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Header Height Sensor

Introducing a new product to the FarmTRX harvest monitoring suite, the Header Height Sensor.

The Header Height Sensor significantly improves the in-cab calculation of harvested area and provides real-time cut height feedback to the operator.

Header Height Sensor
Sensor Diagram

How It Works

The Sensor uses two inertial measurement units (IMU) to determine its orientation relative to the ground.
A Master sensor (Sensor A) is mounted to the combine frame and a Remote sensor (Sensor B) is mounted to the feeder house, allowing for accurate header height results whether the combine is harvesting uphill, downhill or tilted on sidehills.

Why Add the Header Height Sensor?

The Header Height Sensor is a low-cost add-on component that delivers better in-field area accuracy at harvest.
Addition of the Header Height Sensor greatly improves on-the-go yield calculations, especially in smaller, irregular shaped fields with many turns.
Cut height (2-3 cm accuracy) is displayed on the Live Harvesting Screen of the FarmTRX mobile app.

FarmTRX App Screenshot
Harvester

Tired of wrestling with the factory monitor? FarmTRX is an affordable, retrofit yield monitor that installs on any combine with a clean grain elevator.

HOW IT WORKS

Installation—FarmTRX sensors use optical technology to measure grain volume in the elevator. Installation of the system is a 2–4 hour process completed by the end-user.

Harvest—Once powered, yield data collection on the combine is fully automated. The monitor is always recording relative yield difference during harvest.

Sync—Data transfer from the yield monitor is completely wireless. Sync data from the ECU to your mobile device using the free FarmTRX app and upload over WiFi or by using mobile data.

Review—Evaluate yield data online with multiple map types and reports. The Web App automatically sorts, cleans and corrects yield data and processes it into agronomy-ready yield maps. If you don’t want maps, access to your raw yield data is free and unlimited.

COMPONENTS

  1. 1. Yield Monitor ECU
  2. 2. Moisture Sensor
  3. 3. Drill Guide, Bits and Extension
  4. 4. Optical Sensors and QuickConnect™ Mounting System
  5. 5. External Antenna
  6. 6. FarmTRX Display with charging station and mount

Included, Not Pictured:

  • Electrical T-Splice Connectors
  • Zip Ties
  • CAN capable wiring and harnesses
FarmTRX Component Specs 1
FarmTRX Component Specs 2

External Antenna—The external antenna is connected to the Yield Monitor via an SMA connector and mounts on the roof of the cab in the centerline of the combine.

Yield Monitor ECU—The Yield Monitor installs in the cab of the combine and needs to be wired into switched 12V power.

Wiring Harness—CAN capable wiring connects the Yield Monitor in the cab to the optical sensors and Moisture Sensor installed on the clean grain elevator.

Optical Sensors—QuickConnect™ mounting technology allows the installer to quickly and easily drill holes of equal height on the clean grain elevator for correct installation of the optical sensors.

Moisture Sensor—The Moisture Sensor installs on the elevator clean-out hatch door and records live and average grain moisture.

FarmTRX Yield Monitor Overview

YIELD MONITOR—HOW IT WORKS

A transmitter and receiver sensor are installed across from each other on the up-side of the clean grain elevator. An optical beam is transmitted between them. Sensor blocked time is used to measure yield volume during harvest.

SENSOR AND CROP CALIBRATION

Perform a pre-harvest sensor calibration to measure the elevator paddle width of the combine. During harvest, perform a crop calibration for each new crop type using a volume or weight measurement.

Yield Monitor Sensor Detail

The FarmTRX system uses optical sensing technology to track grain flow in real time. The sensors are mounted on the clean grain elevator and calibrated to match the paddle width and crop type. This ensures accurate yield data collection throughout harvest.

Moisture Sensor Overview

MOISTURE SENSOR INSTALLATION

The Moisture Sensor features an ultra-durable ceramic sensor face and stainless steel flange. It installs in the hatch door of the clean grain elevator where grain flow is consistent without buildup. The Moisture Sensor is powered by the Yield Monitor and delivers instant and average moisture measurements viewable in the mobile app during harvest.

Designed for durability and precision, the Moisture Sensor integrates seamlessly with the FarmTRX system. Its placement ensures consistent readings, and its data is instantly accessible via the mobile app—helping farmers make real-time decisions during harvest.

Moisture Sensor Detail
FarmTRX App Setup FarmTRX Monitor Connection

SETTING UP THE IN-CAB EXPERIENCE

  1. Install the FarmTRX Harvest App on Your Mobile Device or FarmTRX Tablet: The app is available for Android or iOS devices. Verify that your smartphone or tablet is up-to-date and compatible.
  2. Connect Your Device to the Yield Monitor: Connect to the Yield Monitor via Bluetooth® in the mobile app. The LED on the monitor will flash blue during connection and green once connection is successful.
  3. Add Headers, Crops and Calibrate Sensors: Calibrate sensors once per season or after performing elevator maintenance.
  4. Harvest: Begin harvesting! Yield data is recorded by the Yield Monitor and displayed through the mobile app. To get accurate live yield readings in the cab, calibrate once per crop type or variety. If calibration cannot be completed in-field during harvest, yield data will still be recorded and can be calibrated through the Web App post-harvest.
  5. Upload Yield Data and Sync to the Web App: Sync yield data from the ECU to your device, and upload to the Web App wirelessly over WiFi or cellular data. Maps are processed in the Web App immediately after upload!

AUTOMATED YIELD MAPPING

Automated yield data correction and map processing is included for every customer for the first year after initial purchase. After one year, the farmer chooses whether to renew automated mapping or use the free version. The cost to renew is based on the number of harvested acres in the account and is paid annually.

Yield Map 1 Yield Map 2 Yield Map 3

Raw Yield Points, Trend of Yield Map and Swath Map (soybean field)

Yield Monitor Pro

Introducing the next generation of Yield Monitor

The PRO features a suite of design and processing improvements, including:

  • Updated GPS module leveraging the latest in free satellite space-based corrections with global coverage and no set-up required
  • Design improvements for increased ruggedness
  • Faster processing to support multi-platform integrations
Yield Monitor Pro Intro
Hardware Upgrades

Hardware Upgrades

  • Featuring a survey-grade, harsh environment GPS antenna
  • Multi CAN channels to record engine and/or implement bus data (example, fuel burn and engine load)
  • 4 RGB LEDs to simplify system diagnostics and improve system feedback
  • Ruggedized dustproof and waterproof IP67 enclosure (installation outside of the cab now possible)

Technical Upgrades

  • Multi-band L1/L2/L5 GPS module that uses Precise Point Positioning (HAS, B2b) to provide 5 cm horizontal accuracy
  • Equipped with 4G cellular modem for real-time data sync to the Web App
  • Faster Bluetooth® LE (improved file transfer speed)
  • Increased processing power and RAM
Technical Upgrades

Harvest Pass GPS Accuracy

What’s changed from Yield Monitor Plus+ to Pro?

Plus+
Pro
Positional Accuracy
Sub-meter DGPS in SBAS regions (North America/Europe), 20 cm accuracy with RTK
5 cm horizontal accuracy, 10 cm vertical accuracy using free PPP satellite correction with global coverage
0.8 cm horizontal and 1.5 cm vertical accuracy using RTK
Wireless Connectivity
Bluetooth® 4.2
Bluetooth® 5
4G cellular
Roadmap allows for future remote configuration, automatic data syncing from ECU to the cloud, real-time monitoring in cloud
Integrations
1 CAN channel for output of position/yield/moisture values
3 CAN channels
Roadmap allows for ability to connect to engine/implement CANbus, task controller software to display yield in factory (OEM) display
Antenna
Triple band patch antenna
VHB mount
Triple band survey-grade antenna
Magnetic mount
Ruggedized housing
High phase center stability
Higher gain and beam width for tracking low elevation satellites
Anti-interference performance
Robust RG58 TNC wire
Processor
Expanded IO and 5X the RAM of previous generation Yield Monitor
Enclosure
Single LED
Not dust/waterproof
Installation inside the cab required
4 status LEDs
Dustproof/waterproof
Installation available outside of the cab

Roadmap

Future developments coming to the Yield Monitor Pro:

  • Live yield mapping — Real-time, colour-themed yield maps viewable in the FarmTRX mobile app.
  • Background data sync and remote configuration with 4G SIM — Removes manual data upload process through the mobile app.
  • Digital elevation maps — Elevation map layer available in the Web App for comparing and identifying effects of elevation on yield performance.
  • Partial swath detection — Automatic detection and correction of partial rows.