If the GPS system in use on your farm relies on a WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) signal, then be aware there will be an outage right in the middle of spring seeding this year.
The United States’ Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which administers the civilian-use GPS network, plans to switch WAAS GEO 6 (S15 – PRN 133) from regular operation into “test” mode beginning May 13. That satellite will remain out of service until June 7.
However, the other two WAAS satellites, 131 and 135, will be functioning during that time. So producers will still be able to find a signal.
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This planned outage is one of an ongoing series of WAAS satellites going offline over the past while, according to a statement in the FAA’s most recent quarterly service performance analysis report.
“During this reporting period (Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, 2023) there were eight reported outages. Eight outages were maintenance activities and were reported in advance, and there were no unscheduled outages … The minimum duration of a scheduled outage forecasted ahead of time was 139.2 hours.”
A WAAS signal has been available to producers at no cost since GPS auto-guidance first became common in agriculture — but the technical capabilities offered in today’s equipment can no longer be fully exploited with just a WAAS signal.
“WAAS is technically rated as a sub-metre signal.,” says Matt Yanick, owner of My Precision Ag at Rocanville, Sask. “I always say it’s free for a reason. It’s been an option for many years since the start of auto-steer, but many farms have outgrown that.”
And the accuracy available to western Canadian growers from a WAAS signal is no longer quite as good as it once was.
“For years it’s been good enough for broad-acre farming,” Yanick adds, “but with WAAS 138 satellite shutting down a couple of years ago, the reference satellites we have to use now are further in the south. So the signal quality is not as good as it once was.
“The guys that are further north in Western Canada are struggling with it more than anyone. They’re that much further away from the reference satellites.”
Time to switch up?
While WAAS remains relatively popular with many broad acre growers, it won’t provide the kind of accuracy that will allow a sprayer to follow in the same wheel tracks, for example.
With other options available, is it time for producers to consider upgrading to a more accurate and more reliable option?
Yanick thinks those who use receivers capable of handling upgraded signals ought to consider it — and he’s often surprised to see farmers operating new equipment still using the WAAS signal.
“In my opinion the more accuracy you can have on a piece of machinery on your farm, the more accurate every application is, the less issues you have as well. You’re not fighting drift or other issues that might occur from drift. You’re not having issues with section control. You’re not having misses on your pass-to-pass. You can make more accurate boundaries with a better signal. Your VR maps are more accurate.”
Signal outages with upgraded systems are likely to be less frequent and be of a shorter duration than what WAAS users have experienced.
“The odd outage may occur,” Yanick says, “but they’re very short-term. It’s always possible, but it’s not like with WAAS. There seems to be something every year now. And they’re long, extended periods of time.”
