Robot mowers

[wjwren]

Im about to order a Worx 141E, is this the only manufacture that cuts to or near the edge?

[wjwren]

To add - the Bosch indego is the same - razor blades, it also tells you if it needs cleaning. It mows in a set pattern, up and down, like a normal mower etc. They also have GPS built in - im unsure if other mowers have this or what difference it makes.

[mikeiow]

ash73 said:

Choice really boils down to whether you want one with a solid blade (e.g. Robomow) which can chop up leaves, or one with razor blades (e.g. Flymo, McCulloch) which are a bit quieter and cheaper.

We get a few leaves about....and the razor-blade Worx seems to do a fair job making them disappear, which did surprise me!
Not masses, mind.....

[wjwren]

Bosch..I know mine had a sim card in. I think this may have been just for the app control.

[kryten22uk]

ash73 said:

That's quite a price hike

Thats the top RRP, but the 1200R traded at various discounts to that for some years.

The new EasiLife looks cool. A 200m2, 350m2 and 500m2 version.

[kryten22uk]

Dunno exactly. Look on the flymo website. It is app-enabled, that's one thing.

[Podie]

kryten22uk said:

Dunno exactly. Look on the flymo website. It is app-enabled, that's one thing.

I just don't get the app-enabled thing with robot mowers.

It's a "fire and forget" device. Program it, leave it to it - why do I need to be able to control it via an app?!

Seems like tech for the sake of tech

[hotchy]

Podie said:

kryten22uk said:

Dunno exactly. Look on the flymo website. It is app-enabled, that's one thing.

I just don't get the app-enabled thing with robot mowers.

It's a "fire and forget" device. Program it, leave it to it - why do I need to be able to control it via an app?!

Seems like tech for the sake of tech

This. Adding cost for the sake of it. Same thing with my fridge. App enabled to tell it to go colder... What's the point. Plug it, leave it it's a fridge. Stop putting things like apps on increasing costs unnecessarily.

[wjwren]

Its the same as my tumble dryer washing machine and oven they have an app. Never bothered to connect them up as pointless. The app on my Bosch is a bit pointless as well as if the mower has a wobble and gets stuck or had a power cut then the app refuses to work.

[jodypress]

hotchy said:

This. Adding cost for the sake of it. Same thing with my fridge. App enabled to tell it to go colder... What's the point. Plug it, leave it it's a fridge. Stop putting things like apps on increasing costs unnecessarily.

I this case of an app enabled mower I think it's a great add on and very useful.
On my Worx I can and have set up scheduling, zone my garden (which I find very useful) and check on battery levels etc all without having to leave my armchair. So much easier than trying to push random buttons in a certain order.
Also can check stats when bored ti see how far its nowed and for how long....lol.
In the case of white goods I don't really see the point as posted above. Other than downloading additional bespoke programmes to my washer no real need.

Now of the other hand my Gardena watering computer thingy has a lovely big LCD screen but is an absolute ballache to programme a simple 7 day timer.

[Podie]

jodypress said:

hotchy said:

This. Adding cost for the sake of it. Same thing with my fridge. App enabled to tell it to go colder... What's the point. Plug it, leave it it's a fridge. Stop putting things like apps on increasing costs unnecessarily.

I this case of an app enabled mower I think it's a great add on and very useful.
On my Worx I can and have set up scheduling, zone my garden (which I find very useful) and check on battery levels etc all without having to leave my armchair. So much easier than trying to push random buttons in a certain order.
Also can check stats when bored ti see how far its nowed and for how long....lol.
In the case of white goods I don't really see the point as posted above. Other than downloading additional bespoke programmes to my washer no real need.

Now of the other hand my Gardena watering computer thingy has a lovely big LCD screen but is an absolute ballache to programme a simple 7 day timer.

Why would you need to check battery levels? If it's low on charge it just heads back to the dock for a top up. Likewise scheduling - just how often do you change it?

Oven I can understand - can set to pre-heat when you're 20 mins from home.

[Zoon]

jodypress said:

I this case of an app enabled mower I think it's a great add on and very useful.
On my Worx I can and have set up scheduling, zone my garden (which I find very useful) and check on battery levels etc all without having to leave my armchair. So much easier than trying to push random buttons in a certain order.
Also can check stats when bored ti see how far its nowed and for how long....lol.
In the case of white goods I don't really see the point as posted above. Other than downloading additional bespoke programmes to my washer no real need.

Now of the other hand my Gardena watering computer thingy has a lovely big LCD screen but is an absolute ballache to programme a simple 7 day timer.

Whereas my flymo just mows all the lawn, charges itself and I put it away in winter.
An app offers nothing useful in my case.

[rfisher]

Robomow app lets you use your phone / tablet as a short range remote controller for the mower.

That's a very useful feature if you want to mow an area where there is no perimeter wire.

Bosch app lets you track your mower via 3g / gps.

Useful if it's stolen.

You can also permanently disable it remotely.

Manufacturers use the data sent back to them from 3g connected mowers to improve the software, which they then send to the mowers as updates.

3D camera mapping should see the end of perimeter wires and signal generators within the next few years.

Within 20 years no one will mow their lawn using petrol or electric manual mowers.

[wjwren]

rfisher what is the difference with the newer indegos please, have they changed at all, the newer ones are a darker green.
e.g. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/283771229772

[durbster]

I used the app all the time to prevent it going out before I've had chance to clear up any dog mess

To those who have had one for a few years, what's your strategy for starting the mowing season?

I got my robot last summer and just set it straight to work. I was hoping to get rid of the petrol mower at some point but looking at the grass now, I think I'll need to dig it out for the first mow of the year.

Does anyone just have a robot or do you keep a normal mower for starting things off?

[Zoon]

durbster said:

I used the app all the time to prevent it going out before I've had chance to clear up any dog mess

To those who have had one for a few years, what's your strategy for starting the mowing season?

I got my robot last summer and just set it straight to work. I was hoping to get rid of the petrol mower at some point but looking at the grass now, I think I'll need to dig it out for the first mow of the year.

Does anyone just have a robot or do you keep a normal mower for starting things off?

You will need a strimmer or normal mower just to get the height down. Robo will beach if the grass is too long.

[Tinker2]

I think I’ve managed to bag the bargain of the century. Got a new Flymo 1200r from B&Q yesterday for £133.....

[Jamesgt]

Tinker2 said:

I think I’ve managed to bag the bargain of the century. Got a new Flymo 1200r from B&Q yesterday for £133.....

Wow! How did that work out?!

[rfisher]

wjwren said:

rfisher what is the difference with the newer indegos please, have they changed at all, the newer ones are a darker green.
e.g. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/283771229772

Haven't got hold of one of the new type yet, but it sounds like they may have made hardware changes to the keypad and front wheels.

Both are known to be weak points with the design of the 350 and 400 Connect models.

First mow time soon for my mowers

Both were cleaned and oiled before spending Winter in my garage.

I start with the mower set to the highest cut level initially and the reduce the cut height for subsequent cuts.

Strimmer for any parts of the lawn over 4".

Pick up any bits of tree or other obstacles.

Don't forget the G&T once the mower is off and running.

[TimJMS]

durbster said:

...
To those who have had one for a few years, what's your strategy for starting the mowing season? ...

This year for the first time in about 15, I'm going to have to brazz over nearly every robo area with a ride on and box it all off, but it's still far too wet here to even do that yet. I've had to put most of the robots on pause since early October owing to severely waterlogged and continuously flooded ground. In a normal year I have no prep work to do. Robots stay on the docks maintaining their batteries and go out when temperatures are above 7 degrees C and its not actually raining. (Robomows and Zucchetti Ambrogios).