also be saved on a USB stick or five jobs on its internal memory if required.

Implement on/off status is manually activated on the screen.

An area meter measures and displays the worked area throughout the application while also measuring the time taken.

Teejet’s field area meter is slightly more accurate in the fact that it will take into account any overlap and not count it as additional area worked.

The patch antenna uses the free to air L1 GPS and GLONASS constellations with WAAS and EGNOS correction resulting in a pass-to-pass accuracy between 15-25cm.

Optionally the Matrix 430 can be purchased with the RXA-30 antenna for improved reception where signals may be weak.

Setup is simple, with a 12v power supply and antenna connection all that are required for operation.

The Matrix 430 and patch antenna are priced at €1,100 plus VAT, with the RXA-30 antenna costing an additional €200 plus VAT.

GPS jargon

  • GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems): A group of satellites providing signals from space that transmit positioning and timing data to GNSS receivers. The receivers then use this data to determine location. Galileo is the European global satellite based navigation system (GNSS).
  • SBAS (Satellite-based Augmentation Systems): Signal correction – Improves accuracy and reliability of GNSS information by correcting signal measurement errors.
  • EGNOS (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service), WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System): Country specific correction signals, EGNOS covers the majority of the EU with WAAS covering the majority of USA.
  • GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou: Region specific Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) – GPS (USA), GLONASS (Russia), Galileo (EU) and BeiDou (China):