and save it between the straight A-B lines. Plus, you can adapt that line you have followed for different working widths.
Wake-up call All six automatic guidance systems are, of course, able to mark out field boundaries, but once again, some systems simply offer more options than others. For example, some are able to interrupt the drawing of boundaries while the tractor is in motion, or allow you to select only the right or left-hand side of the tool for marking, or specify the exact number of metres, and so on. Great – so imagine you are setting the plot boundaries in the Deutz-Fahr iMonitor. You can set the width of the headland yourself and also choose whether to measure in metres or num- ber of turns. You can also input how many me- tres away you want to be from the headland when the tractor alerts you with an audible beep, and the required zoom percentage on the map when it is time to turn. Oh, and did we mention that not only the New Holland but also the Deutz-Fahr allow you to display every number of each specific pass?
Entering obstacles It is useful to highlight obstacles in a plot di-
How we tested the GPS systems
This GPS comparison test was held in Finland as part of a larger multi-tractor test by the mechanisation magazines TREKKER (The Netherlands), Koneviesti (Finland), TraktorTech (Denmark) and Bedre Gardsdrift (Norway). The test focused on practical use: how easy it is to launch, configure and use the GPS system. A product specialist from each brand provided
rectly. All six systems allow you to do this, as well as distinguishing between ‘small’ and ‘large’ obstacles. A small obstacle could be a large stone or a water source, for example, while a large obstacle would be an uncultivat- ed section of the plot, such as an area of wet- land, a patch of woodland or an old barn. The latter category is treated differently by each of the six brands, and we noticed in particular that there is considerable difference in the ease of entering these obstacles. With the John Deere, for example, you need to know where to find that function in the first place, or else you can spend a long while searching. It is not highlighted with large icons, unlike many oth- er functions. New Holland does not make it
us with a brief explanation of the functionali- ty. The system accuracy and signal stability were deliberately not tested, as these are highly dependent on the geographical loca- tion, the signal type and the provider, and to a lesser extent on the GPS system that is built in by the tractor brands.
much easier either, partly due to the numerous advanced functions, and partly due to the sometimes confusing nature of the user inter- face. Claas, Valtra and Massey Ferguson all al- low you to mark an obstacle fairly quickly, however. In one terminal, you will simply see the obstacle on the established paths that run directly through it, while in other tractors, the paths will stop, meaning that you will hear a bleep when you arrive at the headland, for ex- ample. The Claas and John Deere models allow you to create a headland around the telegraph pole in question, but only with the same width as that which applies to the rest of the plot. In Deutz-Fahr, this feature is separate and you
Massey Ferguson Fieldstar 5
Simple layout Easy to understand Quick A-B line function available Simple, quick antenna calibration
+
GPS system requires extra tractor terminal Limited number of advanced functions
MF kept the screen layout simple and it is fairly easy to use automatic steering. Expe- cially since an easy mode is available, with which you can plot an AB line fast. The sys- tem as tested costs € 7,200 ($ 7,900) including the Fieldstar 5 terminal. The total test tractor came at a price of € 167,330 ($ 184,000).
▶ FUTURE FARMING | 1 november 2019 - 13
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
