What specifically is the difference on the new version? (i.e. st8i-wifi vs. st8i-2.0)

I don’t know the difference between the two

Is it easy to install to install and replace my old sprinkler controller? Can I do it on my own?

Yes. It's extremely easy. First, Take the cover off your old CP. Take a picture of the wiring on the old CP. Label wires if you want to put them back in the correct spots on the Rain Bird. Mount the Rain Bird CP, insert and secure the wires back in their correct spots. Then, plug it in a power outlet. Download the app to connect it to your Wi-Fi. One thing I learned about the app is that you have to give the app certain permissions on your phone to connect it to your Wi-Fi. Otherwise, you will never connect to your Wi-Fi if you don't give it permissions. People complain about connection issues, but I don't have that issue. My Rain Bird box is in mounted on the outer wall of my garage. It's probably about 60 ft. from my router and the signal has to travel through an interior wall. My connection is better than solid. Check the Rain Bird Wi-Fi connection strength against your phones Wi-Fi connection strength. My phone Wi-Fi connection strength had full bars to my router at CP mounted location. I suggest watching youtube.com of this product. Very helpful. I love my Rain Bird ST8I-2.0 Smart Indoor Wi-Fi Sprinkler/Irrigation System Timer/Controller. I don't use the programming part of the CP or App. I control it manually from just about ANYWHERE in the world. I water my grass as much as I want too and as long as I want too. good day....

I can not reach the timer anymore and the wifi light is solid red. cant reach rainbird either and this error is not in the manual. anyone ?

1) If your mobile device password (in the Rainbird app) does not match the Rainbird cloud server password it won't connect. Try resetting the PW. 2) Remove front cover of the Rainbird Controller then depress the wifi reset button (lower left module). That will reboot the wifi and it should start blinking green again. 3) If that doesn't restore operation I would reboot your system wifi router in the house (unplug for 10 secs). 4) If that doesn't work look at what channel your house wifi is operating on. Too much congestion on a channel can interfere with the RainBird wifi's ability to communicate with your house wifi. There are 11 channels on 2.4GHZ. I experience some connection difficulties if I am out in the back yard a distance away from the controller box. Sometimes just closing all apps on my phone helps. It gets finicky but its nice to turn on a zone without having to manually open a valve.

This product probably won't work if it's installed in my detached garage, which wouldn't get the wifi signal from my house. Correct?

It will still look manually, not remotely. Even if you have wifi, you may experience what I did, which was extreme difficulty connecting it to my devices. It ended up eventually it connected to my iphone, and nothing else. I own an orbit, for another area, and very happy with it, as it connected to all my devices, my two ipads, and my iphone. I got this as it was small and needed a small controller for my space. Don't know what your issue with wifi is, but range extenders work in my house to send my wifi signal to al remote areas.

ST8I-2.0

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