The real power of GHL profilux software

[Scdell]

I think everyone that has ever used GHL software can agree it needs vast improvements. But does GHL listen. No....
But that's just them being them.

 

[Lasse]

GHL software can agree it needs vast improvements.

Examples on software improvements please

Sincerely Lasse

 

[Member No 1]

I think everyone that has ever used GHL software can agree it needs vast improvements. But does GHL listen. No....
But that's just them being them.

Just out of curiosity, what doesn't the software do that you think it should do?

 

[Scdell]

Just out of curiosity, what doesn't the software do that you think it should do?

It does what it's supposed to do when one figures out how to get it to. It's getting to that point that's frustrating. It can and should be a bit more simple.
Firmware upgrades alone. Most people are scared to death to do them.
They know that if something goes wrong it'll take hours to days to get it back right.
The only real support one gets is the "ticket system" or help from people on here that have used GHL products for years. GHL's support on here is to direct you to the ticket system.
There's things in the software that people have no clue as to what they do or how it works.
Some things are just a mystery to anyone but GHL.

 

[Member No 1]

It does what it's supposed to do when one figures out how to get it to. It's getting to that point that's frustrating. It can and should be a bit more simple. So there isn't anything the software won't do that you want it to. Is it harder to use than the Grey/Orange? Sure, when I switch there was a huge learning curve. But once you understand the logic behind it, it's quite simple.
Firmware upgrades alone. Most people are scared to death to do them. Agreed on this one. But this doesn't stop the unit from preforming operations that it needs to.
They know that if something goes wrong it'll take hours to days to get it back right.
The only real support one gets is the "ticket system" or help from people on here that have used GHL products for years. GHL's support on here is to direct you to the ticket system. Using the ticket system does not limit the functionality of the software. Ever try to get support for an HP printer? I just tried to get support on a device, but since it was older than 90 days, I had to pay for it. And this was on hardware that was well over $1,000.00. GHL offers free support.
There's things in the software that people have no clue as to what they do or how it works. If you read the manuals, its all very clear.
Some things are just a mystery to anyone but GHL.

Are there short comings, yes, but I'll ask again, is there a particular function that you need the software to do that it doesn't?

 

[Scdell]

Are there short comings, yes, but I'll ask again, is there a particular function that you need the software to do that it doesn't?

It does what it's supposed to do when one figures out how to get it to.
Again..... Figuring out the logic behind it like you said. That's more than most people are willing to do. I'm not going to argue the point any further. Plenty of people feel it needs improvement. I'm not the only one.
In hindsight....... Knowing what I know now I would have stayed away from GHL products.
That's all I have to say on the matter.

 

[Lucas815]

Examples on software improvements please

Sincerely Lasse

• Display items in dropdown lists by name label, instead of ID number, like timers, programmable logic, switch channels, etc...
  
  
  
  
  
• Vastly simplify firmware updates. It should be an automatic background process. There is no need for user intervention. Same with PAB devices.
  I own a Smartthing home automation hub, and it does all it's update things by itself. No need to babysit it.
  
  
• Automatically detect if i'm inside or outside my home network when connecting with the GHL Connect App, to choose the best performance connection type. We're in the Cloud era, and I dont need to know how my app connects to my device.
  
  
• Kill the GCC software. It's a legacy app with a UI from the 90s, and is needlessly draining ressources from GHL Connect. Simply add the GCC exclusive features to GHL Connect and MyGHL.
  
  
• Kill the web server. We already have MyGHL, which is the same feature set.
  
  
• Dramatically improve myGHL speed.
  
  
• Use NTP server automatically, and dont display the option to change it. Why would I want my controller to be at the wrong time?
  
  
• Have a "standard" UI, and a "Expert" UI.
  
  
• Vastly simplify and shorten the initial network setup. It shouldnt be more than 2-3 steps, and be absolutly bullet proof.
  
  
• Remove most networking configuration options.
  
  
• Modify alarm reaction according to severity of the alarm.
  For exemple, skimmer cup full is not a priority alarm, and can be dealt with in the morning. No need to beep during the night, but flash the light and send a notification on my phone.
  On the other hand, a leak sensor that detects water is a priority alarm, and I WANT to be woken during the night to take care of it immediatly, so beep away !
  Hydros is great at this, with their yellow, orange and red priority alarms.
  
  
• Simplify lighting and stream pumps setup. See Ecotech Mobius.
  
  
• Display only devices that are added to the system.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Programmable logic with more than 2 conditions, instead of chaining multiple programmable logics with 2 conditions. We then have to document/memorise the way we configured the thing.
  
  
• Add name and description to programmable logic
  
  
• Merge the old "Reminders" with the new ones from the logbook.
  
  
• Notify on my phone when I have a due event from the logbook.
  
  
• Add a logbook widget to the dashboard
  
  
• Automatically configure common tasks for the user with a very simple wizard in a single window. Things like...
  Control a heater
  Setup an auto water change
  Setup an ATO
  Stop skimmer if overflow detected
  Setup a feed mode
  

 

[FishyFishFish]

Examples on software improvements please

Sincerely Lasse

How about some sort of delay or confirmation, when I scroll through GHL connect on my iPhone, so it doesn’t dose when I am scrolling through the dosing page?

How about being able to set a min/max for the temperature of the heater, rather than just a hysteresis?

How about a reminder on GCC to save your changes, rather than it just losing your changes them if you forget to click save?

How about getting the text on the Profilux screen to match what you’ve entered in GCC or GHL connect?

How about being able to select the date for reminders, rather than just ‘remind me in x days’?

I know these aren’t things that concern you, but to say that there aren’t things that need to be improved is disingenuous in my opinion. But what do I know, you’ve repeatedly said that I don’t know what I am talking about.

 

[Lucas815]

Again, as I said, I have no regrets having picked GHL and they are great products, but the software experience is needlessly complicated and is dragging down an otherwise outstanding system.

Most of these things can be easily fixed without dumbing down the software.

 

[Scdell]

GHL reads this stuff. But they ignore it all. They could take over the control market if they would just quit being so stubborn and listen to what people want.

 

[Lasse]

• Display items in dropdown lists by name label, instead of ID number, like timers, programmable logic, switch channels, etc...
  
  
  
  
  

You have it here

• Vastly simplify firmware updates. It should be an automatic background process. There is no need for user intervention. Same with PAB devices.
  I own a Smartthing home automation hub, and it does all it's update things by itself. No need to babysit it.

If they do this - I will send my GHL equipment through my window. To allow a system for a life supporting system to be updated automatically is the worst thing that can happens

• 
  
  
• Automatically detect if i'm inside or outside my home network when connecting with the GHL Connect App, to choose the best performance connection type. We're in the Cloud era, and I dont need to know how my app connects to my device.

How should this be done easily and combine this with this below

• Kill the web server. We already have MyGHL, which is the same feature set.

• 
  
  
• Kill the GCC software. It's a legacy app with a UI from the 90s, and is needlessly draining ressources from GHL Connect. Simply add the GCC exclusive features to GHL Connect and MyGHL.

If you work a lot with Profilux - GCC is the best tool because you can work in different windows and following programs like this

• Dramatically improve myGHL speed.

Agree - but I do not see that as a software problem - more a cloud server problem

• Use NTP server automatically, and dont display the option to change it. Why would I want my controller to be at the wrong time?

When i want to mimic the condition in the south pacific with help of seasonal changes - I need to be able to set this by myself.

• 
  
  
• Have a "standard" UI, and a "Expert" UI.

Seen this

Or this

• 
  
  
• Vastly simplify and shorten the initial network setup. It shouldnt be more than 2-3 steps, and be absolutly bullet proof.

With GCC and USB connection - I set it up in three steps and if my network work as it should - it is bullet proof

• 
  
  
• Remove most networking configuration options.

You mean take away the possibility to adapt the setting to different countries and network setup?

• 
  
  
• Modify alarm reaction according to severity of the alarm.
  For exemple, skimmer cup full is not a priority alarm, and can be dealt with in the morning. No need to beep during the night, but flash the light and send a notification on my phone.
  On the other hand, a leak sensor that detects water is a priority alarm, and I WANT to be woken during the night to take care of it immediatly, so beep away !
  Hydros is great at this, with their yellow, orange and red priority alarms.

Its a good idea but you can already know delay the alarm for the skimmer cup up to 7:59:59

• 
  
  
• Simplify lighting and stream pumps setup. See Ecotech Mobius.

Simplify means taking away options for people that need more advanced set ups

• 
  
  
• Display only devices that are added to the system.
  
  
  
  
  
  

If you work from the Dashboard - you can already do that

• Programmable logic with more than 2 conditions, instead of chaining multiple programmable logics with 2 conditions. We then have to document/memorise the way we configured the thing.

It would be a book of different pre defined PL.

• 
  
  
• Add name and description to programmable logic

In Gcc you have that but PL does not exist in the menu driven display. But its a good idea

• 
  
  
• Merge the old "Reminders" with the new ones from the logbook.
  
  
• Notify on my phone when I have a due event from the logbook.
  
  
• Add a logbook widget to the dashboard

Why not

• 
  
  
• Automatically configure common tasks for the user with a very simple wizard in a single window. Things like...
  Control a heater
  Setup an auto water change
  Setup an ATO
  Stop skimmer if overflow detected
  Setup a feed mode

But most of these suggestion do not have with the software to do - it have with the user interface to do

Sincerely Lasse

 

[csund]

im not sure if I’ve come across a thread that complained about the power of capabilities of the software - other than it’s power in giving its users headaches. GHL software is an absolute nightmare of a user experience.

To the GHL apologists who refuse to accept that reality, yes, you’re better, smarter, cooler, more handsome, and more beautiful than the rest of us. ‘Grats.

I actually taught my dog to use GHL. Took a couple hours but she’s figured it out! However, during the final AKC therapy dog course the instructor made comments on each of the dogs. Highly treat motivated.. highly treat motivated.. when she came to ours - smart! I guess that is a prerequisite for GHL.

 

[Lucas815]

But most of these suggestion do not have with the software to do - it have with the user interface to do

Sincerely Lasse

That's the whole point : I've seen extremely few people say bad things about the capabilities of the system. The vast majority of the bad things people say are about the user experience.

They are indeed different things, and can be improved independently of each other.

The important thing is that capabilities are meaningless if users cannot use those capabilities because of a bad user experience.

I have no problem myself, I'm used to technology and networks and stuff, but that is not the case for the majority of users.

The things I listed though are annoyances and needlessly make the experience more complicated, without improving capabilities.

 

[Lasse]

How about some sort of delay or confirmation, when I scroll through GHL connect on my iPhone, so it doesn’t dose when I am scrolling through the dosing page?

Just of this reason - I do not use my phone because my thumb is a grown up thumb

How about being able to set a min/max for the temperature of the heater, rather than just a hysteresis?

Would be nice but you can already do this with help of virtual probes

How about a reminder on GCC to save your changes, rather than it just losing your changes them if you forget to click save?

What´s about this

How about getting the text on the Profilux screen to match what you’ve entered in GCC or GHL connect?

You mean the little display screen?

How about being able to select the date for reminders, rather than just ‘remind me in x days’?

Could be good

I know these aren’t things that concern you, but to say that there aren’t things that need to be improved is disingenuous in my opinion. But what do I know, you’ve repeatedly said that I don’t know what I am talking about.

Once again - all of this is not about the software - it is about the user interface

Sincerely Lasse

 

[Member No 1]

@Lasse Hope you understand this American analogy....

 

[Lasse]

Yea - we have dead horses here too and they do not want jump over here either - but I´m a stubborn donkey that will be sure that the hose really is dead

Sincerely Lasse

 

[Scdell]

Once again - all of this is not about the software - it is about the user interfac

Software is only as good as it's user interface. Otherwise we'd still be running Dos.

 

[csund]

Software is only as good as it's user interface. Otherwise we'd still be running Dos.

I work for a huge company. We still use DOS software for 90% of the company needs. Why fix something that isn’t broken.

 

[Scdell]

I work for a huge company. We still use DOS software for 90% of the company needs. Why fix something that isn’t broken.

90% of the people these days don't even know what it is. They use Windows and such. It's what they are used to. It's not what they want to use in these situations. They want an intuitive user interface for ease.

 

[Lucas815]

I work for a huge company. We still use DOS software for 90% of the company needs. Why fix something that isn’t broken.

Because time and innovation moves forward, it doesn't stay still.

It's the same reason we don't use horses and carriage anymore.

Your huge company is most likely wasting millions of dollars every year on mistakes by employees, training, expensive consultants and employees with VERY specialised knowledge of legacy systems, support and maintenance plans for legacy hardware, and so on...

I also worked for a huge company, and we changed our old ERP software after 35 years because of exploding maintenance costs, and being unable to adapt the software to current requirements.

Regardless, the topic of the discussion is consumer technology and expectation of customers, not business operations software.
These are completly different and unrelated subjects.