To Linn: And now you see why now reasonably good design team would consider producing an Ethernet only product these days.
The Rachio guys have no choice but to use WiFi as the Internet connectivity medium as their primary sales vehicles. They wouldn’t have a product without doing so.
Those of us wanting Ethernet are in the minority. So much so it’s doubtful that it will ever happen, IMO, with Iro, without it having some significant competition, such that it need Ethernet for market distinction.
Or, it happens because Iro wants to have a complete solution. WiFi causes products to have a larger support burden because it plain and simple isn’t perfectly reliable. Ethernet fills in the gap.
Look at the Internet tstat market - dominated by Nest, Honeywell and Ecobee. I use tstats because its a similar appliance in a home - one controls heating and cooling and another controls watering.
All 3 of these companies are WiFi only. In spite of the reliability challenges. And even with HVAC, which some argue is a more critical control function at the home than outside sprinkler control.
It’s not until you get in to the commercial tstats that you have an Ethernet option. And these Ethernet tstats are more expensive.
Rachio would have to decide there’s enough of an Ethernet market to warrant spending the money to develop a version 3 that includes WiFi or Ethernet (probably as one or the other to limit product cost). How many of us have an Ethernet line already out to the garage?
It doesn’t hurt to ask. If enough ask Rachio might make it an option. Probably need to encourage a lot of friends to ask too.
Best regards,
Bill