SPRINKLER TALK FORUM - You Got Questions, We've Got Answers

Home automation is where this kind of item belongs for now. Irrigation professionals will continue to use stand-alone controllers, so they can handle all the repair/replacement problems themselves, without having to be concerned with any master computers/controllers. Also, irrigation controllers that receive low-frequency weather information may make an end-run around some of the claimed advantages of home automation control.

DYI folks with an interest in home automation are a natural market. Of course, the features of a central controller will be important. Also, with drip irrigation in mind, the three hour limit on runtime is a bit low for some installations. Not many, for sure. As for weather information controlling irrigation cycles, look at a Toro Intellisense controller for one variation on the theme.

The major companies like Toro, Rainbird, and Hunter, already have computer controls, for golf courses and other large systems. Wireless controls might be worth pursuing, but they have to work in the real world. Hunter was probably first with residential controllers capable of working with a transmitter/receiver kit to allow remote control of a sprinkler system, but the very-low-power controller circuitry makes long cable runs from controller to transmitter plug a problem, due to stray emf. The transmitter also has problems around masonry. Four hundred foot line-of-sight range becomes less than ten with enough concrete in the way. There are FCC rules and regulations that affect the capabilities of their wireless operations, said Hunter, when I asked about them.

I would like the thoughts of irrigation professonals about the Rain8net. http://wgldesigns.com/rain8pc.html
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I have just ordered a rain8 net from USA ( I'm from New Zealand) to trail it on a new nursery development so we are interested on what software is available already for it and what our programmer can sort out to suit our needs, we need flexibility changing from misting our cuttings on the hour to full irrigation daily easliy something alot of the stand alone units have trouble doing
we are aming to have all our irrigation PC based so I hope rain8 net fits
quite frankly the ability to sit in the office and control and monitor a nurseries irrigation is the way of the future rather than dicking around with 7 buttons on a 2 inch square lcd display
any advice or help greatly appreciated

I think these types of controllers will never become a mainstay of the residential market.

I think the new bred of et "smart" controllers are the wave of the future.

I agree that they will never be mainstream, but for the computer studs out there ... this is THE mac daddy system. You don't need any home automation to use it, you can run just the standalone mcs sprinklers.

I've been working as a beta tester for the mcs sprinklers developer ... and this guy is very responsive to fixing things and making enhancements. What he has done is simply amazing.

I have been using mcs sprinklers and (3) rain8net controllers on my home (DIY) sprinkler system ... and I can tell you it works like a dream. Sure, I didn't need 24 zone capability or RF remote control ... but I've done it and done it for about the same as a stand 16 zone rainbird controller would have cost me.

I also have a W800RF32 and a $10 RF Keypad which allows me to run the thing out in the yard ... and it great for adjusting the heads, testing the system and flushing the system in the Fall. It's truly the rolls royce of sprinkler systems.

I agree that ET controllers are probably the wave of the future ...
But I can tell you this -- mcs sprinklers running the rain8net controllers can do WAY more than any of the ET controllers out there. I'm planning on adding a UPS to my system and moving my mcs sprinklers to a dedicated computer server.

And the cost of the rain8net(s) and mcs sprinklers is far less than even the cheapest ET controllers out there and no monthly subscriptions needed, just free feeds from the internet.

There is no product on the market that can do 50% of what mcs sprinklers can. Not that you need all these capabilities, but its darn cool!

I have an idea that would sell more Lawn sprinklers, oscillating and soforth. I would be glad to work with you and sign an agreement for the enhancement. This enhancement would appeal to family owned homes without sprinkler systems. It could also be added to sprinkler systems. But, I do not own a sprinkler system. If that idea was to be considered, I would have to work on it. Shouldn't be a problem.
This is not a scam or someone looking for a quick buck. I have put some thought into this idea and really would like to see it at work.