Yes, and my opinion is just the opposite. Personally, I rarely, if ever, use the phone app. I find it a pain to use. I just don’t like how small it is on my iPhone. And if I like, I can scale it up even bigger on my web browser on my desktop monitor. I honestly like it that way! I’ll stick with the web browser app as long as they keep it functional, which doesn’t sound confidence-inspiring or promising.
I bought my Rachio controller because I wanted something that would EFFECTIVELY irrigate according to the “micro-climate” of my locality. Initially, that seemed OK, but I noticed it would water more often than needed, despite diligent attention to the settings (per Rachio’s recommendations).
I honestly thought the Weather Plus feature of the Rachio controller would do the job it claims to do - “provide hyper-local accuracy into the current and projected weather that’s not only in your area but right outside your door.” From my perspective, that was more sales hype than “hyper-local.”
So, now, I’ve purchased a Tempest weather station to provide honest hyper-local weather information to my Rachio controller. While I do enjoy the Tempest weather station and all its great features (including a way better app), it shouldn’t be necessary to purchase a somewhat pricey weather station to provide connectivity and accuracy to the controller so it can do the job it is advertised to do. It defeats the intent and premise of the original product.
Perhaps this is Rachio’s way of beginning to abandon the weather forecasting part of the equation for the controller. Slowly we will see not only the app functions fade away or grow stale but also the forecasting functionality becoming dependent on either add-on devices, such as the Tempest, or paid forecasting data. Either prospect is sad, given the high expectations and purchase price of the Rachio controller.
Further, Rachio’s foray into marketing other extraneous products, such as lawn fertilizers, etc., was not confidence-inspiring. It felt like they had lost their way of focusing on accurate water-saving irrigation products. From their website, it appears they have given up on these other market ventures. Good!
Don’t get me wrong. I do like my Rachio controller. I simply hope they return to their roots and focus on supporting the original intent of their main product and its functional quality.