July 2024 Update

The 2024 planting season went pretty well. I've sold somwhere around 100 systems now. I received more calls with questions with several having minor probems related to low batteries on tractors and loose wires. Having more units being used, I got more calls for help getting the tablets to connect to the control boxes. I also learned that the problems relating to seed coming out at high populations and units showing planting even when stopped are caused by faulty seed sensors pulling the supply voltage to the sensors down. I did get several very positive comments and happened onto farmers comments about my systems on farmer forums.

Significant improvements:
- I fixed an odd problem causing row 10 to show a few random false doubles. Why hadn't any of you farmers told me about that? I saw it on a facebook video the same day as I saw it while testing on my workbench!
- Major improvement: I made changes to the Bluetooth connection so the tablet connects to the control box quicker and will reconnect easily 95% of the time without having to shut either the tablet or the control box off (you don't even have to stop the app).
- I added a new screen for Speed vs. Performance testing. You can test for singulation, skips, doubles, and seeds within 1" of proper spacing at four different speeds (or more).
- I improved the harness test screen to work better.
- By the end of the summer I will add LED lights to my circuit board design to indicate low tractor batteries, loose wires, and bad seed sensors.
- I am working on a pick and place robot to place chips on my circuit boards.
- I added a warning when you plant 3 mph faster than your target speed (doing this affects how many skips and doubles show).
- I created "written" documentation of the basic planter app explaining every screen.

General stuff:
- As always, I have a money back guarantee if you are not satisfied with the monitor.
- All of my systems are tested here using a planter simulator running at 200,000 seeds /acre at 5 mph for 16 rows.
- All systems have built in diagnostics to insure it doesn't drop data (diagnostics indicator is on the main screen).
- The new reflow solder oven last year is working very well for soldering surface mounted chips at optimum temperatures.
- The NEW harness tester this spring helped a few farmers diagnose harness and seed sensor problems. (Its LED lights if you have 11+ volts and sends a signal on the sensor wire that acts like the planter is planting 30,000 seeds at 5mph.
- Please continue to use the harness test screen to verify your seed sensors and harness are good.

Control boxes include:
    * Systems now have a single printed circuit board (PCB) with the microprocessor mounted directly to it. LEDs were added for more diagnostics.
    * I've beefed up the filter for the incoming 12V that powers the PCB in case the tractor voltage has spikes or uneven voltage.
    * I've added a voltage filter to the 8V that powers the seed sensors.
    * A new voltage regulator that is rated at 15 amps was added in 2024 (up from 10).
    * The new microprocessor is significantly faster than the previous version (even though the old one was fast enough for a 32 row planter).
    * Control boxes for 2025 have software changes that are not compatible with 2024 apps. But all older control boxes can be upgraded to use the 2025 apps.
    * The cost has gone up again for 2025.
    * I created 2 32-row systems for farmers. Pricing has still not been determined.