Orbit B-hyve Smart Hose Faucet Timer with Wi-Fi Hub Review
Smart sprinkler controllers and irrigation systems work if you have in-ground sprinklers at home. Some people, however, rely on their trusted hose to water their grounds. That also doesn't mean they can't take advantage of smart devices. The B-hyve Smart Hose Faucet Timer with Wi-Fi Hub taps into an outdoor faucet to bring connected control to your watering needs. The device is made by Orbit, a company that manufactures irrigation products, including the B-hyve Smart Indoor/Outdoor Sprinkler Timer, which GearBrain has tested.
What is the B-hyve Smart Hose Faucet Timer with Wi-Fi Hub?
Even those using a hose to water their lawn and garden still want to use smart devices. That's the goal of B-hyve's timer, which helps you manage water flow from your outdoor faucet with a built-in flow meter. The timer connects to your outdoor water faucet and home Wi-Fi network via the supplied Wi-Fi hub. You can then control your faucet through the Orbit smartphone app.
You get the same features by tapping into the same Orbit app as the one used by its smart sprinkler. You can control your faucet timer from anywhere, get updates and notifications, and set up smart watering to automatically adjust based on your local weather and home's landscape. For example, if the area you're watering has a lot of shade, your schedule will be automatically adjusted so as not to oversaturate your grounds.
Monitoring of water flow is a key feature of this device. For instance, if using your hose to soak an area of the garden, the B-hyve smart hose faucet tracks the amount of water you're using, preventing over-watering. It can also monitor how much water you use to wash your car or power wash the driveway. As a result, Orbit's Smart Hose Faucet Timer's monitoring capabilities can help you save money on your water bill.
Setup is easy
Setting up your Orbit B-hyve Smart Hose Faucet Timer with Wi-Fi Hub is easy. First, attach the timer to your outside faucet. Then, connect your hose to the B-hyve device. Next, plug the Orbit Wi-Fi hub into the outlet inside your home. The Wi-Fi hub is for indoor use only as it's not weatherproofed. Also, we recommend plugging it into an outlet (110V standard outlet) close to where your B-hyve device will be outside your home. The Wi-Fi hub connects via a 2.4 GHz wireless connection, with a 200-foot range, and can connect with up to 64 units.
After plugging in the Wi-Fi hub, download the B-hyve app, which you can find from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android). If you own an Orbit device, and have downloaded the B-hyve app, go directly to Settings and select Devices. You will see the photo of the B-hyve Smart Hose Faucet Timer and Hub, which you should choose, and then make sure both devices are installed and on before pairing them. If, for some reason, the app doesn't see the Smart Hose Faucet Timer, try connecting them using Bluetooth.
Once the devices are paired, you can use the B-hyve app to set up your timer, watering needs, notifications and alerts.
Features
The B-hyve Smart Hose Faucet Timer has the same features as Orbit's Smart Sprinkler Timer. You can select the soil type in your yard, plant type, exposure, and slope for each area or zone of your garden. This helps get your yard watered correctly — and not overwatered. You can also buy Orbit catch cups, which monitor how much water has fallen through the rain. This also helps B-hyve prevent over-watering.
Another nice feature of your B-hyve Smart Hose Faucet is its Water Sense Certification. The Water Sense program is a voluntary certification program designed to help protect the nation's water supply, which Orbit states meets EPA criteria for conserving water and protecting the environment.
The B-hyve Smart Hose Faucet Timer also works manually, letting you turn off the device right at the faucet through its on/off button. Just press it once to turn the water on and off. An LED light will remain green if water runs into your garden.
Smart Home Integrations
Orbit's B-Hyve Smart Hose Faucet Timer integrates with a few smart home systems and works with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa-enabled devices. You need to connect your device using the Alexa app for Alexa control. Both will allow you to use voice control to run your B-hyve devices. (Check out The GearBrain, our smart home compatibility find engine. It can help you find, buy, and connect any smart device. It can even help you find other smart devices or systems that are compatible with your existing smart devices, such as Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa-enabled devices.)
Best Use Cases for B-hyve Smart Hose Faucet Timer
Who would benefit from a device like the Orbit B-hyve Smart Hose Faucet Timer? If you don't have an in-ground sprinkler system but still want to have remote or smart control over watering your garden — particularly if you use a soaker hose — this is a good option. B-have is also useful for those who want to keep an eye on the amount of water they use (and their water bill) when watering cars, pets, or anything outdoors.
Specs
Here are the specifications for the B-hyve Smart Hose Faucet Timer:
- Size: Length 3.75" by Width 9.375"
- Weight: 3.7lbs.
- Power: 2 AA batteries (not included in box)
- Wireless Protocol: Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi control with Hub
- EPA Approval with Water Sense
- Waterproof rating: IP34
- Warranty 2 years
- Faucet Threading: standard female (inlet) and male (outlet) ¾"
- Valve Flow Rating: 10-100 PSI, minimum of 2.5 Gallons per hour
Here are the specs for B-hyve Wi-Fi Hub:
- Wi-Fi Compatibility on standard 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi connection
- Wi-Fi range: up to 200 feet
- Power Requirements: 110V standard outlet
- Max connected units: 64
Orbit's B-hyve Smart Hose Faucet Timer and Wi-Fi Hub starts at $79.99 and is available at The Home Depot,Lowe's., Walmart, Amazon, and Orbit's site. (For international buyers, you might need to check with Orbit to see which version will work with your yard.)
Summary
After testing the Orbit B-hyve Smart Hose Faucet Timer and Wi-Fi Hub for several weeks, we can say this device is helpful for those looking to turn their garden into a smart yard while conserving water. It's an excellent connected irrigation device for those without an in-ground sprinkler system and for those who want to have some control over their manual sprinklers. B-hyve's timer also works for those who live in an apartment or have a small backyard and for anyone who wants to see how much water they use around the outside of their house.
Make sure that you have an indoor outlet close to your outdoor faucet where you can plug in your Wi-Fi hub. You'll need this to ensure you can communicate with your timer through the Orbit app. For those with a very large yard, we believe an in-ground irrigation system with a smart sprinkler controller may be a better choice. Though B-hyve Smart Hose Faucet Timer can work, an in-ground system will help you run your yard more efficiently and save you money in the long run.
Pros:
- Price
- Water Sense Certification and monitors water flow
- Easy to install and operate, integrates with Amazon Alexa and Iris by Lowes smart home system
Cons:
- Need a good Wi-Fi signal outside your home
- Limited smart home integrations
