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  • in reply to: Rain Delay Not Working Correctly #83000
    VIS6109_Strata
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    Has anyone actually seen a definition about exactly how weather forecasting and rain delays work?

    I know from the calendar in the app that the forecast is for two weeks in advance. Based on the calculated moisture levels as of the current day and the forecast for the next two weeks, smart watering can be calculated for that period. From examination of the weather information day by day, I can tell that the forecast values change at least every day.

    You would think that a rain delay based on a forecast would be re-evaluated based on the actual weather date on the day. The same would apply to a wind delay. If the factor instituting the delay changes, especially during the scheduled irrigation time, it would be nice if the delay could be cancelled dynamically.

    I think I need to better understand the relationship between the app, the cloud and the controller. I haven’t seen much information on this.

    in reply to: Flow Sensor Data #82999
    VIS6109_Strata
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    I have a Flume 2 installed and have linked it the B-Hyve controller. Unfortunately, this was done after the end of the irrigation season here. There is very little detail in the app to confirm the connection or to tell me that it is actually working. My hope is that it will allow for the direct measurement of the application rate and account for flow differences due to water pressure variations or other factors. I would love to hear about anyone’s experience with this.

    in reply to: Weather adjustment and program bugs #82926
    VIS6109_Strata
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    Smart Watering offers real potential for the conservation of water over manual scheduled watering. I hope that Orbit and all B-Hyve controller users recognize this and keep on Orbit’s case for get Smart Watering right!

    Does anyone from Orbit tech support or Orbit development even monitor this community forum? If not, why not? And if so, these should participate in the community by making responses to valid issues and queries!

    in reply to: Can I set up temporary additional watering schedules? #82925
    VIS6109_Strata
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    Smart watering is set up by zone. In my system, I have 5 of 8 zones (all spray) set up for Smart Watering. The other 3 zones (drip) are set up with manual watering using a some Programs.

    But one Zone on Smart Water with deeply rooted shrubs occasionally had new plantings with shallow roots until they are established. I simply set up a Program with that same zone to do short waterings twice a day for a limited period for root establishment. I set a start and end date for the program to aqvoid forgetting that I have some extra watering going on.

    VIS6109_Strata
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    I would love to have this facility also! I’ve just installed a Flume water sensor and having a (short) delay between zones would allow me to calibrate the actual flow rates and optimize the irrigation to minimize water consumption.

    I could see a simple setting under the Device Detail setting the could specify a minimum delay in minutes between watering with a default set to 0.

    Not knowing the details of the relationship between the app, the website and the controller, I can see how this might require a firmware update to the controller. I don;t even know if this is possible. However, in this age of IoT, a device that cannot be firmware updated in place is almost shameful!

    in reply to: Weather and rain delays all wrong #82923
    VIS6109_Strata
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    One factor in this problem is the lack of detailed documentation on weather use in the app coupled with the lack of any way to monitor the weather information obtained. As far as I can see, the app uses predicted weather for the 14 days ahead of the current day. Presumably it use this for the calculation of ETo and the scheduling of future Smart Waterings. This information will change day-by-day so the scheduling will change as well. Because of the lack of ducumentation, I can’t tell when or how often the app obtains weather information.

    Are rain and wind delays based on a single prediction for a day? If its rainy in the morning will a rain delay for maorning sessions be deferred but if there is no rain in the afternoon, any afternoon sessions should proceed as normal. Right? And delayed sessions should proceed after the rain? Right? And exactly how is the rain delay determined? It shouldn’t be solely based on a Rainy forecast status. It should be somehow based on the amount of rain predicted. It makes no sense for a zone in need of say, 1 cm of water to be delayed due to a prediction of 0.03 cm of rain!

    I would hope that the weather date is obtained more than once per day, hopefully something like hourly. Especially if watering has been delayed due to predicted rain.

    I have also wondered about wind delays for zones that have drip irrigation. I see that spray or rotor irrigation should be delayed in high wind conditions. But it should not be a factor for frip irrigation. I don’t know whether or not this is the case. Again, the lack of documentation.

    I notice that the weather stats in the calendar show a Precip. Prob. but all the data I’ve seen its always been 0. Even with Rainy outlook and non-zero precipitation. This might just be the particular weather station I’ve selected.

    I think an optional logging facility for weather data obtained would help to resolve many of these questions and facilitate more appropriate selection of weather stations.

    in reply to: Feature request: Programmable weather station polling #81957
    VIS6109_Strata
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    I have been examining the app weather and history data extensively in hopes that I can switch from a fixed watering schedule to Smart Watering. I recently switched from a commercial weather station to a nearby personal weather station as the commercial one only rarely gave a humidity reading. Perhaps it was only reporting when a manual reading was done. The PWS always report humidity.

    It seems that most weather stations that I’ve looked at report as often as every 15 minutes. Haven’t been able to determine exactly when the reading is made that controls rain and wind delays. Hopefully it is the most recent weather reading.

    The calendar shows weather for roughly 2 weeks in advance of the current date. The weather data gets updated (it changes!) as time goes on. Unclear to me if this forecast weather has any use in adjusting Smart Watering or implementing delays. Would be nice if the manual expained this.

    Does anyone know if Orbit actaully monitors these forums? It seems that there are no offical replies to anything posted here. Also, it looks to me that the app(s) are provided by a contractor, not by Orbit itself. In any event, maybe Orbit should consider making the app “open source” so that dome of these issues could be dealt with by technically competent users within the community.

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