Base Station V2
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      Base Station v2: Requirements and installation procedure

      Information - Requirements - Installation procedure

      The Base Station is a device that sends, through an Internet connection, a GPS correction signal to the FD20, increasing the overall accuracy of the navigation system of the droid.

      Installing a Base Station is a PREREQUISITE to having the FD20 operate autonomously in the field. It constantly communicates with the droid, acting as a reference point and thus providing the droid with the correct navigation signal. The droid cannot operate autonomously without connection to the base station.



      A Base Station has a radius of 10 km and MUST NOT be moved once installed. Therefore, it should be placed in a spot which allows to cover the largest number of fields possible. If your fields are spread in an area larger than 10 km from your Base Station, this would require you to acquire a second base station and install it in the area that is not currently covered from the correction signal.

       

      REQUIREMENTS FOR PLACEMENT OF GPS ANTENNA

      GPS's satellites radio signals can be blocked or reflected by various obstacles and materials. This sensibly decreases the quality and strength of the RTK correction signal received by your FD20. 

      Choosing a suitable spot for your Base Station is the first step for ensuring flawless operations. For this reason, there are 6 requirements:


      1 - CLEAR SKY VIEW

      The GPS antenna MUST be installed in an area where no obstacles are present in an angle above 30° from the position of the GPS antenna, as illustrated below:

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      as example:

       

      2 - SELECT A HIGH POINT

      For example, an end face of a building or the equivalent, where the GPS antenna can be installed above the ridge of the roof, trees, silos, or other obstacles.

      Please do not mount the GPS antenna close to chimneys as the smoke produced can trigger interferences.

       

      3 - IMMOVABLE ANCHORING POINT

      For the GPS antenna to be fixed and secured, the mounting surface MUST BE IMMOVABLE and in good condition, thus preventing any movement caused by strong winds and/or adverse weather.

      For these reasons, AVOID installing the GPS antenna on masts, chimneys and towers.

      4 - DISTANCE FROM SOLAR PANELS

      Ensure there are no solar panels in the close vicinity of the GPS antenna.

       

      5 - DO NOT INSTALL ON METAL ROOFING

      Ensure the GPS antenna is not mounted on or next to metal rooves, including the top/side of containers.

      In case this is not possible, it is fundamental to install the base station antenna on top of the tallest metal roof.

       

      6 - ENSURE THERE IS A GOOD SUFFICIENT GSM SIGNAL

      Internet signal is essential to send the RTK correction signal from the Base Station to the robot.

      In case you are experiencing issues in your local area, please ask your local distributor to advise you on these two possible solutions:

      1. Extended range GSM antenna (UPG07V2.0-2.3): it improves the GSM connectivity in remote areas. The package comes with a 4m cable, which allows the GSM antenna to be mounted externally to a building for optimal reception.
      2. Connect the Base Station to Internet through your home/office router: this connection suits best when the place you installed the Base Station is located close to your home/office.
        Please ask you local distributor to perform the installation for you: How to connect Base Station to home router

       

      DISCLAIMER

      Usually, the seeding period is finished when the trees have little to no leaves, and if the base station’s GPS antenna is placed in a location with trees around, the droid may work fine during this period. But, as the leaves become denser and denser, the miscommunication between either satellites and base station, or the base station and droid tend to escalate.
      As mentioned above, solar panels and metal roofs are not suitable for mounting the GPS antennas. These surfaces reflect the signals from the satellites, causing a delay in receiving the signal at the base station. The effect due to the delayed signal can be seen as bad navigation on the droid.
      We have experienced in the past, where mounting the GPS antenna not according to FarmDroid recommendations resulted in an offset on the droid for up to more than a meter and in worst-case scenario crops weeded away.
      In addition to that, the effect/offset caused by abovementioned factors also depends on many other variables and can be hard, if not impossible, to directly detect as the effect may be present temporarily. The GPS system in the base station and the droid is unable to detect this automatically. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to follow the guidelines when mounting the base station GPS antenna (also available in FarmDroid User Manual).


      We cannot guarantee the functionality and precision of the system if the instructions are not complied.

       

      INSTALLATION PROCEDURE

      On delivery of your FD20, you can find the Base Station in a box placed underneath the droid.

      Step 1: Secure the GPS antenna to the top of the wall bracket


      Step 2: Attach the cable to the GPS antenna and fix it with plastic strips to the bracket provided in the kit.

      Step 3: Select a fixed position for mounting the wall bracket with the GPS antenna according to the above mentioned requirements.

      Step 4: Secure the Base Station box in a place within reach of electrical power and with a good GSM signal.


      Step 5: Attach the GPS antenna cable into the Base Station

      Step 6:  Notify your distributor once the installation is completed so he/she can associate your FD20 to your Base Station.