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AC Apex-I Almost Stomped it into the Ground!
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Sculpin View Drop Down
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Joined: May 16 2008
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    Posted: November 08 2011 at 12:14am
First off I want to warn you, this is a rant, nothing more... enjoy.

I've had an AC Apex running my parents tank for a while now and I've had my share of difficulties I might add. One thing was, after several attempts I could never really figure out how to connect it to the internet.

The other day I decided to do whatever it took to make it possible to remotely connect to my AC Apex via internet. So after reading the instructions about 10 times, reading thread after thread on RC, studding my modem, and working on it all for about 10 hours I was about to rip that freaking thing out of the tank and find the biggest rock I could to smash it to death.

Luckily I caught a brake as I was at my wits end and some how, magically got it to work. Don't ask me how I did it but I did. There were so many possible problems with connecting it. Could it be the wireless adapter I was using to connect to the system, port forwarding, my firewall, my service provider, my modem and on and on.

I've been considering lodging a formal complaint to Neptune Systems because this is just not how it should be. I've never met a more non-user friendly interface in my life and the instructions were almost complete garbage. It could simply be that I'm a Mac guy and I'm pampered with user friendly programing all day but freak, this was horrible.

Someone needs to hit their programers over the head with a 2x4 to knock some sense in their heads and help them realize that there are people out in the real world who don't know all this technical crap!

Thanks for listening

Micah


Edited by Sculpin - November 08 2011 at 12:16am
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Points: 3645 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Snowsrfr Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 08 2011 at 6:57am
I feel your pain. I'm sure you've seen the sticky on the Neptune for the Unofficial Users Guide. Way better than what you get with APEX. Next time youre at your wits end PM RUSSM on RC. He's one of the contributors to the guide, more specifically the wireless/internet part and will bend over backwards to help.

I should also mention our very own GentleBean, is very skilled in the APEX,and has helped me several times also.

Edited by Snowsrfr - November 08 2011 at 7:04am
"A fish tank is not a pet. It's a TV that you gotta feed." - John Caparulo
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Points: 317 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rara Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 08 2011 at 7:56am
I don't think the issue is really with the Apex, but with all the available options for routers and wireless adapters.

When I sent up my Apex I hardwired it to my router and it was working on my home network within about 20 minutes. I've spent a few hours trying to get all the port forwarding and such configured to get it available outside my home network, but haven't been successful yet.
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Points: 1480 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sculpin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 08 2011 at 9:33am
Here is what I know, when my phone comes in contact with a wireless network it tells me and I then connect with it usually via password and them BAM I'm on the internet.

The AC Apex doesn't have to be that hard to operate.

Micah
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Points: 317 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rara Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 08 2011 at 10:03am
I'm sure if Neptune made a router and ran the network it was on than it would probably be similar to your phone.

But like I said. I'm still working on getting mine to run outside of my home network.

Edited by Rara - November 08 2011 at 10:04am
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Points: 4279 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Jake Pehrson Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 08 2011 at 10:49am
Just to agree with Rara.  I don't think this is an APEX issue.  All you have to do is plug your Apex into your network and it is connected.  It really is that easy.  Now if you don't want to run a network line to your APEX and want to access your Apex from the internet, this requires third party products.
 
The wireless router/AP, port forwarding, Dynamic DNS, etc. are not part of the APEX system.
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Points: 1480 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sculpin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 08 2011 at 3:04pm
I like things to be simple and easy and I'm sure they could of made that way. Most everything in their programing is retardedly complex. Just before this whole internet fiasco I decided to set the Apex as a wavemaker for my two Korilia Mag 7's. I had to go into the advance settings and basically write code to set it so that one powerhead turns on while the other turns off and once again the instructions were not very descriptive. I basically had to muddle my way through it for an hour till I got it to work.

I know there is not much out there in regards to a better system then the Neptune but for the love of Pete will someone please make something that is simple?!?

Micah


Edited by Sculpin - November 08 2011 at 3:50pm
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Points: 386 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote MIK3B Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 08 2011 at 10:57pm
Trust me the Digital Aquatics systems aren't that much easier to setup beyond the basic setting like heaters, pumps and lights. I still have issues with RSS and remoting into mine, but also blame the port forwarding, firewall/ISP's blocking ports, routers/modems etc.

Wish dA's controllers ran on a Mac. I'm a Mac guy too - been using them for 20 years, but surely know my way around a PC as well. Just can't see myself installing windows on my Mac to run one program. so I scabbed together an old P4 and it works, for the most part.

dA's stuff also lacks much documentation and while it doesn't require "programming" per se it is not user friendly or really intuitive IMO. Still figuring out timers with overrides and conditions that shut lights/pumps off if an alarm trips based on variables like temp or pH. It's surely a learning curve with any controller from what I've seen and heard. I guess that's the current price to pay for automation and remote monitoring capabilities but yeahhhh...one would think it could be just a wee bit more understandable.

Maybe in a few more years they'll have that part figured out and they'll be even cheaper!
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