I have been through a fair amount of the various timer solutions, to be honest, the simplest most reliable thing I’ve found is the old rotary dial tap timer…
The reason I use the WiFi version is I can control it remote if I’m away from home.
In australia there is a brand called Holman which does WiFi enabled smart valves. Starting at battery powered valves you attach to the tap all the way up to full solenoid valves which need a controller. There is then the Holman app which hooks into your home automation suite.
Not sure if it’s available in the US, and any mains powered unit would be on a different voltage. But the battery powered ones seem OK. Just chews through a lot of batteries apparently.
I have the Holman WX 8 controller paired with a bunch of online solenoid valves. It is a decent setup although quite expensive and took a long time and lot of effort to set up (running lines to solenoids, setting up water lines, dripper hoses etc) . It makes a huge difference in irrigation tho. Absolutely zero effort to get water exactly where the plants need it. Id say I broke even on effort the first summer. Cost wise longer term.
Never been a multiplayer fan, reading the above its the same story as many other hobbies and recreations tho right?
…which requires continuous ongoing investment to overcome or even compete
…who has more time or resource to put into getting better
…because they attract similar minded people, but there’s also toxic dickheads as well
I feel like the good bits and the bad hits of community are the community