Frequently-Asked Questions

POGO is system for obtaining superior insight into turf conditions, allowing better decisions to be made more efficiently and cost effectively, and ultimately resulting in healthier turf. The Pogo system is made up of the POGO Pro portable wireless sensor, the free POGO smartphone/tablet app, and the POGO Turf Pro Cloud analytics system.

The three most influential soil parameters which contribute the most impact on turfgrass health: moisture, salinity (electrical conductivity) and temperature. The POGO system provides measurement of all three simultaneously, and very easily using a rugged hardware device and the smartphone you already own. All captured data is immediately available on-site for immediate decisions and is synchronized with a cloud-based analysis application which visually identifies good or bad trends and tells you what you need to do and when.

The POGO is not just a tool that measures moisture, temp and salinity. It is a system that captures every important variable that goes in to every day decision-making. Those three variables happen to be at the heart of the agronomy focus of the turf system, but many other features we offer are at the heart of course conditioning and operational management. They are all equally valuable to the superintendent and turf manager.

The POGO Pro contains a GPS receiver, a Wi-Fi transmitter, and a patented multi-parameter soil sensor. It connects wirelessly to a smartphone or tablet which runs the free POGO Turf Pro app. The app is used to initiate the recording of soil sample data (user places the POGO in the turf, taps a button in the app to record the data, moves to next location). The app logs data measurements while displaying real-time analytics and assessments of turf/soil moisture, conductivity and temperature. Data is synchronized with the web-based POGO Turf Pro Cloud application (through the device’s internet connection) which offers in-depth turf and property insight and analysis.

For golf course superintendents who have limited time and budgets for maintaining optimal turf conditions, POGO is a portable, turf and soil insight system that provides superior insight into turf health and performance and the influences on it. Unlike soil moisture sensors, POGO is the only research-grade, all-in-one system that measures all three critical parameters, providing near real-time analysis and logging of information in a cloud-based system.

No! The predominant moisture and salinity exchange with the root system of all types of turf occurs in t the top 2” to 2.5” of the root system. This is why POGO was designed to measure the top 2.2” inches for moisture and salinity. When the sensor is measuring too deep, you are diluting the measurement outside of the most influential region.

Even in deep-rooted systems, the predominant exchange of moisture and salinity that the turfgrass depends on for optimal performance occurs in the top 2 to 2.5”. This is always the region you want to measure and reference against over time. By varying the depth, you will end up basing your decisions off of invalid information. An independent study has been conducted that verifies this and is available upon request.

Even if roots are very shallow (1”), due to natural capillary activity in a turfgrass root zone, this shallow root system is still predominantly influenced by the top 2 to 2.5” of the root zone medium.

No, pH is a measurement in solution. Soil consists of solution, air and particles.

It does not directly measure "Salt" (NaCl). But it does measure salinity activity by measuring EC. All salts (+ and – ions) in solution add to EC.

No. The POGO requires no calibration across turf/soil types and remains scientifically accurate and precise across measurements.

Smartphone GPS receivers are rated at 10 m accuracy, but most actually can get down to 3 meters. The integrated GPS in the POGO has sub-meter accuracy with a clear view of the sky.

Using the patented and unique Hydra Probe II sensor and its capacitance-based coaxial impedance dielectric reflectometry protocol, the POGO measures WFV, EC and canopy temperature simultaneously and without calibration, unlike any other sensor. Visit www.soilsensor.com to learn more about various measurement methods.

Using a precisely-tuned and unique process focusing on dielectric permittivity of moisture and EC, making it the only commercially-available research-grade sensor requiring no calibration across turf/soil types. Temperature is measured using a thermistor in the plate that rests in the turf canopy.

The thermistor is located in the plate at the base of the POGO shaft and above the tine extensions. It therefore measures the surface, or canopy temperature of the turf which is a much more direct indicator of turf stress than soil or air temperature.

It's a uniquely patented design that maximizes sampling size and precision while utilizing a unique, scientifically precise and accurate measurement method called "Coaxial Impedance Dielectric Reflectometry".

If you use fertilizer, you are adding salts continually. Unless your turf is consistently 100% perfect, any problem areas may be because of a “salt problem” or better stated, a salinity problem—you just don’t know if they are from overwatering, under watering, over fertilizing, under fertilizing, incorrect fertilizer application, or some cultural ailment, etc. The only way to know is to measure salinity along with moisture and temperature, and to trend this information over time so that you see an issue before the symptom shows up in your turf system.

The interaction of all three—the affect of each on the other—is more important than any parameter individually (i.e. the sum is greater than the parts). Therefore just knowing 2 parameters is a very different level of knowledge than knowing all three. In addition, calibration of three parameters separately leads to variability in data collection methods making this information less representative of key decision making factors over time.

In many cases, as moisture goes up, salts in solution go up and therefore EC goes up. But this is not always the case and EC-to-moisture ratios change from many affecting variables in turf dynamics.

Moisture, EC and temperature are recorded along with the precise GPS location with every sample taken with the POGO. The Visual Insight reports show varying levels of moisture on each zone by interpolating values between samples and illustrating with color-coded areas on a satellite map. Because EC is measured, the moisture level is extremely accurate (since EC has an effect on the true moisture reading or moisture availability as the plant sees it). By viewing today’s and past Visual Insight reports, along with automatically-generated distribution uniformity analysis, you can see how moisture changes day to day or is impacted by routine operational procedures, and therefore know how your irrigation methods should be adjusted.

Yes. By trending EC over time, it is easy to assess when it reaches a high level, prompting flushing needs.

Compare variations within a zone and particularly from day to day. Easily complete distribution uniformity assessments. Utilize the powerful POGO Turf Pro cloud analytics system for advanced analysis.

Yes because two separate, independent radio protocols are being used.

No. Wi-Fi radios are point to point.

No, the Pogo uses what is known as a wireless ad hoc network, which means it does not rely on a pre-existing infrastructure, such as routers or access points. The smartphone is connected directly to the POGO, and not a WiFi network.

Yes. Any Apple or Android app based device will work with the POGO. All it needs is integrated Wi-Fi capability (which they all have).

The POGO utilizes mobile app technology to provide a rich user interface to make it easy to take samples, view data and make timely decisions. Rather than integrate a small text-only display and difficult-to-use buttons, we can leverage the power of touchscreen gestures, colour graphics, and synchronization with the cloud. In addition, customers can choose to update the interface with improvements and additional features as they are released.

The tines integrated with the sensor have a 2 year warranty. The tines are made of very high marine grade stainless steel built to last through years of use in all turf/soil types.

If the tines are damaged, the entire integrated sensor assembly can be replaced as one unit.

The POGO can easily endure a full day of heavy use before needing to be recharged.

Up to 2 hours if the batteries are very low.

About 20 to 30 seconds is typical for the first in-zone reading mainly to acclimate the sensor to the turf’s temperature. Each successive reading takes about 3 seconds.

At least 9 samples per average size putting green. For larger areas, take more samples. Smaller areas like tees should have at least 5 or 6 samples depending on their size. 9 samples will give you a representative sampling of a typical size putting green.

Yes. There are packages available for various access and features. You can have 90 days access to the cloud features, free of charge.

No: moisture, EC and temperature data can be emailed in a .CSV file. However, since the Visual Insight reports use the GPS coordinates to display your data visually on an actual satellite map, we know you'll find the value of the POGO Turf Pro Cloud application extremely high. Plus, you can try for 90 days for free.

Yes, you can order your POGO in green, black, blue, red and silver. Other than the color, the product is identical.

2 years.

To assure consistent sampling with straight down, complete probe contact with the turf/soil. Any tines exposed to air influence the measurements. Sensor precision AND method of measurement are required for precise and accurate measurements time after time. The POGO is designed to maximize both.

The outside of the POGO can come into contact with wet grass and is fairly water resistant overall. However, do not submerge in water above the sensor area.

Yes, push the tines into the turf/soil and have the stainless steel base plate firmly in contact with the turf or soil surface.

Indefinitely. Historical data needs to be manually cleared/deleted by the user from the device. However, if utilizing the POGO Turf Pro Cloud analytics system, after an upload of data, the data is cleared from the app and saved indefinitely in your cloud account.