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Ditch Assist Android app

Download the app for your field tablet.

Every version is right below. Ditch Assist is distributed from our website, not the Google Play Store, and the app is free — every mode included, no subscription.

Android tablet Works offline after setup No Play Store account Included with every kit

  1. Open this page on your tablet — or scan the QR code beside any download with the tablet camera.

  2. Download your version below. Most operators want the production app at the top of the list.

  3. Allow the install when Android asks, then open the app. Full install steps are further down.

New to Ditch Assist™? The app is the free operator screen for our RTK grade-control kits — see the system or find your kit.

Downloads

Download the app here.

Every app file is on this page. Most operators want Production — the first card below. Each card says who it is for, with a direct download and a QR code.

ProductionStart here · Recommended for everyone

Ditch Assist v1.4

For everyone doing normal field work. Required for DIG.

Version 1.4 is the current production app — a feature release: saved field benchmarks for multi-day jobs, Field Mode organization, survey pause and Shot mode with Grade Check, and Guided/Freeform tile design. The full list is on the App Features page.

RecommendedVersion 1.4July 17, 2026Required for DIG

Tablet requirement: Try the standard build first — it is the right one for most tablets. For optimum performance, use a modern, powerful Android tablet with plenty of RAM. If the standard build will not install or run, use the older tablet download; performance may be reduced, and upgrading to a newer tablet may be necessary.

What changed in v1.4
  • Field Mode (beta) — organize surveys, designs, jobs, and benchmarks by field, with a whole-field map view of every past run.
  • Saved field benchmarks — save a benchmark at a repeatable spot and recalibrate to it on any later visit; benchmarks show on the map with nearest-first guidance.
  • Calibrate to design grade — re-benchmark on a section already cut to grade instead of hunting for undisturbed ground.
  • Survey pause, Shot mode & Grade Check — survey around obstacles, take individual point shots, and read a live two-point grade.
  • Tile designer Guided & Freeform — pin or hand-shape the tile line, with amber/red cover-depth shading.
  • Tiling descent control — paced blade descent, a pitch-sensor notice, and a start-at-the-outlet check.
  • Fixes: surveys record in the calibrated elevation frame; new benchmarks no longer inherit a stale offset; Freeform Undo removes the right point; controller auto-detect stays consistent with manual selection.
Standard build — most tablets Download v1.4
QR code

Scan with the tablet camera to download this APK directly.

Older tablets Download v1.4 for older tablets Only if the standard build will not install or run
QR code

Scan with the tablet camera to download this APK directly.

BetaNext release · Testing now

Ditch Assist v1.4.1

For operators who want the terracing update early and will tell us how it goes.

Version 1.4.1 focuses on Terracing: maintain an existing terrace from a single channel survey with Simple Maintenance, edit the active design mid-job, and use bigger cab-friendly grading controls. The beta build is for operators willing to test the release and share feedback — production stays the safe choice for normal field work.

Version 1.4.1 betaAugust 14, 2026Terracing release
What's new in v1.4.1
  • Terrace Simple Maintenance — maintain an existing terrace with a single channel survey. The berm target follows the finished channel design at an adjustable offset (18 in by default), so there is no berm survey to drive. The full channel + berm workflow remains for new construction or rebuild-volume analysis.
  • Edit the active design — an Edit Design button on the grading profile chart reopens the current design in its designer; apply changes as a new revision and grading progress restarts against the revised target.
  • Bigger grading controls — HOLD/RESUME now matches START/STOP in size, and the terrace Channel/Berm selector is larger with a clear ACTIVE tag. Tap near a target line on the profile chart to switch the terrace target.
  • "Stopping..." indicator — after confirming a stop, a progress indicator shows while the controller finishes its halt sequence.
  • Changes: terrace minimum grade default is now 0.10% (previously 0.05%); switching Channel/Berm during automatic grading now waits for an operator HOLD or stop.
  • Fixes: Simple Maintenance berm passes with Auto-Nudge grade to the final design instead of cutting full depth in one pass; a Simple Maintenance selection no longer carries into Contour-Guided Terracing; the profile chart no longer stretches its elevation scale with leftover terrace data; the excavator START/STOP button is back to full size; on deep designs the bold current-pass line and PASS label now follow your live pass beyond pass 10.
Standard build — most tablets Download beta v1.4.1
QR code

Scan with the tablet camera to download this APK directly.

Older tablets Download beta for older tablets Only if the standard build will not install or run
QR code

Scan with the tablet camera to download this APK directly.

AlphaNew · Field test build

Ditch Assist v1.4.4

For testers proving the new calibration flow, Field Mode benchmark prompts, the DIG firmware updater, and mid-job design edits.

Version 1.4.4 alpha replaces v1.4.3 alpha and carries everything in it forward, plus a rebuilt Calibrate Elevation flow that says what you're calibrated to and lists benchmarks nearest first, and Field Mode prompts that keep surveys and designs matched to the right benchmark automatically. This is a field-test build from our development branch, not a release candidate — take it only if you're willing to test something still being proven and send logs if you hit a snag.

Version 1.4.4 alphaAugust 18, 2026Calibration flow, Field Mode + DIG firmwareField test build
What's new in v1.4.4 alpha
  • Import a survey or design file — the Load picker's Surveys and Designs tabs each get an "Import ... file" link for Geo-Surface Pro exports (tile mains, laterals, ditches, in Ditching, Excavation, and Tiling): import an XYZ/XYZP survey, or a 4-column XYZP file that opens the designer pre-loaded in Freeform to preview and tweak before implementing. Use with caution — you are trusting another system's line and elevations instead of driving the ground, and the "Calibrate GPS?" prompt at implement time still needs a benchmark or known point.
  • Benchmarks and calibration are now two separate things — the BM badge opens a new Calibrate Elevation sheet that says in plain words what you are calibrated to and when ("Calibrated to benchmark 'North gate' - 4 min ago"), then lists what you can calibrate to right now, nearest first: your saved benchmarks (and, in Land Forming, the design's own benchmark pins, labelled Design BM), the loaded survey, or the loaded design. Tap a row and the familiar drive-to card guides you in, then hold still and tap Calibrate for a 5 second average. Rarely used actions — typing a known elevation, zeroing to GPS, clearing — moved under Advanced and now ask you to confirm. Managing benchmarks (set, rename, delete, move to field) lives in its own Benchmarks panel, reached from the sheet's Manage benchmarks link. The BM badge is now color coded: green means calibrated this session, amber means restored from a previous session and due for a recalibration, grey means not calibrated.
  • Field Mode remembers your benchmark — entering a field with a benchmark you have not calibrated to this session prompts "Calibrate to this field's benchmark" with a Go button that opens the drive-to card; a field with no benchmark asks if you want to set one, once per field per session. Surveys, designs, and jobs now remember which benchmark they were aligned to: loading earlier work in the same field is silent when it already lines up with your calibration, and asks — and says why — only when it doesn't. Outside Field Mode nothing changes.
  • RTK Filter honoured everywhere it should be — with RTK Filter off (needed for receivers such as John Deere StarFire SF-RTK, which report DGPS while on RTK corrections), blade-height Auto Measure and benchmark averaging now accept the same fix quality as Start Survey instead of staying greyed out. A disabled START button now says why: RTK filter, stale position, or no fix.
  • Send Logs is honest about failure — if the upload cannot reach the server, the app still opens the share sheet, but it now says the logs were NOT uploaded and stays open with Retry, instead of showing "Sent!" for a file that only reached the share sheet.
  • Pre-Flight Checks is now a proper modal — only its X closes it, so a stray tap outside while holding Raise or Lower no longer hides it mid-test.
  • Small tablets: the survey and grading stats bars wrap to a second row instead of clipping the BM / WiFi / Settings / Auto-Nudge controls off the right edge on 960x600 dp tablets; the pre-survey card goes compact and scrollable on short screens.
  • Connection banner: a "connection lost" event that happened while the tablet was asleep is no longer flashed the moment you wake it, and the banner hides as soon as the controller reconnects.
  • Diagnostics: session logs now record the tablet's WiFi signal strength, link speed, and network name on connect, on every connection-loss event, and in periodic snapshots, plus the RTK Filter setting and position-stale state.
  • Manual: the Calibration & benchmarks chapter is rewritten for the new flow (English, Spanish, Portuguese); fix-quality guidance now states plainly that only true RTK Fixed is endorsed for survey and grading — RTK Float, DGPS, and satellite PPP correction services some receivers label as RTK are at your own risk, with John Deere SF-RTK's DGPS label as the documented exception.
  • LiDAR & Mapping card subtitle is now "Field Prep".
  • Carried over from v1.4.2 alpha: update the DIG module's firmware straight from the app with no internet needed in the field, and Keep My Progress — apply an edited design to a job already in progress and keep the work you have already done, in Ditching, Excavation, and Terrace Simple Maintenance. Fix: a rare crash when saving a design while the on-screen keyboard was still closing.
  • Field-test focus: this is what we most want feedback on — try both doors (BM badge → Calibrate Elevation, and Manage benchmarks → Benchmarks) and, in Field Mode, the entry prompts. Tell us if any step is unclear or a prompt fires when it shouldn't. Report issues with Settings > Logs > Send Logs so the session (now with WiFi link details) is captured.
Standard build — most tablets Download alpha v1.4.4
QR code

Scan with the tablet camera to download this APK directly.

Older tablets Download alpha for older tablets Only if the standard build will not install or run
QR code

Scan with the tablet camera to download this APK directly.

Previous versionsRollback · Still available

Earlier releases

For going back to the version that was working for you.

Every current-app release stays available here. If a new version gives you trouble on your setup, share logs with support, then reinstall the version that was working for you while we fix it.

Ditch Assist appRollback option
Version 1.3.1 July 13, 2026
Download
QR code

Scan with the tablet camera to download this APK directly.

What changed in v1.3.1
  • Maintenance release: bug fixes and reliability improvements across grading, GPS handling, design import, saved jobs and surveys, and Bluetooth GNSS.
  • The profile chart now draws your graded (green) line on top of the design line when you reach grade.
Version 1.3 July 9, 2026
Download
QR code

Scan with the tablet camera to download this APK directly.

What changed in v1.3
  • Terrace grading: the berm target is now sent to the controller with look-ahead on (was aiming at the channel elevation).
  • A Bluetooth GPS receiver reconnecting in the background can no longer take over while grading on a controller.
  • Contour guidance: corrected steering geometry at terrain saddles; the Lightbar Full Deflection setting now works.
  • Tile design: the depth range stays consistent and no longer locks up or crashes the guided setup.
  • Safer saves: crash-proof file writes, no same-name overwrites, and in-progress survey recovery after a shutdown.
  • The grade alert sound stops when you leave the grading screen; LiDAR & Mapping unlocks only on a real controller or DIG connection.
Version 1.2 June 24, 2026
Download
QR code

Scan with the tablet camera to download this APK directly.

What changed in v1.2
  • In-app What's New section in the Manual, in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
  • Session logs record the exact app version and build date for faster support diagnosis.
Gen 1 legacyFallback · Old app

Legacy Stable

For non-DIG machines still on the Gen 1 app, or when support asks you to drop back to it.

The field-proven Gen 1 app for non-DIG operators who need the legacy app, or for cases where support has identified an issue in the current app and asked you to use Gen 1 temporarily.

Gen 1 appNo DIG support10+ years field proven
Download Gen 1 Version 4.22.4 APK
QR code

Scan with the tablet camera to download this APK directly.

Release channels

What Production, Beta, and Alpha mean.

It is the same app at three levels of testing. Production is the version we support for paying work. Beta and alpha are how new features get proven in the field before they land there — running one is optional, and you can go back to production at any time.

Production

Tested and supported

Everything in it has been through beta and real field hours. This is the version support assumes you are running, the one required for DIG, and the one to use on customer work. Currently v1.4.

Beta

Nearly the next release

Feature-complete and close to production, but still collecting field hours. Install it if you want the new work early and will report what you find. Currently v1.4.1, the terracing update.

Alpha

Still being proven

Built from the development branch to test a specific new capability with selected operators. Expect rough edges, and keep production or the beta within reach. Currently v1.4.4 — importing a survey or design file from Geo-Surface Pro exports, plus the rebuilt calibration flow, Field Mode benchmark prompts, the DIG firmware updater, and mid-job design edits carried over from earlier alphas.

Legacy Stable · Gen 1

The old Gen 1 app

The stable, field-proven Gen 1 app for non-DIG users who need the legacy app, or for temporary use when support has confirmed an issue in the current app that affects your machine.

Install guide

Installing the Android app on a tablet.

If your tablet came from us, the app may already be installed. If you are installing on your own tablet, Android will ask for a few confirmations the first time.

Open this page on the tablet.

Use Chrome or the browser already on the Android tablet that will run Ditch Assist in the cab. Downloading on a laptop first usually just adds a file-transfer step.

Uninstall the existing app first.

Before sideloading a new app file, manually uninstall the Ditch Assist app already on the tablet. This avoids Android install conflicts and keeps the update process predictable.

Tap the app version you need.

Use Production unless Ditch Assist support has asked you to use Legacy Stable or sent you a specific test build. DIG requires the current app. Android may warn that sideloaded app files can be harmful; continue only when the file came from this Ditch Assist page or direct support.

Allow install from this source.

On first install, Android usually opens a Settings screen for your browser or Files app. Turn on Allow from this source, then return to the downloaded app file.

Install, then open Ditch Assist.

After installation, open the app and accept the required safety terms. Grant the permissions the app asks for, including location/GPS, Bluetooth or nearby devices when used, and file access for jobs, logs, imports, and exports.

Install FAQ

Download and install questions.

Straight answers for getting the app onto a field tablet.

Install steps

How do I install the Ditch Assist app on my tablet?

Open this page on the Android tablet you use in the cab, uninstall the existing Ditch Assist app if one is already installed, tap the app version you need, allow install from this source when Android asks, install the app and open it, accept the required safety terms, then grant the permissions it asks for.

Play Store

Do I need a Google Play Store account to install it?

No. Ditch Assist is distributed directly from this website, not the Google Play Store. You install the app file directly on the tablet, which is why Android asks you to allow install from this source the first time.

Compatibility

What does the app need to run?

An Android tablet, an RTK/NMEA-compatible GPS source feeding the tablet, and Ditch Assist kit hardware — a control module for implement automation and guidance, or a DIG module for excavator guidance.

Permissions

What permissions does the app ask for?

Location/GPS access, Bluetooth or nearby devices access when used, and file access for jobs, logs, imports, and exports.

Tablet requirements

Choose a tablet that will keep up in the field.

Ditch Assist X4 runs survey, real-time GPS grading, mapping, and design work on the tablet. For reliable field use, match the app build to the tablet and choose enough memory for the maps and files you use.

Current tablet recommendation

Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ (11 inch)

The Tab A11+ is our standard recommended tablet. It meets every requirement on this page — bright 11-inch screen, current 64-bit processor, expandable storage, and years of Android updates ahead — and it runs the standard build. It is also the tablet we offer bundled with kits where requested.

Need a larger screen or a higher-spec tablet? We have several options for bigger displays and for power users doing heavy Land Forming, LiDAR, or all-day excavator work. Contact us and we will tailor a recommendation to your exact needs and usage requirements.

Two hard requirements for every tablet

  1. Android 7.0 or newer (API 24+). Android 6.0 / 6.0.1 and older cannot install any Ditch Assist build. Update the tablet operating system if an update is available.
  2. Use the build that matches the tablet architecture. Most tablets are 64-bit: install the standard arm64-v8a build first. Older 32-bit tablets, such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 2016 (SM-T580), need the separate armeabi-v7a build because the 64-bit build will not install.
Recommended minimum

Buy new at this level

This is the specification for smooth use across the app, including maps and LiDAR/DEM work.

  • OS: Android 11 or newer (API 30+)
  • CPU: 64-bit processor with performance cores, such as Snapdragon 680 / 685 / 695, Helio G99, or Dimensity 700 or higher
  • RAM: 4 GB minimum; 6-8 GB is more comfortable
  • Storage: 64 GB or more, preferably with microSD for offline map tiles, DEMs, and GeoTIFFs
  • Display: 10.1-11 inch, 1920 x 1200, 450+ nits for sunlight readability
  • Battery: 7000 mAh or more, and able to run while charging

Older examples: the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+, Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, Lenovo Tab M10 Plus (Gen 3), and Lenovo Tab P11 are still fine for most users — they are just likely becoming harder to find new.

Recommended floor for typical users: the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is a known, easy-to-source choice for normal survey, real-time grading, and map use. Every S6 Lite generation has 4 GB RAM, a 64-bit processor with performance cores, a 10.4 inch 2000 x 1200 display, microSD storage, and runs the primary arm64-v8a build. It is a much safer choice than an unknown budget tablet with 2 GB RAM or a 32-bit operating system.

Two S6 Lite caveats: its roughly 400-nit display is adequate, but a 500+ nit panel is better in direct midday sun. Heavy LiDAR and Mapping or DEM generation will work, but users who do that work all day should choose a 6-8 GB tablet with stronger graphics.

Land Forming users: choose a higher-spec 64-bit tablet with 6-8 GB RAM, a stronger processor, and ample storage. Land Forming work with larger design surfaces, DEMs, GeoTIFFs, and map data is more demanding than normal survey and grading, and benefits directly from the extra memory and processing headroom.

Excavator guidance users: choose the same higher-spec 64-bit tier, especially for long sessions on a single job file. More RAM and processing headroom help keep extended guidance, map, and job-file work responsive over a full day.

Absolute minimum

Older 32-bit tablet tier

This is roughly the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 2016 (SM-T580) tier: it can run the app, but it will struggle.

  • OS: Android 7.0 (API 24), though Android 8.1 or newer is more realistic
  • CPU: Octa-core Cortex-A53 around 1.6 GHz, such as Exynos 7870 or Snapdragon 425-430
  • RAM: 2 GB, enough for core grading but with a real crash risk on maps and LiDAR
  • Storage: 16-32 GB
  • Display: 8 inch or larger, 1280 x 800
  • GPU: Mali-T830 MP1 class; expect map pan and zoom stutter

What to expect: core survey and real-time grading are usable. Map overlays and coverage grids may be slow. LiDAR and Mapping, DEM/TIN generation, GeoTIFF decoding, and large survey imports can be slow or crash because of low memory.

RAM matters most. If you upgrade just one item above the absolute minimum, move from 2 GB to 4 GB or more of RAM. That is often the difference between a tablet that struggles or crashes and one that runs well. More RAM is always beneficial for Ditch Assist workloads. The tablet must also support 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi to join the Ditch Assist controller network. Bluetooth is used with external GNSS receivers. Not sure about a tablet? Contact us before you buy and we will help confirm it is a suitable choice for your work.
Ditch Assist Android app home screen on a tablet
App overview

One app for every Ditch Assist workflow.

The app is the operator screen for Ditch Assist hardware: survey, design, calibrate, connect to GPS and the controller, then grade with the workflow that matches the job.

01
Workflow cards keep the screen focused.

Ditching, Terracing, Land Forming, Simple Grading, Tiling, Leveling, Levee/Contour, LiDAR Mapping, and Excavator guidance each open the tools needed for that job.

02
Design in the cab or import a design.

Use Slope-IQ, Auto-Nudge, Tile-Best-Fit, constant-slope tools, or import supported design surfaces such as AGD, XYZ/XYZP, and LandXML where enabled. GeoTIFF, point files, KML/KMZ, and WMS layers support mapping, elevation, and field context where those tools apply.

03
Runs with Ditch Assist hardware and your RTK.

The tablet connects to the Ditch Assist control module or DIG module and works with compatible RTK GPS sources. The goal is simple: keep the operator on target without locking them into one GPS brand.

04
Built for real field days.

Large touch targets, sunlight-friendly screens, English/Spanish/Portuguese language support, save/resume jobs, in-app manual, and session logs for troubleshooting.

See every app feature →
Display and units

Set the screen for the cab you are in.

Ditch Assist can run in a darker low-glare color scheme or a daylight scheme built for bright cab and field conditions. Operators can switch color scheme and units from Settings.

01
Dark or daylight display.

Use Dark for lower glare and Daylight when sunlight or cab reflections make darker screens harder to read.

02
Imperial or Metric units.

Choose inches, feet, centimetres, and metres from Settings so the live Grade Guide and job screens match how your operators work.

03
Land Forming is metric.

Land Forming must be run in Metric because imported 3D design surfaces, benchmarks, and cut/fill calculations are handled in metric units.

Ditch Assist app grading screen in dark color scheme
DarkLower-glare display for shaded cabs, evening work, and operators who prefer a darker interface.
Ditch Assist app grading screen in daylight color scheme
DaylightHigh-contrast display for bright field conditions and direct cab light.
Feature requests

Have an app idea or workflow request?

Tell us what you want Ditch Assist to do, what job it would help with, and whether you would be willing to beta test it in the field. Submit requests through the contact form so we can follow up with the right questions.

Submit a feature request → Read what's new
Viability

Can the request be built reliably with the hardware, GPS data, files, and field conditions involved?

Benefit

Will it help a reasonable number of operators, dealers, or support cases rather than solving only one unusual setup?

Effort

How much development, testing, documentation, and support work is required before it can be trusted in the field?

Complexity

We may decline features that make the app harder to understand, even if they are technically possible. Keeping Ditch Assist simple is part of the product.

Try it live

Try it in your browser first.

Before you install anything, click through a live build of the app right here — same screens, same workflows, running on the browser build.

Open the app simulator →
Ditch Assist app home screen in the browser simulator