SF3000

Attention All John Deere Starfire ITC Owners!

by Joe Brunker, Monroe, WI 

We received word from John Deere that effective Jan 1, 2021, Starfire ITC GPS Receivers will no longer be able to receive the SF1 or SF2 corrections required for machines to Autotrac.  ITC receivers will still be able to show coverage, document, and be used for sectional control (in some cases) using the WAAS signal. This was not a decision made by John Deere or INMARSAT (the company that provides the bandwidth for our SF1 and SF2 correction signals). This change is happening because of a government satellite update where new satellites broadcasting the L5 signal are replacing the older signals. The hardware inside an ITC receiver will not allow it to receive the newer data. Starfire 3000s and 6000s are not affected by this change.

The complete government document can be found here:  See page 59 (Section 3.2.8) for more details.

If you still have an SF2 or RTK activation on an ITC receiver, John Deere has extended the transfer deadline again for you to transfer these activations to an SF3000 or SF6000 receiver.  This deadline is quickly coming up on August 1st, 2018. Contact us today at 217-693-6209 if you have any questions about this transition.

Sloan Support Farmer Call Center

Unfortunately, we are in the same position as our customer’s and we currently have too many Starfire ITC receivers in stock, so we can no longer accept trades.

Sloan Support is written by the product support team at Sloan Implement Co., a 20 location John Deere dealer in Illinois and Wisconsin.   Learn more at www.sloans.com

 

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Sidedress Simpler with AutoTrac Vision for your John Deere Tractor

AutoTrac Vision Guidance for Tractors

by Jared Wheeler, Assumption, IL

AutoTrac Vision for tractors is a great new product for customers that sidedress and/or row crop cultivate.  John Deere previously released this for sprayers,  but it is now available for 7 and 8 family tractors, 30 series and newer.  The system works in row spacings from 20 up to 40-inch row crops in the early stages between 6 inches tall and 90% canopy.  The camera detects the color difference between the crop and soil and guides the tractor between the rows.

AutoTrac Vision Camera Mounted in front of the SF6000 Receiver

This new technology is ideal for customers that are in fields where they don’t have the original planting guidance lines.  It also works great for customers experiencing GPS drift or customers whose implement width doesn’t match the planter width.  We demoed this unit to a customer who planted with a 24 row planter using RTK signal and then came back and sidedressed with a 15 knife bar.  Even though the customer planted with RTK, the planter would sometimes pull to one side.  Also, the “guess” rows were occasionally off a couple inches and he would have to side shift his guidance line in the sidedress tractor to make up for it.  These additional steps are eliminated with the AutoTrac Vision system because the tractor is now automatically side-shifting for you by using the crop row as the reference point for guidance.

Gen 4 Monitor AutoTrac Vision Run Screen

I think this product would be especially beneficial for ag retailers that are custom applying because they usually don’t have the customers planting guidance lines to go off of when they are applying fertilizer.    The camera will guide them through the field with ease.  Contact us today for more info or to schedule a demo.

 

Sloan Support is written by the product support team at Sloan Implement, a 20 location John Deere dealer in Illinois and Wisconsin.  Learn more at www.sloans.com

 

 

 

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Calibrating the TCM on a 2600/2630 Display

by Andy Syrcle, Assumption, IL

As you move your 2600 or 2630 Display into your combine this fall, you will need to calibrate your TCM to make sure you have the most accurate GPS signal and A/B Lines.  This Youtube video will help explain how to properly calibrate your TCM to assure your autotrac works properly in your Tractor, Combine, Sprayer, or any other self propelled vehicle.  Have a safe fall!

 

Sloan Support is written by the product support team at Sloan Implement, a 20 location John Deere dealer in Illinois and Wisconsin.  Learn more at www.sloans.com

 

 

 

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New JD Starfire 6000 Receiver vs SF 3000

by Lucas Veale, Assumption, IL 

The John Deere Starfire 6000 receiver is now available for order.  This SF6000 receiver uses 3 correction satellites for improved signal and accuracy and can receive the new SF3 differential signal.   SF3  replaces the SF2 signal on the SF 3000 receiver.  The new SF3 signal delivers +/- 3 cm pass-to-pass accuracy, less than 30 minute pull in time, and in-season repeatability without the need for RTK radios or base stations.

Deere Receivers Thru the Years

Deere Receivers Thru the Years

At the base/free level of SF1 accuracy, there is virtually no difference between the SF 6000 and the SF 3000.

The next level of accuracy for the SF 6000 is SF3 and it requires a subscription.  This signal is comparable to the SF2 signal for the SF 3000 receiver.  New for the SF6000 is 3 cm accuracy using SF3 vs  5 cm accuracy on the SF3000 using SF2.   The SF3 signal will allow for in season repeatability of 3 cm.  There is no repeatability with the SF2 signal on the SF3000 receiver.  Please note, the SF3 signal will only work on SF6000’s.

SF6000 Signal Comparisons

SF6000 Signal Comparisons

The new John Deere Starfire 6000 is only compatible with GS 1800, GS 2630, GS 3 Command Center, and Gen 4 4600 displays.

There is now a USB port on the receiver for faster software updates, typically 3 minutes vs 20-30 minutes on older receivers.

USB Port for Faster Software Updates

USB Port for Faster Software Updates

Currently there’s only a deluxe style mount with optional locking system.

Receiver Lock for Security

Deluxe Mount with Optional Locking System

RTK accuracy will be the same between the SF3000 and SF6000.  You can see Sloan’s RTK coverage and learn more about this technology by visiting our RTK website by clicking here.

Click to View Our RTK Network

Click to View Our RTK Network

 

Sloan Support is written by the product support team at Sloan Implement, a 20 location John Deere dealer in Illinois and Wisconsin.   Learn more at www.sloans.com

 

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Ditching with Surface Water Pro and iGrade by John Deere

by Lucas Benning, Vandalia, IL 

I got the chance to ride with a customer who is running John Deere Surface Water Pro and iGrade with a Wolverine ditcher pulled by a JD 8430 tractor with SF3000 receivers and Sloan Implement RTK network.  With the recent dry weather we are making ditches to drain the wet holes that have been hard to get rid of the past couple of springs. It amazed me how far the dirt was being thrown from the ditcher (in excess of 40 yards).   After the initial setup, we were able to use Surface Water Pro by surveying our ditch track and recording the elevation every 5 feet.  We then entered our min/max slope and our min/max cut by using the best fit option and then generated a ditch track.   Surface Water Pro shows us how much dirt we are expecting to move and a side profile view so we know how close we are to our desired cut.  Then iGrade takes over and automatically lowers the ditcher and raises it to make the desired slope and depth of the cut. After we are done with the pass we feathered out the sides manually and make one last pass through the middle to clean it up. Then it’s on to the next one.   If you have any questions on Surface Water Pro or iGrade please give me a call at the Vandalia, IL location of Sloan Implement phone 618 283 4305

40 Yards of Dirt

Dirt Flying from the Ditcher


Sloan Support is written by the product support team at Sloan Implement, a 20 location John Deere dealer in Illinois and Wisconsin.   Learn more at www.sloans.com

 

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Autotrac Issues, Software Updates, & Switching to Soybeans

by Derek Sloan, Assumption, IL 

The rain has brought Central IL field work to a standstill. Several minor issues that guys could live with when the weather was nice have been brought up while the equipment is idle. I have had several tracking and guess row complaints with guys using their shift track every time they turn around while running. This issue can be solved by doing a TCM calibration on the receiver after making sure that all other Autotrac setup is correct. It is important that the track spacing is correct when using the rows instead of feet feature.  I have seen several instances of incorrect row numbers as well as incorrect spacing.  I have seen incorrect track spacing settings, as well as the previous implement still selected for the current task.  A couple of customers have complained about excessive GPS drift while running in the field on SF2 signal.  This problem was solved by updating the SF3000 receiver to the latest 1.90S software. The customer was immediately pleased with the performance and I have not heard back from them on this issue.  I updated another customer’s software after the rain and I will follow up once we are back in the field, but believe it is very important to keep customers AMS equipment up to date with the latest software to ensure the best performance each season.   Check here for the latest software versions.

I have received a few calls about switching planters and displays over to beans. Just simple reminders to change the knocker wheel out for the flat flapper in the lid and change the brush in the pro units. Most calls are on making sure the display is setup correctly when switching over to beans for the first time.   Customers are also checking the rates that they have input are correct or that they stayed from last year, as well as to confirm setup for the first time on a new planter.

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