Open Irrigation Controller System

Make magazine recently did a series of three articles on a wifi processor that can be had for $5 - $7 USD. They've even added an arduino library. http://makezine.com/2015/04/01/installing-building-arduino-sketch-5-microcontroller/ http://makezine.com/2015/04/01/esp8266-5-microcontroller-wi-fi-now-arduino-compatible/ http://makezine.com/2015/04/01/designing-breadboard-adaptor-5-esp8266-microcontroller/

The Irrigation Caddy ( http://www.irrigationcaddy.com/index-6.html )may address many of the wants in the project scope as it has a web interface, can handle up to 10 zones and accept one rain gage input. It also works with a smart phone home automation program EZ-VRC (http://www.ezvrc.com/ezvrc/Home.html) which can probably control some of the other sensors we are considering.

Here is a link, which leads to other links of home brew and lower cost commercial irrigation controllers, most are TCP/IP http://forums.makezine.com/comments.php?DiscussionID=2074 .

Ware Brothers had a commercial product for several years which received reasonably good reviews, but the company was acquired and their product is no longer available.