RTK GPS Autosteer Hardware Kit Cost Explained
If you want one clean number for an rtk gps autosteer hardware kit cost, we owe you the honest answer up front: there isn't a single all-inclusive figure that fits every farm. What we can publish is a firm anchor. As of August 2026, our open ECU controller board is priced at EUR 1,490 excluding VAT, and everything else in a working autosteer stack is configured per tractor. That means the ECU is a fixed starting point, while receiver, corrections, steering interface, connectivity, and installation are costed against your specific machine and workflow.
The reason is structural, not evasive. We build autosteer as a stack of separate layers rather than a sealed box, so the total depends on what you already own and what your tractor needs. Below we break down the published price, what it does and does not cover, the six drivers that move the total, and the exact details we need to turn EUR 1,490 into a real per-tractor quote.
Table of contents
- • Why there is no single kit price
- • The published ECU anchor price, August 2026
- • Base wired vs connected ECU: what it costs you
- • Six drivers that move the total kit cost
- • Included at EUR 1,490 vs budgeted separately
- • Exact inputs we need to quote your kit
- • Frequently asked questions
Why there is no single kit price
A working RTK autosteer setup always contains five layers: an iPad or iPhone as the operator interface, a high-precision multi-band RTK GNSS receiver, a correction source such as an RTK base or NTRIP service, an ECU with a communications path to the machine, and a steering interface (steer-ready CAN bus, hydraulic valve, or retrofit motor).
The iOS device is only the cockpit for guidance lines, status, and diagnostics. It is not the RTK receiver and not the steering controller. GNSS hardware, correction data, steering interfaces, connectivity, and installation are each specified on their own, so a farm reusing an existing receiver and a steer-ready tractor lands at a very different total than a fleet retrofitting older machines. That is precisely why we do not advertise one fixed kit price for every tractor.
If you want the wider context on how these layers fit together, our breakdown of what an iPad autosteer setup actually requires walks through each component before you commit to a budget.
The published ECU anchor price, August 2026
Our open-source ECU development board is the main hardware price anchor, and it is published: EUR 1,490 excluding VAT (August 2026), as shown in our ECU configurator.
At that price the controller board includes the open-source hardware, an RJ45 local app connection path for wired Ethernet between the iPad or iPhone and the ECU, CAN and UDP communication paths to steer-ready tractors and supported machine hardware, 1 GB of local storage for logs and diagnostics, plus power input and bench diagnostics for setup and testing.
We describe this figure openly as a hardware estimate. VAT applies on top, and any additional modules, installation, and services are added separately. In other words, EUR 1,490 + VAT buys you a complete, capable autosteer controller board, and it becomes a full steering system once combined with a compatible receiver, corrections, and a steering interface. It is the floor of your budget, not the ceiling.
Base wired vs connected ECU: what it costs you
We offer two ECU configurations. They change how your system connects and reports, not how accurately it steers.
The base wired configuration connects the iPad or iPhone to the ECU through a USB hub and wired Ethernet (RJ45), delivers RTK autosteer via CAN bus, motor, or hydraulic valve control as the tractor and install allow, and carries no built-in cellular modem. With no modem there is no inherent data subscription in the hardware itself.
The connected configuration keeps the same wired Ethernet path and the same steering control, then adds a cellular modem module dedicated to telemetry, remote machine monitoring, and fleet dashboard connectivity. Autosteer performance is identical to the base model; the modem exists only for data, and it can be omitted or run without a SIM card.
The cost logic follows directly. The EUR 1,490 + VAT (August 2026) ECU price reflects a complete autosteer controller for wired iOS integration without connectivity extras. Any charge for the modem upgrade and its data plan sits on top of that estimate and scales with how much telemetry and fleet visibility you actually want. Because steering is the same in both, choosing the connected variant is a business decision about fleet oversight, not a technical requirement for accurate RTK autosteer.
Six drivers that move the total kit cost
Even with the ECU price fixed, your total rtk gps autosteer hardware kit cost varies on six practical drivers.
Tractor readiness and steering interface. Steer-ready tractors with CAN bus integration can often use the ECU directly, which reduces extra mechanical hardware. Older or non-steer-ready machines may need hydraulic steering control or a retrofit steering motor, adding hardware, fitment, and installation time.
GNSS hardware tier. We assume a separate multi-band RTK GNSS receiver for centimetre-level accuracy. Whether you reuse an existing AgOpenGPS-compatible receiver or buy a new one materially changes the total.
RTK correction source. Moving from ordinary GPS to high-precision RTK requires a correction path: a base station or an NTRIP service. Some farms already have access through national networks; others must invest in base hardware or subscriptions, which sit outside the ECU price.
Connectivity and telemetry. If you only need on-tractor guidance and autosteer, the base wired ECU is often sufficient. If you want live telemetry, remote monitoring, or multi-vehicle fleet management, the connected ECU with modem and data plan becomes an added cost.
Installation and integration. Correct fitment and interface selection differ per tractor. Professional installation, custom brackets, wiring looms, and calibration vary from machine to machine, so they are not baked into the published ECU price.
Scale of deployment. A single tractor using an iPad you already own can start from the ECU price plus a receiver, with minimal extra hardware. A multi-machine fleet needing shared corrections, telemetry, and dashboards adds per-machine and per-site costs beyond the board.
Included at EUR 1,490 vs budgeted separately
Here is the clean line between the published board price and the items you plan for on top. Figures are EUR excluding VAT, dated August 2026.
| Line item | Status at EUR 1,490 + VAT | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Open ECU controller board | Included | Core hardware anchor |
| RJ45 local app connection | Included | Wired Ethernet to iOS device |
| CAN and UDP paths | Included | For steer-ready tractors and supported hardware |
| Local storage (1 GB) | Included | Machine data and diagnostics |
| Power input and bench test | Included | For setup and testing |
| iPad or iPhone | Separate | We assume you already own it |
| Multi-band RTK GNSS receiver | Separate | Reuse compatible unit or buy new |
| RTK correction path | Separate | Base station or NTRIP |
| Steering motor / hydraulic valve / CAN modules | Separate | Depends on tractor |
| Cellular modem + data plan | Separate | Only if telemetry/fleet needed |
| Installation, brackets, cabling, commissioning | Separate | Varies per machine |
| Training, support, dealer margin | Separate | Where applicable |
Combined with compatible GNSS, corrections, and steering hardware, the included items are enough to build a complete autosteer controller. The separate items are what turn a board price into a full kit figure, which is why they are configured against your machine rather than pulled from a generic list.
Exact inputs we need to quote your kit
To move from the published EUR 1,490 + VAT ECU price to a concrete total for your farm, we need six pieces of information. Send these and we can build a tractor-specific quote without over-bundling hardware you do not need.
- Tractor details: make, model, year, whether it is steer-ready, and which vehicle bus is available (CAN, ISO, and so on).
- Steering method preference: CAN-based integration on a steer-ready tractor, a hydraulic steering interface, or a retrofit steering motor.
- GNSS and RTK status: whether you already own a compatible multi-band RTK receiver, and whether you already have a correction source such as an NTRIP network or base station.
- Connectivity and fleet needs: single machine or multi-machine, and whether you require live telemetry, remote monitoring, and dashboard access, which decides if the modem upgrade and data plan belong in the quote.
- Existing hardware: any AgOpenGPS boards or compatible receivers you can reuse to reduce new hardware cost.
- Installation preferences: self-installation versus dealer or integrator install, and the cabling, bracket, and commissioning support level you want.
If you already own an iPad and a compatible RTK receiver and only need the ECU plus steering integration on a steer-ready tractor, your starting point is EUR 1,490 + VAT (August 2026), with the steering interface, corrections, and optional telemetry or installation following from your answers above. For a fuller walk-through of the components before you request pricing, our complete iPad autosteer guide covers the same stack in setup terms.
Frequently asked questions
What is the only published hardware price as of August 2026?
The single public hardware price is EUR 1,490 + VAT (August 2026) for the open ECU development board. We describe it as a hardware estimate that excludes GNSS, corrections, steering hardware, installation, and services.
Does that price include the iPad or iPhone?
No. We assume you already own an iPad or iPhone. The device acts as the field cockpit and is not part of the ECU price.
Does the ECU price include an RTK receiver or corrections?
No. A compatible multi-band RTK GNSS receiver and a correction path such as NTRIP or a base station are separate requirements and must be budgeted independently of the ECU.
Is the cellular modem required for autosteer?
No. The modem is optional and exists only for telemetry, remote monitoring, and fleet dashboards. Autosteer performance is the same on the base wired ECU and the connected variant, and the modem can be omitted or run without a SIM.
Can I reuse existing AgOpenGPS boards and receivers?
Yes. Our system is designed to be fully compatible with existing community AgOpenGPS boards and RTK GPS receivers, so reusing hardware you already own is often possible and can significantly reduce the total kit cost.