BSC08i 8 Zone Smart WiFi Sprinkler Controller Timer - Wireless Irrigation System for Lawns & Gardens | Remote Control via App, Water Saving, Easy Installation

This is the first Amazon review I have ever written; I am doing so because this is a great prroduct. This was the first of five of the BlueSpray controllers I have now purchased and installed. Prior to this purchase I had a couple of questions that were asked via email. I received a very detailed response to those questions the next morning, which to me was indicative of the response turnaround time of a service assistance request. I ordered this unit from Amazon based on those answers. This unit worked perfectly and was configured correctly after following the included directions. I recommend using a laptop running Windows 7 with its own wireless node for configuration rather than a hard wired network desktop computer. The unit was configured and tested for three days prior to installation outdoors as a retrofit into a Hunter controller case that was the existing sprinkler controller. The Hunter 24 vac power supply was used and although some case mods were needed to the BlueSpray case, the retrofit installation on a four zone system took about 15 minutes. Setup of zones and schedules can be as simple or as complex as you want to make it. I have programmed 40 separate schedules on a controller with 10 zones and 40 seasons without reaching any memory limitations. I give the unit high marks for programming flexibility. I also appreciate the capability to use my own photographs of our property as a backdrop for showing sprinkler zone locations, although it would be nice to be able to host those photos on my local computer in addition to through a Photobucket type of picture sharing site that is currently supported. I also appreciate that I can access all five sprinkler controllers through our tablet or through our smartphones and manually actuate an individual sprinkler. And I really appreciate since there are no external programming controls on the BlueSpray case, that other people can no longer walk up to our controllers and change the settings without my knowledge. One controller is about 180 feet from the house and the nearest WiFi access point and is mounted on a block wall and has maintained a consistently acceptable, not great, but workable, WiFi signal to a Dlink DAP-1650 AP mounted indoors through a brick exterior wall on the second floor of our home. A second controller is mounted on the far side of a block wall 100 feet from the same DLink AP and has had a consistently good WiFi signal. The other three controllers are less than 80 feet from an AP through at least one brick wall and consistently show good or better signal strength. Because of the programming flexibility in the controller, I do plan to control other remote devices around our property, such as lights and large irrigation valve actuators, through the BlueSpray controller.The second and third controllers were ordered through Amazon, but arrived in a condition that indicated the possibility that they were previously used units. I resolved/repaired the issues and they worked as good as new. The fourth and fifth controllers were ordered through another on-line seller and were both configured and installed without any problems.One reason I chose the BlueSpray controllers is that all data and settings are stored on the controller and no "Cloud" access is required. Internet access is need for the controller through the main home router to access weather forecast data, if you enable that functionality.After configuring all five units, I did find a small quirk in the way the algorithms handled the display of the future run times in the Calendar display when run times were set up in seconds. I reported it to the service techs and they worked with me continuously to find the cause and resolve it. The fix will appear in the next firmware update. The company seems to be committed to working with its customers to improve the product and incorporate ideas for future capability betterment.This is a great product with a lot of potential for additional applications for home automation. I look forward to using that additional functionality as the company develops.