Trimble Launches IonoGuard for RTK GNSS Accuracy

Westminster, Colorado - Trimble Inc., a technology solutions provider, and PTx Trimble., a precision technology company and a joint venture of AGCO and Trimble, have announced the launch of Trimble IonoGuard, a next-generation technology for the precision agriculture industry. Designed to enhance RTK GNSS signal tracking and hardware positioning, IonoGuard improves reliability and accuracy by minimizing signal loss and maintaining integrity during challenging ionospheric conditions.

Solar activity reaches its peak every 11 years, causing ionospheric disturbances like scintillation and signal noise, which can lead to unreliable positioning. Solar Cycle 25, which began in 2024 and is expected to continue through 2026, may bring significant global disruptions. While most people rarely notice these disturbances, high-precision RTK GNSS users in equatorial regions experience frequent impacts year-round, resulting in costly interruptions to agricultural operations.

Mr. Michael Munro, General Manager, Sales and Marketing of Vantage Australia, said, “There was no question when asked if we wanted to test IonoGuard. Knowing we can better weather the next major solar storm with less risk for signal loss and improved signal availability and precision during such a disturbance provides peace of mind knowing we can still get the work done.”

Mr. Andrew Sunderman, Vice President, Product & Customer Experience at PTx Trimble, said, “The solar storm experienced in May 2024 put IonoGuard to the test and, based on feedback from our beta testers like Vantage Australia, demonstrated the value of this technology to enable uninterrupted work in the midst of significant solar activity. We’re extremely proud to offer a solution that truly minimizes this risk by decreasing downtime, reducing costs for the farmer and keeping the agriculture industry up and running all day, every day.”

Trimble IonoGuard is now available on the PTx Trimble NAV-900 guidance controller through the latest PTx Trimble Precision-IQ firmware update. It is also supported by Trimble base stations equipped with the ProPoint GNSS positioning engine, which are sold and distributed by PTx Trimble. When used together, these technologies enable users to achieve optimal RTK performance, ensuring greater accuracy and reliability in precision agriculture applications.