Digital Aquatics Archon Owners Thread

[shellsea]

Originally Posted by SoloGarth

So I have had 2 total failures in the past 3 days I have been gone. Yesterday the power went out and the archon shutdown and didn't come back up. I had my girlfriend unplug everything twice to get it to reset. When it did the non Archon input values were 20X higher than they should have been.

This morning it is shutdown again. I don't know for how long as I have received no notification. No one is there to reset it today. I imagine I may lose everything in my tank because of the Archon. Heaters don't work, caRx doesn't work, ect. I really wanted this to work but I am ready to throw in the towel. The controller is not reliable.

Sorry to hear you are having issues. My system has been running great once I got over initial set up learning curve. all timers are doing fine. Clock fine. I have not tested power outage yet. Will do so tonight. Good luck on yours. I often find it is the simplest thing that goes overlooked.

[shred5]

Originally Posted by SoloGarth

So I have had 2 total failures in the past 3 days I have been gone. Yesterday the power went out and the archon shutdown and didn't come back up. I had my girlfriend unplug everything twice to get it to reset. When it did the non Archon input values were 20X higher than they should have been.

This morning it is shutdown again. I don't know for how long as I have received no notification. No one is there to reset it today. I imagine I may lose everything in my tank because of the Archon. Heaters don't work, caRx doesn't work, ect. I really wanted this to work but I am ready to throw in the towel. The controller is not reliable.

Sorry... See this is why I said it feels right now like everyone is a beta tester that purchases the Archon right now and was no way ready for release. This is why i cant have it now because I am gone to much.

I know the pressures companies feel when they promise something around a certain time to release that product. also i know some companies do that because they are cash strapped and need money to continue on with a project. I would rather a company wait and get it right because something like this can bust a company. Something like this can give a product a really bad rap. I have beta several things lately and we warned them to hold off and fix it but to no avail. Both times I bet it cost the company more money. If you have a good product the people will be there when the time comes.

[SoloGarth]

Yeah I travel a lot too. This is just unacceptable. There are SO many problems that I feel like the system should be removed. I like it when it is running but right now my tank is stuck for 6+ hours with no heaters. I'm not sure how long it has been off for.

[n2585722]

I was having times when I could not connect and would have to reset the Archon to gain access. I thought it was the Archon until I got a receiver that was connected to the Internet. It was locking up also intermittently. I had no other problems with any of the other devices. I ended up replacing the router. It fixed the issue with the Archon and the receiver. I have not had any connection issues with the Archon since.

[SoloGarth]

So another total shutdown again today. Around the same time each morning.

[n2585722]

Do you have something turning on or off around that time?

[SoloGarth]

No I don't. I had thought that maybe it was the UPS. But that was removed and the shutdown occurred again this morning. Daily temp swings from 80 to 73.

[SoloGarth]

Although it isn't a bid deal compared to the daily total shutdown, every time it is reset some of the values are 10x what they should be.

[n2585722]

That is odd that it would happen at about the same time each day. Mine has over 60 hrs on it and then it was a software update. The only thing I can think of on the Archon is the memory stick. I am not sure if a bad buss cable would give you that symptom on the Archon. I would suggest it on the RKE.

[SoloGarth]

Yeah I don't know. I'm pretty frustrated with it now though. It has very likely done significant damage to my tank inhabitants nearly all of which are SPS. It has also likely damaged my return pump via discontinuing the ATO for a long time and causing it to run dry several times. It also has the same problems with slow loading times, lost info and page lockups when connecting from outside my home that the RKE w/net had. PH control doesn't function properly. I cannot change my username and password. It frequently returns bad values that require me to go in and reset. The clock continually falls behind and or doesn't function correctly. The only real advantage I have gained from it is access to alarms and timers via network. I fly home tomorrow morning and I think I'll be returning the Archon. I did really want this system to work but it has too many problems that I don't feel should have been present in a production model. I just cannot trust the system and that is a necessity for when I travel. Perhaps my system is just a lemon but I am done with using my tank as a testing ground.

[Pickupman66]

SoloGarth
I as a beta tester have had some of the same issues. There are some good updares coming down. But i know you need to do as you see best for your tank.

[SoloGarth]

Originally Posted by Pickupman66

SoloGarth
I as a beta tester have had some of the same issues. There are some good updares coming down. But i know you need to do as you see best for your tank.

Yeah like I said I did want this system to work but the only thing it does consistently is fail. There honestly seems to be too many problems for a production unit. I didn't think I would be receiving a controller that was not yet fully functional.

The other major problem is that the main reason I wanted to buy the Archon was because of how slow and unstable things were when connecting via the net when traveling. This has not gotten any better with the Archon. I have 2 IP cameras a reeflink and a bunch of nest gear that all connect without problem and with much greater speed. To get to any page on the archon when outside the house takes 3 or 4 reloads and a lot of waiting. It seems to be exactly the same as the net.

[SoloGarth]

When I get home I will check to see when the shutdown occur. I think it is somewhat random but I think I can determine the time by looking at the graphs.

[Pickupman66]

SoloGarth. Does it completely stop working or just you can't access it

[SoloGarth]

Originally Posted by Pickupman66

SoloGarth. Does it completely stop working or just you can't access it

It completely stops. It shuts down heaters, my skimmer, the ATO ect. Everything shifts to defaults. It can't restart until someone unplugs all 3 bus cables and the 9v adapter. Fortunately the lighting and circulation pumps are controlled by a reeflink so at least some things work.

At least when the RKE shutdown it would restart on its own. It's coming out as soon as I get home.

[Pickupman66]

Ok. Let me go back and read your setup

[SoloGarth]

I can give you a rundown although I think it is an Archon problem not a problem with my setup:

This is the connection chain
Archon 1 - PC4 - sw5

Archon 2 - top PC4 - sl2

Archon 3 - middle pc4 - SL1 - bottom PC4 - PC4 - sl1

[Pickupman66]

Ok. I was having issues with just my apc and sl2 connected straight to my system seperate from pc4.
That's why I asked. what is your hardware and firmware versions?

[n2585722]

I have had the RKE crash and not recover several times. I would come home and all the module status lights were flashing and the RKE would have a red screen and be flashing. Nothing would be running. It was always some kind of hardware failure. Normally a buss cable issue of some type. I could never get the RD1 to work more than a coupe of days without crashing the system. Right before I switched to the Archon the MLC module would cause it to crash. Interestingly that same MLC module is working on the Archon. I don't think your issue is software or firmware related. Have you contacted Eric?

[SoloGarth]

I have contacted Eric yes. At this point though I am really no longer interested in playing around with the Archon. If the system solved the slow access problem (when away from home) and didn't have SO many other issues I might be interested in fixing it. Right now though . . . As I'm writing this it just shutdown randomly and restarted. Add that to the list of problems. I have just had enough. I have to have a system that is reliable and that I trust. I do not trust the Archon at all. Im taking it down tonight.

[janes_mw]

You certainly need to think about your tank first. To be honest, my archon is still in "dry run " mode. On the counter still trying to prove itself

[n2585722]

Originally Posted by janes_mw

You certainly need to think about your tank first. To be honest, my archon is still in "dry run " mode. On the counter still trying to prove itself

Are you having an issue with it or just testing to be sure?

[janes_mw]

Originally Posted by n2585722

Are you having an issue with it or just testing to be sure?

Just testing to be sure. Since the time fix that Ken helped me with and the last few updates, been good. I just want 30 days before I switch out my RKE.

mike

[cidbozek]

Mine still sits in the box after having it for months. still waiting for a phone call to try and get it running.

[n2585722]

Originally Posted by cidbozek

Mine still sits in the box after having it for months. still waiting for a phone call to try and get it running.

What do you need help with? One of us might be able to help.