Smart Home · Smart Sprinkler Controllers
Do I need a hub or just Wi-Fi?
Reviewer consensus
Wired in-ground controllers like the Rachio 3 and Orbit B-hyve indoor/outdoor units connect directly to your home Wi-Fi - no hub required. Battery-powered hose-bib timers (like the Rachio Smart Hose Timer and Orbit's hose-end B-hyve products) typically use a separate Wi-Fi hub indoors that talks to the outdoor valve over a low-power radio, since Wi-Fi alone would drain the batteries.