HydroFLASH Home Automation and Sprinkler Controller (WiFi)

I installed this a week ago as a part of a new irrigation system installation. I did a lot of research prior to this purchase and it became available at the perfect time for me, as my yard coincidentally has 16 zones, and the competition I had been looking at only supported 10 and also did not have built in WIFI available. This controller fit the bill nicely.I had a little difficulty setting up the controller onto my network, but mostly because I had not touched my router for 2 years and had forgotten my username, password, etc... After a couple of reboots with my router and this controller, my computer assigned an IP address to the controller and everything was up and running.I mounted the controller in my garage, about 60 feet from my router, and it seems to be working fine with a "good" signal. I absolutely love the fact that I can control my sprinklers from my phone! Soooooo much better than running back and forth to the controller box in the garage, especially since my new irrigation system has a lot of bugs to be worked out still, like rocks in the valve diaphrams, new rotors and fixed heads to adjust, etc... A controller like this is worth it for installation time and energy savings alone, not to mention how convenient it will be to reprogram it as needed, depending on weather conditions. I am constantly tweaking controller settings, and I don't expect to be any different with my new system at my new house.

This is a piece of garbage. Setting up the controller is impossible. The HF keeps running through multiple WAP and changing the IP address. Even when I did through quick typing manage to connect, before you can do anything it changes the WAP, the IP address, or both. And then I'm not connected.What is extremely idiotic, is the HF selects a WAP (SSID), its good .... AND THEN CHANGES IT! Often to a WAP that has Rxd errors.After getting through a moving SSID/IP window I assumed I'm getting there. So I went back to my WAP (the one the HF happened to pass through and connect long enough for me to do anything) and put back in the secure connection. Well now the HF won't connect to anything. No SSID. No connection. And now? NOW? It refuses to change anything to find the WAP I just set up in the HF. Apparently the controller is set up in some weird configuration and it cannot find anything. I even went back to turn of security on the WAP. Same thing. And there is no hard reset button on the HF to clear it to the default.And don't even think about hardwiring this monstrosity. There is no ethernet connector. Just some 9 pin connector that I have no way to use.I'm not sure how anybody managed to set up this controller.NEW INFO: Three years later and their website is STILL being "redesigned". LOL. STAY AWAY!

Delivery was quick and the wireless model arrived as advertised. It worked without a hitch in controlling my sprinkler system AND my Insteon switches. I installed and set up the Hydroflash wireless at my computer near my internet-wireless--the OLD way. Now, my following procedure is not necessary. OLD WAY: First, on my computer's browser, I entered my ISP cable modem and changed its wireless broadcast name to the Hydroflash broadcast name and then eliminated the wireless access password entirely. I then plugged in the Hydroflash and it booted up receiving the wireless signal from my ISP cable modem. I then entered the Hydroflash IP address using my browser and in the Hydroflash program, I changed the wireless broadcast name to my former Cable modem broadcase name and entered my former wireless password as well. Then the Hydroflash unit detached from my wireless system of course. In my browser, I then entered my Cable Modem and reset my wireless broadcast name and password similarly. I rebooted the Hydroflash unit and it connected wirelessly again, and as well was using the same IP address. I then went into my Cable Modem through my browser and set the Hydroflash MAC address to that IP address as "fixed" so that it wouldn't change. While on my computer, I then entered the Hydroflash setup program (using its IP address still) to set the system up. NEW WAY: Merely go into your browser to your Modem's wireless settings and remove the password requirement. This opens your broadcast signal and the Hydroflash will see your SSID and should pick up an IP address. Enter the Hydroflash IP address and set your wireless access password. Then go back to your Modem and reset your security password as such. Since, I have on file all of the Insteon information for every switch throughout my property, I input the information into the Hydrflash program during setup. I had also purchased the necessary Insteon PowerLinc Modem 2413S which does comes with a serial cable to attach to the Hydroflash unit. Separately, I plugged the PowerLinc into a power outlet near the Insteon switches that I wanted to control. Doing that at each location of Insteon switches, I loaded each switch into the PowerLinc Modem. Because I have switches setup on 3-way circuits, I only needed to load into the PowerLinc Modem the "load" Insteon switch that connects to the actual light fixture. I did not need to load into the PowerLinc Modem the "power", or "line", Insteon switch which is the mate to the "load" Insteon switch on a 3-way circuit. I then took the Hydroflash unit outside to my covered sprinkler control box where I had an EZRain & Transformer already setup. I removed the antiquated EZRain and transformer. I installed the Hydroflash to the wall and then connected up the sprinkler wires from each sprinkler and the common wire. I first plugged in the PowerLinc Modem right side up into bottom plug of my single-gang outlet. It is a big unit but the plug is set high toward its top border. I then connected the serial cable from the PowerLinc to the Hydroflash unit on the wall. Then I turned the power unit from the Hydroflash upside down and plugged it into the top plug of the same single-gang outlet. Therefore, both the PowerLinc and the Hydroflash could plug into the same single-gang outlet. You don't need a pass through PowerLinc, a double-gang outlet, or any outlet adapters. The wireless Hydroflash unit picked up the came on using the same IP. I now have computer manual and program control (when computer is off) of my sprinklers and Insteon light switches for convenience and security. Tech support will assist all Hawaii users with the Hawaii Time zone which will be added in a future revision update. Also, for manual watering, once sprinkler valves are turned on, go to the Status page for the countdown of minutes. The Manual Watering page will refresh its readouts correctly when you return to it after the Status page countdown. If you stay on the Manual Watering page, and the readouts don't refresh after the sprinklers stop, just go to the Status page and back again.September 11, 2013 updated review:Product still works very well. I have lights and sprinklers on timers. I can control the system from my computer as well as my android phone. Now, the timers include the Hawaiian Islands time zone. Aloha.