Aquascape84074 Smart Control Hub for Color-Changing Lights, Black

I had the older version of this, Aquascape 84074 Smart Control Hub and it kept losing my internet connection. This new one has an antenna and works great.

Works just like it is supposed to. It connects pretty well over wi-fi for it being outside and kind of far from my router. Keep in mind, I do have a $400 router. It connects easily over wireless and quickly changes the color from over my smartphone. Great purchase! Cleared all of my doubts.

The media could not be loaded. I could not get the device to connect to my WiFi router, and I am a network systems administrator with over 30 years experience. The instructions mentioned performing a reset if it will not connect, but very vague as to how to do so. I actually found a great video on YouTube where the guy explains the very simple but critical reset procedure, which after performing, the device would then connect. I didn't find that info on the Aquascape website nor in the instructions, so that's something the company seriously needs to correct. After connecting, downloading the app and setting it up, it works fantastic, and is still connected to my WiFi network over a month later with no network connection drops. Of course the router is only about 30 feet away, so I would expect that. I is controlling an aquascape 2 watt waterfall puck light in my basalt stone waterfall feature, and it "rocks!" I'll be upgrading to the aquascape color changing 8 watt bullet light, since the brightness of the 2 watt light is not enough, due to an exceptionally bright LED street light right in front of my house!

Aquascape generally makes really good products that justify the premium price, but this control hub is a disappointment. I've had it a few weeks now, and as others have mentioned, it's incredibly hit-or-miss whether the internet connection is stable. I've moved it within 30 feet of a wifi point, made sure it has access to a 2.4GHz network, factory reset it several times, and cycled the power numerous times, all to no avail. Some nights the programmable schedule works and it turns on and off, but at least a third of the time it shows as offline in the app and my lights can't be controlled. And before anyone asks, yes, I have good home wifi coverage and there is a solid signal where the hub is installed.The app that you use to connect to the hub is also just OK. There's one section of the app for controlling the lights, a completely different section for setting up a schedule to turn the lights on at night, and you'll then need to create a separate schedule for turning the lights off each night. The schedule has hard-coded options to select from, so while you can have them turn on or off 1/2/3/4 hours before or after sunset, if you want to wait until 5 hours after sunset that's not available. It's convenient being able to control your lights from your phone (assuming the hub is online), but the app could definitely be simpler and easier to use.Overall I love the Aquascape color changing lights when they work, but given my experience with this control hub I'll probably have to shell out another $30 for the remote just to be able to get my lights on and off consistently.

Connects easily and reliably

Very good items. I have had no bad experiences with this item.

made my pond beautiful

This device doesn't need to be this complex. A simpler device with photo cell is really all that would be needed.As they upgraded, they over complicated something so simple and now it costs the end user more to use.