CropCircleRTK FAQ's

What are the biggest benefits of the CropCircleRTK network?

Simplicity, Affordability and Accuracy – three big reasons to consider tuning your on-farm guidance on to CropCircleRTK. No other GPS correction service in the Midwest can offer the geographic coverage or accuracy for the money as the CropCircleRTK network.

What does it cost?

Subscription pricing is generally based on a per vehicle basis. For example, some subscription plans start at $1,500 annually for the first vehicle and special multi-vehicle pricing plans are available. Actual pricing may vary by geographic region and by specific owner of the local RTK network base station. For specific pricing in your “home” area please call 1-877-276-7785 for details.

What equipment do I need for CropCircleRTK to work on my farm?

Currently, the CropCircleRTK network supports agricultural GPS equipment that can utilize Trimble Navigation’s RTCM/CMR correction protocol. Trimble Navigation provides RTK agricultural guidance systems for a growing list of farm vehicles. Visit Trimble’s Autopilot website at www.autopilotgps.com for more details. Any of CropCircleRTK’s participating dealers are authorized Trimble or CNH/Trimble dealers.

How do I sign up for service?

Access to the network can be obtained by contacting CropCircleRTK at 877-276-7785 or e-mailing: sales@cropcirclertk.com. You may also sign up directly with any of the participating Trimble or Case IH or New Holland agricultural dealers who make up the network (see listing).

How do I get service if I am not currently in the CropCircleRTK coverage area?

The goal of CropCircleRTK is to provide coverage to areas wherever it is economically possible. It is the decision of the local RTK provider whether or not to provide service in a given geographic area. If you are not currently covered we want to know so contact us directly at 1-877-276-7785 to give us details about your service needs or simply fill out the request for service form (click here).

Who makes up the CropCircleRTK network?

CropCircleRTK is made possible by a joint cooperative effort by participating Trimble agricultural GPS dealers and also Case IH and New Holland equipment dealers (see listing). By combining the RTK base station assets of the participating dealers under the umbrella of CropCircleRTK, customers now have access to the largest and most seamless agricultural based RTK network in the Midwest.

What is the average transmitting range of each RTK transmitting base location?

Typically, a RTK station placed at an elevated location compared to the surrounding geography will transmit over a 10 to 13 mile radius. Because of the differences in terrain over the CropCircleRTK coverage area these transmission distances may vary greatly.

If the CropCircleRTK coverage maps show coverage in my area does that guarantee me 100 percent coverage on all my acres?

No. Since RTK signals are delivered via “line-of-sight” 900 mHz radios, local conditions and specific geographic locations can affect signal performance. Heavy foliage, dramatic elevation changes and radio interference can cause very localized disruptions in service. Also, specific time-of-day GPS satellite availability can affect signal quality. Customers may purchase their own RTK radio repeaters to provide better coverage in areas not easily serviced by the local RTK home base.

What is the advantage of a CropCircleRTK subscription verses other subscription services such as OmniStar HP or John Deere’s Starfire network?

CropCircleRTK’s network offers “real-time” centimeter grade accuracies that are repeatable. Other services such as OmniStar or Starfire only offer decimeter grade accuracies and they are not repeatable because of “satellite drift”. Signals from the local CropCircleRTK network offers full accuracy within 1 to 2 minutes whereas satellite delivered subscription correction services like OmniStar or Starfire require 20 to 30 minutes to achieve full accuracy.