Last spring many prairie producers experienced GPS outages or errors due to intense solar activity that interfered with satellite signals.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the U.S., we’re nearing the expected peak of the current solar cycle, which is a period of intense solar activity that occurs roughly every 11 years.
“Each time we go through a solar cycle, NOAA and other experts will give a forecast of where they expect it to be based on overall solar activity,” said Wade Stewart, product manager at PTx Trimble. “We’re currently above the trend line for what was the forecast.”
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According to NOAA, intense solar activity disrupts the path of GPS and radio signals, causing position errors or outages.
“GPS radio signals travel from the satellite to the receiver on the ground, passing through the Earth’s ionosphere,” says NOAA.
“The charged plasma of the ionosphere bends the path of the GPS signal similar to the way a lens bends light. In the absence of space weather, GPS systems compensate for the ‘average’ or ‘quiet’ ionosphere, using a model to calculate its effect on the accuracy of the positioning information. But when the ionosphere is disturbed by a space weather event, the models are no longer accurate and the receivers are unable to calculate an accurate position…”
To help receivers compensate for the high level of “space weather” expected, PTx Trimble is releasing its IonoGuard software update for RTK systems.
“The Ionoguard solution is to take a lot of filtering work, a lot of algorithm work in order to try and eliminate as much of that noise or interference disturbance as possible in order to maintain accuracy on the ground,” Stewart added.
The update will be compatible with all Trimble Nav-900 receivers as well as the company’s new R750 base stations.
Wireless software updates are possible, but whether or not a grower can use that to update their system depends on which version of software is currently in use.
At this time IonoGuard is only compatible with RTK GNSS systems, but Trimble expects to be able to soon offer it for other accuracy levels as well.
“If a customer is operating off the highest level of precision, that’s where they’re going to see the greatest benefit today. We do have additional solutions we’re working on today to ensure the IonoGuard technology is across the entire portfolio, but the initial release is at the RTK level.
“Our expectation is to work to get those other solutions out across the other accuracy levels before we get into the peak cycle.”
