Vortech Wireless Pumps

"Just marketing junk."

Could not agree more. But it drives me nuts that products marketed for 21st century aquarists generally use the same standards of truth in advertising as 19th century headache nostrums. Hard for me to win an argument re Vortech when I admitted up front that I'm an idiot for not paying more attention (even though it's been fun trying), but don't get me started with Chemipure!
 
Buzz1329 said:
Drparker.

You said:

"I have a wireless router, but it has a power cord wire running to it. "What gives it said wireless on the box""

Assuming you are comparing a wireless router with the MP40, I thank you.

My wireless router is plugged in to a power source, but communicates wirelessly with my computers. The MP40 controller is plugged into a power source but communicates THROUGH A WIRE with the pump. That's what I'm saying.
Click to expand...

Alright, how would you power the motor? Why is this so hard to understand? Reall, explain to me how you are going to POWER the motor with no POWER wire?

How do you power your router? How do you power the computer your router connects to?

Wireless means that TWO or more Vortech controllers can talk to each other wirelessly. In the old days, you had to hard wire the controllers together. That made for a tough time if you had to run cables for six to seven feet.

This isnt a tough concept. My cell phone needs a wire to charge it. I guess I should freak out because my $500 phone isn't truly "wireless", right?
 
....not hard to understand buzz's point. by saying it's wireless, one can easily assume that the controller communicates wirelessly to the pump. nobody expects it not to be wired to a power source. (not yet at least)

it's not a bad assumption to make actually, and vortech should think about this. It would be great if the pump is wired to a power source and has enough "intelligence" to remember which setting the controller set it at. The controller is battery powered and communicates WIRELESSLY to the pump. You only have the turn on the controller to change the setting on the pump.

Nobody would complain about a product like that being marketed as wireless.
 
I believe that all the rational answers in reply to OP miss his attempt at sarcasm. Apparently for the price of a vortech, the pump should defy convention and operate without a power supply connected.
 
alcko said:
...it's not a bad assumption to make actually, and vortech should think about this. It would be great if the pump is wired to a power source and has enough "intelligence" to remember which setting the controller set it at.
Click to expand...

I can see your point but not easily done. The pump is just a motor, it gets no settings. The controller box ramps it up and down by changing the amount of power sent down the cable to the pump. To move control to the pump would require adding the computer, power regulator circuits, RF circuits and antenna. Plus you would need to shield this from the huge spinning magnet. With the added size and weight the magnet would need to be bigger.

So you next thought might be, well then move the power regulator down the cable so it's not on the pump motor, and that is what the design currently is.

If they were separate I'd need two power outlets per pump, one for the controller and one for the pump. Power outlets are at a premium on my tank control system. So I like the current design where the power regulator is in line with the power supply and can communicate wireless with other pumps and my tank control system.
 
Next complaint is that it doesn't install itself. I mean they are $465. Once the box is opened it should levitate, tape itself to the side of the tank, align the wet side, and plug itself in. All without ever lifting a finger.

This is easily one of the most ridiculous complaints I have ever seen with vortechs.

And the router analogy is correct, your interpretation of it is not. The internet would be the motor. There is a wire going from the router to the internet.

The concept is easy to understand. Not sure why it made it to two pages.
 
"Love my MP40W"


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

50gallon cube, vortech MP40W, reef octopus 4, cadlights uv led pendant, ehiem pump.
 
You'll be amazed how many new vortechs users have this misunderstanding. When I was selling one a few years back and posted pictures, I received so many PMs of people asking if I posted the wrong pics because they saw wires.
It is somehow understandable because it's called a wireless pump, but with some common knowledge one should know that there are not products in the market transmitting power through the air. The router example whats perfect and it should be related to the same feature.

I'm hoping to see a USB dongle or these products (pumps and lights) moved to Bluetooth and some nice software to control everything from a computer and even through the internet.
 
Confused?

Confused?

OK, I read this entire thread and I am setting up my first tank and now I'm totally confused. If I purchase one wireless and one non wireless and connect a cable between the two would both communicate to the new radion led light? If the wireless pump acts as the main pump?

Second question is if I plan on purchasing a Neptune or Digital Aquatics Controller and everything is controlled by controller is it even worth worrying about?
 
No

If you want the pumps to communicate they do so wirelessly. You will need wireless versions. Conveniently Ecotech sells the wireless module for the mp10es if you purchased it without wireless. Its the price difference between the two so no money lost either way.

If you do not buy wireless pumps you will not be able to connect them with anything. There are no "wired" version of Vortechs.

AFAIK MP10es pumps are the only available non wireless Vortech available in the last 3 or 4 years.
 
mrFly said:
OK, I read this entire thread and I am setting up my first tank and now I'm totally confused. If I purchase one wireless and one non wireless and connect a cable between the two would both communicate to the new radion led light? If the wireless pump acts as the main pump?

Second question is if I plan on purchasing a Neptune or Digital Aquatics Controller and everything is controlled by controller is it even worth worrying about?
Click to expand...

Products manufactured by Ecotech Marine do not use connecting cables to communicate. The only communication option is the RF Wireless connectivity offered in the Radion and all new MP60s, MP40s, and some MP10s (the MP10 is the only Ecotech product with the option to NOT purchase the wireless chip)

If you want your Vortech's to communicate with each other or the Radion, they both need to be wireless, or you can add the wireless chip to any non-wireless Ecosmart product for $45.

Neptune Apex units can control Ecotech products with the addition of the Wireless Expansion Module (WXM) this module overrides the onboard control and lets you control everything from the Apex. This also enables additional features not available from Ecotech, like changing modes throughout the day. The WXM runs $125 from Neptune or any of their resellers. I do not believe there is Apex to Radion communication currently, but I dont see why it wont be coming soon, the hardware is all there, just needs some programming.
 
Thanks for all the info. I guess I'm a little less confused.LOL So if I want everything to work together I need to purchase a Apex Controller with a wireless expansion module, two mp10wes and a Radion light fixture and they will all work seamless? or close to it.LOL
 
Seriously thanks for the info and help! I'm a newbie to all this and want to do it right the first time. There a lot of great people on this site and I've learned a ton.
 
mrFly said:
Thanks for all the info. I guess I'm a little less confused.LOL So if I want everything to work together I need to purchase a Apex Controller with a wireless expansion module, two mp10wes and a Radion light fixture and they will all work seamless? or close to it.LOL
Click to expand...

There is a lot to learn, don't sweat it. I believe you don't need the Apex for the MP10es and the Lights to work seamlessly. They (Radions and MP10es) work together since they are both Ecotech Wireless products. The Apex does much more. The Apex allows you to control and monitor several functions and equipment in your tank. See below.

1) Ability to monitor PH, temp, ORP, salinity.
2) Ability to control ATO
3) Can send messages / alerts
4) Many other features
 
Without the Apex the Radions can tell the Vortech pumps to go into and out of night mode based you how you have your light setup. The Apex allows so much more control.
 
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