WiFi Controllers and You
Hunter or Rain Bird: We have both!
A year has come and gone since Hunter and Rain Bird have launched their wireless irrigation controllers into the market. Do you have one yet? They can be a lifesaver when it comes to watering on the go!
Before the wireless controllers came out I had an old unreliable controller. It would irrigate when it was raining, and not irrigate when it should be. It was difficult to get my yard and garden from drying out or drowning while I was traveling. As soon as I discovered these controllers I instantly invested in one.
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One Scoop or Two?
I have two scoops for you. Let's talk controllers for a minute. Depending on the part of the country you live in will determine whether you have quick access to Rain Bird or Hunter products. Both controllers do similar things, it comes down to personal preference on which brand you prefer. You won't miss out on much of anything if you pick one controller over another.
Rain Bird has made it simple to get your controller up and going with WiFi. That's if you have the right controller, and properly updated panel. Currently only the ESP-Me controller and the ESP-TM Series are WiFi capable. All ESP-Me and ESP-TM controllers purchased during or after 2017 will come ready to do WiFi, but you have to buy the LNKWIFI chip to get them to do that. Older models of the ESP-Me will require a panel upgrade, and the panel is super simple to change out. Once you have all that out of the way. Setting up the controller with the WiFi becomes a breeze.
Hunter Industries has three models of controllers that are WiFi capable. The HC series, Pro-HC, and Pro-C Hydrawise. All three of these controllers run the same Hydrawise software. They are all quick and easy to setup! Any Pro-C controller bought during or after 2014 can be upgraded with the new WiFi panel that will allow them to use the Hydrawise software. To upgrade your existing Pro-C is as simple as pulling out the power tape and plugging it into the new panel. You won't have to mess with your wiring for your zones, or even have to take down the housing.
There's two scoops for you about the different WiFi controllers. Whether you choose Rain Bird or Hunter you will get a controller that is simple to setup, and will help you to save time and heartache.
Amazon Alexa is Here!
Both Rain Bird and Hunter have added the ability for your controller to be controlled by Amazon's Alexa. Have a look at this great video from Rain Bird about the fun you can have with your Alexa enabled controller.