# 🌿 How does the Rachio 3 adjust watering based on weather?

*Published: 2024-01-02 | Updated: 2024-08-28 | Source: https://shopsavvy.com/answers/how-does-the-rachio-3-adjust-watering-based-on-weather*

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## Product: Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller 8 Zone
**Brand:** Rachio

The Rachio 3 is all about smart, weather-savvy watering for your lawn. It adjusts your watering schedule based on the current weather conditions, making sure your lawn gets exactly what it needs without any waste. Here's a bit more on how it works and some tips if you're on a mesh network.

### Weather-Based Adjustments 

Rachio 3 uses really local weather data from over 300,000 personal weather stations and various weather services to tweak your watering schedule in real-time. According to the manufacturer's product description, it checks the weather forecast and soil moisture levels to decide when to water and how much. 

So if rain’s on the way, it’ll hold off watering. If it’s hotter or cooler than usual, it adjusts accordingly.

### Wi-Fi and Mesh Network Compatibility 

We’ve found that Rachio 3 works with both 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi networks, which most mesh systems support. But according to our research, folks sometimes run into hiccups when setting it up on a mesh network because these systems often merge the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands into one SSID.

For example, someone had trouble connecting their Rachio 3 to a [Netgear Orbi](https://www.shopsavvy.com/redirect?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%3Fk%3DNetgear%2BOrbi%26tag%3Dssw.ans.tx-1-20) mesh network (which combines both bands under one SSID). They got it working by temporarily switching their phone to a 2.4GHz network and using an Android device. 

Another person had no issues using their [Google Nest](https://www.shopsavvy.com/redirect?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%3Fk%3DGoogle%2BNest%26tag%3Dssw.ans.tx-1-20) mesh network.

### Tips for a Smooth Setup

To smooth things out, try these tips:

1. **Connect to 2.4GHz Network:** Make sure your phone is on a 2.4GHz network during setup. You might need to temporarily split your 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands into separate SSIDs.

2. **Temporary SSID:** If setup’s still a hassle, create a temporary 2.4GHz SSID just for setup, then switch back to your main network afterward.

3. **Customer Support:** If you get stuck, reaching out to Rachio’s customer support can help. We've seen mixed reports on their response times, but it's worth a shot.

Following these steps can help you get your Rachio 3 set up without too much fuss. Once it’s up and running, you’ll love how it keeps your lawn looking great by adjusting the watering schedule based on the weather.

## Current Prices

| Retailer | Price | Availability |
|----------|-------|-------------|
| SMUD Energy Store | $49.99  | Check |
| DiscountToday | $165.81  | Check |
| Walmart | $195.00  | Check |
| Amazon | $199.00  | Check |
| Best Buy | $199.00  | Check |
| Robot Cleaner Store | $199.00  | Check |
| BGE Marketplace | $199.99  | Check |
| PC Richard & Son | $199.99  | Check |
| Rachio | $199.99  | Check |
| UI Smart Solutions | $199.99  | Check |
| Neobits.com | $202.20  | Check |

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*Where this comes from: This answer is based on ShopSavvy's product database, real-time pricing from thousands of retailers, and analysis of user reviews to give you a well-rounded picture.*