[wlasowicz]

Hello All
I am thinking of upgrading my non smart Hunter Pro C sprinkler controller to a smart controller either upgrade the Hunter or install Ranchio unit. I assume like most of you your sprinkler controller is located in the garage in a panel box. I am curious if anyone has had issues with having a good wifi signal at their controller location? Yes I understand that placement of your router in the house affects the signal. I have a patio villa and my router is in roughly the center of the villa. I ahve a smart thermostat. smart lock and outside camera on the roof facia . So having the controller in the garage in a panel box( with at least 5/8" drywall in the garage and 1/2" drywall inside) a wall between the garage and living space affected anyone's signal?
Thanks

[photo1902]

I've installed many of these for people and have yet to experience any issues with wifi signal strength.

[daniel200]

If you have an android phone or tablet, you can download an app that can measure your WiFi signal as you walk around your home. There are several apps with this capability. I use the app “wifiman” by ubiquity. It is useful to diagnose WiFi signal strength. It shows all of the WiFi signals around you (including your neighbors). This is helpful to choose a channel with the minimum interference in your location.

Unfortunately, apple products don’t have this capability . (But you can find similar apps for a windows laptop.)

[wlasowicz]

thanks for the response but I know there are apps for your phone to check signal strength. Unfortunately I am not at my place right now but will be in a week. while there I'm thinking of upgrade the controller so without to much fan fare I want the process to be plug and play . So if people have had problem with the wifi signal for their controllers I can plan before hand any problem I may in counter for the limited time I will be there

[Graspher]

I have a hunter pro-hc in the garage. From feb of 20 to march 21 I had no problem with signal strength.

Now I do.

If I manually trigger a zone via the phone app or desktop - it will activate but only for the initial trigger. Subsequent attempts will not fire off.

I called hunter - long story short - I used my wife’s phone as a hotspot and connected the hunter to that - so not connected to my house WiFi. That solved all my app/desk top issues.

According to hunter - that meant the signal was to weak in the garage.

When I explained this was never a problem in the past the response was there has been and continues to be excessive demand going on in the background due to so many more folks working from home etc.

He also suggested I contact my provider to have them determine if I am on the “strongest channel.”

End of day I’m currently looking around for a good booster/extender to beef up the signal strength in the garage.

[Chellybean]

Originally Posted by wlasowicz

Hello All
I am thinking of upgrading my non smart Hunter Pro C sprinkler controller to a smart controller either upgrade the Hunter or install Ranchio unit. I assume like most of you your sprinkler controller is located in the garage in a panel box. I am curious if anyone has had issues with having a good wifi signal at their controller location? Yes I understand that placement of your router in the house affects the signal. I have a patio villa and my router is in roughly the center of the villa. I ahve a smart thermostat. smart lock and outside camera on the roof facia . So having the controller in the garage in a panel box( with at least 5/8" drywall in the garage and 1/2" drywall inside) a wall between the garage and living space affected anyone's signal?
Thanks

WIFI New Hunter Irrigation System Complete: | Talk of the Villages

Full system New, see above link, I have one in my Home, works great!

[HiHoSteveO]

Originally Posted by wlasowicz

Hello All
I am thinking of upgrading my non smart Hunter Pro C sprinkler controller to a smart controller either upgrade the Hunter or install Ranchio unit. I assume like most of you your sprinkler controller is located in the garage in a panel box. I am curious if anyone has had issues with having a good wifi signal at their controller location? Yes I understand that placement of your router in the house affects the signal. I have a patio villa and my router is in roughly the center of the villa. I ahve a smart thermostat. smart lock and outside camera on the roof facia . So having the controller in the garage in a panel box( with at least 5/8" drywall in the garage and 1/2" drywall inside) a wall between the garage and living space affected anyone's signal?
Thanks

Installed Rachio 3 in garage of designer home several months ago. Have had no wi-fi signal strength problems. Works great. Router is located above kitchen cabinets.

I just noticed that Rachio (at Amazon) now has an option to include a wi-fi range extender - if that helps to alleviate your fears. More $$ of course.
Amazon.com

[Aloha1]

Installed the PRO C upgrade a year ago. Best thing I ever did. My router system is Eero which consists of a base near the Spectrum modem and a satellite in the front den ( sort of not needed).

Absolutely no issues with connectivity and I love that I can monitor and change everything when we're visiting the kids and grandkids. The Hydrawise system is MUCH better than the old Solar Synch. You can buy the Pro upgrade on line plus a standard rain sensor since the solar synch one will not work with the upgrade. Best Buy carries the Eero system.

[Altavia]

No problem in an extended Iris with the router near the back bedroom.

Xfinity router.

[wlasowicz]

I been debating about installing a wifi sprinkler controller. Having a patio villa i have a smaller lot than the homes have even though my corner lot is larger then the inside lots of the patio villa. I keep track of my expenses since it is a rental . So for over the 5 plus years I have owned it my average irrigation bill has been $14.00 a month which includes the roughly $8 and changes base fee. So the $6 am paying for water figure if I would save $2-3 a month if i would install a wifi controller at a cost of $130 to $150 depending on the model I would be looking at probably 5 plus years before I break even. Assuming cost still even For me it not worth the expense Thanks for all the feed back from everyone

[CoachKandSportsguy]

I installed the hunter with no wifi issues, but the issue was that the server didn't activate my account, so nothing happened for several days. . . I had to call and they had to activate my account manually on the server. . . I followed all the steps and got a message saying all was well. . .

so if you have a beehyve, make sure that after you set the automation, that it actually fires off. Manual is not an issue. . .

a networked lawn guy