OK, there has been a lot of misunderstanding and misinformation on various forums regarding this topic. The time has come to bring some clarity, straight from Neptune Systems.
Apex Ready is a standard we created by which, through various means, we have created a path for interactivity between our Apex System and many other aquarium products on the market. There are basically four different methods to get that interactivity:
- 0-10V control - we did not invent this, but it is a reliable standard. When a company makes their products compatible with this for variable speed pumps, dimming of lights, etc. and then submits for official Apex Ready certification we test these products to confirm their adapters work as they should to make it easy on the customers and that the device does what it should.
- Digital RS-232 control via VDM port - This is at this time only for lighting control, but it is not limited only to that. At the moment the original AI-Sol lights, the lights from Acan Lighting, and those from ZetLight conform to this standard. In addition to multi-channel dimming, clouds and lightning effects can be implemented.
- AWM - AI Wireless control Module - Due to the popularity of the AI Sol Lights in the past, we spent the engineering time and dollars and worked with AI to develop a module for controlling the Hydra lights when they came out. AI is now abandoning this type of control with their new lights and following the Prime by having on board WiFi. We are currently trying to work with them to control these new lights with the Apex. This would cost us engineering time and money and since it will not require a module to make this feature work, there will not be any revenue to off-set that work. We know it is important for our users to be able to control all of the major products out there and we are committed to that. For now, the ball is in their court to provide us with the information necessary to make that happen for our users.
- WXM - EcoTech Wireless Module - This was originally developed by us to operate the VorTech pumps and was later expanded to work with the Radion lights as well. In terms of the Vectra, and as was stated in other threads by myself, we have discussed the enabling of control of the Vectra with EcoTech Marine at MACNA and are awaiting them making the necessary small changes to make that happen for our users. Once they do that we will immediately work to make that surfaced in the Apex via a firmware update so that our users with WXM (or those that want to buy one) can control all their EcoTech products (as well as other companies products) from one interface.
I would like to make it extremely crystal clear that Neptune Systems is committed to providing aquarium owners what they have asked for (89% in a recent RB survey) - a single place from which to control all their aquarium gear. This does not mean that they would not have point solutions from various manufacturers, but rather that their Apex continues to be their universal remote control and monitoring interface.
One of the things that makes it hard to give customers complete control is that many times smaller manufacturers do not have the volume of sales that allow us to do custom work like the modules above in order to get connected to the Apex. We just cannot expend that much Engineering time and cost. This is where standards come in. At this point, we see WiFi (802.11) as the winning method for connectivity in products that are now coming to market.
To that end I announced at MACNA a new initiative for Neptune Systems. That is, a universal standard we coining IoA or Internet of Aquariums. With this standard, now even the smallest, newest lighting, pump or other product manufacturer can come to market with a product that is immediately Apex Ready right out of the box. We are currently working on that standard with a couple of manufacturers and will be announcing more on this at a later date.
So, once again to summarize and bring it back relative to this thread and the comments here thus far:
1. We are ready to do the Vectra support as soon as it is enabled in the Vectra driver.
2. We are committed as a company to continue to provide support for the control of 3rd party products and expanding that more than ever before.
3. The fact that we have products ourselves that may compete with some of those same 3rd party products is not an issue. As an example, Apple competes with Logitech with their mouse. They now compete with many companies with the release of their "pencil". But they still provide a way for all of those products to work. This is our model going forward.
I will try and answer your questions as completely as possible, but please understand that many questions cannot be answered to their fullest if they dig too deeply into future product plans or direction.
Apex Ready is a standard we created by which, through various means, we have created a path for interactivity between our Apex System and many other aquarium products on the market. There are basically four different methods to get that interactivity:
- 0-10V control - we did not invent this, but it is a reliable standard. When a company makes their products compatible with this for variable speed pumps, dimming of lights, etc. and then submits for official Apex Ready certification we test these products to confirm their adapters work as they should to make it easy on the customers and that the device does what it should.
- Digital RS-232 control via VDM port - This is at this time only for lighting control, but it is not limited only to that. At the moment the original AI-Sol lights, the lights from Acan Lighting, and those from ZetLight conform to this standard. In addition to multi-channel dimming, clouds and lightning effects can be implemented.
- AWM - AI Wireless control Module - Due to the popularity of the AI Sol Lights in the past, we spent the engineering time and dollars and worked with AI to develop a module for controlling the Hydra lights when they came out. AI is now abandoning this type of control with their new lights and following the Prime by having on board WiFi. We are currently trying to work with them to control these new lights with the Apex. This would cost us engineering time and money and since it will not require a module to make this feature work, there will not be any revenue to off-set that work. We know it is important for our users to be able to control all of the major products out there and we are committed to that. For now, the ball is in their court to provide us with the information necessary to make that happen for our users.
- WXM - EcoTech Wireless Module - This was originally developed by us to operate the VorTech pumps and was later expanded to work with the Radion lights as well. In terms of the Vectra, and as was stated in other threads by myself, we have discussed the enabling of control of the Vectra with EcoTech Marine at MACNA and are awaiting them making the necessary small changes to make that happen for our users. Once they do that we will immediately work to make that surfaced in the Apex via a firmware update so that our users with WXM (or those that want to buy one) can control all their EcoTech products (as well as other companies products) from one interface.
I would like to make it extremely crystal clear that Neptune Systems is committed to providing aquarium owners what they have asked for (89% in a recent RB survey) - a single place from which to control all their aquarium gear. This does not mean that they would not have point solutions from various manufacturers, but rather that their Apex continues to be their universal remote control and monitoring interface.
One of the things that makes it hard to give customers complete control is that many times smaller manufacturers do not have the volume of sales that allow us to do custom work like the modules above in order to get connected to the Apex. We just cannot expend that much Engineering time and cost. This is where standards come in. At this point, we see WiFi (802.11) as the winning method for connectivity in products that are now coming to market.
To that end I announced at MACNA a new initiative for Neptune Systems. That is, a universal standard we coining IoA or Internet of Aquariums. With this standard, now even the smallest, newest lighting, pump or other product manufacturer can come to market with a product that is immediately Apex Ready right out of the box. We are currently working on that standard with a couple of manufacturers and will be announcing more on this at a later date.
So, once again to summarize and bring it back relative to this thread and the comments here thus far:
1. We are ready to do the Vectra support as soon as it is enabled in the Vectra driver.
2. We are committed as a company to continue to provide support for the control of 3rd party products and expanding that more than ever before.
3. The fact that we have products ourselves that may compete with some of those same 3rd party products is not an issue. As an example, Apple competes with Logitech with their mouse. They now compete with many companies with the release of their "pencil". But they still provide a way for all of those products to work. This is our model going forward.
I will try and answer your questions as completely as possible, but please understand that many questions cannot be answered to their fullest if they dig too deeply into future product plans or direction.
