Trimble Base Stations
Below we show the pricing on the two most common Trimble Accuracy Systems - either Autonomous (free to air) or 2cm Base Station.
TRIMBLE AUTOSTEER GPS SYSTEM
The system that we sell and recommend is the Trimble EzGuide 500 / EzSteer system. We have found this system to be extremely reliable and easy to use, giving excellent steering results. The system can be initially purchased as an autonomous unit (free to air signal) and upgraded to better accuracy as the need arises. This unit is also extremely easy to shift between tractors or headers etc if needed (hydraulics aren't plumbed into the tractor so not limited to one vehicle).
In terms of RTK base stations (2cm signal) the most popular option by far is to use an existing RTK network already set up, not buying and maintain your own base station. There are many advantages to using an RTK network including: much lower price, don't have the worry and cost of maintaining / servicing the base station, no signal re-acquisition times when moving from paddock to paddock, don't need to move the base station around with you to different areas, you can run as many units as you want from the one license (don't need separate base stations for different vehicles).
The pricing structure is as follows - these are per vehicle:
·EzGuide 500 GPS console - $4,000.00 + GST
·EzSteer 500 with T2 terrain compensation - $4,000.00 + GST
TOTAL per vehicle: $8,000.00 + GST
The above pricing is based on using an autonomous (free to air) GPS signal - meaning that $8,000.00 + GST is the total price you would pay, there are no ongoing fees. The autonomous signal isn't classed as a particular level of accuracy, it is just called 'sub-meter'. We typically see systems around the 0-30cm mark from pass to pass. The disadvantage of the autonomous signal is that it tends to drift over time and you don't have the repeatability that you do with a differentially corrected signal.
The pricing structure to go to an RTK (2cm) system is as follows:
·EzGuide 500 GPS console RTK enabled - $9,000.00 + GST
·EzSteer 500 with T2 terrain compensation - $4,500.00 + GST
·RTK Rover Radio - $2,200.00 + GST
·Once-off RTK network access fee $4,000.00 + GST
TOTAL $19,700.00 + GST
If you decide down the track that you want to set up more vehicles, you don't need to pay the $4,000.00 access fee to the RTK network, you can run as many vehicles as you like off it.
If you decide that you want to start with the Autonomous system and upgrade to RTK later on, you simple pay the difference between the autonomous system and the RTK system ($11,700.00) to upgrade. An example of where someone may do this is to get an RTK system on a sowing tractor where greater accuracy is the most beneficial and an autonomous unit on a spraying / spreading tractor where 2cm accuracy may not be required.
Please note that price includes full 12 month warranty, after sales support and access to Stoll's 24 hour support hotline.
Note: pricing is ex. gst and current as at May 2010 and may be subject to change. Please contact us for a firm quote on any GPS systems.
