Question 1

What tablets are supported on Grass Guide?

Accepted Answer

Grass Guide is based on the Android mobile operating system, and to reduce the burden (and cost) of testing and supporting the very large number of available variants, we only support a small range of tablets, all of which to date have been Samsung.

If you need to replace your tablet, and want to buy it from a different supplier (which, of course, you may do) then make sure to check it is a supported model.

The model currently being shipped is the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite 32gb Wifi - known as SM-T220

Note that currently this model will only work with the new Novatel SMART2 GPS receiver.

For tablets compatible with the older Novatel AgStar receiver, the supported tablet is the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8" known as SM-T290

Question 2

Cannot find the Grass Guide app on the tablet?

Accepted Answer

When the Grass Guide system is shipped (or if you buy a replacement tablet from Sixty-5 Technologies), the app will be pre-installed and placed on the tablet home screen - a green icon with the numbers 65 on the front and Sixty-5 below.

It may be that the app has been moved off the home screen, in which case swipe up from the bottom of the home screen (or from the bottom left, depending on the tablet) to reveal all the apps installed on the tablet, and swipe left or right to reveal more if there are too many for a single screen).

If found, tap it to start the app as usual.

You may also move it to the home screen by pressing a holding your finger on the app icon (know as a long press) and then dragging it across screens to the home screen.

Search on Google for more detail on how to do this.

If the app isn't installed, then find the MyFiles app that comes with the tablet and open it. Look for the Downloads folder and in it you should see the original download of the app - it will have different names depending on variants etc, but will be something like: app-release.apk, GG4-v4.0.3-release.apk etc.

Tap on it and follow the instructions to install. You will then be prompted to re-register (see questions under App).

Question 3

How do I register the app?

Accepted Answer

When Grass Guide is first registered (by the customer or the dealer for you) an online account is created based on the email address used and the licence key supplied in the box. You should receive an email with instructions on how to access your online account. So normally you shouldn't need to register a new system.

The tablet needs to be connected to wifi to be registered.

If you re-register the app (for instance if you have replaced the tablet), then you will need to use that initial email address and your original licence key, because they have to match with the original account. Simply use those to re-register and you'll be back in action as before.

Contact support@sixty-5.com if you don't know the original email address or cannot find your original licence key - if you can supply the serial number of the GPS receiver (found on the underside) or the serial number of the tablet (found sometimes on the back of the tablet or else under Settings..About tablet) then that can help locate your account details.

Question 4

How do I update the Grass Guide app?

Accepted Answer

There are different variants of Grass Guide app as follows, depending on the tablet type (and version of the Android operating system).

Version 2.x.x (eg v2.3.1) - on the earlier Samsung Tab A 7" tablets
Version 3.x.x (eg v3.0.4) - on the variant supplied through Farmlands in NZ (now discontinued)
Version 4.x.x (eg v4.0.3) - on the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8" (SM-T290)
Version 5.x.x (eg v5.0.2) - on the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite (SM-T220)

On earlier versions, on the Grass Guide app, go to Settings and tap the Updates button. On later versions, the Check for Updates button is on the Grass Guide app home page. If a newer version is available it will download and in most versions will install (later versions may require a manual install by finding the download in the MyFiles..Downloads folder and tapping it to install)

Contact support@sixty-5.com if you have any problems.

Question 5

What receivers are used?

Accepted Answer

Grass Guide will work with:

Leica Smart-Ag (this is used on old Leica MojoMini systems, so the Grass Guide Screen Kit is an ideal replacement)

Novatel AgStar (now end of line but still working well)

Novatel SMART2

Note that there are some issues with bluetooth connectivity between the latest Samsung tablet (the A7 Lite) and the AgStar receivers. This is being investigated and is only a problem when replacing a tablet to be used on the AgStar.

Question 6

What lights should be on?

Accepted Answer

There are 3 lights on the AgStar and older SmartAg receivers - the bottom red light is power (12V) which should always be on when power is applied.

The middle, yellow, light should come on shortly after power-up and start flashing as the receiver searches for a sufficient number of satellites, and then go static when it has - in which case the receiver is ready to go.

The top, green, light relates to the (more accurate) SBAS connection and will flash when looking and become static when found (SBAS tracking is set in the receiver configuration and won't always be on - it isnt needed for receiver operation)

Question 7

How is the GPS receiver configured?

Accepted Answer

The receivers are capable of a wide variety of functions, and these are set in a configuration file that is sent to the receiver. This is done before your Grass Guide system is shipped.

This file can be re-sent or edited from within the Engineering Settings on the Grass Guide app, but it is best to contact support@sixty-5.com if you think this is needed.

Question 8

The yellow light on the receiver doesn't stop flashing.

Accepted Answer

The yellow light may continue to flash for a few minutes until it locates enough satellites to work - and the length of time varies.

To locate satellites (and to function correctly) the receiver must have a clear view of the sky - so don't be in a barn or beside buildings or tall trees.

If the problem persists, it may point to a faulty receiver, which can be returned to Sixty-5 Technologies for inspection.

Question 9

How do I pair the GPS receiver?

Accepted Answer

On earlier versions of Grass Guide (v2.x.x) bluetooth pairing was done within the Grass Guide app itself, and so tapping the Guidance button started the bluetooth 'discovery' process.

On version 4 and after, the receiver is paired outside of the Grass Guide app, via the tablet Settings itself, and shown on the Grass Guide app home screen.

The pairing code for AgStar and SmartAg receivers is 0000.

For SMART2 receivers, no code is required during pairing.

Question 10

How do I send jobs to the online account?

Accepted Answer

Within the Grass Guide app, tap the Files tab and you will see a list of all the job files stored on the tablet.

Connect to wifi and tap the 'Tap to start file transfer' button.

This should send all the files up.

Too many files left on the tablet could fill the storage space and cause the app to crash, so make sure and send them up periodically.

Question 11

I cannot see the blue sprayed area when I'm driving?

Accepted Answer

If you can't see the blue sprayed area behind the steering wheel on the app 'run screen', it may be that you have set the depth value on the sprayer setup too high.

On the sprayer setup screen (before each job can start) it is easiest to just set the sprayer width value, and to leave offset and depth at zero. These last two are used if more precise recording is needed but for most use cases should be zero.

The steering wheel on the app is in a fixed position, so too much of a depth setting will cause the blue sprayed area to be added off the screen. It is still being applied, though, but just not visible behind the wheel.

Grass-Guide Product FAQ