Isobus technology is at the core of making data work for precision farming. In this first instalment of our comprehensive test, we dive into the basic functions of Isobus systems from seven tractor brands. Explore the capabilities of these systems and proving their reliability in the field.
As part of a big tractortest, we have tested the Isobus-systems on 7 tractor brands. We tested all functions: from loading screens, programming AUX-buttons and after that we went seeding sugar beets based on an IsoXML-prescription map.
For now, in this first part, we focus only on the basic Isobus-functions. That means operating the implement, in this case, an 18 row Grimme Matrix beetseeder.
The seven brands participating in this test (see also box: about this test)
Claas
Deutz-Fahr
John Deere
Massey Ferguson
McCormick
New Holland
Valtra
Zero to 30 minutes
Let’s start with plugging in the machine for the first time. In the ideal situation, you would hitch up the implement and plug in the Isobus-cable and by the time you are back inside the cab, there is already a pop-up saying that there is a new implement recognized and loaded.
This was the case in most tractors – and in John Deere it first went through a quick questionary about the geometry of the implement of which the data came with the Isobus. In Deutz-Fahr, loading the implement went quick but the screen needed to reboot once. Note, that there is new software coming this summer (Horizon 5), also for existing tractors, and then rebooting is not needed anymore. In Claas, which was mounted with a Trimble-screen, it took the first time around 15 minutes before we could fold the Grimme Matrix and drive away.
And in McCormick (with Topcon-screen) it took around 30 minutes the first time, and again after a long engine stop.
Best option: two screens
About the screens: they all showed the Grimme-user interface well. In Trimble (Claas) and Topcon (McCormick and Deutz-Fahr) you could show both the GPS-screen as well as the Isobus-screen in a comfortable way. In John Deere and New Holland – both can deliver an optional second screen but didn’t have it in test – we switched between the menu’s.
It is though possible in both to customize a screen so, that Isobus is shown very small next to the GPS-screen. Note that John Deere has a new generation screens now (Gen5), in which it would be possible to show both screens better because of a different size. The reason that Claas came with a Trimble-screen, is that we asked for an automatic turn function for on the headland (for a separate article), which is not possible with Claas’ own Cemis 1200-terminal. Keep in mind that the Trimble-option in Claas is being phased out, and you would normally order the tractor with the Cemis 1200-screen for the GPS- and Isobus-functions.
In Massey Ferguson and Valtra (which were both equipped with an optional second screen), we made it so that one showed the GPS, the other the Isobus. Of course, the way Massey Ferguson and Valtra have it (two screens) is the most convenient. Special to mention: Deutz-Fahr has an Xtend-function where you can connect a ‘normal’ tablet via WIFI with the main screen, and use that as a second screen. You can also operate Isobus-machines with it, and take it outside. This function costs € 221, as one time license.
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Easy to programm
Next step: programming the implement controls to the physical buttons on the tractor. In the ideal situation, you would go to the menu where you normally assign the remote valves or other tractor functions to the buttons, and select there also the Isobus-functions. And, after mounting the implement again later, it would remember all its assignments. John Deere does this the best. You go the ‘Work Setup’-page where you do the normal assignments and with the Grimme attached, you can choose between tractor functions and Isobus-functions.
Note, that when you want to use all functions on the driving lever (also buttons ‘A’ to ‘D’), you need to go in the deeper menu to switch on ‘Independent mode’ for these. If you don’t do that, there is only nr. 10, 11 and 12 available on the driving lever. Also in Valtra, you basically use the ‘normal’ assignments screen to select Isobus-functions, although there is less possibilities – 15 buttons available of which 5 in driving lever, compared to 21 buttons in John Deere and 11 on driving lever.
Old way of programming buttons
In all the other tractors, you do the assignments in an separate Isobus-menu, where it feels like old fashioned programming: select the button, select the machine, select the function, and save. Next. But it does work. Note, that in Deutz-Fahr you need to activate Aux-N every time. In McCormick you first assign buttons into Isobus via the ‘Myfunctions’-menu and then assign the actual Isobus-function inside the Isobus-menu. And in Claas we somehow managed to put both an tractor function and an Isobus-function at the same time to the F2-button. We could not test if it actually controlled two functions at once, since the Matrix is officially not made for operating via AUX-N.
In all tractors, it is nowadays possible to mix tractor functions and Isobus functions together on the different buttons on the driving lever, which is great.
We checked if the tractor remembered the AUX-assignments after dismounting the implement and after restarting the engine. This works for all tractors, but only in McCormick we lost the assignments some times. It seems to help to change a (non-Isobus) function and save the settings in the MyFunctions-menu before you start to work, because that seams to also bring back the earlier assigned Isobus-functions.
In a next article we will dive into seeding according to a prescription map, and the errors we went through.
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