When can we expect the next update for the Radion?

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Yeah, the Radion software is extremely buggy and seems more like alpha quality software. Here are the glaring bugs I have noticed. Don't take these reports as criticism, as I do love the product and see the potential it has once the software is coded better.

Bugs:

Most times when I program it seems to program one of my two units successfully leaving the other one iffy (even though the program states it was successful). It's ALWAYS the one connected via USB and not the one that gets programmed wirelessly.

Saving a project seems to add zero value at the moment. If you save a project and attempt to load it later, it no longer shows your radions as connected - which means you have to refresh to have them show up again, which overwrites the project you just loaded. 100% broken :)

Overwriting presets is broken, and often doesn't save the overall intensity level slider (last on the right). Seems to save the color sliders fine though. It also seems you can't re-save a preset - you have to delete it then save it.

Right now it seems the ONLY way to have any level of success with this software is to create a new project, set up your times/lighting from scratch, then program a group in order for it to stick. I would say 75% of the time it only programs one unit properly, leaving the other in the group with a partial config. For me, this breaks more often than not. But *SOMETIMES* it works :) I'm not sure what the magic ingredient is, but there was a couple of times where it was completely successful and did exactly as I wanted.

When loading the software and reading the configs from the Radions, the config reads differently than what is actually on the unit. This appears cosmetic, but wrong is still wrong :)

Setting up a group is not exactly intuitive - usable, but definitely not intuitive.

Those are what I have noticed thus far. Please let us know when a new update will be available.

+1.

When is the next new software update?

Karl,

Thanks for your detailed feedback. We have been working very hard on the next release of the software and have identified quite several components of it to fix and improve from both internal testing and customer feedback. Due to the scope of the next release it has taken more time than previous updates. While I don't have a release date to announce, an updated software release is planned some time in the near future.

+1
I ́ve the exactly same challenges with my 3 Radions, as Karl describes...
Now I ́m currently running these lamps with an old school timer.
Lamps are in "Basic" mode, until these bugs have been fixed.
Really hope you guys will appear with some software, that actually improves the control of these lamps.

Nicolaj Bay

Again, I just want to state that I think this software has great potential - and the reason i'm pointing out the bugs is so they can fix it and make it perfect :)

Yeah this definitely doesn't seem like we should be having this issue as we have payed $750 per unit.. If this is beta testing then we should have gotten these for free. Very frustrating and for some reason people still buy them. Fix the software!!!

I think part of the problem is that we all know how great the Vortech is in the pump world!!! And we know that the Radion is going to be the same for the lighting world, but its gonna take some tweaking. Part of being an early adopter is having to put the unit through the paces....

Personally I dont mind helping them develop the software but having some sort of timeline of when the next release will be would sure make me feel better.

Any idea when (roughly) we can expect another software update?

almost 6 months since an update is getting a little rediculous. customers are waiting. some cant even program because of the lack of software for mac.

just got mine and having a lot of problems trying to program... sometimes i'll set an intensity, then switch to the other light, come back and my original setting is gone. also cant program my group...will not accept any setting inputs for group mode. lights look great tho. software should be easier to use for a $750 light

They have released a new version today!!!

Can't get my natural mode to allow me to change anything on the new version. All are part of the group and set to be part of the group but only way to edit natural mode is to remove each light from the group and program individually.

What's new in this new new update?

If anyone is having software issues, please feel free to contact our customer support dept. directly by e-mailing support@ecotechmarine.com or by calling 1-800-785-0338 ex. 2.

Only update between 9AM-5PM EST... I wish I could talk to support because my lights don't work at all right now!!!

Jeremy,

If you are still experiencing issues, please contact us directly by e-mailing service@ecotechmarine.com or by calling 1-800-785-0338 ex. 2 and we'd be happy to assist you in getting your lights up and running.

Hi Guys.
well I thought i was going mad. The lights are great but the software is beyond useless. does anyone know what inherit group shedule means??. I thought for the amount of money these ights cost they could spare a instruction book in how to use them>. No matter how many time i programme the lights (2of) they just ignore my programming and go off on a different angle. The lights are good but i will not tolerate excuses for crap programming. Would you buy a car and be happy with no steering wheel.
Does anyone know how to programme them correctly as i am losing patience and will sell them. The pumps are really good but the lights are useless. 0/10 rating, and they could have been good.

Lindsay,

By having the "Inherit Group Schedule" button selected on all lights within your group, the software tells the lights to run on the schedule assigned to the group (viewable/adjustable by selecting the group name) versus running off individual schedules assigned, which is what your lights are most likely doing.

We encourage you to visit the following links our site where you can find more information regarding the setup and programming of your Radion lighting. As always, feel free to contact us directly by e-mailing support@ecotechmarine.com.

http://software.ecotechmarine.com/Eco...
http://software.ecotechmarine.com/REL...
http://ecotechmarine.com/wp-content/u...

I hope that in so artificial, it is possible to control the intensity (bright) by clicking point to point, or globally for the entire period.
Another thing is can not miss moon phases and seasons.
It should also be possible to connect the software with the radion through the wi fi.
Otherwise, the program has greatly improved since the last update, and once again would like to give my congratulations to the staff of Ecothttp://community.ecotechmarine.com/st....

Would you like beyond the phases of the moon, which was resolved a question that seems to me a problem.
When, in the middle of a programming period of radeon, there is power outage due to maintenance provider nergy or even on stormy days, returning energy, radeon, recover (due to the internal clock) on programming with the intensity light ... etc, in my view it is harmful, because if there is a power outage for a long time the corals and fish will begin to decrease metabolism and because of this protective protein uv rays. And as all have battery backup, I think it would be advisable to have a fix in the sense that the power to be restored in case of interruption, the radeon fixtures should have a gradual, slow, more or less a hours, until you reach the intensity that was.
I apologize for the English, because the mine is very poor and need to use the google translator.

I know I just wondered when RC8 will be released as there has been a few issues, which Id have thought would be fixed for this release.

i think ecotech playing with are head ..supposedly they are the apple in this hobby... and so far they dont look like apple to me ..with all the technology they have building this light we shouldn't be having no problems at all, the other people that went with a different set of led are happy with there light and we still hear waiting for this problem get fix for months!!!! they should had come with a new version with no problem.. spending my money on 6 unit they should refund are money back!!!!

I totally agree with johnyens.
I have had some problems with the Radion software but I have always managed to use them perfectly well.
I am willing to put up with the buggy software for now because how many other companies, apart from microsoft windows who are only selling you software anyway, update and enhance your software for free.
Admittedly Ecotech are probably duty bound to fix most bugs that stop the software working, but they are enhancing and adding utilities with each release. They could just fix the bugs in the version of software you bought your lights with, which they could do much quicker than what they are doing now. Then they could develop all the other bits in the background and charge you a hundred dollars or so to upgrade.
I applaud Ecotech for their willingness to add things suggested by the customers, at least two things I suggested have now been implemented, again how many suppliers do this, for free?

i would rather pay for good constantly updated software than crappy free software

All updates will have bugs no matter if you paid for it or if it was free. There are too many variables out there for Ecotech (or any other software company) to test every single one of them.

Cannot wat for the Mac version. Any firm date on when it will be released?