Customer Reviews
Great, with minor glitch that can be worked around. 
2008-09-23
Great, with minor glitch that can be worked around.
The other reviewers were correct! The unit, although very flexible in cycles, start times and durations, can not do different day scheduling for different stations. Simply put, you cannot do this: water station 1 every day but station 2 only on Sunday. It won't do it.
Now the solution: buy too kits. You get only 2 valves in one kit anyway. When you get two kit and you put the zone with diff day schedule on separate timers. Problem solved! The kit isn't much more than the two valves. Considering teh extra connectors, manifold, batteries, and a spare timer, it is a better deal than buying one kit and 2 individual valves.
Orbit watering system 
2008-09-14
When I couldn't find this anywhere, I turned to Amazon. While it is somewhat difficult to program these puppies, they work well.
Orbit: interesting idea poorly implemented 
2008-07-24
I had high hopes for this system, so I tried it. In general, I like the timer, it's simple, not too hard to program.
I like the idea of a removable module you program, etc.
I like the idea of individual valves for 4 hoses, controlled via a battery operated timer - portable, easy install, etc.
All this is great.
But: The barrels on the timer valves are plastic, not metal. That's the "pipe" part with the valve in it that turns the water on and off. Both threaded ends are plastic, the bit of pipe that connects them (the barrel) is plastic. If you have high water pressure and need to have tight connections, or if you yank a hose by accident (put stress on the valve barrel), it will break.
If the barrels were unbreakable, or made of metal so they wouldn't break, it'd be a different story - these would be a 5-star product. But since they do break easily, it's one-star for the idea.
Great product IF it's what you need 2008-07-12
There was a similar Orbit package offered at Costco (spring only?) that costs less and has three valves instead of two and included two quick disconnect couplings as well. At their price it would be economical to buy a new one every year (I've found that many non-commercial grade sprinklers only last a season or two any way, so why expect more from this particular item.)
Now, this system allows you to have up to three watering sessions per day, with each outlet timed for an independent amount during the session -- but that same time is used for each session -- so it's great if you have a number of stations and you want to repeat the same program several times a day. It won't help you if you want to operate different stations at differrent times of the day (but if it's cheap enough, just buy two).
Haven't had any problems yet. They are made of plastic so I could see how tugging strongly on a hose connected to it could probably break a valve. Also probably a good idea to bring them inside for the winter. Really hot direct sunlight might be a problem too. But in a moderate climate I think they'll be OK.
Programming and changing the program can be a headache until you get the hang of it. This probably seems like a negative review, but if this is the sort of timer that you need and your environment isn't too hasrsh, it should work quite well. All in all, an adquate product (if your situation fits in with what I described above) and if you get it for a good price.
So far So good 2008-06-27
I have had this system for about a year. I have had no problems thus far and this makes me very happy because I have used several other water timers and they all have stopped working well under the year mark.
Pros: Battery life has impressed me, I use rechargables and have only replaced them a couple times in over a year. Of course I don't really use it in the winter but still I leave it hooked up and turned on. Which reminds me to mention it survived the winter outside in Oregon, hooked up and on the whole time. Hence, the reliability of it has very much impressed me so far.
Cons: The metal part you attach to the faucet is VERY heavy and so hence you need a very sturdy faucet to connect this to. I am not sure why they didn't use a lighter material. You also better be clear headed when you program it because it is fairly confusing to figure out how to get different watering station to come on for different times for different durations etc. Directions don't help a lot either but once you figure it out, it does what it is supposed to do. I suggest taking notes and saving your own version of the instructions on your computer somewhere because by the time you change the programming again you will have to figure it all out again.
From the reviews I looked at the people who seem unhappy are the ones who take off and on the system a fair bit. I am not sure why one would take the thing on and off but I just leave mine hooked up all the time and when I just need the use of the hose I turn it on to manual mode. It's almost as easy and turning a faucet handle anyway. However in really cold winter areas I suspect you probably really whould at least remove the electronic parts in the winter. Though I have a hard time believing this would really cause any problems if it was done with a little TLC.
Needs work to be acceptable 
2008-06-11
Yard Watering System, Connects To Standard Hose Faucet To Provide 4 Hose Outlets With 4 Dependent Controls, 3/4" National Hose Thread Manifold Connection To Hose Faucet, Ability To Pre-Program Up To 4 Stations With 3 Start Time Of Up To 99 Minutes Each, Installs In Minutes, Requires No Digging.
Poor Design, poor quality 
2008-06-07
We purchased a unit last year to water our back yard (due to severe watering restrictions which made us water between 12am and 4am). Bought two extra units to have four watering lines. Not overly difficult to set up, and get to run accurately. But, and it is a big but, it will break within (or less than) one year. All four of the valves consistently leak due to the pressure of the hose being on (wasting a ton of water). They just do not hold up, and are not worth the money. Bought another unit this spring, within one week, unit now leaks. Bottom line, don't buy...
Great Watering Device - saves time and money 2008-06-01
This is my second season using this timer with 3 zones on a 30' x 50' garden. It helps me utilize my low water pressure well. I water each zone in series for 1/2 hour each morning. The orbit fits the bill great for what I need.
I gave the timer 4 instead of 5 stars, because the LCD interface isn't bad, but it isn't easy, especially when you first pull it out in the Spring.
BAD DESIGN + BAD QUALITY = BIG HASSLE 2008-05-19
Should have played safe and gone by the negative reviews of this product. But the concept of having one timer control 2 valves with the possibility of expanding to 4 valves appealed to me. Unfortunately one of the valves leaked and was defective. Also, the threaded hose connectors on the brass manifold come off too easily when removing a valve or a hose. The whole thing leaked badly. The DIG timer (model 9001D) is way much better in both design and quality. I installed two DIG timers on a plastic manifold from my local hardware store with no leaks whatsoever on the first try. And the DIG is much easier to program and use.
Close enough , I guess. 2008-05-08
The brass manifold failed on one of the outlets. The ball valve unscrewed itself whilst trying to eliminate leaks, and when I removed the automatic valve from the one bib, the innards came shooting out and I still haven't found the little ball from inside.
Since I had mounted the thing and was using one zone at full pressure, I just reassembled the unit ( with some loc-tite) and got on with my life.
If I had purchased it at the local Home Depot (which lowered their price to match after being advised they were being beat), I would have returned it for a replacement.
This illustrates one difficulty with online buying, no one to return the item to without incurring an unreasonable delay.
As product quality degrades, online purchasing becomes more risky.
Everything was made in China, btw.
