The Water-Insight IMS gateway and IPC solid set sprinkler control solution has many competitive advantages and enhanced features.
We want to outline a few of the key benefits for when you are considering a web-based control system for your solid set irrigation project.
Cellular coverage
IMS is not dependant on cellular coverage. We all know that cellular coverage on remote farms can be marginal but several available solutions need cellular coverage to operate the sprinklers.
IMS uses low power radio to communicate with the IPCs and send schedules etc. Our IPCs are autonomous – once they have a schedule they will continue to water based on that schedule.
Communication Repeaters
IMS has both solar powered and mains powered repeaters available. IPC Repeaters allow you to communicate with sprinkler controllers over difficult terrain. Other systems do not have repeaters and rely on every sprinkler being able to communicate with the gateway.
Signal Interference.
IMS uses the “Farm ID” and “Channel” features to assign IPC controllers to a specific farm and paddock. This has many advantages and means that adjacent farms only communicate with their assigned controllers. This becomes critically important when neighbouring farms all use the same control system.
Quantity of Supported Controllers
Each IMS gateway supports up to 1000 IPC sprinkler controllers.
Other systems have technology limitations and may only support 300 controllers.
Make sure you consider your future growth and expansion needs when selecting a control system.
Subscription Costs
The IMS subscription is fixed – it is the same low price even for 1000 sprinklers.
Ask your system designer if the ongoing subscription cost is fixed or does it increase with the quantity of sprinkler controllers?
We encourage you to review the subscription costs of available systems and factor in the changes as you expand your irrigation system.
As an added IMS benefit, there are also six outputs and six switch inputs in the gateway that can be monitored and controlled from your phone – this functionality is included in your existing IMS subscription.
Product Support
All our IPCs are designed, manufactured and serviced in Christchurch. Our techsupport, designers and developers are also local helping you get the most benefit from the system.
We are confident that that the IMS competitive advantages help make it the best option to manage and control your solid set irrigation control. While we appreciate there are other solid set control systems available, time spent considering these crucial aspects now will help ensure you make the best decision.
Need more information or help?
Please reach out to us or click this link for a list of solid set irrigation experts in your area.