GPS Receiver Comparison Chart

*Accuracy based on Omnistar HP

Typical Use Codes:
M - General Mapping (such as boundaries)
S - Scouting
SS - Soil Sampling (grid & management zone)
V - VRA
Y - Yield Monitoring
G - Guidance
BA - Basic Auto Steering
AA - Advanced Auto Steering

Definitions

Hz Rate: The Hz (Hertz) rate is often the way receivers are classified depending on how fast the unit can update its position. For example a 10 Hz receiver will update its position 10 times every second.

Positioal Accuracy: The distance (inches, feet) between the latitude and longitude coordinates reported by the GPS receiver and the actual location (latitude, longitude).

Pass-to-Pass Accuracy: The positional accuracy which can be achieved over a few minutes (the time it takes to travel from one end of a field to the other and return). This specification of accuracy is most meaningful when considering swath-width guidance for spraying, planting, combine harvesting, etc.

WAAS: WAAS, formally called the Wide Area Augmentation System, is a correction source designed for the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration). This tool has been put in place to assist aircraft positioning. This type of correction is called "Augmented GPS", which uses a geostationary satellite as a relay station for the broadcast of corrections. For users in the United States the signal is broadcast on two different satellites. East coast satellites number 122 and west coast satellites number 134. Satellite transmission enables this correction source to be transmitted to large geographical regions benefitting many customers with a free correction source. Line of site concerns may have some effect on DGPS accuracy.

Coastgaurd/Beacon: Coast Guard Beacon Correction is a signal based off towers set-up and maintained by the United States Coast Guard. These towers act as both the reference location and the transmission site. The band that is broadcast is similar to an A.M. radio station. A benefit of this type of transmission is its ability to follow the contour of the ground better than higher frequency signals. However, this can allow bad weather, such as thunderstorms, to affect performance of the system. One of the most attractive features of this type of transmission is that it is a free transmission.

Omnistar VBS: OmniSTAR VBS is a "sub-meter" level of service. A typical 24-hour sample of VBS will show a 2-sigma (95%) of significantly less than 1 meter horizontal position error and the 3-sigma (99%) horizontal error will be close to 1 meter. With the OmniSTAR VBS signal you will achieve 6-12” pass-to-pass accuracy.

Omnistar XP: The OmniSTAR XP service will usually have a 2-sigma (95%) horizontal error under 20 centimeters and a 99% horizontal error of less than 15 centimeters. It is particularly useful for Agricultural Machine guidance and many surveying tasks. It operates in real time, and without the need for local Base Stations or telemetry links. OmniSTAR XP is a true advance in the use of GPS for on-the-go precise positioning. With the OmniSTAR XP signal you will achieve 2-4 cm pass-to-pass accuracy.

Omnistar HP: The OmniSTAR HP service will usually have a 2-sigma (95%) horizontal error under 10 centimeters and a 99% horizontal error of less than 15 centimeters. It is particularly useful for Agricultural Machine guidance and many surveying tasks. It operates in real time, and without the need for local Base Stations or telemetry links. OmniSTAR HP is a true advance in the use of GPS for on-the-go precise positioning. With the OmniSTAR HP signal you will achieve 2-4 cm pass-to-pass accuracy.

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