Reviews for Orbit B-Hyve 4-Port Automatic Bluetooth Timer with Wi-Fi Connection Smart Sprinkler Timer | Pg 1 - The Home Depot (2024)

Display collects water

This unit has water collecting in the display. I own two more timers and they are fine. I bought them in early June set them up for the first time in July. I needed to buy extra hubs to get them to consistently work, that's the delay in use. I am in northeast Pennsylvania.

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The Ap is the “Key”

On initial setup I found this one frustrating while Manually doing it in the sun & I couldn’t read the screen. / I decided to “RESET”!Then Downloaded the BHive Ap on my phone / Connect via BT & updated the FirmwareSet up each “Zone/Hose Connection”, the Start Times, etc. via the Ap,& now everything works perfect!A few notes:A). When using the Ap/Advance Set Up, you have more options than doing it without the Ap. BT worked fine even 50’ away

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Easy to use Awesome watering solution

I originally had the single outlet timer for about two years and it works great to this day. I have a huge yard and needed more zone control. I installed this unit, and have not been disappointed. I have three sprinkler heads on 4 different lines.

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Doesn't work

Won't connect to Bluetooth. No matter what I do, it can't connect. My phones sees it, but says I need the app to connect. I try to use the app, and it says there is no B-hyve device nearby.

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Armchair Control with Options, Lots of Options

I did all the set up and testing on the bench - watch the video for details - which is much more convenient than crouching next to a ground level hose bib squinting from the sunshine to see the dials. There are many, many set up options and this dual controller can be made to run for minutes, hours and days if so desired. There are only two physical controls to set all variables and the large, clear digital display provides plenty of good, instant feedback. The app is pretty intuitive as well so using it is not a hassle.

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Easy to use, works great!

Don’t let the other reviews discourage you. This is a great timer! We loved it so much more than our older, manual timers, we bought two. Anyone who knows how to use a phone can download the app and connect this. We ended up buying the wifi hub (~$30) and it’s fantastic. If you’re on the fence, don’t be. I love that you can add photos of your zones so it’s easy to remember, you can customize your watering schedule to once a day, or several times a day, you can water manually. It’s great!

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Orbit B-hyve works like a champ

I did a bit of research before buying this one. Obviously if I had gone off the prior reviews I wouldn't have bought this model. But as we all know sometimes products get a bad rap due to operator error. I went with my gut and decided to give it a shot. After 3 weeks running the B-hyve I found that this thing runs like a clock! It's super easy to program. In fact I was up and running in about 5 minutes. I wish it had more options for the cycles (like skipping a day but a morning/evening cycle).

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Timer works fine, App is trash

Bought one of these timers to keep my lawn wet while planting new seed. Then realized I needed a second one, so I purchased a second one. The timer works just fine. Neither will pair to the app, which would be a nice function when it was POURING rain this morning and I wanted to turn off the watering for today, but was unable to. After going around MANY times with Orbit's "customer service" and being asked repeatedly if I have the bluetooth turned on I'm done trying to make these work. Avoid

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Easy to set up. Great way to manage water and plants!

The B-Hyve water timer was easy to hook up and get tested without the app. You can use the app and connect to it but I wanted to see if I could run it manually. I got it hooked up with one hose and it watered the garden perfectly. The second outlet will run to my greenhouse when It's finished but for now I just tested it without a hose and it works the same as the first nozzle. Looking forward to using this throughout the growing season and how much time it will save me compared to watering the garden by hand. It's important to note that this device shouldn't freeze and will need to be brought in if the temperature dips too low, we are approaching our last frost date soon then I will leave it out for the season.

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Orbit B-hyve Works

I'm just starting to use this Orbit B-Hyve Bluetooth Faucet Timer. Set up has been easy to do on my iPhone and I did test it out. I've used timers in the past and found that they leak after awhile. Time will tell if this one does the same. I will be using this one on a low-pressure flower bed setup and I'm liking the versatility. I set the timer for a 2 min open and it worked perfectly. Once I have the watering system up, I will program the timer to water at set times.

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Easy to use and works flawlessly

I'm so happy to find a remote timer with Bluetooth. So many devices these days use Wi-Fi, which is unnecessary for something like this. Setup is really easy if you use the app on your phone or device. You need to add two AA batteries, and you're ready to go. Download the app and connect to the device via Bluetooth. The app then sets the date, time, and location automatically, so there's no need for you to do it manually (though you can). You can manually set the timer or open/close the valves, but there's really no need to. The software on the app is pretty easy to use, but it's not the greatest user interface (I use the iOS version). I only need one zone for a sprinkler, so I have the 2nd zone just as an open valve if I need to fill a bucket. The app is easy to program, and allows you to schedule it pretty intricately, as well as set up a rain delay for those soggy days where watering is redundant. The nice thing about the wireless connection is that you can be at the end of the hose adjusting the sprinkler head and you can turn the water on and off without having to walk back to the faucet. This has saved me countless steps whenever I move my sprinkler.Totally worth the cost of admission.

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Works well. Needs the wi-fi hub to really unlock full functionality.

On it's own, this hose timer works nicely. With the wi-fi hub, I feel like this would be so much better. I highly recommend getting the kit with the hub as it will save a few bucks when bundled together.The timer alone can be controlled both manually via the UI on the timer itself as well as via smartphone using the B-Hyve app and Bluetooth connection to the timer, which I like. To control the timer remotely without the wi-fi hub, you have to be within Bluetooth range, which can be difficult. It says Up to 150ft range, but that is only the case if you have a line of sight to the timer. If the signal has to travel through walls/floors/trees/etc., the range gets significantly shorter. This is why I recommend the hub (though, take note of the compatibility issue I’ll mention below).The app can control the timer in “basic” mode, which mimics the functionality of the UI on the timer itself, or you can use “advanced” mode, which disables control of the timer at the physical controls to use a more sophisticated watering program set up in the app. You might be able to engage a manual watering or turn the timer off still while an advanced program is turned on, but that’s it (and I have not had an opportunity to test this out yet).The main issue I have with the timer is with the wi-fi hub compatibility. If you also have one of the b-hyve single outlet hose timers, the wi-fi hub for that is not compatible with the hub for the XD timers (and vice versa). The wi-fi hub gen 2 is what you need for this particular hose timer, and the fact that it isn't compatible with the single outlet timer is, in my mind, a huge mistake on Orbit's part (first, it should be branded as simply the hub XD, not gen 2; second, it should be compatible with the single outlet timers, too).

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Finally some water control at a reasonable price

The Orbit B-hyve XD Bluetooth is a nice addition to the backyard tools. I have had issues where I lost my garden or water heavy plants when leaving town for a few days in the summer. This really makes life better. The setup is super easy and the ability to join with Wi-Fi access by pairing with the Orbit B-hyve hub (sold separately). I will only use the Bluetooth capabilities on the app on my phone since I don’t like to add devices to my Wi-Fi network unless necessary.The housing is all plastic but appears to be very well built. The hose fittings are plastic which might be a problem if you screw and unscrew the hoses often. I’d use a good quick connector, so you do not put any stress on the fittings. I would also recommend not leaving the unit out in extreme cold weather as the plastic might become brittle (as well as your faucet bib freezing). Read the online resources to make sure the app gives you the various controls you might need. I can’t see how this wouldn’t take care of what you need but check before buying. Overall, it is a very nice unit.

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Too problematic

The concept of a Bluetooth-enabled watering timer is really a great idea, but in this case the execution of the idea leaves much to be desired. I really like that it's so easily programmable via the app or the device itself - but the obstacle is getting the app and device to work properly. The first problem was getting the device to be allowed to pair, the BT connection was fine, but the MAC address was seen as being associated with another account. It took rebooting the app for this issue to be resolved. Then, despite the device being connected on literally the other side of the wall from the router, it continually lost connection. The last straw, however, was when the program failed to run because of an unspecified error, and the app's advice was for me to retry > reboot my timer > reboot my phone > relaunch the app, or to reboot the BT on my phone and try again. So after trying all that 2x, it finally connected. Keep in mind this was all happening while I was watching at the window as nothing happened. Frankly, all this is much too frustrating to make up for the anticipated benefits of a programmable timer and I can't recommend it to anyone.

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easy to set up

The B-hyve faucet water timer was very easy to set up. The most difficult part was removing the battery cover!! It is a very tight fit which is needed to keep it waterproof. The application is very user-friendly. It walks you through step by step on setting up each zone. I like that it tracks water usage which will give me a better idea of how much water I am putting into my vegetable garden.

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Save water, save your plants, automate two zones of watering from one faucet

Many years ago I used single zone automated watering for a container garden to overcome over and under watering due to distractions while manually turning hoses on and off so I knew I wanted automated watering at the new house when we set up landscaping and gardens. We are also on a well now so multiple zones to limit water flow rate and conserve water use are essential. The Orbit B-hyve XD is fitting the needs as we intended as it gives full control on two zones from one faucet.The iOS app has a poor initial set up as it hides the password confirmation field under the touch keypad and you can't see what you are typing without a lot of fiddling back and forth to check the input. After the account was set up the app immediately detected the B-hyve and picked up the correct MAC address. The automatic connection spun for five minutes before I cancelled, then on the second try it connected immediately and led into verification tests of each of the zone valves. It allows you to attach a picture of each zone for easy reference of what you are watering in the future which is a very nice feature. Four separate watering programs are available to set days, times, zones, and durations of flow. I ran a firmware update from the app to be certain the B-hyve was fully up to date. You can set the programs manually on the B-hyve or from the app which I found easier. Both the b-Hyve and the app have rain-delay functions that you can stop watering for a selected number of days when there is enough rain so you save water and avoid drowning plants.Additional smart features are available with additional purchase including a hub device that allows you to control watering via WiFi remote access instead of just local Bluetooth connection.

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Orbit makes the best

I have several hose timers on my property and over the years I have tried many kinds. Orbit timers have always been the most reliable and easiest to use. Now with the B-hyve line they join my long list of "smart" items in my home. The set up is as easy as their analog or digital timers without bluetooth. The app is simple to use and set up a program.

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Very hard to setup

I found this multi-option hose faucet timer very hard to setup. The small instruction booklet has some of the basic operational information - but setting up the Bluetooth functionality is very complicated.Setting up the Bluetooth requires downloading their B-hyve app and the establishment of an account with a login and password. No guidelines are given for this, and I got repeated “password failed” warnings. You just have to keep guessing what they require for an acceptable password (how long? caps? special symbols?) After many, many attempts I finally got it to accept my password (I don’t know why this level of security is necessary for a faucet timer).There are also no printed instructions for pairing the timer with the phone. I was able to accomplish the pairing only after a cumbersome search of the online help options. All of this is just way too difficult and time consuming. Detailed instructions should come in the package.After getting past the awful setup ordeal, the timer does work quite nicely. I have the two-zones setup for early morning watering, and it works correctly.

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Game Changer!

I wish I would have gotten an Orbit smart timer sooner! This is changing the way I water my garden beds and I no longer have to worry about my plants being obliterated by the summer sun if we happen to forget to water them or if we have to leave for a couple of days, which happens often in our household. Setup was easy and straight forward with the included instructions. You will just need to insert 2 AA batteries which are not included. The timer can be setup with the controls on the face of the unit, essentially allowing you to setup a simpler version of what the app integration can do. You can manually set the start time, length and frequency of the watering as well as a manual override to open the ports for manual watering. The dual ports allow me to connect the drip irrigation to one, and the garden hose to the other. The unit is rather wide, so it is difficult to run a splitter before the unit and keep the screen facing up. If you run a splitter, the unit will have to be twisted out of the way to provide some clearance.Now, where the unit truly shines is in its app integration as you can truly get creative with the watering schedules, creating multiple programs with unique instructions. With the B-Hyve app you can also monitor the water usage of each program as well as control other units linked to your account.I do like that there is a digital watch on the display as I don’t always wear my watch into the garden, and this provides a nice source of time.There is a WiFi hub sold separately which will allow you to switch from being able to operate the unit from just Bluetooth range (within your house) to being able to operate it from anywhere via providing the timer a WiFi connection. The WiFi hub also enables the smart watering feature, which from my understanding, monitors the local weather and adjusts watering accordingly, but since this feature requires the hub, which was not included, I was not able to test it out.No leaks or any water issues to report, everything hooked up nicely.Just a few key notes that are stated in the instructions: The unit must be kept from freezing (Above 32f) and its pressure operating range is 10-100psi

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Well Built Useful Device

When it comes to garden hose connected automatic water timers, there hasn’t been a good history of solid products - from old mechanical devices to current electronic versions. Often they would fail mechanically due to rust, water leakage ruining battery connections, plastic parts breaking, etc. This Orbit dual outlet timer looks to have solved most, if not all these issues. Extremely water tight seal for the battery compartment and beefy construction should keep this timer going for a good while. It has Bluetooth capability so you don’t have to bend down to its place of installation each time you want to adjust any of the settings. It is a worthwhile convenience. Worth getting.

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Simple Set-Up, Intuitive App

Hopefully this will put an end to "forgetting to turn the water off." It also allows watering schedules to be programmed in, alleviating "forgetting to turn the water on." There is the ability to override programs with a rain delay.This Orbit "b-hyve XD" bluetooth hose timer was easy to set up using the free "b-hyve" app (I'm using an iPhone). You can name the timer, as well as the two programmable outlets.When using the app, set up is easy and intuitive, and takes just a few minutes. Using the app, the clock time was automatically set.The device seems to be all plastic construction, but I didn't have any leaks after the initial install. The device comes with a brief user guide, and requires 2 AA batteries (not included).Device is new, so I can't comment on battery life or overall longevity. There is no mention of a product warranty on the packaging or user guide.Made in China

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Orbit B-hyve XD Bluetooth 2-Outlet Hose Faucet Timer

All plastic one piece unit that feeds two separate watering zones.Set up unit for the day, time, zones 1 & 2, on/off timer, runtime and scheduling periodsAttaches to standard outdoor spigot.Attach two separate garden hoses.Large easy to read display screenWorks with Bluetooth,Automatic valves programed to your specific on/off time, run time and day(s) of week.Understandable programing nstructionsCan be programed prior to installationBattery operated (requires 2 - AA batteries - not included)No tools required for installation. Important: Keep from freezing. Bring in at seasons end

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Great timer, full of features

Thus is a great timer, the ease of setup with out the phone is great, I don't like the ones we're you must setup an account and use the app. Sometime my phone is upstairs or I'm outside and do not have any phones. This is so easy to setup on the screen, just dial and press the button. Great job implementation. For advanced settings where a keypad it is nice to have the phone. For example setting up the wind drying settings Great construction with brass female coupler with built-in screen.

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Worst programming possible

Want to water every 2 hours? It wont let you. Want to water every hour between 9-5? Nope. Want to connect via BT? Good luck. Could be a great product, but Orbit cut so many corners on programmability that the device is almost useless except for the most basic on/off function. NOT A SMART DEVICE AT ALL.

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Works well. Easy to program and operate. We have two of these units and use them to maintain our lawn watering

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After hours on the phone with Orbit they told me to take it back as it was not working

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Resets Itself When Triggered to Begin Watering

Worked just fine for about 3 weeks then decided to stop working. Reset the device, un-installed and reinstalled the app, and did all the troubleshooting and it continued to reset the entire system back to 5AM every time it was triggered to begin watering. Super frustrating.

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I now have replace 5 of my Orbit hose timers with B-hive units, some singles, doubles & 4’s!Really like the single Ap that can control all the locations

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