Apple introduced HomeKit support for automatic irrigation controllers with iOS 11 and today we analyze one of the first models that have appeared on the market taking advantage of this new option, Eve Aqua, from the brand formerly known as "Elgato".
It is a device that with a design very similar to that of conventional controllers, and a price only slightly higher, allows you to easily control the irrigation of your home with your iPhone or iPad, or Siri, but also with limitations take into account.
Eve Aqua includes in the box everything you will need to install it in your home irrigation, including adapters for the tap and irrigation hose, as well as batteries. It works with two AA batteries that give it a range of several months according to the manufacturer, since like all accessories of this brand, they opt for low-consumption Bluetooth connectivity to connect to your device and the accessory center (Apple TV, iPad or HomePod).
Its installation is very simple, and you only have to screw the accessory into the tap and the irrigation hose to be able to start using it, going through the classic configuration process of any HomeKit accessory, as shown in the video that leads the Article. Unlike on other occasions, in which I usually indicate that the Home app is the best for the configuration, here we have to use the Eve app if we want to make the most of the options it offers us, which are many, and that you can see detailed in the video.
Incomprehensibly, the House app allows us only to activate or deactivate irrigation and indicate its duration. The Eve app allows us to generate a complete irrigation calendar, in addition to offering us information on the history of irrigation carried out as well as water consumption. I miss that I had the option of using the weather to vary the irrigation, as the GreenIQ irrigation station does (link to the review), but it will always be something that can be added in the future.
However, the most important limitation of this Eve Aqua comes from its Bluetooth connectivity. A device of this type usually goes outside the house, and that means that it will be very easy for Apple TV or HomePod to be out of Bluetooth range, so what should be an intelligent irrigation control will become a normal irrigation controller with mobile operation whenever you are close to it. You will take advantage of the advanced programming that the application offers you, and that is maintained even if you lose connectivity, but remote access, at least in my case, is not possible due to this problem that I am commenting on.
UPGRADE
Eve has launched Eve Extend, a small device that serves as a bridge and that connects to your WiFi network solving the connectivity problem of accessories far from your HomeKit central. We have analyzed it and it solves my problems with Eve Aqua, great news. You can see the full review at this link.
Editor's opinion
Eve Aqua is a HomeKit-compatible automatic irrigation controller that is quite similar to a conventional one for price and performance, but with the enormous advantage of being able to control it from your iPhone, which gives it an ease of use that controllers usually lack normal. One issue to be aware of is the limited range of Bluetooth, so you may need the "Eve Extend" jumper to place it away from the HomeKit control panel. Its price is about € 92 in Amazon, similar to other "non-smart" models.
Pros
- Design and materials
- Well-designed and easy-to-use application
- Simple installation
- Works even offline
Cons
- More than likely you need the Eve Extend bridge
- No automations or scenes
- Limitations within HomeKit
