My foam marker system took a dump today.
Farm/ Ranch supply rep suggested a basic GPS Guidance system. Nothing fancy needed as I don't have auto steer or implement controls. Will use it for spraying and fertilizer.
Looking at the Matrix 430, Trimble GFX 350 and 750 and a Raven CR7. Budget is $2500.
Any recs or experience on these?
Much obliged in advance OB!

Is this a hobby farm, or bigger? How many acres are we talking about, and do you just need sprayer guidance or more?

I'm guessing the Trimble 350 is simply a light bar type of guidance? Those are good, but I'm betting you'll eventually want to update, if you have any acres to cover at all.

If you think there's ever a chance you want to go auto-steer, go ahead and spend the money for whatever light bar is upgradable to auto-steer, and save your pennies to add the EZ-Steer auto-steer in the future.

Frankly, if you have the cash, even if the farm doesn't support it, go the EZ-Steer / auto steer route. The drop in your stress level is worth it.

Basically, that's what I did. I don't farm enough to justify a good guidance system anymore. So I used the 250 alone for a while, and added the EZ-Steer a year or two later.

I hoped you would respond Was going to page you as well.
It's on our Ozark ranch. About 200 acres or more is made up of hay fields ( Bermuda and Timothy). Then grazing horse pastures. Multiple fields..... largest one is 40 acres. The others are around 20 acres. I spray annually with Grazon, 2,4 D.
I am also reclaiming another 100 or so acres that has been let go and has 1000's of small white oak and other little tree plants growing all over it. Spraying Remedy on those fields.
All the fields are odd shaped and gentle rolling ground.
The rest of the ranch is timber land and riparian.
I have a 300 gallon boom sprayer with 3 section 30' boom.
Fertilize with granulated and have a 4 Ton buggy.
My neighbor has an older Trimble CV750 that he really likes.
I wanted a larger than 4" screen so I can see it better as I'm gettin old.
Thanks for the help as always Canyon!

So you use the 250 now? You like it?
I just went and looked at the Matrix 430 about an hour ago at our Ag supply. They push it hard. But I've read bad reviews on it dropping signal etc.

I believe it is the 250. Works fine. Will check in an hour or so when at the barn. Has light bar and can be connected to EZ-Steer, which I have done.

Your setup may be less good for auto-steer, as you are smaller patches and probably more irregular fields.

But up here on our square farms, it's freaking great.

Turn around on the end, kick in the auto-steer, surf TexAgs until the other end.

Well, not always TexAgs. With the GPS doing the steering, you get to watch the booms or plows and make sure they are working, without worrying about wobbling off the row.

EZ Steer and 250 give sub-6" accuracy, which is more than good enough for spraying. You can set it up to overlap, to minimize gaps.

Have you tried eBay or Craigslist or FB Marketplace? You may find an old unit from someone who is upgrading.

The 250 Canyon referenced; I don't think it's commercially available any longer in the US. I had one a few years ago and let it get away on a sprayer I sold - and have missed it ever since. They were handy, standalone, easy to use and durable. I have been looking for a cheap used one for a while with no luck to do exactly what you are wanting to do.

I don't know much about the TeeJet or Raven systems, as I haven't seen them used, but I don't think you'd be disappointed in the Trimble. If you find the one that matches your budget you will probably be happy. Given your description of what you are doing - it sounds like all you want for now is guidance back and forth, driving by hand. There is plenty of info out there if you want to go to the trouble to wire your boom switch in for as-applied coverage maps.

Like Canyon said, if you are about to go hard and big - auto steer and. variable rate controllers, then this is a different conversation because you'll want to buy with that expandability in mind; but it doesn't sound like that's in your immediate future.

CanyonAg77 said:

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Well, not always TexAgs. With the GPS doing the steering, you get to watch the booms or plows and make sure they are working, without worrying about wobbling off the row.

EZ Steer and 250 give sub-6" accuracy, which is more than good enough for spraying. You can set it up to overlap, to minimize gaps.

Have you tried eBay or Craigslist or FB Marketplace? You may find an old unit from someone who is upgrading.

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I didn't refresh and missed this post- I'd think curve following is where the EZ steer would really shine because chasing that light can be very frustrating driving. I have to pick a spot on the horizon and then nudge a little to keep centered. Trying to drive just staring at the light bar no workee for me.

I have been talking to a fellow at Ag To Go and they have the 250's he says. I think he said they are reconditioned. He says for my needs he has a reconditioned Trimble CFX 750. Comes with a new upgrade AG 25 Antenna, new mounts, cables, and 1 year warranty.

There is no doubt that the 250 is 10 years ago technology. You may not be thinking bluetooth connectivity, ISOBUS, or rate controller today - but in a couple years you well might. So I would not discourage you from getting something like the 750, 350 or whatever the latest generation are. That the 250s are sold reconditioned speaks to their utility - but again, that's technology from a decade ago.

Looked at EBay and Craigslist. See my post about the reconditioned units. You have any experience with the CFX 750. The sales guy is saying for my application it will be the best for me..... ease of operation, bigger screen..
Wants 2400 for it complete.

Yes sir. Pretty sure I have ruled out the TeeJet Matrix 430. Screen was really small. Sure thank you and Canyon for the time to help me.

Finally got out to the farm. Mine is the old EZ Guide 250 with AG-15 antennae. Works like a charm. I take it inside if not using for long periods.

The only problems I've had are with the roll sensor box, and that was on me, I messed up the calibration.

Second problem was the unit occasionally losing its mind. Cleaned the rust off the AG-15 mount and fixed it.

Otherwise, great.

Like you, I couldn't economically justify the entire system with auto-steer. But like Centerpole, driving the lights is only slightly less annoying than driving by sight.

On square fields of 40-160 acres, auto-steer is fantastic.

Consider it like air conditioning and a good radio. No economic justification, but lowered stress and I'm not near as worn out at the end of the day

Before I got the foam marker system I was always messin up. I have tried laying out the fields with a transit and survey flags and traffic cones. The terrain is just rolling enough that when I make my turn I can't see the cones or flagging. So I constantly had gaps or bad overlaps. Half the time I can't see my tracks....have tried dye when spraying... can't see it. So I decided on the foam marker deal. Was great when it worked but had to carry jugs of the foam and then it would stop up and very hard to move from implement to implement.....and today the pump burned up.
I just wanted something that would help me stay in line and not leave gaps or overs.
I really don't know what to get.

There is nothing wrong with hand driving by light bar with the amount of work you described. Doing it all day for days - that's when auto guidance pays off on operator convenience and eliminating wasted material.

Your gps will have a 'look ahead' figured into it that's user selectable. Usually 3 seconds is the default. So driving is like steering your boat on course…. Over-correcting is what will frustrate you and it's easy to do when fixated on the display. Just like it would be staring at the compass rose. The look ahead helps because it's a predictor before you are actually off course.

In no time you'll learn to roll out of a turn right on your mark…. Pick something on the horizon that is about where you need to be headed.. then let the lights give you a nudge this way or that. It'll be second nature in no time - just like the foam markers were.

That makes a lot of sense the way you describe it. And that gives me some confidence that it will work for me. There aren't words to thank you and Canyon for your time and help today. Really has helped me with my decision.
I think I'm going to go with the Trimble CFX 750 reconditioned. The rep says it will be like using a larger 250 as the light bar is the same... similar features. He said if I get it and use it and don't like they will credit me the full amount toward one of the new ones.
Thank you so much sir.