Drilling and planting
Set out straight, consistent passes and return to saved guidance where the job requires it. Check the drill width, working offset and steering calibration as carefully as the correction signal.
What is RTK farming?
RTK farming uses high-precision satellite positioning to guide compatible agricultural machinery. RTK stands for Real-Time Kinematic. Corrections from a fixed reference station or network help a suitable GNSS receiver calculate its position more precisely than satellite signals alone.
For a farm, the aim is practical: consistent guidance lines, accurate passes and a system you can return to throughout the working season. The correction service works alongside the tractor’s receiver, display and steering equipment; buying corrections alone does not add autosteer to a tractor.
ESA’s RTK fundamentals guide explains the positioning principle. Our guide to how tractor RTK and NTRIP work shows the connection from base to tractor in three steps.
Where precision guidance helps on the farm
Spraying and spreading
Consistent guidance helps operators follow planned tracks. Section control and application-rate control are separate functions: confirm what your equipment supports before expecting the correction service to manage them.
Bed forming and row work
Repeatable positioning matters when later operations need to line up with earlier work. Plan the reference position, guidance lines and implement setup as one system.
Controlled traffic and mixed fleets
Work towards repeatable travel paths and shared field plans across compatible machinery. Common coordinates, implement widths and the transfer of saved guidance data need checking when machines differ.
These are planning examples, not a promise of a fixed saving or a particular result. Oklahoma State University’s agricultural GPS guidance guide discusses matching accuracy to the field operation.
RTK for seed and fertiliser application control
For real agricultural machinery, RTK supplies precise positioning. A compatible drill, planter or spreader controller uses position alongside its own settings to manage the application. An RTK subscription alone does not switch sections or set seed and fertiliser rates.
- Guidance: the tractor follows the planned passes.
- Section control: compatible equipment turns sections on and off using position, coverage and boundary information.
- Variable-rate control: compatible implement equipment changes the application rate using the supported prescription or control system.
Check implement compatibility, activations, working widths, offsets and on/off delays with your equipment supplier. RTK Solutions supplies corrections for suitable receivers across agricultural brands. John Deere’s section-control guide explains how positioning and implement settings work together.
Two ways to connect your farm
RTK Solutions is an independent UK provider of precision RTK GPS and GNSS systems. Choose a farm-owned base for shared infrastructure, or Base-Free RTK when an annual licence for one tractor is the better fit.
Your own farm RTK base
£2,995 + VAT including the base and year one. From year two, managed network access is £199 + VAT per farm base per year for multiple compatible machines.
Our UK-built base combines industrial GNSS technology, integrated software and backup power and connectivity. We remotely configure and calibrate the installed base and provide monitoring and support. Serviceable hardware and available spares support long-term ownership.
Base-Free RTK
£400 + VAT per tractor per year. One compatible tractor receives NTRIP corrections without installing a base on the farm.
This can suit a single tractor, mobile work or a lower initial commitment. UK-wide and supported European coverage must be checked for the intended working area. A free trial is available before annual commitment.
These prices cover the stated RTK Solutions packages. Allow separately for any receiver unlock, modem, mobile data, steering equipment or installation work your existing setup needs. Check RTK subscription costs and what is included, compare both packages or use our five-year cost comparison for four compatible tractors.
Accuracy is about the complete system
RTK can provide centimetre-level positioning in suitable conditions. That does not mean every implement will follow a line to the same tolerance. Satellite visibility, correction quality, calibration, antenna offsets, terrain and the implement all affect the field result.
Pass-to-pass accuracy describes consistency between nearby passes; repeatability concerns returning to the same position later. Ask about both when comparing guidance systems. Read our RTK farming accuracy and repeatability guide before choosing on a headline number alone.
RTK GPS for your tractor: what you need
- An RTK-capable GNSS receiver with any required manufacturer unlocks.
- A compatible correction format and NTRIP connection through the display, receiver or modem.
- Reliable internet data while working for the NTRIP service.
- Correct machine setup, including antenna position, steering calibration and implement settings.
A tractor badge alone does not confirm compatibility. Send the receiver and display details you already have. Our equipment compatibility guides cover common agricultural brands, and the NTRIP setup guide explains the connection requirements.
Do I need an RTK repeater?
A radio repeater relays a base station’s correction signal. Our NTRIP service delivers corrections over the internet, so a radio repeater is not required for that connection. The tractor still needs reliable mobile data and satellite visibility. Compare an RTK repeater with NTRIP corrections.
Choose for the work you actually do
Start with your machines, field locations and the jobs where repeatable guidance matters. Several compatible tractors working mainly around one farm may suit a local base. A single tractor or work across changing locations may suit Base-Free RTK. We check the working area and equipment before recommending either option.
Compare the complete cost over the seasons you intend to use the system, including support and additional machines. A high-quality base with a clear service arrangement is a long-term investment; the lowest initial hardware price does not describe the whole system.
Common RTK farming questions
Do I need my own base station?
No. A farm-owned base is one option. Base-Free RTK uses existing reference-station infrastructure, with one annual licence for each compatible tractor.
Will RTK make any GPS tractor steer itself?
No. The tractor needs a suitable receiver, steering system and setup. RTK corrections improve positioning; they do not replace the steering hardware or manufacturer unlocks.
Can several tractor brands use the same service?
Yes, where their receivers support the required RTK corrections and connection. We check each machine’s receiver, unlocks and correction format before supply.
Does RTK control seed and fertiliser application?
RTK provides positioning for compatible agricultural equipment. Section switching and variable-rate application need suitable implement controllers, software, activations and calibration. RTK Solutions supplies the corrections; the machine and implement control the application.
Can I keep my existing guidance lines?
Tell us before changing the correction source or base configuration. We review the existing reference and setup so the transition can be planned. Do not assume a change will automatically preserve every saved line.
Plan precision guidance around your farm
Send your farm location, number of machines, receiver and display details, and the work you want to improve. We’ll help you choose a suitable setup.