Robot mowers

[EdR]

RossP said:

I think it is so cheap because it is a discontinued model. My 1200R is being temperamental since I got it out of hibernation - it just keeps stopping for no reason. An app would be nice, save having to go out to the mower to change schedules and stuff - I assume that you can do that on the McCulloch app?

Might just get one. Seems a good deal at that price. The Easilife ones are nearly double that.

Yep, can set schedules with the app, plus send it back home if you don't want it to mow at that point for any reason.

The app is very basic, e.g. doesn't allow you to set date / time, etc from the app, so you still need to set up lots on things on the unit, but once it is installed you can deal with the daily stuff with the app. It connects via bluetooth, so I can connect from inside the house about 10-12 metres away, but it is a bit touch and go beyond that range.

[Zoon]

RossP said:

That price does seem a bit on the low side! And the ebay account looks a bit dodgy - 'McCulloch Official' with only 3 reviews?? Address seems a bit dodgy too.

I see McCulloch is owned by Husqvarns so I'm guessing the Rob400 is a rebadged EasiLife?

Yes, it appears to be coming from the address of a scrap metal company who turn over £900 million with the contact details for an electronics refurb company who look a bit smaller with a shopify store.

https://www.mydigitaltech.com/

Maybe someone who's ordered one could update the thread when it turns up.

[dtz]

I was tempted to order one of these, but like has been mentioned there seemed to be a few red flags regarding the price / store name / addresses etc.

Would be great if someone who has ordered gives an update as to whether its all above board and they receive the mower

[kent_phil]

Zoon said:

Yes, it appears to be coming from the address of a scrap metal company who turn over £900 million with the contact details for an electronics refurb company who look a bit smaller with a shopify store.

https://www.mydigitaltech.com/

Maybe someone who's ordered one could update the thread when it turns up.

Agree it didn't look like the usual vendor but I took a bit of a punt that it was a clearance place and they picked up a bulk of stock from somewhere.

Either way will update, it's out for delivery by FedEx some time this morning - unfortunately I'm away till Friday but will report back on the delivery and if it works at the weekend (assuming it's not a box of bricks...)

---

Update - is has arrived as scheduled, will update at the weekend once I've opened it up

Edited by kent_phil on Tuesday 25th April 13:20

[UTH]

M1AGM said:

Luba up and running today. The software is quite buggy and there are some significant limitations currently.

The unit will only allow connections by BT despite being on the Wi-Fi. This is echoed by other users so not a ‘me’ problem. As it has dried up it’s ok standing next to the mower giving it commands but internet based control needs sorting out asap. There’s no way of knowing the unit status or sending it out to work without being next to it. Compounding this is the schedule option will only allow me to select one day per week which is not any good.

The BT connection appears to be buggy. I set a new map this morning (following it around) and the BT connection started playing up and disconnecting every few seconds and then reconnecting for about 5 minutes. Big problem because I’d have had to start from scratch if it hadn’t fixed itself somehow. I am wondering if it is a bug picking up other BT devices as it only happened near a parked car.

I set it a fairly tough plan to follow with some very rough terrain. According to the app 1700m2 to cut. I watched it for the first 10 minutes and it got itself out of some very ‘stuck’ situations very well so that’s a positive.

A few pics of what it’s been given to do. The area is a mess with a lot of moss. I haven’t done anything with it other than keep it cut because I need to have a 50m trench soak away dug through the middle of the space next year.







I have also ordered some camo vinyl wrap to hide it a bit, not a fan of the white.

Edited by M1AGM on Saturday 22 April 13:28

Keen to keep track of how you get on with this if you fancied posting here?

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[M1AGM]

UTH said:

Keen to keep track of how you get on with this if you fancied posting here?

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Will do, hadn’t seen that.

[JD]

If anyone is thinking of getting rid of their old broken 1200R I would likely buy it for the spare parts.

[33q]

JD said:

If anyone is thinking of getting rid of their old broken 1200R I would likely buy it for the spare parts.

if only you'd asked 2 weeks ago. I got £65 on eBay.

[RossP]

My 1200R seems to have settled down now and is working fine. So, as much as a bargain that McCulloch seems, it now seems daft to spend £300 so I'm going to hold fire.

[kent_phil]

kent_phil said:

Zoon said:

Yes, it appears to be coming from the address of a scrap metal company who turn over £900 million with the contact details for an electronics refurb company who look a bit smaller with a shopify store.

https://www.mydigitaltech.com/

Maybe someone who's ordered one could update the thread when it turns up.

Agree it didn't look like the usual vendor but I took a bit of a punt that it was a clearance place and they picked up a bulk of stock from somewhere.

Either way will update, it's out for delivery by FedEx some time this morning - unfortunately I'm away till Friday but will report back on the delivery and if it works at the weekend (assuming it's not a box of bricks...)

---

Update - is has arrived as scheduled, will update at the weekend once I've opened it up

Edited by kent_phil on Tuesday 25th April 13:20

Further update, all installed this evening and back to the happy sounds of a lawn being cut automatically...

They don't look that different, here is the young charger replacing old faithful...



I found a packing slip for 2019 in the box so I guess they have been sitting in a warehouse somewhere - will keep an eye on the battery life!

[Penny Whistle]

Is it possible to run the boundary wire through buried conduit in order to connect two separate lawns to one docking station - in my case separated by a sunken path and fence so no possibility of running the mower between the two ? I would lift the mower onto the secondary lawn, but what would the mower do when it had finished there - just stop, or keep going round the boundary until it ran out of battery ?

[gfreeman]

Penny Whistle said:

Is it possible to run the boundary wire through buried conduit in order to connect two separate lawns to one docking station - in my case separated by a sunken path and fence so no possibility of running the mower between the two ? I would lift the mower onto the secondary lawn, but what would the mower do when it had finished there - just stop, or keep going round the boundary until it ran out of battery ?

On a separate area the robot that I had followed the boundary wire back to the docking station.
When he obviously couldn’t find it because it’s on the main lawn he just kept lapping until he ran out of battery.

[M1AGM]

Penny Whistle said:

Is it possible to run the boundary wire through buried conduit in order to connect two separate lawns to one docking station - in my case separated by a sunken path and fence so no possibility of running the mower between the two ? I would lift the mower onto the secondary lawn, but what would the mower do when it had finished there - just stop, or keep going round the boundary until it ran out of battery ?

Would the mower be able to access the second area via the path on its own?

Edit - sorry just re-read your post. Could you change the layout to facilitate this?

[random_username]

Penny Whistle said:

Is it possible to run the boundary wire through buried conduit in order to connect two separate lawns to one docking station - in my case separated by a sunken path and fence so no possibility of running the mower between the two ? I would lift the mower onto the secondary lawn, but what would the mower do when it had finished there - just stop, or keep going round the boundary until it ran out of battery ?

Some of the Husqvarna models have a 'secondary area' function for just this. I have a front lawn which is connected to the same boundary wire, but there's no way for the mower to get there on it's own. I pick it up, put it in the front lawn and tell it to mow 'Secondary Area' via the keypad (newer ones probably have app control for this). You can choose (from memory) 1 hour, 3 hours or until the battery goes flat. It will run for the specified time, and then stop, and you then manually move it back to the main area, and either tell it to dock or put it back on charge manually...

[Penny Whistle]

random_username said:

Some of the Husqvarna models have a 'secondary area' function for just this. I have a front lawn which is connected to the same boundary wire, but there's no way for the mower to get there on it's own. I pick it up, put it in the front lawn and tell it to mow 'Secondary Area' via the keypad (newer ones probably have app control for this). You can choose (from memory) 1 hour, 3 hours or until the battery goes flat. It will run for the specified time, and then stop, and you then manually move it back to the main area, and either tell it to dock or put it back on charge manually...

That sounds like just what I need. Thanks.

[BGARK]

Anyone seen the ECO FLOW robot mower:

https://youtu.be/prcD3mm45mg?t=7

Launched only a few days ago. With a collector box.

I want to buy a robot mower but still have no clue which to choose from... GPS / No wire boundary:

Eco Flow
Segway
?

[Penny Whistle]

BGARK said:

Anyone seen the ECO FLOW robot mower:

£2700 seems a lot to me and I wasn't impressed with the finish. Does that reflect a difference between UK and US lawns ? Also they seem to have bigger dogs !

[jonny33]

Hi guys, I'm in the process of joining the robot mower gang. I purchased an easilife 350 at Christmas and am just getting round to installing it having spent the last week sorting out all the lawn edges in preparation. I wil be installing the mower after scaryfing and will then be top dressing and overseeding. Would you recommend waiting 2-3 weeks before doing the first cut of the new seed as with a normal mower or can the robot mower be released on the seed straight away with it being lighter. Any thoughts or advice much appreciated 👍

[justin220]

Just watch when scarifying if you've already laid your wires.. I've learned from experience!

[spikeyhead]

I'm about to move to a house with a sloping 400sqm lawn that has assorted trees growing in it.

Any recommendations for a robot mower or do I buy a Honda Izy?