Cloud or Web based Sprinkler control systems?
 

So, I'm having some landscaping done and part of the job is to put in a new sprinkler controller.

I was looking for some IP controllable controllers and there wern't very many.

I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with these or knows of any?

I found these:

Cyber Rain Cyber Rain Remote Irrigation Controller, Smart Irrigation Solutions, Internet Based Irrigation Controllers

SmartLink: Weathermatic - Smart Solutions for The Professional

And then the simplest which was all I was really looking for:

http://www.irrigationcaddy.com/

Putting control of your house on the internet?

Subscribed. I would really like to add wifi controlled irrigation to my place.

Me too. My NEST thermostats have been AMAZING.

Man, I really wish stuff like this existed when I was in high school. The best I could muster at the time was to remotely wipe the AUTOEXEC.BAT file on each computer in the lab.

I have a fried who designed and built his own home automation system from scratch and wrote the software to run it. Security through obscurity.

When I started looking that is when I noticed the 'cloud' based services. These are kind of cool in that they provide watering based on data from the weather services. I think one can even take data from the weather monitor at the system itself. Then they adjust watering based on those details.

How secure is it? No idea and I share the concern you elude too. I'm a network security consultant by trade so that sort of thing is high up on my radar.

What I was looking for personally though was just a regular old timer that I could manage from a web interface on my ipad/iphone or desktop.

I wanted it WIRED to my house and not really wireless (though my ipad/iphone on my home wireless network would be able to get to it) and the internal security of my home network is pretty good and feature rich, I can lock it down enough to be comfortable with it being there.

My contractor took a look at the irrigation caddy device site and he thinks it is worth a shot plus it is pretty inexpensive. We're going to try it out.

Mike, Irrigation Caddy seems to fit your bill. Only thing I noticed was that there are no manual controls. Thats a deal-killer for me.

I put in my own sprinkler system 15 years ago. All professional Rain Bird components. The timer is fully programmable, and it has a rain and freeze sensor. I don't doubt there are times when I might water a little bit more than really needed, but not often. Most summers I just set it and forget it. Last year was a record hot and dry summer. I don't remember having to modify the timer program much.

In the winter I run a different program.

With all that said I do have my home security system hooked to the internet. I can remotely turn the system on or off and watch the video surveillance feeds on my phone. I understand the gadget factor of internet access to your system.

Is it me, or do you find using a "cloud" system to water your lawn a bit ironic? ?

This. I've been using a cloud-based system for years!

You guys should get a gig. SmileWavy

Don't forget to tip your waiters and waitresses and try the fish folks.

But seriously...

I ran the Ethernet to the controller today and mounted it under the house. Now all the contractor has to do is run the control wires to it.


I wish it were PoE...oh how I wish. Power transformer is 24v AC but PoE is 48V DC...

I emailed the company about it. I'm not the greatest electrical engineer...

I'm stoked about the controller but the security on the thing is pretty lame. Just password authentication. If I didn't have a bunch of real Cisco network gear I wouldn't be able to safely secure it. Most folks don't run a hard wire to it but instead opt to buy a wireless network adapter for it. Oh heck no...

Anyway - I still like it.

Once the contractor is done I'll secure it with some network authentication. :D

You'd probably want BlueSpray. It has wifi built in so you don't have to buy that extra WAP.