Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)Bought this unit to replace an ECx that had intermitent button and program selection switch, but otherwise had worked well for the last 10 years. I also liked the idea of the computer programming and no battery. Basic operation of the unit is fine, but the "Automatic Circuit Protection" makes this unit very unreliable. This "feature" repeatedly disables most of the existing valves to "prevent damage to the timer...". The way you become aware of this feature is that all your plants start dying, which doesn't take long in the Arizona summers. If this happens while you're on vacation, you could come back to a completely dead landscape.
The computer programming is a great idea, but is the worst software I've ever used. The worst offender is the time selection. The times cannot be entered directly from the keyboard, but only with the mouse clicking on the up-down buttons. However, the up down buttons lack an auto repeat feature so each increment of 15 minutes requires a separate click of the mouse (that's 48 clicks to change the time by 12 hours.) To make matters worse, once the arrow is click, it is disabled until the mouse is moved. So the sequence is click - move mouse - click - move mouse.... This was also the first time that I've had software that crashed my Windows XP Pro computer with a "blue screen of death". There are many other, less serious, problems with this software that make it pretty annoying to use.
I've reinstalled the 10 year old EXc unit until I can find a suitable replacement from a different manufacturer.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Toro 53787 Ecxtra 6-to-8-Zone Sprinkler Timer with Software and Module
The Toro ECxtra 6-to-8-zone sprinkler timer with software and transport module takes the mystery out of watering your landscape. Using your personal computer and the included scheduling software and TimePod, you can create custom watering schedules and manage your sprinkler timer automatically. The user-friendly, interactive software application easily customizes a watering schedule for your yard based on your local weather and your yard's unique watering needs, also saving water and improving the health and beauty of your landscape. The TimePod transport module, included with the six-to-eight-zone timer, quickly transfers your watering schedule from your computer to the timer. This system features programmable pump start/master valve connection, valve failure detection, non-volatile memory, three programs, four start times, seasonal adjust, snap-in wire connectors, and rain delay. The timer is expandable to 10 zones with a two-zone expansion module (sold separately). For new or replacement installations, this timer is compatible with other brands of irrigation systems.
