Orbit 24639 B-hyve XD 4-Port Smart Hose Watering Timer with Wi-Fi Hub

It works well. Having 4 valves in one unit is very convenient. The software controls the valve unit well. The software app could have a better interface but it works. A concern is that the batteries (AA) only last about a year. This was a problem for me because I put the unit in a box and buried it.

EDIT#2: It's been 5 weeks. Working perfectly, every time. I just can't say enough good things about my B-Hyve. Totally a lifesaver for me, and couldn't be easier to use. Just get it!!EDIT: I have now had this set up for 2 weeks...still totally in love with my B-Hyve! In fact, I just purchased a second one for my backyard. If there was anything confusing, complicated or difficult about set up or use, I'd be the first person to tell you....but I'm just not seeing it. Super easy, every step of the way. And what a time-saver for me!! I don't understand some of the complaints in other reviews. Its not rocket science! Best purchase I've made in a very long time...100% thrilled!!So I've only had this set up for a couple of days, and I'm no expert, but I saw a DIY sprinkler system setup on YouTube and decided to give it a shot.Using the B-Hyve, I got everything set up for my front yard and gardens. The app is easy - VERY easy - to configure and use. Guys, I watered my front yard from the comfort of my living room this morning after years of spending hours 2 - 3 times a week moving sprinklers!!! Praise baby Jesus, no more manual watering for me! 100% recommend the B-Hyve if you can't afford an in-ground system. This is gonna save me so much time! If I have issues down the road, I'll come back and edit my review but so far, I couldn't be happier!

This faucet timer is very reliable. I especially like the fact that it will not water the plants when the power is off, which might seem like a strange thing to say. But if I have no power, the well pump doesn't work, and if the timer turned on, it would quickly drain the pressure tank under my house, leaving me with no water at all (like my old battery powered timer used to do).

I guess I got lucky with my single tap bluetooth/wifi faucet controllers. That luck ran out with the 4 port XD.A big part of the problem is Orbit HATE you. There's really no excuse for why their documentation is so bad, other than they truly despise you, the user.As a first example, the manual for the B-Hyve XD Bluetooth Hose Faucet Timer has a components diagram on page 1. Absolutely nowhere do they bother to show where the battery drawer is. The very next instruction is, "Insert two AA (1.5V) batteries (not included) and replace the tray." So what tray would that be? They couldn't be bothered to show you, anywhere, in their documentation. If you try pulling on the black rubbery parts, that might be a tray seal, you'll damage it. You're supposed to guess that the tray is the thing hidden on the back. In their defense, they did use two point text, yes, it's really that small, inside a recess, to label "1.5V AA Alkaline Batters Only" if you tilt it to the light just right, and have perfect vision. Otherwise, absolutely, and I do mean absolutely, no effort whatsoever was made.Then you get to pairing. Oh, who am I kidding. They made so little effort there, it's a crapshoot as to whether you'll ever pair it to anything.I got it in a bundle with the wifi hub v2. Well, I say that. They tossed some bits in a box, shrugged, and called it good.Amazingly, the XD's manual makes zero mention whatsoever of WiFi and the Gen 2 Hub makes zero mention of how to set anything up, other than to use the app. Not wholly true, they do say to press the B-hyve button to put it in pairing mode, where it will flash every five seconds. Except, turns out, it doesn't.In the app... which was apparently designed by the same people who wrote the manual, good luck finding anything much.If you eventually find your way to My B-Hyve, then Devices, then you might find the + button. Upon clicking it... It manages to find the XD. At which point it goes to a Connecting Bluetooth screen and fails out. The only way to get past that is to go to the Off menu on the XD and hold it for five seconds to reset it. Then, suddenly, everything connects.Except you're now in Bluetooth connection and none of those web features you bought it for work. And there's slightly less than zero mention about how to get it on to wifi.As far as I can tell, you were supposed to connect the hub first. So go hunt for Remove Device, as you're repeating everything all over again.Oh, except adding the hub also fails on the add to WiFi network. But if you quit the app and reopen it, it comes back saying it did connect, it was just kidding with that crashed screen.Awesome. So now we can connect the XD. Not so fast! It does now offer a connect to wifi option. Except, even sitting next to the Gen 2 hub, it tells you they're too far apart.Quit the app and reopen it and, as if by magic, it claims they found each other.Except they didn't. If you try connecting via WiFi and telling it to manually water, nothing happens. Disconnect WiFi and change to Bluetooth and nothing happens. Reset the XD and the bluetooth connects and now you can manually water, getting a loud clunk as it switches. Back to WiFi and it's given up.And, the whole time, the Devices screen tells you everything's happily connected. Even if you unplug the Gen 2 hub from power, it'll still tell you everything's happily connected.Their app is deep, deep garbage. To go along with their awful manuals. Their products sometimes work, sometimes don't, but the app has no useful tools to help you figure out why, regularly lies about status, and the manual's so brief as to be of absolutely zero use.Sorry Orbit, but you've failed to hit the bar of "utterly lazy" and managed to plow straight into We Despise Our Customers territory.Fire all of your app folks. Fire your manual writers. Then put the device in front of people unaffiliated with your company, watch the misery they go through, then build and app and write manuals that explain all of the many, many, many problems you confront users with.

I read the reviews for the product before buying it and have to say I was very concerned going into this, but the product has really paid off. First I want to mention that I do have an iPhone. Not sure if that makes a difference to Android users but worth mentioning. Most importantly, follow the directions. They are clear and easy to follow. Down load the App to your phone first. I'm using the Orbit B-Hyve app from the Apple Store, but there is an Orbit B-Hyve Pro app available for $9.99. Not sure what you get for the price, but I decided not to try it at this point. Once downloading the app just follow the prompts. Super easy. Just don't do things out of order.I would have given the product a 4.5 Star rating if that was an option. I couldn't give it a 5 Star rating because I felt a bit jilted when I found out that the Amazon Alexa connection seems quite limited. Yes, you can connect to Alexa using the Orbit B-Hyve skill but it's not hassle free and doesn't appear to offer any real perk over just using the B-Hyve app on your phone. It may be that the Alexa Skill is still be developed for a real world experience. I'll keep my eye on it, but doubtful that it will be able to do what I want given its current limitations. I have two Orbit B-Hyve devices. After making the purchase and being excited about hooking in Alexa, I found that the Skill only supports one device and I still haven't figured out how to make that particular connection. I'm not the most techy person so others may have a better experience.All said, if needed, I would buy the Orbit B-Hyve again without hesitation. The price is great compared to other products I looked at and though it's a bit complicated to run through all the set up, if you just take your time and stick with it, the product is worth the effort.