John Deere StarFire™ 3000 Receiver

The StarFire™ 6000 Receiver offers multiple differential correction signal levels to match receiver performance with the needs of the operation.

StarFire 6000 horizontal pass-to-pass accuracy:

• SF1: +/- 15 cm (5.9 in.)
• SF3: +/- 3 cm (1.2 in.)
• Radio RTK: +/- 2.5 cm (1.0 in.)
• Mobile RTK: +/- 2.5 cm (1.0 in.)

StarFire 6000 pass-to-pass accuracy

NOTE: Horizontal pass-to-pass accuracy specifications are 1D and are based upon a 15-minute time period, 95 percent confidence interval, clear view of the sky, no signal interference, no scintillation, and ideal atmospheric conditions (free from solar disturbances and other ionospheric/tropospheric activity). Performance may vary based on Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) constellation health.

NOTE: Radio RTK horizontal accuracy specification is based on the maximum supported baseline (distance from the RTK base station) of 20 km (12 miles) and a properly-installed RTK base station.

NOTE: Mobile RTK horizontal accuracy specification is based on a 20-km (12-mile) baseline (distance from the nearest network RTK base station). Performance will vary based on network geometry.

Skip/overlap

What does pass-to-pass accuracy really mean for the user?

Pass-to-pass accuracy defines how accurate the receiver is at calculating its position over a relatively short (15-minute) time window. For each point in time during that 15-minute window, a pass-to-pass error value is calculated based on the difference between the desired track spacing at the receiver and the actual track spacing based on the receiver’s calculated position. The error values for the entire 15-minute period are combined and the pass-to-pass accuracy value is defined as the 95 percent confidence interval of the data set, meaning 95 percent of the error values are less than or equal to the specification.

Pass-to-pass accuracy is measured at the receiver and does not take into account additional error sources such as AutoTrac™ control system error, ground conditions, or implement drift.

Pass-to-pass accuracy

Pass-to-pass accuracy has a direct impact on guess-row spacing during jobs like planting, strip till, or fertilizer application, which can have a direct impact on yield potential. Guess-row spacing is also critical for operational efficiency and reducing crop damage in operations that mix implements of various widths.

Guess-row spacing

Pass-to-pass accuracy also has a direct impact on the amount of skip or overlap that occurs during operations like spraying, fertilizer spreading, or conventional tillage, which has a direct impact on yield potential and input costs.

What does repeatability really mean for the operator?

Repeatability defines how accurately the receiver can calculate its position over a relatively long time window. Repeatability is measured at the receiver and does not take into account additional error sources such as AutoTrac control system error, ground conditions, or implement drift.

In-season repeatability is critical when using AutoTrac for multiple jobs throughout the growing season. One example would be creating AutoTrac guidance lines during planting, then using those same guidance lines to complete subsequent jobs such as side-dressing fertilizer, post-emerge spraying, and harvesting.

Long-term repeatability is critical when mapping interior and exterior boundaries for later use as input to John Deere Section Control on planters, sprayers, and fertilizer applicators. Long-term repeatability is also critical for growers that use the same AutoTrac guidance lines over multiple seasons for operations like subsurface-drip irrigation, controlled traffic, or alternating planter spacing between the rows from a previous season.

StarFire 6000 repeatability:

• SF1: no repeatability, position drifts over time
• SF3: +/- 3 cm (1.2 in.) in-season repeatability (where applicable)
• Radio RTK: +/- 2.5 cm (1.0 in.) long-term repeatability
• Mobile RTK: +/- 2.5 cm (1.0 in.) long-term repeatability (where applicable)

NOTE: Repeatability specifications are based on a 95 percent confidence interval, clear view of the sky, no signal interference, no scintillation, and ideal atmospheric conditions (free from solar disturbances and other ionospheric/tropospheric activity). Performance may vary based on GNSS constellation health.

NOTE: Radio RTK repeatability specifications are based on a properly-installed RTK base station and a base station position that has not been modified after initial setup.

NOTE: Mobile RTK repeatability may be impacted by updates to network reference frames or adjustments for tectonic plate movement. Networks in some areas of California, Oregon, and Washington will be updated more frequently due to tectonic plate movement.

NOTE: SF3 repeatability specifications have been validated through at least a 9-month period. A guidance-line shift may or may not be required after a period longer than 9 months. SF3 repeatability claims are only valid after the receiver has completed a full pull in and is operating at 100 percent accuracy. SF3 repeatability may be impacted by large unpredictable geological events such as earthquakes.

NOTE: SF3 repeatability performance may vary in the locations marked No in the table below due to the unpredictable nature of local tectonic plate movement or lack of historical data to verify SF3 tectonic plate models. The StarFire 6000/SF3 system will still apply repeatability modeling and attempt to correct for tectonic plate drift in these areas unless the receiver is located very close to a tectonic plate border, but performance may vary by location:

8R Tractor with StarFire™ 3000 Receiver in field

Over-the-air activations allow a user to renew an SF2 license or upgrade to SF2-ready or RTK level accuracy. Talk to a John Deere dealer to learn more.

Upgrade with over-the-air activations

With the StarFire™ 3000 Receiver activations and SF2 subscriptions can be upgraded through over-the-air activations, eliminating the need for typing in a 26-digit activation code to upgrade accuracy levels or renew a subscription.

Receive over-the-air activations

Over-the-air activations allow a user to renew an SF2 license or upgrade to SF2-ready or RTK level accuracy. Talk to a John Deere dealer to learn more.

Responds faster and more accurately to changes in terrain

Compensating for terrain is an important component when trying to maintain accuracy in the field. Terrain compensation technology is designed to compensate for machine motion that a traditional global positioning system (GPS) receiver cannot.

The most common example of this is while operating AutoTrac™ assisted-steering systems on side slopes. As can be seen by the following diagram, without terrain compensation, the receiver would be offset from the center of the machine due to the machine's roll angle which would create inaccuracies.

Terrain compensation

Terrain compensation
 
John Deere terrain compensation technology with the StarFire 3000 Receiver provides the capability to detect the roll, pitch, and yaw of the machine and compensate accordingly to ensure true machine position with respect to the ground throughout the field.

Roll compensation

Roll - compensates for the side-to-side rotation of the machine when on a side slope.

Pitch compensation

Pitch - compensates for the front-to-back rotation of the machine when moving up or down a hill or slope.

Yaw compensation

Yaw - compensates for the direction the machine is heading, keeping it on the designated track set by the operator.

The StarFire 3000 Receiver terrain compensation also has a six-axis inertial measurement sensor that accurately measures machine dynamics for improved terrain compensation. These enhancements allow the StarFire 3000 Receiver to provide better accuracy to the ground when operating a machine on sloping terrain.

StarFire 3000 Receiver utilizes GPS and GLONASS

By having access to more satellites, the StarFire 3000 Receiver provides a more reliable position for the machine in areas with intermittent GPS satellite availability and in other uncontrollable satellite environments.
 
A tractor is pictured in the field with low GPS visibility. By using the StarFire 3000 Receiver, the additional GLONASS satellites help the machine maintain AutoTrac in these conditions.

Increased navigation capability in shaded conditions

The StarFire 3000 Receiver is able to perform well in shaded conditions by having:

• Access to newer satellite signals
• Ability to track weaker satellite signals

StarFire 3000 Receiver position receiver

StarFire 3000 Receiver operating near tree line

Access to more satellite signals

The StarFire 3000 Receiver is designed to utilize GPS L1, L2, L2C, and L5 signals and GLONASS G1 and G2 signals. GPS and GLONASS signals are included with every StarFire 3000 Receiver and are available for SF1, SF2, and RTK correction levels.

Lower look angle above the horizon

The StarFire 3000 Receiver is designed to utilize satellites as low as 5 degrees above the horizon. This helps to maintain position performance in shaded conditions.

Shading optimization

Shading optimization assists when fewer satellites are available so the receiver can function in partially shaded conditions using a reduced number of satellites. This helps users stay productive even when they are not operating in optimum conditions.

Ability to track weaker satellite signals

The StarFire 3000 Receiver is able to utilize the weaker satellite signal in the position solution due to its greater dynamic tracking range with its new inertial antenna and receiver architecture. With its capability to utilize weaker satellite signals, the StarFire 3000 Receiver has access to more satellites, creating more robust guidance in the field.

John Deere's exclusive shared signal provides producers more options in precision technology. Shared signal allows two StarFire 3000 Receivers to share correctional signal in dual-receiver applications and have the benefits of the higher signal level.

This feature expands the possibility for producers to use SF1 and SF2 signal in their operations. Shared Signal is valuable for fields with challenging terrain.

Shared Signal also allows producers to invest in advanced applications with less overall investment costs.

Pairing an RTK enabled receiver with a receiver with SF2 provides producers with RTK accuracy and repeatability. Pairing a SF2 receiver with a SF1 receiver provides SF2 accuracy.

John Deere Machine Sync Shared Signal is created with:

• Two StarFire 3000 Receivers
• Two GreenStar™ 3 (GS3) 2630 Displays

John Deere Active Implement Guidance Shared Signal is created with:

• Two StarFire 3000 Receivers
• GS3 2630 Display

How shared signal works with Machine Sync

For example, the combine has StarFire 3000 Receiver with a SF2 signal and tractor has a StarFire 3000 Receiver with a SF1 signal. Both the combine and tractor have SF2 accuracy at their receivers while synchronized.

The variance remains constant while the machines are synchronized. This consistent variance provides peace of mind for any operator regardless of experience level. The benefits add up when operating at night or in dusty conditions. 

The following illustrations show receiver options for Shared Signal and Machine Sync.

How shared signal works with Active Implement Guidance

The tractor receiver has two signal options with Active Implement Guidance; the implement receiver has three signal options.

The implement receiver shares accuracy and repeatability of the tractor receiver while engaged.

The following illustration shows receiver signal combinations for shared signal and Active Implement Guidance.

Shared Signal - Active Implement Guidance, tractor receiver (left) and implement receiver (right)

NOTE: StarFire iTC receivers used with Active Implement Guidance require RTK on the tractor and implement.

Shared Signal - Machine Sync

The StarFire 3000 Receiver is a 66-channel, multi-frequency, differential Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver. Standard features on the StarFire 3000 Receiver include access to satellite signals from both the GPS and GLONASS satellites for SF1, SF2, or RTK correction level. This receiver offers true 3-D integrated terrain compensation and upgradable accuracy. 
 
The StarFire 3000 Receiver is designed to:

• Support optimal performance for precision applications through access to additional satellites and by responding faster and more accurately to changes in terrain
• Offer a variety of accuracy options including SF1, SF2, and RTK
• Reduce start-up time and downtime
• Ability to upgrade 
• Provide industry exclusive technology with RTK Extend and Shared Signal

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GreenStar™ 2 Display 1800

StarFire RTK Radio 450

StarFire™ RTK Radio 900