Hunter Et Users Give Us Feedback

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

Never hear about the Hunter ET system. Hear lots about all the rest. Anybody using it and can you give us feedback.

[EagleLandscape]

I found a box of hunter sprays and a bag of about 200 hunter plastic nozzles while cleaning out our storage unit tonight that hunter mailed my dad about a year ago. also had two full remote systems.

hey, atleast they were free. now I wont have to buy nozzles for dinky repairs for the next few months.

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

I found a box of hunter sprays and a bag of about 200 hunter plastic nozzles while cleaning out our storage unit tonight that hunter mailed my dad about a year ago. also had two full remote systems.

hey, atleast they were free. now I wont have to buy nozzles for dinky repairs for the next few months.

Is it the cheap remote or the better remote? Might be able to get money for the better ones.

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

Here are two links for further feedback.
http://www.hunterindustries.com/Resources/Library/Technical/200602_hdln_connect_et1.html
http://www.hunterindustries.com/Products/Controllers/etintro.html

My only comment is that it looks like a difficult install at a typical house. I like the additional bells and whistles but mounting that is going to take some time. The WM is more install friendly since it mounts with a gutter clip. (The small monitor) If they ever get their wireless out and it really works their sales will skyrocket since hardwiring in sensors seems to be a thing of the past. Henry my assistant hardwires in monitors better than anybody in town in my personal opinion. I tell him he was meant to be a key grip or rock band set up man.

[irrig8r]

I had one scheduled to install at a customer's last April. The owner is a bank founder, his wife is big in charity fundraising... lots of potential acquaintances that I know these people would recommend me to if the system worked well.

I balked. First issue, I was told I needed to install the unit 6 to 20 feet above turf under an open sky.

Well, the areas not under shade trees were the front lawn area... nice big rolling lawn that is part of the whole look of this home in a rather toney neighborhood...

The only thing I can think to do is to conceal it within some kind of sculptural feature...

Meanwhile, I also looked into Rain Bird's ET Manager.... yeah, the nearest weather station is like 350 miles away in Irvine. :-( .... Not relevant at all.

In the end, I installed a wireless rain sensor, and I'll wait till something better comes along.

[lawnmaniac883]

6-20 feet? Why not put it up on the roof?

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

I had one scheduled to install at a customer's last April. The owner is a bank founder, his wife is big in charity fundraising... lots of potential acquaintances that I know these people would recommend me to if the system worked well.

I balked. First issue, I was told I needed to install the unit 6 to 20 feet above turf under an open sky.

Well, the areas not under shade trees were the front lawn area... nice big rolling lawn that is part of the whole look of this home in a rather toney neighborhood...

The only thing I can think to do is to conceal it within some kind of sculptural feature...

Meanwhile, I also looked into Rain Bird's ET Manager.... yeah, the nearest weather station is like 350 miles away in Irvine. :-( .... Not relevant at all.

In the end, I installed a wireless rain sensor, and I'll wait till something better comes along.

If I remember right you are familiar with the WM SL. How much did you get to look into the Hunter ET programming? Is it similar to the RB monitor in that it serves as a break in the common and you set the clock to run everyday? Can it be installed on any clock?

[Kiril]

CalSense with soil sensors

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

I balked. First issue, I was told I needed to install the unit 6 to 20 feet above turf under an open sky.

Well, the areas not under shade trees were the front lawn area... nice big rolling lawn that is part of the whole look of this home in a rather toney neighborhood...

The only thing I can think to do is to conceal it within some kind of sculptural feature...



This is why I'm looking into soilmoisture sensors. I run into a lot of situations in which hardwiring a monitor in is not practical.

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

CalSense with soil sensors

I saw this coming:waving:

[Kiril]

I saw this coming:waving:

Heck, if ya got the cash, why not? :dancing: :clapping: :dancing:

Might even be able to sell them one of our 10K systems. ;)

[NCStateME]

If I remember right you are familiar with the WM SL. How much did you get to look into the Hunter ET programming? Is it similar to the RB monitor in that it serves as a break in the common and you set the clock to run everyday? Can it be installed on any clock?

It can only be installed on Hunter Controllers that have a smart port on them, which is all recent controllers. It doesn't break the common, it basically takes over the programming of the controller according to the inputs put into the ET control box (Soil type, slope, shadyness, etc...)

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

It can only be installed on Hunter Controllers that have a smart port on them, which is all recent controllers. It doesn't break the common, it basically takes over the programming of the controller according to the inputs put into the ET control box (Soil type, slope, shadyness, etc...)

Interesting, Thanks. Have you installed one and what do you think?

[NCStateME]

Interesting, Thanks. Have you installed one and what do you think?

I haven't personally installed one, but I have seen them installed and played around with them. It is pretty cool that all you have to do is enter in the site details into the little ET control box and it does all the thinking & programming for you. Even better, it hooks into any existing Hunter controller so it is an add on for anyone who already has a Hunter controller. Having the site specific ET is much better than getting (and paying for) data transmitted from say the airport which might be 35 miles away. I know around us, it will rain at the airport (which is only 20 miles away) and not at my house.

[EagleLandscape]

What is our pricing on a complete Hunter ET system versus a complete SL system?
ALso, does anyone have any test data on water savings?>

I know the SL system beats the WeatherTRAK system most of the time by 20% overall savings.

WM has listed the wireless residential monitor as the SLW15, but as we all know there are many problems associated with wireless junk. It's always better to hardwire something in if the option is there.

[Rotor_Tool]

It can only be installed on Hunter Controllers that have a smart port on them, which is all recent controllers. It doesn't break the common, it basically takes over the programming of the controller according to the inputs put into the ET control box (Soil type, slope, shadyness, etc...)

This is correct, the unit only works on Hunter Controllers with a smart port. In addition, it will only affect or control stations on the "A" program. If you use the unit with the ACC controller set up for a 2 wire system, the station count is limited to 48 stations. I last heard the unit was on quality hold from a contractor friend in Texas. I know the unit was pulled off the market shortly after release due to quality issues.

Last pricing I saw was: $399 list for the weather monitor and interface, another $399 list for the optional anemometer. The weather monitor does measure rainfall through a tipping bucket rain gauge and does have a solar radiation sensor built in along with the temperature sensor.

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

I agree with John on hardwiring. Always better if it can be done.

My feeling on the Hunter is that it isn't practical for 95% of my situations. For the price I can get them in a WM SL and a smaller monitor. It would be fun to have a really accurate weather station at my house though. I've heard that once WM gets past their wireless holdups that they are considering a tipping rain gauge as well.

[irrig8r]

If I remember right you are familiar with the WM SL. How much did you get to look into the Hunter ET programming? Is it similar to the RB monitor in that it serves as a break in the common and you set the clock to run everyday? Can it be installed on any clock?

I didn't look too far into the programming.

[irrig8r]

6-20 feet? Why not put it up on the roof?

Because I'm not irrigating the roof :-)

No, seriously, they told me it needs to be above whatever is typical of what you're irrigating.

The roof is partly under some stately old oaks, and the part that isn't is two stories and not readily accessible for maintenance.

[Kiril]

With respect to programming choices, the Hunter ET rocks. With respect to their module implementation, it bites. IMHO, both RB and Hunter need to come up with a cost effective integrated solution in addition to their module based solutions.