Ask The Droughtbusters, Oct. 1997: Irrigation Q&A

DROUGHTBUSTERS: You bet they are! Remotes are really three different items. The hand-held unit is a radio transmitter. This transmitter sends a signal to a receiver, which is installed on the controller. You can also install a connector on the outside of the controller enclosure or building so you can plug a portable receiver into it when you need remote control. That way you don’t have to buy a receiver for each controller.

For the inside scoop, Droughtbusters spoke to Daydra Presley, general manager of Remote Control Technology, a company specializing in radio remote control. "Contractors can set up their maintenance accounts for remote so they can check irrigation system operation from their truck," she pointed out. "In many cases, one person can do the work of two."

Presley offers these tips. Make sure the receiver works with all the controllers used by your customers. Receivers are limited by the number of stations they can operate. Some remotes can operate more than one station at a time.

To save money, install connectors outside any structures so you can plug in the appropriate receiver to the connector, whether the customer is home or not. The type of connector will vary depending upon the controller. But the cost of a connector is relatively small and can be included in the installation price of the system. Of course, you can install a receiver inside each controller if practical.

Range is a major factor in the price of a hand-held remote. It can be as little as 50 feet or as far as three miles. "Our remotes are one-way communication and they do not change the schedule on the controller," remarked Presley. "A contractor doesn’t have to remember to change a controller back to the original time when he finishes troubleshooting." Two-way central systems with remote are available, but the price is higher and the chance for serious operator error is greater.