Automatic sprinklers have become pretty cheap and user interface improved. But still, there is so much you can do with a tiny LCD. Worse yet, the sprinkler is always somewhere inhospitable like the garage.
So when it came to adding a sprinkler for our new house, I went searching for something I could program using a browser. I did not care for fancy things like weather adjustment, a PC to drive it, etc. Wanted something just a bit more expensive than a "dumb" sprinkler.
Here is the unit I just bought and installed: http://www.irrigationcaddy.com
As the image implies, you hook up the sprinkler like any other (it has 10 zones). You then plug in your Ethernet wire and then go to your PC and point your browser to it and program away. It is so much nicer to see the entire picture and status of the system. Half the time I program the dumb unit at our main house, only to have it not come on or do the wrong thing.
Another cool advantage is wireless remote. With my laptop connected using wifi, I would walk around the yard, control the zones and see what works and what doesn't. Have not tested it but could do the same thing with a smartphone.
The box cost $129 which was a reasonable premium over the dumb units.
Overall, I am happy with the device. I am going to send them some suggestions for improvement. For example, I like to be able to name the zones, rather than using numbers. Other than little things like this, the device puts a smile on my face as I use it .
So when it came to adding a sprinkler for our new house, I went searching for something I could program using a browser. I did not care for fancy things like weather adjustment, a PC to drive it, etc. Wanted something just a bit more expensive than a "dumb" sprinkler.
Here is the unit I just bought and installed: http://www.irrigationcaddy.com
As the image implies, you hook up the sprinkler like any other (it has 10 zones). You then plug in your Ethernet wire and then go to your PC and point your browser to it and program away. It is so much nicer to see the entire picture and status of the system. Half the time I program the dumb unit at our main house, only to have it not come on or do the wrong thing.
Another cool advantage is wireless remote. With my laptop connected using wifi, I would walk around the yard, control the zones and see what works and what doesn't. Have not tested it but could do the same thing with a smartphone.
The box cost $129 which was a reasonable premium over the dumb units.
Overall, I am happy with the device. I am going to send them some suggestions for improvement. For example, I like to be able to name the zones, rather than using numbers. Other than little things like this, the device puts a smile on my face as I use it .