GHL Mini 4 Debate

[Tankkeepers]

GHL WiFi has a serious problem with networking. I don't remember if this controller has a spot for a physical ethernet connection, but if it does then use that. Do NOT use the WiFi it is seriously a PIA. I went away from GHL for this reason. Sadly GHL hardware is the best that I have seen on the market, but the WiFi issue is infuriating.

It does not

So ya pass on ghl here I come apex

Thank you for saying this just another person iv talked to who has had or currently has one and they all do the same thing making them paperweights for what they should do which is remote control of system with automation options

 

[Tankkeepers]

Ya apex also has some problems as they all do but from what iv found them dropping on hardwire is alot rare in practice some do sometimes others never have

While ghl every single one does that iv found

So I get no alerts no control and possibly have to fly home to fix it no thanks

 

[HuduVudu]

It does not

So ya pass on ghl here I come apex

Thank you for saying this just another person iv talked to who has had or currently has one and they all do the same thing making them paperweights for what they should do which is remote control of system with automation options

For posterity sake, for some reason the WiFi makes constant DHCP requests to the router. Like constantly. It is crazy the router logs get filled with them. The hilarious part is that it does this even if you set a static IP. This is definitely a software bug. You would think that they would have worked this out by now.

 

[gbroadbridge]

Hey everyone¡ Alright so I have a mini showing up at my house next week and after reading more about it; I’m debating returning it.
25 Gallon WaterBox aquarium with a 75W heater from eheim, Tunze Turbelle Nano Controllable power head, AI lights, Tunze osmolater.
Is it worth it’s money and do I have to little tech that can actually be controlled¿
Have a great rest of the day¡

Seriously, both GHL and Neptune Apex have their ups and downs.

Whichever one you buy, you will regret and wish you had gotten the other.

The grass is always greener ....

 

[HuduVudu]

Ya apex also has some problems as they all do but from what iv found them dropping on hardwire is alot rare in practice some do sometimes others never have

While ghl every single one does that iv found

So I get no alerts no control and possibly have to fly home to fix it no thanks

My solution has been to use ReefPi. In particular RoboTank. Sadly Raspberry Pis are hard to get right now but the controller is solid. You have to roll up your sleeves and do some work but the documentation is out there and like all things Linux once the pain of set up is over the dam thing runs without thought.

My 2 cents.

 

[Tankkeepers]

For posterity sake, for some reason the WiFi makes constant DHCP requests to the router. Like constantly. It is crazy the router logs get filled with them. The hilarious part is that it does this even if you set a static IP. This is definitely a software bug. You would think that they would have worked this out by now.

That's about what I figured was going on a software failure causing the router to be like ummm no you may not connect

May even recognize it as a ddos attack depending on how fast it sending requests

And this kind of thing right here worries me so a new update breaks their testing parameters and it starts testing wrong

And now I have no unit untill they fix it which from what I see will take a year or more

No Thanks

 

[HuduVudu]

That's about what I figured was going on a software failure causing the router to be like ummm no you may not connect

May even recognize it as a ddos attack depending on how fast it sending requests

My router would send the ip but the requests came so often it was like a DDOS. The router doesn't see it that way it just gets jammed up at some point and then the handshake fails. The worse part is that because it is doing this constantly you never know when the jam up is going to happen and it makes the disconnects intermittent. I can not believe that this has made it so far in their software. This is a serious bug and judging by the posts I see on GHL it goes back years.

Good luck on them ever fixing it.

Also my thought is if their software people are so bad that this first off got in and second off stays in, what does that say about their software. I passed and sold off all of my GHL.

 

[Tankkeepers]

My solution has been to use ReefPi. In particular RoboTank. Sadly Raspberry Pis are hard to get right now but the controller is solid. You have to roll up your sleeves and do some work but the documentation is out there and like all things Linux once the pain of set up is over the dam thing runs without thought.

My 2 cents.

I should not have to have a controller to control and controller that's just dumb

And iv got 5 or 6 pis sitting around here not in use

I use them as hubs for 3d printers
They also run alot of my robotic stuff

I already ran acrossed using a pi for internet

But my understanding is connecting the USB to the pi will give it internet but will disable email alerts etc as those are all handled by the wifi card

So exactly how does this help me receive alerts

Not to mention you have to fix a 700 to 900 dollar piece of equipment out of the box

Why exactly are any of you putting up with this non sense

That's a supper expensive price and your just ok with it not working how it should

Then you all wonder why everything is so expensive now

 

[169468]

Why exactly are any of you putting up with this non sense

Because, despite its flaws, it is still better than anything else out there (in my opinion).

 

[Tankkeepers]

My router would send the ip but the requests came so often it was like a DDOS. The router doesn't see it that way it just gets jammed up at some point and then the handshake fails. The worse part is that because it is doing this constantly you never know when the jam up is going to happen and it makes the disconnects intermittent. I can not believe that this has made it so far in their software. This is a serious bug and judging by the posts I see on GHL it goes back years.

Good luck on them ever fixing it.

Also my thought is if their software people are so bad that this first off got in and second off stays in, what does that say about their software. I passed and sold off all of my GHL.

Pretty much exactly what I was talking about

And ya from what iv seen it does go back long enoff for them to fix it if they wanted to

 

[HuduVudu]

I should not have to have a controller to control and controller that's just dumb

And iv got 5 or 6 pis sitting around here not in use

I use them as hubs for 3d printers
They also run alot of my robotic stuff

I already ran acrossed using a pi for internet

But my understanding is connecting the USB to the pi will give it internet but will disable email alerts etc as those are all handled by the wifi card

So exactly how does this help me receive alerts

Not to mention you have to fix a 700 to 900 dollar piece of equipment out of the box

Why exactly are any of you putting up with this non sense

That's a supper expensive price and your just ok with it not working how it should

Then you all wonder why everything is so expensive now

I have a Pi router with a hat that is gig and is very fast. I run OpenWRT ... zero issues. Great router.

My RoboTank does not connect to the internet. It does not use the USB, it doesn't need it. If wanted outside access, I would do the appropriate secure set up to connect in. I don't trust the big names for security and definitely don't trust them for privacy.

FYI the Pi routers are using the USB bus because they need two ethernet ports because routers need an in and an out. This is only an issue for Pi Routers not for other Pi devices unless the are trying to get two ethernet ports.

 

[Tankkeepers]

Because, despite its flaws, it is still better than anything else out there (in my opinion).

How is somthing that does not do what it's soposed to do

Better then anything else out there

Not to mention the amount of DOA probs I see and in consistent reading with the machine needing repaired right out of the box

No quality control so I may get a lemon then have to wait to get a ew one ummm no


A working product that does as it sopoed to is better then this any day every day

And from what u see trident does exactly this as long as you calibrate it monthly

Same with Alkatronic and mastertronic best all around

Kh guardian WORKS THE BEST FOR ALK FROM WHAT I CAN TELL

so I'm sry but no ghl might be one of the worst out there

 

[Tankkeepers]

I have a Pi router with a hat that is gig and is very fast. I run OpenWRT ... zero issues. Great router.

My RoboTank does not connect to the internet. It does not use the USB, it doesn't need it. If wanted outside access, I would do the appropriate secure set up to connect in. I don't trust the big names for security and definitely don't trust them for privacy.

FYI the Pi routers are using the USB bus because they need two ethernet ports because routers need an in and an out. This is only an issue for Pi Routers not for other Pi devices unless the are trying to get two ethernet ports.

Not an issue with the pi it's an issue with the 4 and 4e again

Everything iv read everywhere say if u use the USB to send internet to the 4 or 4e then the 4 and 4e lose the ability to have the 4 and 4e send notifications and email as those are handled by the wifi card inside the 4 and 4e not the pi

And once again this might be ok with you but I have to have the ability to remote control the unit

Also if you think you can't setup a router properly for security in order to remote in you don't know high end routers very well

Again your defending a product that does not do as intended

Doing half of what it's soposed to is not acceptable for any product

Sounds like they are knowingly shipping defective product not ok

 

[169468]

How is somthing that does not do what it's soposed to do

Better then anything else out there

Not to mention the amount of DOA probs I see and in consistent reading with the machine needing repaired right out of the box

No quality control so I may get a lemon then have to wait to get a ew one ummm no


A working product that does as it sopoed to is better then this any day every day

And from what u see trident does exactly this as long as you calibrate it monthly

Same with Alkatronic and mastertronic best all around

Kh guardian WORKS THE BEST FOR ALK FROM WHAT I CAN TELL

so I'm sry but no ghl might be one of the worst out there

Lol.

I was going to debunk your post but I can’t be bothered. Enjoy your Apex.

 

[Tankkeepers]

Lol.

I was going to debunk your post but I can’t be bothered. Enjoy your Apex.

Nothing to debunk here I'm going by the 100s and 100s of user reviews ic read over the last week and a half about each product

Yes ghl us good when it works but it does not work

I will not be home for extended periods of time this unit disconnects and has alot of problems that the others just don't have

I have found 1 person with 1 unit out of 50 or so with ghl that has not had it disconnect for no reason at rnd times

This product does not work period there is no if and or but if 49 of 50 people all have the same problem then the product needs to be recalled and fixed

If this was a car that just randomly blew tires and hurt or killed people it would of been recalled along time ago

(LOOKING AT YOU FIRESTONE)

but instead you all spend 1000s of dollars on a pieces of equipment that does not do what it's soposed to do

So have a good one be a fan boy and defend it to death

But you are buying a lemon and you know it but yet put up with it

There's a lemon law for a reason

These are lemons

 

[Tankkeepers]

I mean just do a quick search on here and see how many wifi problems these things have

And every use has said one of 3 things you don't need wifi it's fine without(not for me it's not)

I setup another device to give it internet(again why a d this removes some of the fetures)

And c the smart ones I sold everything ghl and went somthing else

Most often I see mastertronic and alkatronic

Followed by apex

Then kh guardian

Then reefbot

There ghl fanboys and then there's everyone else

I want a system that works not one I have to rebuild to make work period

That's what your doing by using a pi running a hardware bypass to eliminate a faulty system

This is not a solution this is a temp fix

 

[Tankkeepers]

Good luck but I'll buy a system whatever it may be that works not one I have to make work with bypasses that's just dumb and adding more fail points in the system

 

[169468]

99% of statistics are made up on the spot.

I would rather have the Wifi drop than a power bar fail (search for the number of Apex power bar failures).

Yes, the Wifi is a bit clunky, but I have more faith in my GHL to keep my tank safe than I would have in Apex (personal opinion) and don't get me started on Hydros. The GHL dosers are leagues ahead of anything from Neptune and you can't really compare the Trident with the KHD or IOND (again, in my opinion),

If you don't like GHL then you don't have to buy one, and telling them to fix the Wifi, or speed up notifications on the mini isn't going to achieve anything. If you prefer Apex, then just buy one of them!

 

[HuduVudu]

@Tankkeepers you are confused by who is posting and you are insulting me for no reason. I have not disagreed on the issue of GHL. In fact stated the exact reason why they fail.

I suggest you calm down and go back and read the posts. You are coming across as looking for a fight. You are just inciting a flame war.

A calm opinion will be better for all involved.

 

[Lucas815]

I bought a complete GHL Profilux 4 set and a doser 2.1 a year ago, and it didn't drop wifi a single time.

Guess what happens with your LAN connection when the router fails? It drops as much as the WiFi.

Even when disconnected from the network, it keeps on chugging along as usual.

This thing is litterally set and forget.

Do you seriously think that happy customers take the time to post about how happy they are with their products?

Disgruntled customers will comment on the internet, happy ones do not.

@Lasse Care to jump in? Seems like there is much disinformation going on here.