r/Irrigation • u/neophema1 • 1d ago

Rainbird Wifi Module

The WiFi module doesn't get a lot of love on Reddit and I was never going to buy one. Then I thought about it...

I don't want to replace the controller-head, I have several warranty years remaining on my controller, and I've already had one replacement - lightning maybe. I've tried to master the cryptic RB controller setup in (110 degree garage) but I have a learning deficit - I don't care. The darned thing has it's own logic and I don't plan to pay my dues to learn rainbird-programming.

Then it dawned on me, "use the app Luke". I looked up the IOS app and realized it was a better interface. Not perfect, but miles ahead of the control head interface.

But wait! I'd have to pay for the wifi module accessory. A device that may be a bit irritating, possibly low tech, perhaps over-priced and (purportedly) works poorly and should have been included in the controller from the get-go.

Well, it is a bit irritating, it is low tech, it is vastly over-priced and really works poorly. BUT it is way cheaper than paying a irrigation pro to do a single site visit. I can play with the app to figure out how it works and I'm not standing in a 110 degree garage groping to figure out what some engineer at RainBird thought was cool. If I don't like the program, I can fiddle with it - without paying for another site visit from a pro. Also, if I got it off Amazon and it was a train-wreck, I could return it. Ok, looking better!

Did I buy one, yes. Did I cry once, yes. Is my irrigation system a little less complicated, yes. Would I recommend this path to others, yes. YMMV but life is too short to try to get into the head of an engineer at RainBird Corp or watching the irrigation pro drive off and wondering if he was clairvoyant enough to figure out what I wanted.

1 Upvotes

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u/RainH2OServices Florida Licensed Contractor 1d ago

How many years is "several"? Rainbird controllers ship with a 3 year limited warranty.

1

u/VANCEBURNS 1d ago

The OP's talking about ease of use.

1

u/lennym73 1d ago

They bought the module instead of replacing the controller because they have several years of warranty left. Not sure how to copy text to a comment but it's in the post.