Reef Breeders Bricked

[NanoSteam]

Ok genuine question... What happens if RB ever went out of business. Do the thousands of sold lights suddenly become expensive paperweights? Do these new revised boards and new merdidisns allow function without an app?

 

[VintageReefer]

I am failing to see what's at question if you read or reviewed each post. RB is a stand up company, the original poster appears to have sought and found resolution.
Some aspects or communications between parties were misinterpreted.
End of drama and everyone lived happily ever after.

I don’t get it either. I truly don’t understand what’s biased, why we need bean animal roped in to give an opinion on a resolved situation, or what could be questionable. The information I gave was stuff I learned from reading reef breeders posts, website, experience from owning and using the fixtures, or phone conversation with them discussing the lights.

Im not giving out any trade secrets or IP nor am I discussing / comparing any other brand.

This is a pretty black and white situation once you remove emotion, assumptions and opinions - and focus on facts - which is what I did.

This happened. That happened. This happened. That happened. Resolution. Summarized start to finish in post 76

 

[VintageReefer]

Ok genuine question... What happens if RB ever went out of business. Do the thousands of sold lights suddenly become expensive paperweights?

Nope

Do these new revised boards and new merdidisns

Nothing is revised, changed or updated

It’s just a replacement wifi board

allow function without an app?

you can control the meridians and edge bars without an app

When pairing the light to your app, a cert of some kind is installed on the WiFi chip.

Since the 3d party app is deleted, people that never upgraded to the official app, have the 3d party cert stuck on the wifi chip, preventing the new app from being able to install properly. They are working on a fix. When the 3d party app existed, switching to the official app was a non issue

Buying a new wifi card is a new blank slate to accept a cert. that’s it. It’s a solution while the developers figure out the coding to get their app to overwrite the old one

The app uses wifi to connect to cloud services. If RB went under, or the cloud servers went down, the light also has Bluetooth for local connection and a manual controller available.

 

[Biff0rz]

Ok genuine question... What happens if RB ever went out of business. Do the thousands of sold lights suddenly become expensive paperweights? Do these new revised boards and new merdidisns allow function without an app?

Photons may be uncontrollable unless rb has a sunset plan. But, this is normal for IoT devices. So, I wouldn't be shocked. Meridians, not sure. I assume for both models they could sunset by allowing Bluetooth control.

 

[VintageReefer]

Photons may be uncontrollable unless rb has a sunset plan. But, this is normal for IoT devices. So, I wouldn't be shocked. Meridians, not sure. I assume for both models they could sunset by allowing Bluetooth control.

Photons can use a remote control or the app, one or the other. Parts are available to switch to remote control if you want/need

Meridians can get a manual controller add on

 

[NanoSteam]

Nope


Nothing is revised, changed or updated

It’s just a replacement wifi board

you can control the meridians and edge bars without an app

When pairing the light to your app, a cert of some kind is installed on the WiFi chip.

Since the 3d party app is deleted, people that never upgraded to the official app, have the 3d party cert stuck on the wifi chip, preventing the new app from being able to install properly. They are working on a fix. When the 3d party app existed, switching to the official app was a non issue

Buying a new wifi card is a new blank slate to accept a cert. that’s it. It’s a solution while the developers figure out the coding to get their app to overwrite the old one

The app uses wifi to connect to cloud services. If RB went under, or the cloud servers went down, the light also has Bluetooth for local connection and a manual controller available.

Had no idea they had a manual controller, just checked and for $40 this would be a must buy for me as a backup if I had a RB fixture.

 

[Biff0rz]

Had no idea they had a manual controller, just checked and for $40 this would be a must buy for me as a backup if I had a RB fixture.

Why? They aren't going out of business so....no need right now. They aren't the type of company to leave customers high and dry like others.

 

[NanoSteam]

Why? They aren't going out of business so....no need right now. They aren't the type of company to leave customers high and dry like others.

Not just about going out of business, a situation like OP's is a possibility and you won't be stuck with your lights at 100% and having to reset them often.

 

[smitten with ocean life]

thanks @VintageReefer ! i didnt realize that you can use the lights without an app. i will keep them on my radar when i need to replace my lights

 

[Biff0rz]

Not just about going out of business, a situation like OP's is a possibility and you won't be stuck with your lights at 100% and having to reset them often.

I switched to the new app...so, not a risk.

 

[Tahoe61]

thanks @VintageReefer ! i didnt realize that you can use the lights without an app. i will keep them on my radar when i need to replace my lights

I am really really happy with the controller on my Meridian. Having had issues with the AI app and others I will choose a fixture with manual control from now on.

 

[Ziggy17]

This whole thread is hilarious. It’s owner negligence, plain and simple.

 

[NanoSteam]

I am really really happy with the controller on my Meridian. Having had issues with the AI app and others I will choose a fixture with manual control from now on.

Exactly my reasoning, AI app was a nightmare for me.

 

[smitten with ocean life]

I am really really happy with the controller on my Meridian. Having had issues with the AI app and others I will choose a fixture with manual control from now on.

totally. if something requires an app to run it im out!

 

[Marco_99]

This whole thread is hilarious. It’s owner negligence, plain and simple.

What’s hilarious is this whole thread doesn’t happen if Reef Breeders hadn’t of created a situation & problem to begin with. If the email would have been; Hey, yes we switched apps a couple years ago because of some problems we encountered. We tried our best to reach out to all of our customers the best we could to switch your light over, sorry about that. We did fix it as seamlessly and fast as we could and we do now have a board to get you going again, we’ll get one out to you asap at no cost to you. Sorry for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience in this matter!

Happy reefing, may your acros grow tall! ~R*** B******

 

[rtparty]

What’s hilarious is this whole thread doesn’t happen if Reef Breeders hadn’t of created a situation & problem to begin with. If the email would have been; Hey, yes we switched apps a couple years ago because of some problems we encountered. We tried our best to reach out to all of our customers the best we could to switch your light over, sorry about that. We did fix it as seamlessly and fast as we could and we do now have a board to get you going again, we’ll get one out to you asap at no cost to you. Sorry for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience in this matter!

Happy reefing, may your acros grow tall! ~R*** B******

Precisely. The original email set the whole thing off and the excuses after the fact didn’t help

Anyone that can’t see the blame on both sides is just showing their bias

 

[Ziggy17]

Anyone that can’t see the blame on both sides is just showing their bias

Ridiculous

 

[Ziggy17]

What’s hilarious is this whole thread doesn’t happen if Reef Breeders hadn’t of created a situation & problem to begin with. If the email would have been; Hey, yes we switched apps a couple years ago because of some problems we encountered. We tried our best to reach out to all of our customers the best we could to switch your light over, sorry about that. We did fix it as seamlessly and fast as we could and we do now have a board to get you going again, we’ll get one out to you asap at no cost to you. Sorry for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience in this matter!

Happy reefing, may your acros grow tall! ~R*** B******

At some point, it’s user error, and I think that point was reached here.

Just my pinion. Yours is different. I can live with that :)

 

[rtparty]

Ridiculous

Hardly but you make my point

In all fairness, Reef Breeders went well above and beyond by keeping the app open for more than 2 years. That likely wasn't "a few bucks" to do. They also seemed to have given plenty of notice to those they could reach.

Was their original email short and come across poorly? Sure looks like it. I can say that my dealings with them often felt short, rushed, and I was of no priority when being responded to. So I 100% see the OP's side on that. To then come here with an excuse that they have so many emails they can't respond in depth is just that: an excuse. Is it better to leave the customer without response? Almost always no, but when you are super short in your reply, it comes off as rude. Right or wrong is irrelevant. Either put in the time for a proper response or make it clear you are drafting a proper email and not leaving them on read. The nice thing is you only really have to write the email once. Then you just copy and paste it for the same scenario going forward

 

[Ziggy17]

Hardly but you make my point

In all fairness, Reef Breeders went well above and beyond by keeping the app open for more than 2 years. That likely wasn't "a few bucks" to do. They also seemed to have given plenty of notice to those they could reach.

Was their original email short and come across poorly? Sure looks like it. I can say that my dealings with them often felt short, rushed, and I was of no priority when being responded to. So I 100% see the OP's side on that. To then come here with an excuse that they have so many emails they can't respond in depth is just that: an excuse. Is it better to leave the customer without response? Almost always no, but when you are super short in your reply, it comes off as rude. Right or wrong is irrelevant. Either put in the time for a proper response or make it clear you are drafting a proper email and not leaving them on read. The nice thing is you only really have to write the email once. Then you just copy and paste it for the same scenario going forward

I don’t think your logic is ridiculous, in fact, I think it’s sound. I think me having a bias is ridiculous. I do not. I have no dog in the race.
I simply think this was the OPs negligence. Even the fact of not updating your email in the app to ensure you get information, is negligence.
Specific to your point and the email, I can’t speak to how other people take context. I don’t see a problem with the response. Again, just my opinion, it’s not right or wrong.