Getting started with Raindancer

Congratulations on your decision to work with Raindancer.

Thank you for your trust and welcome to the Raindancer cosmos.

Before you can get started and view all your irrigations in one app, there are a few small things you need to set up first.

This manual gives you a guide on what to do to get started with the system in an easy way. This is really just about the bare minimum of configuration.

For a deeper insight, please follow the detailed technical documentation (coming soon) or the related pages at the bottom of this page.

Playlist bei Youtube:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8USp-bvp0udx3N1XL1w0uJ8ViMG4LuXF&si=t_3CyoPwKR6hT5M3
(Subtitles in English are available)

Users and Access

Your Raindancer is always delivered with an "Administrator" user and a service user.

This also means that you already have a user in the system with which you can start working. But it is recommended to create individual users for each of your employees and to store personal data (name, first name, telephone number) for the administrator.

The following user data are required:

First Name\Last Name
Telephone Number or E-Mail OPTIONAL
If your user is not supposed to receive any notifications, you do not need to fill in this field.
Otherwise, please select the type of notifications, either SMS or WhatsApp (or both).
Turn on Notifications
For new users, all notifications are switched off by default.
For more information on notifications, see Set Notifications

If you want to create more users or are looking for further information on the subject of users, you can follow the instructions "Adding Users And Managing Permissions"

Permissions

By default, a new user only has the permission to use the app.

If you want a different permission for your new user, you can change this in the Group Memberships tab and assign more permissions.

Create Irrigators

If not already done by the Raindancer team, you now need to create the irrigation machine(s) in the portal.

Usually you should see a list of all serial numbers of the Raindancer GPS modules that have been assigned to you under Irrigators.

The irrigators that have already been created should of course be renamed so that they correspond to the machine on which you have mounted the Raindancer GPS module.

A combination of a continuous number, the brand and the length has been proven to be effective.

Mounting and installation
First, please make sure that your Raindancer is mounted correctly.
If you are not sure, we have a separate guide on this subject here: Installing the GPS module correctly

If a raindancer module does not appear in the list, you can also create a new irrigator.

Click on Irrigators → New Irrigator to add a new irrigation machine to your system.

Enter an irrigator name and select the type of irrigator in the selection box.

You can then select the GPS device. This is the serial number of your Raindancer.

To make sure that the system operates properly, it is advisable to set the following parameters.

Working Width
Min. Pressure
Max. Pressure
ø Nozzle

CAUTION Flow rate only for booms and linear, pivot irrigation machines

SELF-PROPELLED Please note the setting of the setup method under Setup and Controls (central) → Setup method

Essential
These parameters are essential for the most functions that your Raindancer system provides for you..

Control

OPTIONAL

If you want to control your irrigation machine via the Raindancer system, you must enter 2 additional fields.

These fields must be filled in on the Setup and Controls tab.

Control type
Phone No.

These fields are necessary to establish communication between your irrigation machine and the raindancer system.

Settings on the Machine
Usually a telephone number must be entered in your irrigation computer to which responses will be sent.

Raindancer phone number
+3197014444993

For the use of AutoSpeed read more at AutoSpeed

Sector Control

OPTIONAL

If you have decided to operate your irrigation system with sector control, we can only congratulate you on your great decision and ask you to use "The Sector Control" for further instructions.

Fields

It is necessary to add your fields to the system for almost all functions offered by the raindancer system.

Import Field Data
You generally have the option of importing your field data from external sources. This way you do not have to start from scratch.
You need shp or kml files for the import

Wells

Wells are primarily used for reporting at the end of the season.

It is advisable to enter the wells before the start of irrigation season.

To enter your wells into the system, follow these instructions: Create a Well

Fields

You can manage the fields you want to use with the Raindancer under Fields.

In this overview you can see all your registered fields, and you also have the option of adding new fields yourself.

Field Import

RECOMMENDED

To do this, you typically need an export from your other agricultural applications. All the necessary data is normally stored there.

For a more detailed explanation, follow these instructions Import Fields.

Draw in Fields

If you do not have the possibility to integrate your field data into the raindancer system with the help of the import function, you also have the possibility to enter the field data manually.

As with the manual entry, follow these instructions: Fields

Runs

For the handling of irrigation runs, it is best to continue reading at this point Working With Permanent Runs

Self-driving Irrigators with sector control
Due to the possibility of driving around curves, it is recommended to create runs in advance for self-driving irrigation machines. Otherwise, the sector control would react with delay on curves.

Help

If you have problems with these steps or the settings do not fit your application, please do not hesitate to contact your dealer.

You can find all contact details at https://www.raindancer.com/contact