Rain Bird ARC8 App-Based Indoor/Outdoor Smart WiFi Irrigation Sprinkler Timer/Controller, 8-Zone/Station, EPA WaterSense Certified, Compatible with Alexa, Indoor/Outdoor 8-Station

Easy setup even without reading the instructions. This is my third sprinkler timer setup, first one that can be controlled by an app. Setting up the stations in the app is a lot faster and easier than standing at the controller pressing buttons and turning a dial. I bought this particular one because my state offers a $100 rebate for a smart controller that will reduce watering times based on the weather if it rains. So, at the price I bought it at it was about $30 after the rebate. This smart controller will also water a little longer if it hasn't rained. I like that you can control it in an app and turn it on and off without going back and forth to the controller. It takes a few seconds for it to communicate but that's fine. I also like that you can name the stations and programs. Really the only thing I don't like is that it is only app controlled, there isn't much to control manually at the control panel it self, I don't see this really ever being an issue but could be just a minor inconvenience at times. I would buy this one again.

I upgraded from a 3 year old rainbird which i hated. I have 38 sprinklers and a ton of plants Why I love this updated version. 1. Easy to install. 1 screw holds it in place.The instructions are easy to follow. I had to call tech support, they are great. Fixed my issue fast 2 They want this indoors, mine is under an awning and after a few heavy high wind Florida storms, it did not affect it 3 The App is great. I can set a schedule and I never worry, it runs perfectly. 4. I can schedule watering or do watering on the spot choosing all zones or specific zones. My zone 1 has my palm trees which need more water. 5. Not so good Iphone App is hit or miss. It takes a while to load up from 25’ away from the rainbird. I was in Virginia and I could connect to Florida, but from a hotel room nope. You have to have a solid signal. They have wired and wireless rain monitors, i will get one soon Overall i give the rainbird unit a 10. The App an 8. But remember 99% of the time it is Set it and Forget it. I wot so buy this again.

Easy to setup, wifi app setup is synched to website, many different configurations. Does not come with the weather sensor, I thought description says it has built in but you have to buy that extra sensor. Still a good buy.

I had a perfectly good working Hunter X-Core sprinkler controller which was easy to configure & worked fine, but didn't have WiFi support. I'm lazy, & didn't want to go outside to change settings or pause the controller, especially in the rain. So, I bought the ARC8. Since some people have had problems with WiFi, I first connected the ARC8 to just power at the intended installation site, before connecting the zone wiring. Rain Bird recommends that somewhere, so you can find out if you have a good WiFi connection before proceeding with the zone wiring. They also recommend taking a picture of your OLD controller's wiring. Both good ideas. I searched for & installed the Rain Bird controller app on Google. Leave it to Google to only list the OLD, OUTDMODED Rain Bird app, but NOT the NEW one! Google also offered UNRELATED apps for my search, to please other app makers. Greedy **** **** ******s !!! Anyway, I spent 1/2 hour (in the rain) trying to configure the WiFi in the OLD app, to no avail. Then I found the new app ("Rain Bird 2.0"), & installed it. I set up my Rain Bird account (which did not appear possible in the old app). The controller wanted to do the upgrade immediately. Then the app just sat there for a couple minutes, before the firmware upgrade started (in the rain). After several minutes, the upgrade completed. The app indicated a signal strength of -58dBm which is excellent. The rest was easy. I mounted the ARC8 at my intended site & connected up the zone wiring from the picture I took, & went inside. Configuring my 7 zones & 3 programs in the Rain Bird app to be like I had with the Hunter controller was easy. The documented way to temporarily disable a program DOESN'T WORK! To work around this (as well as provide a program backup capability) is to first create a template for each program you want (including alternate programs). Then copy them as needed to your controller. Suggestions for users: Save the picture of your zone wiring in the app, where it allows you to save pictures of your zones. Suggestions for Rain Bird: #1: Adjust the colors in your WiFi icon in the app, so that good WiFi signals appear as green: -75dBm or lower should be red; -65 to -75 dBm is orange; -65dBm or better is green. -58dBm is excellent. #2: Have a separate place in the app to save a picture of the zone wiring diagram. #3: [This has been fixed] UPDATE #1: After 2.5 weeks, I decided to change the SSID in my WiFi access point, which means I have to replace the WiFi credentials in the ARC8. I had connection problems doing so & returned the unit. I have since come to realize that most of these were almost certainly the fault of a new phone. I have reverted to a prior phone (which solved all my connection problems), sent the errant phone to be RECYCLED, & changed my review from one star to four stars. UPDATE #2: I really liked the convenience of this unit, so after two months I decided to buy another at my local hardware store & give one another try. I set it up with WiFi, & then tried to change the WiFi setup. You can't change the WiFi setup using the documentation! You have to just get the blue Bluetooth light flashing (press the WiFi button until it turns orange) then delete the controller in the software, & then setup the unit from scratch. If the unit cannot find your WiFi network(s) automatically, you may have to tap "Can't Find Your WiFi Network" at the bottom of the screen, & enter your WiFi info manually (as I had to do). This process is not as robust as it should be! I repeatedly tried to get the unit to fail WiFi setup (which was easy), & then repeatedly used the above procedure to successfully set up a new WiFi configuration. THIS TIME, I did all the setup testing in the comfort of my house! Tomorrow I will wire it up to my sprinklers. That's the easy part! I also made sure I could return the unit if I had other problems,; the hardware store offers a 90-day return policy.

This unit is a surprising value. The Rain Bird ARC8 is easy to install for most (unless the idiots who installed the unit you are replacing used all the same-colored wires and cut the leads to as short as possible for the unit they installed, without any slack … or vision for the future). When I put it through its paces it performed admirably, and the first forecast rain delay worked as advertised when set to the parameters I selected. It is very important to note that the app you need to download is Rain Bird 2.0. This app now supports the ARC series. It connects like every other smart home tool, and like every other smart home tool you need an account, but this also gives you access to the web based IQ4 which is very helpful. I had no issue with the 2.4G connection to my mesh router, nor have noticed any drops at this writing. If you have a multiband router there should be no issue. The app hooks up with the controller by Bluetooth, you tell the controller the network you want to hook up to and give it the password, and if your network name is the same for your 2.4,5, or 6G bands, the controller will find the 2.4G way in. The app can be a little clumsy until you learn it, but it is feature rich. The only drawback I noted is that you can accidentally set it to manually run more than one zone simultaneously which should not happen. The other unit drawback is that if you run it from the controller itself, the zone running is only indicated by the number of times an led is flashing and you cannot preset any station times. It is very much app based. But you can run it from Norway or Tahiti if you choose. I bought mine with a rather substantial discount, but still would have been satisfied regarding value at the normal Amazon price.

Easy to set up. Just remember that it only works with 2.4GHz Wifi. Convenient to set up watering zones and times. Can turn on/off zones remotely from mobile device. Oh, forgot this feature: works with Alexa..!!!

Great irrigation controller, plus WiFi connection

I had a very old Rain Bird that seemed to be on its last legs. I ordered a replacement and was very excited to install it. Installation is very simple and straightforward. No issues there at all. Just take a picture of your existing wiring and reconnect the same way. I downloaded the app and began to program the system. I went through the entire process, then returned to troubleshoot an issue that was happening. The app required a password for the controller settings. Only problem was I never set one up so I couldn't get back into it. Then it displays a message saying I have four tries left until I am locked out. However, the positive things are that I can open the app and it displays the weather at the house, whether the controller is off or on. At this point, I am basically locked out of the controller settings and cannot manage anything. I have winterized the system for the year, so trying to find a solution at this point is moot. If it worked properly, I would say its a good value. The wifi connectivity is simple and easy to set up.