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Bruce, I was looking thru your home page and came across details on the ACIS. I then went to their home page for further info. I would like to raise a few concerns for comment. The documentation and figures show a probe and spiral auger in one for ease of installation. I see the comment " the soil auger configuration loosens soil around the shaft so soil is not compacted against sensors ". I see from the home page on Capacitance sensors the major drawback is " extremely critical to have good sensor -tube-soil contact for reliable estimation of soil moisture " Does this not do the opposite therfore reducing accuracy ? Also I have used spiral augers for the last 8 years, installing Neutron probe access tubes etc, and many times I found the auger to just go straight in, just 'squeezing ' its way with no soil coming to the surface. When the auger is removed, the soil is well and truely compacted around the auger. What would happen with a 50 mm diameter rod in the center of the auger ? I would expect extreme compaction around the probe. This does not make the probe representaive, and would lead to a high degree of error in determining irrigation schedules. It has been suggested this technique will not be as labour intensive as installation of the EnviroSCAN system. It must be pointed out the installation process developed for the EnviroSCAN ensures a good fit between the access tube and the soil, preventing any air gaps that could effect the measurement of the soil-water-air dielectricum. The sensor measures an ENVIRONMENT OF UNCHANGED BULK DENSITY REPRESENTING THE ORIGINAL VOLUMETRIC STORAGE CAPACITY OF THE SOIL IN A SINGLE VERTICAL LINE DOWN THE SOIL PROFILE. It has been well documented that the sphere of influence of the EnviroSCAN sensors is physically designed to represent 10 cm vertical and 5 - 10 cm horizontal radius around the tube. If this NEW FDR has simialr sphere of influence. Then based on the auger having a 3 inch diameter, it may well be the soil inside the spirals represents 50 % of the sphere of influence. Would this not again influence the accuracy of the sensor ? As from their own comments " Overall accuracy remains to be seen " The comment made on ' we expect ( accuracy ) to be comparable to EnviroSCAN unite, yet without the labour intensive installation process '. Have they ever installed an EnviroSCAN system ? How many of the people on the SOWACS have installed the EnviroSCAN to make comment on if labour intensive ? I would appreciate any feedback. Marry Christmas to All Peter Broomhall Horticulural Consultant Hortech Services Pty Ltd a.c.n. 060 406 957 P.O. Box 370 Kallangur QLD 4503 Australia P: +61 418 708 573 F: +61 7 3886 0389 hortech@ats.com.au