Wrong Choice?

[Skins]

I purchased an Apex solely on the fact it controlled vortech's. I had a robust Reefkeeper system that I sold for a fraction of the initial cost to go this route due to my new setups requirements. After hooking everything up and powering it on, the head unit flashes terribly. Every 10 seconds or so, it blinks and all of the display save for the temp/ph display drops off. Additionally, if I'm in the menu scrolling, it freezes, everything goes blank and goes back to the home screen. Very dissappointed thus far. Add to that, customer service is non-existant. Yesterday I called, left two messages, emailed, no response and today their phone rang busy ALL DAY. Begging to think I made a mistake switching from the Reefkeeper to the Apex....

I got a ups return label and I am very seriously considering returning the whole shebang and rebuying my RK and working around my setups limitations. I bought the Apex with a PM1, PM2, XM1 (still waiting for it) and an extra DC8.

 

[Deleted member 143833]

Have you emailed support; their email is support@neptunsys.com and that is by far the best way to contact them.

That aside; you say the controller is flashing or something else? It almost sounds like you are sayng that the controller is rebooting over and over again by what you describe but it's hard to tell; please include more detail and I'm sure some here will be able to help.

 

[Skins]

Have you emailed support; their email is support@neptunsys.com and that is by far the best way to contact them.

That aside; you say the controller is flashing or something else? It almost sounds like you are sayng that the controller is rebooting over and over again by what you describe but it's hard to tell; please include more detail and I'm sure some here will be able to help.

Yes, that is the email address.

It doesn't reboot, it flashes and the probe line on the display (where the icons are) as well as the date/time on the top drop off and just the large font of the temp and PH remain. The next flash or flicker, everything returns back. However, the icons are overlapping the temp and ph so they are scrambled at the overlap.

 

[Deleted member 143833]

If it's centered in the display then it could be that something caused the display firmware to become corrupt.

The easiest method to update the display module firmware is to use the display. Setup->Module Setup->Update Module, then select the display and press the enter button.

You can do the same thing from the web page and there is a Telnet command to update modules. If you use the webpage be patient; it takes about 1 minute to flash the display firmware and you don't want to close the web window prematurely.

 

[Skins]

I appreciate you help. I do not however wish to flash a controller that was bnib and was plugged in a total of 5 minutes before the problems started. My experience is that if it doesn't work out of the box it will never work correctly. Booo on this whole experience.

 

[cm11599ps]

I appreciate you help. I do not however wish to flash a controller that was bnib and was plugged in a total of 5 minutes before the problems started. My experience is that if it doesn't work out of the box it will never work correctly. Booo on this whole experience.

So why not return it for a replacement? Maybe you just got a bum unit.

 

[Skins]

So why not return it for a replacement? Maybe you just got a bum unit.

I was hoping it was a simple/common user error. I can return it and I have a return label. I am highly upset that I have to plug/unplug 6 lights daily and now, it will be a week plus to get a replacement. Guess the saying, "if it aint broke..."

 

[cm11599ps]

I hear you but don't let one bad experience ruin it for you. I'd give it another shot before going back.

 

[Skins]

I hear you but don't let one bad experience ruin it for you. I'd give it another shot before going back.

Thanks for the positive thinking.

Having said that, I just tried flashing and while it appears the display isn't flashing any more. I now have a "displayEB8" in conjunction with the actual EB8 I have hooked up.


Sigh....

 

[Deleted member 143833]

Perform an "Init AquaBus" operation; it is in the System->Init menu

 

[superray2002]

I can assure you that having been an previous owner of an RKE with numerous PC4's and other module equipment and upgraded (yes upgraded) to an APEX, this is NOT what you will expect from the APEX or Neptune.

It is possible there is a bad cable or connection somewhere (or possibly a bad unit or module).

 

[Skins]

Ok, did that. Now I had to reset my outlets. My second halide is showing status of PF1. What is that? The others show "on".

 

[Deleted member 143833]

PF1 is a profile (they are used for pumps, light control, AquaIllumination, etc). I didn't realize you had already programmed the controller or I would have had you save and restore your program but it should be a simple task of updating your program; I suspect you have some remnants from the initialization process; sorry about that I should have asked.

 

[Deleted member 143833]

If you want to start from scratch you can Init the program and profiles; then you will be back to a new unit, all initialized and ready to program. Again, I'm sorry about not asking if you had a program already; I guess I assumed that you hadn't from the thread

 

[Skins]

no worries. It was just my lights. I set it up so I could see if the outlets stayed on even though the head unit was flashing. Why is it PF1 when the other two say "on" since the light cycle is set for a time it should be "on".

 

[Deleted member 143833]

no worries. It was just my lights. I set it up so I could see if the outlets stayed on even though the head unit was flashing. Why is it PF1 when the other two say "on" since the light cycle is set for a time it should be "on".

I suspect what happend if the program for the light outlet got munged when the init was performed; that's why I was suggesting to init all or perform init program and init profiles; just to get things back to a set state.

 

[jmchzn123]

I purchased an Apex solely on the fact it controlled vortech's. I had a robust Reefkeeper system that I sold for a fraction of the initial cost to go this route due to my new setups requirements. After hooking everything up and powering it on, the head unit flashes terribly. Every 10 seconds or so, it blinks and all of the display save for the temp/ph display drops off. Additionally, if I'm in the menu scrolling, it freezes, everything goes blank and goes back to the home screen. Very dissappointed thus far. Add to that, customer service is non-existant. Yesterday I called, left two messages, emailed, no response and today their phone rang busy ALL DAY. Begging to think I made a mistake switching from the Reefkeeper to the Apex....

I got a ups return label and I am very seriously considering returning the whole shebang and rebuying my RK and working around my setups limitations. I bought the Apex with a PM1, PM2, XM1 (still waiting for it) and an extra DC8.

I hate mine. On my way to home depot for some timers. Gonna pick up China made self contained dosers. 1 month old hope i can sell this crap....I can't even get the moon cycle to work and no human being here or from Neptune can help. It's complex mystery of JFK grassy knoll second shooter proportion.

 

[MAXreefer]

I can understand some of the frustrations some might have but don't condemn the Apex.
I had an RKL before and even it was a nice unit I decided to get an Apex this time and couldn't be happier.
I have so much more possibilities now and the build in webserver is just way superior to the RKL.
I run my Vortechs in several modes during the day and love it.

My Apex never had an issue, upgrading to the newest firmware was a breeze

 

[Jocko]

Yeah I'm a former RKE user and I'm very happy with my choice. The web interface alone makes it worth it in my opinion. Well that and the fact that Neptune actually releases the things they promise.

Controller vs. no controller is one thing. But those coming from an RK, I'd recommend giving it a little time. I think you'll be increasingly happy with your decision.

 

[rbredding]

just curious why you wouldnt use the EcoTech controllers on your MP's?

why run that through the apex at all?