OneSoil Modem: How To Get Data From Machinery Quickly and Easily
Reading time — 6 minutes
Stop burning gasoline and running after tractors with a set of flash drives.
Running a farm means collecting and analyzing data, at the very least, yield figures. But obtaining information from some types of equipment takes days and a lot of effort from specialized workers. Moreover, if an agronomist doesn’t promptly receive data from equipment during the high season, they won’t have time to adjust the details of field operations. This will result in a decrease in productivity and profit. Why? Because the data from the tractor has to be transferred to a USB flash drive.
The OneSoil modem solves this problem. It's a very intuitive device: it sends data from agricultural equipment to the free OneSoil web app and vice versa. Data can be easily downloaded and opened in GIS programs. The OneSoil modem is small (10×10×2 cm), inexpensive (cheaper than wasted gas), and attaches to any metal surface in the cab. You can buy the device as part of the OneSoil Yield project.
This article explores the modem and gives examples from the real-world experience of farmers who have already dealt with the issue of data transmission.
Why farmers need a modem for agricultural machinery
Which field operations require a modem
Is it difficult to train operators to work with modems?
How to analyze data from machinery
How else can the modem be used?
✨ New: 4G modem with global GSM module
This article explores the modem and gives examples from the real-world experience of farmers who have already dealt with the issue of data transmission.
Why farmers need a modem for agricultural machinery
Which field operations require a modem
Is it difficult to train operators to work with modems?
How to analyze data from machinery
How else can the modem be used?
✨ New: 4G modem with global GSM module
Why farmers need a modem for agricultural machinery
The OneSoil modem's main function is to transfer data from equipment to a single platform, the free OneSoil web app.
Many agricultural machinery manufacturers have their own cloud systems but often they aren't integrated with each other. For example, if your fleet has John Deere, Frendt, and New Holland equipment, it'll be difficult to collect data on a single platform. You'll have to buy subscriptions from each manufacturer and work with different interfaces. What if the equipment doesn't send data online? Then the farmer has to go to the fields, look for tractors, stop the equipment, insert flash drives, wait for the data to download, take the flash drive to the office, connect it to a computer, and only then analyze the information. This process can be reduced to a couple of hours and save you money.
Many agricultural machinery manufacturers have their own cloud systems but often they aren't integrated with each other. For example, if your fleet has John Deere, Frendt, and New Holland equipment, it'll be difficult to collect data on a single platform. You'll have to buy subscriptions from each manufacturer and work with different interfaces. What if the equipment doesn't send data online? Then the farmer has to go to the fields, look for tractors, stop the equipment, insert flash drives, wait for the data to download, take the flash drive to the office, connect it to a computer, and only then analyze the information. This process can be reduced to a couple of hours and save you money.
- MiroslavHead of Precision Agriculture Department, IMC, 120,000 haWe had already purchased one program for exchanging data from an agricultural machinery manufacturer, but there was a problem. During field operations, the data should have been transferred in a flash, but instead, it was lost. The product cost a lot of money, so we ended up ditching it. OneSoil suggested that we test their modems, and in the fall of 2021, we already had a few. We successfully tested them on the TMX 2050 and GFX 750.
- JiriFarmer, Czech Republic, 2,000 haWe use the OneSoil modem on old equipment: one sprayer and two Quadtrac tractors with Trimble GFX-750 and CASE IH Raven AFS Pro 700. The modem saves us time.
- SergeyHead of the service group for the northern region of Ukraine, MHP, 370,000 haPreviously, we had to chase each tractor to collect and catalog the data on the server. We don’t do that anymore since we have the OneSoil modem.
- MiroslavHead of Precision Agriculture Department, IMC, 120,000 haWe had already purchased one program for exchanging data from an agricultural machinery manufacturer, but there was a problem. During field operations, the data should have been transferred in a flash, but instead, it was lost. The product cost a lot of money, so we ended up ditching it. OneSoil suggested that we test their modems, and in the fall of 2021, we already had a few. We successfully tested them on the TMX 2050 and GFX 750.
- JiriFarmer, Czech Republic, 2,000 haWe use the OneSoil modem on old equipment: one sprayer and two Quadtrac tractors with Trimble GFX-750 and CASE IH Raven AFS Pro 700. The modem saves us time.
- SergeyHead of the service group for the northern region of Ukraine, MHP, 370,000 haPreviously, we had to chase each tractor to collect and catalog the data on the server. We don’t do that anymore since we have the OneSoil modem.
Which field operations require a modem
Planting, fertilizing, and harvesting. The modem can send data to and from equipment. You can create a prescription map for fertilizer application in the OneSoil web app and send it to the tractor.
- SergeyHead of the service group for the northern region of Ukraine, MHP, 370,000 haWe receive and analyze data after planting, mineral fertilizer application, and yield mapping. Previously, we received files after a delay, but now we have them within an hour or two after completing a field operation. So, now we can respond to them faster. For example, we saw that one piece of equipment wasn’t maintaining the application rate properly. Thanks to the modem, we quickly identified this problem in real-time and fixed it.
- MiroslavHead of Precision Agriculture Department, IMC, 120,000 haIn 2021, we would receive data from equipment and send prescription maps to it for variable-rate fertilizer application. It would go something like this. We send a file from the office, and either an agronomist responsible for the operation of a tractor with a spreader or an operator would receive it via the modem. After fertilization, the operator would send the fieldwork data via the modem, and we analyzed it at the office. We also want to test the modem on self-propelled sprayers, tractors with precision seeders, and combines.
- SergeyHead of the service group for the northern region of Ukraine, MHP, 370,000 haWe receive and analyze data after planting, mineral fertilizer application, and yield mapping. Previously, we received files after a delay, but now we have them within an hour or two after completing a field operation. So, now we can respond to them faster. For example, we saw that one piece of equipment wasn’t maintaining the application rate properly. Thanks to the modem, we quickly identified this problem in real-time and fixed it.
- MiroslavHead of Precision Agriculture Department, IMC, 120,000 haIn 2021, we would receive data from equipment and send prescription maps to it for variable-rate fertilizer application. It would go something like this. We send a file from the office, and either an agronomist responsible for the operation of a tractor with a spreader or an operator would receive it via the modem. After fertilization, the operator would send the fieldwork data via the modem, and we analyzed it at the office. We also want to test the modem on self-propelled sprayers, tractors with precision seeders, and combines.
Is it difficult to train operators to work with modems?
The record shows that it’s sufficient to demonstrate a couple of times where to click. After that, sending files after field operations will become second nature.
- MiroslavHead of Precision Agriculture Department, IMC, 120,000 haWe trained two groups of tractor operators to work with the modems. When the operator finishes working in the field, he sends the data to the modem, presses the 'Submit' button, and everything is synchronized with the OneSoil platform. We receive up-to-date data every day.
- MiroslavHead of Precision Agriculture Department, IMC, 120,000 haWe trained two groups of tractor operators to work with the modems. When the operator finishes working in the field, he sends the data to the modem, presses the 'Submit' button, and everything is synchronized with the OneSoil platform. We receive up-to-date data every day.
How to analyze data from machinery
By default, tractor files are sent to the OneSoil web app in the universal shape format. You can analyze them directly on our platform or open them in other GIS programs and store them on your servers. We can also set up the modem to send data directly to your server.
If you have a lot of equipment with different field computers and it's difficult to analyze completed fieldwork, the OneSoil modem is the answer. It works with all field computers and brings the data into a uniform format.
If you have a lot of equipment with different field computers and it's difficult to analyze completed fieldwork, the OneSoil modem is the answer. It works with all field computers and brings the data into a uniform format.
- SergeyHead of the service group for the northern region of Ukraine, MHP, 370,000 haThe modem sent data to the OneSoil platform. I downloaded it and viewed it on my computer in the GIS program. We then agreed with OneSoil to have our files immediately sent to the server via the API.
- SergeyHead of the service group for the northern region of Ukraine, MHP, 370,000 haThe modem sent data to the OneSoil platform. I downloaded it and viewed it on my computer in the GIS program. We then agreed with OneSoil to have our files immediately sent to the server via the API.
How else can the modem be used?
The modem can be put on each piece of equipment to compare the effectiveness of their work.
- SergeyHead of the service group for the northern region of Ukraine, MHP, 370,000 haWe have installed modems on both our own sprayers and rented ones. We received data on completed operations, and the agronomist compared the quality. It turned out that the operator on the rented sprayer did a very poor job on 80 hectares, while ours performed way better. In this case, the modem helped to quickly see the problem and influence the company that provided the operator.
- Matvey SidorinOneSoilIn all countries where equipment rental is common (including Ukraine), transferring data is a problem. The terminals of rented equipment either have no possibility to remotely transfer data, or they do it through different products. If your rental fleet isn’t from one brand, you’ll have to work with different data synchronization software. And even then, only if the lender provides such an opportunity.
- SergeyHead of the service group for the northern region of Ukraine, MHP, 370,000 haWe have installed modems on both our own sprayers and rented ones. We received data on completed operations, and the agronomist compared the quality. It turned out that the operator on the rented sprayer did a very poor job on 80 hectares, while ours performed way better. In this case, the modem helped to quickly see the problem and influence the company that provided the operator.
- Matvey SidorinOneSoilIn all countries where equipment rental is common (including Ukraine), transferring data is a problem. The terminals of rented equipment either have no possibility to remotely transfer data, or they do it through different products. If your rental fleet isn’t from one brand, you’ll have to work with different data synchronization software. And even then, only if the lender provides such an opportunity.
The OneSoil modem makes this process as easy as possible. In just two steps, you can get data on a single platform, analyze it, and make the right management decisions.
New: 4G modem with global GSM module
- The modem is now five times faster. If the connection is stable, it sends 100 MB in 10−15 minutes
- It supports 2G, 3G, and 4G
- and now works worldwide.
We are open to B2B cooperation. If your company wants to discover the modem's potential, please get in touch with us.
If you want to discuss this article and share your own experience, please join our Telegram community!
OneSoil
More Articles
People, fields and technology
Get all new articles straight to your inbox! You can read them even in the field.