John Deere RTK Activation
John Deere RTK is available to upgrade an AutoTrac™ SF2 system to provide repeatable accuracy.StarFire™ RTK provides highly accurate corrections to the AutoTrac™ guidance system.
John Deere RTK
It utilizes a local, ground-based reference station that transmits the high-accuracy +/- 2.5 cm (1 in.) corrections to a machine StarFire receiver via RTK Radios.
Because of the proximity of the base station to the machine, nearly all satellite drift is eliminated, and the position is highly repeatable. In order for the base-station signal to reach the machine, a direct line of sight is required.More than 200 John Deere dealers across the United States and Canada have set up a large, robust RTK network. This is beneficial for several reasons:
Producers have a lower investment cost because the dealer purchases and is responsible for upkeep with the base station.
Dealer networks cover more area with the RTK signal, giving many producers access to RTK on all of their ground.
RTK network is owned, maintained, and supported by a local, certified John Deere dealer.
Contact a local John Deere dealer to inquire about RTK network coverage.
The purpose of the base station is to act as a local reference station. It will transmit correction signals to the machine StarFire™ receiver through the RTK radio. The following is needed to complete a base station:
StarFire 3000 or StarFire iTC Receiver (SF2 ready)
RTK Radio
RTK Activation
RTK base station harness
Tripod or universal mount
Mounting
A tripod is included in base equipment but can be deducted in exchange for a universal mounting bracket that can be used to mount the base station on a fence post, building, tower, or other rigid structure.
Base station power requirements
The base station requires a 12-V power source. A John Deere TY6144 battery is recommended for mobile base station use. For permanently mounted base stations, such as on a building or radio tower, a 110-V to 12-V regulated power supply is recommended. The StarFire receiver and radio draw approximately 1.5 amps.
Base station setup recommendations
The base station radio must have a line of sight with the machine radio. When positioning a base station, higher mounting locations increase the chances of maintaining a line-of-sight. It is important to make sure when positioning the base station that it is in a location where the base station receiver has a clear view of the sky and is located far enough away from metal structures and bodies of water to avoid multi-path situations. Multi-path is a common occurrence that often leads to A-B line jumps.
Machine kit interprets the signal from base station
Machine kit Machine kit
The purpose of the RTK machine kit is to interpret the correction signal coming from the base station. To build an RTK machine kit, the RTK radio and RTK activation must be added to a complete AutoTrac™ System.
The following is needed to complete a machine kit:
StarFire 3000 or StarFire iTC Receiver (SF2 ready)
RTK Radio
RTK Activation
GreenStar™ Display
AutoTrac SF2 activation
AutoTrac-ready machine