Is saving worthwhile?
World of difference in cost of GPS signal
The costs that you spend annually to receive a correction signal for RTK GPS systems differ enormously. This is apparent from an inquiry from Boerenbusiness† If you pay attention and act smartly when purchasing a system, you can save hundreds to thousands of euros every year. The same applies to GPS: cheap is expensive.
If you inquire with his or her GPS supplier, you will find yourself in a maze of options and associated amounts. If you play the game hard, and if you demand a discount or even a complete exemption when purchasing a new system, you can get away with that with some brands. In practice, the result is that some users pay thousands of euros every year for a correction signal, while the neighbor gets it for nothing. Earlier this was discussed on the forum of Boerenbusiness.
Is free really free?
There are catches in the grass. That GPS is becoming a 'lubricant' deployed to sell a new tractor is known. This also includes the annual subscription costs. Several suppliers talk about creative constructions, such as offering the signal for free, but charge hefty annual costs for updates. At the bottom of the line, the dealership will be reimbursed for its costs. So always ask yourself whether free is really free. Whoever tries to get the most out of it will sooner or later get the lid on his nose.
In theory there is 1 free correction signal available: Flepos. This is the RTK network for Belgian companies. You only pay subscription costs for the SIM card. Again, free is not really free. The network is run with taxpayers' money. Dutch farmers in the border regions also make use of this. The downside may be reliability. If there is a failure, backup is a problem.
Range of base stations
In the field of radio base stations, there are more free signals available. These are often privately owned networks of a group of farmers or mechanization companies. For example, the mechanization company Weevers has its own network in East and South Flevoland, which can be used free of charge. The network Future Farming Flevoland, owned by dealer Weevers in Marknesse, exists in the Noordoostpolder. Users of the first hour, who also invested in the start-up costs, have a free signal. New users do pay.
In Zeeland, ZLTO has its own network for all brands, except John Deere. North Holland also has its own network: Wieringermeer Exact. In addition to Trimble, SBG also has its own radio network. Among others in South and East Flevoland, the Noordoostpolder, North Groningen and North Friesland.
(Text continues below photo)
Fewer and fewer systems are using a radio base station.No national policy
Dutch John Deere dealers have always used radio base stations in the past. The costs of this differ per dealer. There is no national policy. However, some dealers charge an annual service fee. They range from $100 per year, for just user training, to $750 with full support.
Lack of Glonass
Free driving on a fixed base station sounds ideal. Especially when you work with multiple systems. However, the disadvantage is that sometimes the stations cannot receive and transmit the Russian Glonass network. The radio signal is therefore particularly interesting for those who do not get much further than their own company or region. The coverage there is usually fine. Contractors, who have a large and flexible working area, quickly switch to the SIM card. The new systems are all designed for that. It will be the new standard, but for now the fixed stations will continue to function fine. However, the service life is not infinite.
Other advantages that the GSM solution offers are the possibility of remote assistance, wireless file transfer and reliability. The mobile networks are maintained 24/7.
- SBG has its own radio network, with variable costs, or the MoveRTK correction signal. These are fixed rates of €350 or €750 per system.
- Trimble also has many local radio networks or their own cellular correction signal Agrospin for €350 per system per year.
- Ag Leader and Topcon mainly use MoveRTK.
- Some John Deere dealers have a radio network. Otherwise, MoveRTK is used.
- CNH Industrial (New Holland & Case IH Steyr) has 4 national networks for the Netherlands and across borders. 1 radio network and 3 GSM networks all with Glonass support. The RTK-PLM network is even covered throughout Europe.
Flat rate for SIM
When it comes to correction signals, there are 2 main flavors: MoveRTK, from LTO Nederland, and Agrospin, from Trimble importer Agrometius. The rates are clearly stated at MoveRTK. You pay €750 per system, per year, including SIM card. Members of LTO, Cumela, Boval or Bouwend Nederland receive a €250 discount. Without a SIM card, the costs are €350 per connection. Ag Leader and Topcon mostly work with MoveRTK these days. "This network offers a correct correction signal for all generation of systems," says Geert-Jan Giesberts of importer Homburg. "You don't have to worry about frequencies and you can also cross the border a bit."
Users of Trimble systems, delivered via Agrometius, pay €350 per year, excluding SIM card. The system works throughout the Benelux plus 30 kilometers across the German and French borders. A subscription including SIM card is no longer available. Existing customers pay €500 for this subscription form, which will continue to be supported. This can be changed on request.
Save money, but at what cost?
The GPS importers know the stories about varying subscription costs. They agree that costs are always paid in the end. Whether it concerns charging service costs, costs for updates or by putting a tractor slightly more expensive on the market. With the correction signals that you receive via a SIM card, the costs are transparent and not subject to quantity discounts.
That is not the case with radio base stations. With that you might put €350 to €500 in your pocket per year, per system, but keep in mind that the coverage is limited, Glonass is sometimes not receivable and the current generation of systems are aimed at a signal via the internet. In the end, cheap is expensive here too.
Update 19-10:
CNH Industrial, which includes New Holland, Case IH and Steyr, is not included in this article. CNH purchases the GPS technology from Trimble but has its own network structure and GPS arm. CNH offers 4 nationwide networks in the Netherlands that operate across borders. One network on radio and 3 others using the GSM signal. Glonass is integrated in all networks. Steps are currently being taken to integrate Galileo. CNH's PLM-RTK network even covers the whole of Europe on 1 subscription. The costs are €450 per year per system. You pay €300 for the signal and €150 for a roaming SIM card that can be used throughout Europe. New customers with a 3-year contract are offered the signal for free for 1 year.
Niels van der Boom
© DCA Market Intelligence. This market information is subject to copyright. It is not permitted to reproduce, distribute, disseminate or make the content available to third parties for compensation, in any form, without the express written permission of DCA Market Intelligence.