Rain8 Software Summary

 

 

Software Version

Golden Crater

MCS Basic

MCS Standard

MCS Professional

 

HARDWARE INTERFACE

PC Interface

Serial COM

Serial COM

Serial COM

Serial COM,

IP,

xAP

X10 Interface

2-way not supported

ACK on Cmd

Ack on Cmd or Poll

 

Ack on Cmd or Poll,

Test Buttons,

Command Timing

Rain8Net and WiFi Master Interfaces

1

1

1

Multiple

Rain8 Net and Wifi

Itemize Units (Wifi by COM and not by IP)

Itemize Units

Itemize Units

Itemize Units,

Search,

Command Timing,

Communication Test,

Command Buttons

Rain8 UPB

No

Yes, Itemize Units

Yes, Itemize Units

Yes, Itemize Units,

Communication Test,

Command Buttons

Rain8 X10

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Rain8 X10-2

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Rain8 Wireless

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

EPROM Programming

Yes

No

No

Yes

 

 

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULING

Control Strategy (Program)

Time, sunrise,sunset,

day of week,

or every 2nd,3rd,or 4th day

Day of Week,

Even-Odd,

Interval

Day of Week,

Even-Odd,

Interval,

Calculated ET

Day of Week,

Even-Odd,

Interval,

Moisture Probe,

Calculated ET

Zone Sequence Control

One Zone at a Time-selectable order

One Zone at a Time in user-entered order

One Zone at a Time

in user-entered order

One Zone at a Time

One Zone per Area

Multiple Zones

External Control

Run Styles

Zone to Zone

Zone-to-Zone

Zone-to-Zone

Round Robin

Inter-zone Delays

Zone-to-Zone

Round Robin

Inter-zone Delays

Program Modes

Automatic,

Manual

Automatic,

Manual

Automatic,

Manual

Automatic,

Manual,

Syringing

Program Start Times

5  including sunrise and sunset

24

24

24 per program

Sunrise/Sunset Offset

Variable Duration

Areas (Program Variants)

No

1

8

8

Month to Month Time Adjustments

No

No

No

Yes

Global Multi-zone program adjustments

By Percentage

By Month

By Month

By Month,

By Percentage

Scheduling Restriction Setup

No

Day of Week, Even-odd Days,

Between Hours

 

Day of Week, Even-odd Days,

Between Hours,

Wind Speed,

Temperature,

Rainfall,

Rain Forecast

 

Day of Week, Even-odd Days,

Between Hours,

Wind Speed,

Temperature,

Rainfall,

Rain Forecast,

ET,

External Discrete Inhibit

Max Cycles

Between Hours by Area

Log Restriction

Pump Control

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Fertigation Control

No

No

No

Yes

Soil Moisture Determination

No

No

ET Calculation

 

Head Efficiency Adjustment,

Crop Type Adjustment,

ET Calculation

Moisture Sensor

Evaptranspiration Calculation

No

No

Hourly Weather

Historical

Hourly Weather

Weatherstation

Internet-based Weather

No

No

AWS,

Weatherunderground,

MSNBC,

Weather.com

AWS,

Weatherunderground,

MSNBC,

Weather.com

Selectable Download Method

Weatherstation-based Weather

No

No

No

Yes

 

 

 

 

 

 

USER INTERFACE

Remote/Handheld Control

No

X10 Powerline

 

X10 Powerline,

RF

X10 Powerline,

RF,

PDA

Browser/Internet Access

Yes

Yes

Yes

Selectable HTTP port

Browser Style Customization

No

No

No

Yes

Graphical User Interface

No

Yes

Digital Pictures,

Calendar-based history

Digital Pictures,

Calendar-based history and status,

Current weather or other user-selected status devices

Touchscreen/Kiosk User Interface

No

600x800

600x800

600x800

Imperial and Metric Display Units

No

No

Yes

Yes

Control and Status Browser Views

By valve name, by valve

Zone Status,

General Status,

Run Log

Touchscreen UI

Zone Status,

General Status,

Run Log,

Run Projection,

Touchscreen UI

Zone Status,

General Status,

Run Log,

Run Projection,

Touchscreen UI

Scripting Automation Interface

No

No

No

Yes

 

 

 

 

 

 

RECORDS and HISTORY

Wiring Color Record

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Wire Harnesses

No

3

32

32

Zone, Area, and Site Digital Pictures

No

No

Yes

Yes

Water Use Accounting

No

No

No

Measured,

Calculated

Soil Moistue Trends

No

No

Yes

Yes

Valve Activation Logging

No

No

Yes

Yes

Number of Loadable Configurations

0

Unlimited

Unlimited

Unlimited

Historical Database

No

No

MS Access

MS Access,

SQL Server

Historical Calendar

No

No

Weather Items,

Soil Moisture Level, RunTime,

Weather Items,

Soil Moisture Level, RunTime,

Water Use,

Fertigation

Annual Trend Charts

No

No

Yes

Yes

Daily Detail Statistics

No

No

Yes

Yes

 

 

 

 

 

 

SAFETY  and BACKUP

Redundancy / Hot Backup

No

No

No

Self-Monitored

Multiple PCs

Min and Max Safety Intervals

No

No

No

Yes

Communication retry and failure recovery

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Email Notification

No

No

No

Yes