Get the Most out of FarmQA: Tips for Accurate Field Boundaries
Drive straighter lines and create more precise field maps with the FarmQA mobile app. Whether you're using FarmQA for variable rate seeding, creating application zones, or calculating field area, accurate boundaries are essential. We see differences in GPS accuracy from device to device. Here are some key tips and tricks to ensure your FarmQA field maps are on point:
Understanding GPS Accuracy
Most smartphones prioritize battery life, and this can affect GPS accuracy. Apple devices, in particular, may rely on Wi-Fi and cell towers to estimate location when in power-saving mode, reducing precision. Here's how to combat this:
- Turn off Wi-Fi: While Wi-Fi can provide location data, it's not ideal for field boundaries. Disabling Wi-Fi forces the device to rely on a more accurate GPS signal.
- Maintain a Steady Pace: When recording field boundaries, aim for a consistent, moderate speed around 12-15 mph. Detailed aspects of fields at higher speeds, like 20-30 mph), will be less accurate as the device is trying to make assumptions about where you are heading instead of using the actual GPS values. Ideally, try to maintain a smooth path around the field perimeter. This will help the app track your location more precisely and create a more accurate representation of the field boundary.
- Terminate other apps using GPS: We have seen, but have not verified, reports of other apps running on the phone that set the GPS to a less accurate setting. Reports say that other apps inherit this poor setting. Terminating other apps, restarting your device, and only running the FarmQA mobile app will help mitigate this issue.
- Pause and resume for sharp corners: When making a precise sharp corner, we recommend stopping at the point, pausing the tracking, orienting your vehicle in the correct direction, and then resuming tracking the drive.
External GPS for Enhanced Precision
inexpensive external GPS.
For ultimate accuracy, consider using an external GPS receiver. This offloads the location tracking from your phone's internal GPS, allowing you to turn off the phone's GPS entirely, maximizing battery life and ensuring the most precise data capture.
Additional Pro Tips
- Pre-plan your boundaries: Take a look at the field beforehand and plan your driving route to minimize turns and ensure you capture the entire field.
- Double-check your work: Once you've driven the boundaries, take a moment to review the map on the FarmQA app. You can make minor adjustments to ensure the captured line accurately reflects the field edge.
- Update FarmQA: Keeping the FarmQA mobile app updated with the latest version ensures you benefit from bug fixes and performance improvements that may also enhance GPS accuracy.
- Use Android: Android does not try to be as “smart” about using the GPS as Apple’s iOS does. Using an Android device may improve your field boundaries.
- Newer Apple Devices: Not all Apple devices are the same. You might see great GPS accuracy on one device and a completely different route on another. We’ve seen that newer Apple devices typically have better GPS chips. We’ve also seen that phones are better than tablets.
