Nearly 16 years ago, John Deere changed farming when it introduced the StarFire guidance system. Improvements were made in the following years with StarFire iTC and StarFire 3000 receivers. Now, the company takes satellite-based guidance to even higher levels of accuracy, repeatability and signal pull-in speed with the introduction of the StarFire 6000 receiver and SF3 signal.
According to Mike Moeller, John Deere Intelligent Solutions Group, the new StarFire 6000 receiver has been designed to give customers greater precision capabilities, accuracy and uptime. “The StarFire 6000 Receiver offers a full range of differential correction levels, from the base SF1 satellite-delivered signal to the premium RTK option,” Moeller explains. “And to optimize the performance of the StarFire 6000 receiver, we’re offering the all-new SF3 correction level, which delivers 40 percent greater pass-to-pass accuracy, new in-season repeatability and 66 percent faster pull-in time than the previous SF2 correction level.”
With the combination of the StarFire 6000 Receiver and SF3 signal, customers can get RTK-like accuracy without having to invest in an RTK system, or if they are operating in fields without an RTK network.
“StarFire 6000 with SF3 is a great solution when RTK is not available and customers want in-season repeatable accuracy to 1.2 inches,” he says. “SF3 customers can use the same guidance lines for multiple passes throughout the growing season which allows precise placement of seed and nutrients without shifting lines or remapping boundaries.”
In addition to improved accuracy and repeatability, the StarFire 6000 also delivers improved uptime that keeps precision ag systems running in challenging conditions. By using the latest navigation algorithms, the StarFire 6000 can track up to three StarFire satellite signals at once, intelligently choose the one that will deliver the best performance, and automatically switch to an alternate signal to help maintain accuracy and performance if the primary signal is blocked.
An improved Rapid Recovery feature allows for a quicker return to high-accuracy performance if the GNSS signals are lost due to shading from trees, buildings or terrain. StarFire 6000 RTK customers also receive up to 14 days of RTK Extend,™ which allows machinery to keep operating with guidance even with a lost or interrupted signal.
In addition, the StarFire 6000 Receiver has a built-in USB port to more quickly and easily install software updates in about 3 minutes compared to more than 20 minutes with the previous receivers. The receiver also has a built-in 8GB data-logger to capture and store data for improved trouble shooting and diagnostics.
Deere has maintained its plug-and-play integration of the new receiver, making it compatible with current and former displays and other technologies that customers are using on their equipment.
“The new StarFire 6000 Receiver, paired with the new SF3 signal, make this package a real game changer in the industry,” adds Moeller. “With 1.2-inch accuracy, 66 percent faster pull-in time, faster recovery from shading, and new in-season repeatability, customers will experience more precision, accuracy and uptime with this new precision technology system.”
Current StarFire iTC and Starfire 3000 customers can easily upgrade to the new StarFire 6000 Receiver and SF3 signal this year. This newest guidance technology can be factory installed on Model year 2017 sprayers, combines, tractors and other platforms.
For more information on the new StarFire 6000 Receiver and SF3 signal, as well as the full line of John Deere precision guidance products, contact your local John Deere dealer or visit JohnDeere.com/ag.
Deere & Company (NYSE: DE) is a world leader in providing advanced products and services and is committed to the success of customers whose work is linked to the land - those who cultivate, harvest, transform, enrich and build upon the land to meet the world’s dramatically increasing need for food, fuel, shelter and infrastructure. Since 1837, John Deere has delivered innovative products of superior quality built on a tradition of integrity. For more information, visit John Deere at its worldwide website at www.JohnDeere.com.
