You should add the functionality to Google Home as well, not just Google Assistant

I would also appreciate instructions for setting this feature up. I’ve tried a few things but haven’t got very far. Thank you for the list of commands!

I got the B-hyve action linked to Google Assistant, but I haven’t had much luck with any commands yet. I’m hoping to have more time to experiment later.

Is there a way to specify a device when using the following query?

“Talk to Orbit Bhyve, when is the next sprinkler start time?”

I just successfully linked my sprinkler controller to Google Assistant on my phone and successfully tried out all of the various commands shown at http://help.orbitbhyve.com/google-commands/. The first time that I said “OK Google”, “Talk to Orbit BHyve”, Google Assistant came back saying “It looks like your Orbit BHyve account is not linked yet.” and it displayed a box containing the BHyve logo and the words “Link Orbit BHyve to Google”. I clicked on (touched) the box, and Google took me to a screen to provide my Orbit BHyve Account login credentials. I provided them, and tried “OK Google”, “Talk to Orbit BHyve” again, and it worked from that point forward through all commands that I tried. Everything is quite easy and works well. I do not currently use a Google Home device, but have no reason to believe that it would not work exactly the same way, and just as well.

Just another observation, this time of a “bug”. For the last 24 hours, whenever I have asked, Talk to Orbit B-Hyve reports that the last time watered was on July 9 at 1:05 AM. Now first of all, I have watered during that 24 hour interval, so the time last watered should have changed. Secondly, the current time is 9:58 PM on

July 8

. I’ve checked the date and time on my B-Hyve controller and it is set correctly, so there is clearly something wrong with the reporting of the last watering time.

Other than that, however, I’ve found no other problems. BTW, I’m sure that the reason they have offered so many different forms of each command is to be able to handle a wide range of speaking preferences and minor inconsistencies among users. I’ve also noticed that it will sometimes accept undocumented commands, e.g. the word “zone” instead of “station” even where that difference is not offered. Nice job, Orbit Engineers!!!

I couldn’t figure out how to replace “Talk to Orbit B-Hyve” with just “Orbit B-Hyve”, but I did discover that you can use “Ask Orbit B-Hyve” instead of “Talk to . . .” which to me seems shorter when speaking it. On the other hand, since I’ve been trying it, I find it to be a little bit of tongue twister for me when speaking quickly.

Here is some more trivia that I’ve learned since acquiring and playing with a Google Home Mini. You can create “Routines” for Google Home which eliminate the need to address Orbit B-Hyve by name, and which let you use pretty much any kind of phrasing you like. Routines are set up and managed within Google Home App > Menu > More Settings > Routines. Here is my new list of commands for managing my B-Hyve:

Sprinkler Control Commands

Say “OK Google” then any of the following commands:

• Set a 1 day rain delay.
• Set a 2 day rain delay. (Say YES when asked if you want to talk to Orbit B-Hyve)
• Set a 3 day rain delay. (Say YES when asked if you want to talk to Orbit B-Hyve)
• Set a 4 day rain delay. (Say YES when asked if you want to talk to Orbit B-Hyve)
• Set a 5 day rain delay. (Say YES when asked if you want to talk to Orbit B-Hyve)
• Set a 6 day rain delay. (Say YES when asked if you want to talk to Orbit B-Hyve)
• Set a 7 day rain delay. (Say YES when asked if you want to talk to Orbit B-Hyve)

• Cancel Rain Delay

• Water the lawn. (Waters front for 20 minutes, then back, foundation shrubs and driveway for 15 minutes each)

• Water zone 1. (Waters the front lawn for 10 minutes)
• Water zone 2. (Waters the back yard for 10 minutes)
• Water zone 3. (Waters the foundation shrubs for 10 minutes)
• Water zone 4. (Waters the driveway side for 10 minutes)

• Stop Watering. (Stops the watering if it is currently running)

• Last Water? (Answers with the last time watered)

• Next Water? (Answers with the next scheduled watering)

I haven’t figured out why my routines for setting an x day rain delay cause Google Home to ask me if I want to talk to Orbit B-hyve, but when I say “Yes” they execute properly, so I can live with it asking until I figure out a fix.