Ethernet port a requirement, when add?

post by Joe1 on Apr 4, 2020

Your sprinklers offers powerful capabilities, but I hope you produce a wired ethernet port Rachio.

Until there is that feature I must pass on this, despite my strong desire to get one, unfortunately must pass.

Range and Interference issues are the most obvious.

Setup problems could occur (Wi-Fi adds complexity to connection).

Access to my sprinkler location is easy, would take me about 10 minutes to toss a line to my switch (and cost less than a repeater)

Security is the biggest issue I have and one people should be aware of. Any Wi-Fi device is a door for exploitation, even a sprinkler controller. Criminals use equipment to listen to a device for a few minutes, then spoof the Wi-Fi station into thinking a malicious cracker computer is a sprinkler.

In my house I have an 8 point router for all fixed devices (like cameras, security), with Wi-Fi station on a completely different branch and firewalled for safety.

When the Rachio includes Ethernet, I would like to see a physical switch for the Wifi.

I have seen some devices automatically turn on WiFi after power issues, which is not safe.

Thank you for reading my concern and with.

All best.

post by GeoWoz on Apr 4, 2020

I agree that having a hard-wired Ethernet connection option for the Rachio 3 would be a valuable improvement. After having problems with the WiFi signal strength in my garage when I first installed the Rachio 3, I found that I had to install a WiFi extender pod in the garage to get it to work. My house is hard-wired with Ethernet cables, and I would have much preferred to use an Ethernet connection in the garage rather than installing a WiFi booster pod. I agree that security is a concern with a WiFi connection, but because there if no other option, I have decided to accept the small possibility of getting a security breach with the WiFi system to obtain the benefits of having the Rachio 3 smart sprinkler system.

post by Stewart on Apr 4, 2020

Your request is not realistic; you won’t be seeing smart sockets, light bulbs, thermostats, etc. with Ethernet connections. The boogeyman is not out to get you. Most prosumer APs (Ubiquiti, Mikrotik, high-end TP-Link, etc.) support multiple SSIDs on separate VLANs. Set up a network just for your IoT devices; if it gets hacked into, the intruders will have no access to your valuable data.

post by wafflesngravy on Apr 5, 2020

I’m a network engineer, you should be far more worried about your WAN port than your wifi. Wifi has a range of what, a dozen nearby homes? There are billions of devices trying to hack you from the WAN side and unless you have a real router you don’t even see it happening.

post by Joe1 on Apr 5, 2020

I can find wired sprinkler systems, wired cameras, wired security, wired thermostats, all of that exists so you are wrong.

Not hard to make some devices with RasberryPi either, if one had time to tinker.

Why did bother posting that nonsense?

post by wafflesngravy on Apr 6, 2020

Good luck to you Joe. Be sure to stock up on tinfoil in these hard times.

post by Joe1 on Apr 7, 2020

If I need them (I won’t), I will get my stock from you.

After all, no need for EM protection when one is not blasted from multiple nodes.

Leave the WiFi for mobile devices.

post by Joe1 on Apr 26, 2020

I would happily pay to Beta test a wired version of system.

I beta test software and know the NDA and legal requirements of doing this.

post by Stewart on Apr 26, 2020

Please stop requesting this. You are wasting your time, as well that that of the community and Rachio.

There is essentially no demand for such a product. Anyone concerned about security issues would simply put their untrusted IoT devices on a separate VLAN, with access to the cloud but isolated from valuable local assets.

post by Joe1 on May 1, 2020

Stewart, are you an employee of Rachio? You are speaking as one.

GeoWoz also voiced support for Ethernet, how many others would get one if it had Ethernet?

Sprinkler stations are some of the most distant devices on a property, some locations easily accessible by cable. 200ft of Ethernet cable is <$20, a Repeater is >$30 (not all with work with competing brands).

post by Joe1 on May 18, 2020

Example of WiFi connection problems, on both units one customer had.

The Android Developer and Rachio Co-founder was involved in solving this problem. Eventually yet another unit (third unit) had to be sent over to successfully connect.

post by Chris2 on Oct 9, 2020

For health reasons, I have removed all WiFi from my home and all devices, except my Rachio controller, are now hardwired. Is there a way to connect my Rachio controller to the Internet with an Ethernet cable?

post by Stewart on Oct 9, 2020

Not directly, but a device such as
https://www.amazon.com/GL-iNET-GL-MT300N-V2-Repeater-300Mbps-Performance/dp/B073TSK26W/
may meet your needs. There are many similar inexpensive devices available. Put it, along with your controller, in a metal enclosure with small vent holes.

post by Joe1 on Oct 15, 2020

An ETHERNET controlled power switch!

Reliable connection, always stable, even includes automatic call-home. BRILLIANT!

post by rraisley on Oct 15, 2020

I like ethernet cables too, but the idea of wifi is not necessarily to service devices that move, but rather to service areas without an ethernet cable. Like outside. Like my garage. Like places where irrigation controllers are located.

post by Sean1 on Oct 26, 2020

I would love to see an ethernet option for the rachio. As of now I have decided not to buy the rachio, because it doesn’t offer ethernet.

post by Thomas_Lerman on Oct 26, 2020

You are correct about windows having metal in them. I had a few replaced because the seal was bad which caused condensation on the inside of these windows.

post by RPostWVU on Oct 28, 2020

Squard D makes a schedule based and remote controlled based panel intended for commercial and industrial lighting. Powerlink is the name.

post by wkearney99 on Nov 1, 2020

There’s not "no demand". I’d buy one if it had wired support. My Gen2 16 has had wifi issues, not often, but I’d love to take wifi out of the equation entirely.

post by HealthyEnergetics on Nov 13, 2025

I am strongly in favor of ethernet. I have fiber optic in the house after the Rachio went in. I started very early with the smart house. But my issue is more that the fiber works so much better.