Precision farming specialist Soilessentials has launched a GPS correction service which aims to give farmers the super-accurate guidance of RTK without the need for their own base station.

The EssentialsNet service also claims to be able to offer consistent coverage for areas where signal reliability has been an issue and for large-scale farmers and contractors who need to work some distance from a base station.

EssentialsNet supplies RTK corrections to most brands of RTK receiver throughout the UK over the internet and mobile phone. This works using Soilessentials’ network of base stations which cover a large part of the United Kingdom. Customers can connect to any of the base stations, via the internet and the data channel of a mobile phone, and request an RTK correction stream from a central server.

Licence costs are lower than with existing RTK services, says the company, due to lower support costs, as back-up is provided online.

“The main advantage of EssentialsNet is the reliability of the signal,” says Soilessentials director Jim Wilson. “Unlike a radio signal, EssentialsNet works over the internet and is not affected by the topography of the land, such as shadowing from hills or trees.

“In addition, the set-up costs are relatively low and the system can be easily upgraded, so it is a flexible solution for expanding businesses.”

Prices are £750 a year for the first licence, £650 a year for the second licence and £550 a year for the third licence and so on, down to £250 a year for the sixth user that is connected to EssentialsNet.