About to throw my Radions in the trash

bknapp · May 9, 2016

I can't connect them to ESL, they won't communicate with my WXM. Can't program them, can't set them up. I've emailed @EcoTech Marine and they said the only way to program them is with ESL and Wi-Fi. This shouldn't be the case. They used to have a CD you could use to program them but they no longer use that and you have to be on a computer with internet. Such a shame.

cpschult · May 9, 2016

Honestly it seems like they are with the times. A computer with the internet being a problem?

bknapp · May 9, 2016

Last time I checked my aquarium wasn't on the internet but in my home. Sorry you can't see the issue with that.

Midasreefs · May 9, 2016

If you're going to throw them in the trash, I'll take them!!

bknapp · May 9, 2016

Midasreefs said:
If you're going to throw them in the trash, I'll take them!!

I'm sure they're great lights, if you are able to program and use them. I just consider it a major oversight on their part and mine as well. I was under the impression that the was a CD I could use to program them. I'm just irritated and blowing off steam. Maybe I shouldn't have done so here in a public forum. I traded for a pair of G1 Radions for a new build and can't get them to communicate with my WXM and since I don't have home internet I can't program them.

McMullen · May 9, 2016

You got a buddy with an iPhone that will come over and create a hotspot using their phone. That should work!

bknapp · May 9, 2016

McMullen said:
You got a buddy with an iPhone that will come over and create a hotspot using their phone. That should work!

I understand there are outside ways to make things work, I don't feel that I should have to resort to those.

hybridazn · May 9, 2016

I was going to post that I was able to program my g1 radions by plugging them into my laptop, but then I remembered that my laptop is always on wifi. Sorry bud, I hope you get this figured out.

d2mini · May 9, 2016

Maybe you can give them a call and see if they can get you a copy of the old pc software that was used with a USB cable before EcoSmart Live was introduced.

bknapp · May 9, 2016

hybridazn said:
I was going to post that I was able to program my g1 radions by plugging them into my laptop, but then I remembered that my laptop is always on wifi. Sorry bud, I hope you get this figured out.

Thanks. I should've stuck with halide, they just turn on and off LOL.

bknapp · May 9, 2016

d2mini said:
Maybe you can give them a call and see if they can get you a copy of the old pc software that was used with a USB cable before EcoSmart Live was introduced.

I emailed them requesting one, they no longer have it.

bknapp · May 9, 2016

I can understand having to download ESL from them (which I've done, at a friends over the weekend) due to any updates and such. But, once downloaded I can't understand the need for internet being required. To program them now I would have to carry my laptop, two power supplies, two Radion fixtures somewhere to use Wi-Fi, kind of rediculous in my opinion.

d2mini · May 9, 2016

hmmm... i understand if they are not supporting it any longer but I find it hard to believe they don't have a copy of it somewhere.

I don't know if it will work but I googled ecosmart config utility and got this link...
http://ecosmart-config-utility.software.informer.com/download/

d2mini · May 9, 2016

bknapp said:
I can almost understand having to download ESL from them (which I've done, at a friends over the weekend) due to any updates and such. But, once downloaded I can't understand the need for internet being required.

It's cloud based. You log into their website and change your settings there.
The only thing installed on your computer is what allows you to connect to the website and for the website to detect your lights over wifi.
So you need an internet connection in order to do the programming.

bknapp · May 9, 2016

d2mini said:
It's cloud based. You log into their website and change your settings there.
The only thing installed on your computer is what allows you to connect to the website and for the website to detect your lights over wifi.
So you need an internet connection in order to do the programming.

And in my opinion (which I'm sure 95% won't agree with) that's absolutely asinine.

Opus · May 9, 2016

bknapp said:
And in my opinion (which I'm sure 95% won't agree with) that's absolutely asinine.

Count me as part of the 5% and I totally agree with you. I guess they assume if you can afford their lights then you have internet.

bknapp · May 9, 2016

Opus said:
Count me as part of the 5% and I totally agree with you. I guess they assume if you can afford their lights then you have internet.

Thanks. It's a big assumption to be made.

jedimasterben · May 9, 2016

bknapp said:
Thanks. It's a big assumption to be made.

In 2016? No.

If this were the early 2000s, then I would agree with you, but those days are long gone. Even my grandparents, who are 70 years old and who understand little about electronics, have a basic internet connection that has a wireless modem supplied by their ISP.

bknapp · May 9, 2016

jedimasterben said:
In 2016? No.

If this were the early 2000s, then I would agree with you, but those days are long gone. Even my grandparents, who are 70 years old and who understand little about electronics, have a basic internet connection that has a wireless modem supplied by their ISP.

Good for your grandparents, really, good for them. The world is moving to mobile internet, has been for years now. And as I've said, most here won't agree with me, congrats on being in the majority.

BoneXriffic · May 9, 2016

Live close to you neighbor? Do they have wifi? You could piggy back em. Just a thought on a solution. I would offer you my halides as trade but i refuse to totally move into this century