Doesn’t work most of the time.
Local connection reliability remains an ongoing issue, failing approximately 90% of the time. There were always problems with the local connection, but online worked most of the time. Charging for a feature that was previously free is disappointing. Charging for the feature that actually works is worse. In the end, it’s a feature that is nice to have, but I’ll do without it.
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Garbage App and Unreliable Module
UPDATE 2: Because I forgot the garbage app was taking up space on my phone.
Been running Home Assistant with the Balboa Integration for a while. Rock solid connection and complete “topside” controls remotely through VPN. No ripoff subscription, reliable, good automation for key sensors (low temp). What a subscription app should be - yet free!
Next hot tub for me will not be anything Balboa makes. That’s how much I dislike greedy sneaky practices with garbage apps that rips off its customers.
UPDATE:
Ripped out the junk wifi module, installed an ESP32/RS485 for a few bucks and added a Home Assistant integration that reads the tub data. Add I small dashboard to control the basics. Next fault monitoring. And guess, what -it’s reliable without monthly gouging of customers.
Since my earlier review was booted by calling the developers out 🙄 … I’ll tone it down.
Mandatory update introduced a subscription for cloud access. Totally below belt move by the developers especially when the app still is the worse piece of junk paired with an equally subpar wifi module.
There are other and better methods for remote access to replace this trash (that even has fault monitoring). The last update made it worth my effort to actually do it. So thanks developers! 👋
Been running Home Assistant with the Balboa Integration for a while. Rock solid connection and complete “topside” controls remotely through VPN. No ripoff subscription, reliable, good automation for key sensors (low temp). What a subscription app should be - yet free!
Next hot tub for me will not be anything Balboa makes. That’s how much I dislike greedy sneaky practices with garbage apps that rips off its customers.
UPDATE:
Ripped out the junk wifi module, installed an ESP32/RS485 for a few bucks and added a Home Assistant integration that reads the tub data. Add I small dashboard to control the basics. Next fault monitoring. And guess, what -it’s reliable without monthly gouging of customers.
Since my earlier review was booted by calling the developers out 🙄 … I’ll tone it down.
Mandatory update introduced a subscription for cloud access. Totally below belt move by the developers especially when the app still is the worse piece of junk paired with an equally subpar wifi module.
There are other and better methods for remote access to replace this trash (that even has fault monitoring). The last update made it worth my effort to actually do it. So thanks developers! 👋
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Absolutely ridiculous joke of an app
This has to be the most inconsistent app I have ever used, period. 90% of the time it will not connect with the spa. The only time it does connect is when the spa jets are actively running. Defeats the entire purpose of controlling the spa remotely. And their audacity to switch to a subscription model for what was a free promised feature is simply ridiculous. I wish I could give less than one star, I would.
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Undependable - bad
Everytime I want to use either local or cloud mode I suffer from headaches…. Never seamless , never reliable. Often I give up. If I knew there was a more dependable app I would switch .
Garbage App and Unreliable Module
UPDATE:
Ripped out the junk wifi module, installed an ESP32/RS485 for a few bucks and added a Home Assistant integration that reads the tub data. Add I small dashboard to control the basics. Next fault monitoring. And goes what -it’s reliable without monthly gouging of customers.
Since my earlier review was booted by calling the developers out 🙄 … I’ll tone it down.
Mandatory update introduced a subscription for cloud access. Totally below belt move by the developers especially when the app still is the worse piece of junk paired with an equally subpar wifi module.
There are other and better methods for remote access to replace this trash (that even has fault monitoring). The last update made it worth my effort to actually do it. So thanks developers! 👋
Ripped out the junk wifi module, installed an ESP32/RS485 for a few bucks and added a Home Assistant integration that reads the tub data. Add I small dashboard to control the basics. Next fault monitoring. And goes what -it’s reliable without monthly gouging of customers.
Since my earlier review was booted by calling the developers out 🙄 … I’ll tone it down.
Mandatory update introduced a subscription for cloud access. Totally below belt move by the developers especially when the app still is the worse piece of junk paired with an equally subpar wifi module.
There are other and better methods for remote access to replace this trash (that even has fault monitoring). The last update made it worth my effort to actually do it. So thanks developers! 👋
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Worked for about a week
Nice idea but doesn’t work - constantly shows server errors when you try to login. Waste of money
Buggy and unexpected fees
Often fails to connect locally and after buying with a view to only heating when the sun is out as wwe have solar energy, they have started charging for remote control. Would not buy a tub with a Balboa controller again.
Awful
Pretty terrible setup pretty terrible ui. The balls to try and charge money for such a buggy garbage app are astounding. Whoever wrote this thing is bad and should feel bad
Just bad
Unstable connection, weird UI, requires precise location for a local connection… just badly designed and implemented. It has BS Compsci thesis circa 2002 vibes.
Terrible
Original app was useless but now Update is extra useless and after paying a hearty premium for the garbage wifi connection they have the audacity to try to charge you for remote access.
CEOs Suck
Another companies reputation wrecked by a greedy CEO choosing to screw customers for short term profits.
WORSE THAN USELESS
WORSE THAN USELESS BECAUSE I STILL TRY AND USE IT. IF YOU TOUCH THE HOT TUB SCREEN IT WILL CONNECT FOR A BRIEF MIN. I NEVER WROTE A REVIEW FOR ANYTHING. THIS WOULD HAVE SWAYED MY DECISION TO BY CALSPA!
Disappointing
Flip a coin, that’s what you can hope for of the app will actually connect to your spa. Then these people have the audacity to make you pay for the cloud module that has maybe a 10% connect rate. It’s comical how bad this app works.
Charging for???
How can you start charging for something that was free when I bought the hot tub?….if you insist on ripping customers off, at least make sure what you are charging for works! I don’t want to pay for SERVER ERROR at least 50% of the time! You really need to get this sorted or go back to not charging for at best, a mediocre app!
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Now subscription based?? Not helpful!!
I previously had no issues with this app. But now that remote access is subscription based, the app is useless when not at home. Extremely disappointing for a legacy user.
Scandaleux
Il est scandaleux de changer les règles d’utilisation de l’application et de rendre payant les connexions à distance ! À tous les futurs acheteurs de Spa: assurez vous de ne pas avoir de système Balboa pour le pilotage de votre Spa. Préférez d’autres systèmes qui ne vous feront pas payer pour simplement pouvoir contrôler votre machine. Je suis très en colère ! Si j’avais su!
Et même en connexion locale ça déconne, certains jours il est impossible de se connecter! C’est vraiment nul de chez nul!
Update: j’ai fait un signalement à Apple pour que cette application apparaisse avec la mention « achat intégré » car en l’état cette mention n’apparaît pas et c’est mensonger!
Et même en connexion locale ça déconne, certains jours il est impossible de se connecter! C’est vraiment nul de chez nul!
Update: j’ai fait un signalement à Apple pour que cette application apparaisse avec la mention « achat intégré » car en l’état cette mention n’apparaît pas et c’est mensonger!
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Not impressed
I thought it may get a new look in this update as I’ve never known there to be one in the last 4 years of using it, which by the way the app worked fine. So maybe a new look, new feature, but no, just charge you for a feature which used to be free. What a rip off!!
Unless you have a damn good WiFi signal, and I mean good, the app isn’t really reliable to work all the time.
Unless you have a damn good WiFi signal, and I mean good, the app isn’t really reliable to work all the time.
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Used to be free now we pay monthly and it doesn’t work
I am so frustrated. This was a feature that we paid $1000’s extra for (upgraded our tub for wifi feature), it worked OK before, now it won’t connect and we have to pay for it.
Money for nothing.
I have been telling everyone looking to buy a tub NOT to upgrade for wifi.
You’d think adding a monthly/yearly fee they would upgrade the app and give some new features… nope. Same app. Pure greed.
Be better.
Money for nothing.
I have been telling everyone looking to buy a tub NOT to upgrade for wifi.
You’d think adding a monthly/yearly fee they would upgrade the app and give some new features… nope. Same app. Pure greed.
Be better.
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Mr Williamson
Think that after paying to purchase this wifi controller I’ve used for years that it is now a disgrace that you have now started to charge a fee to yous away from home
Now a Pay Service
This app was acceptable and functional. After it stopped responding, I was told by customer service to remove the app and reset the hot tub. I did so, only to find that the cloud service that was free for 8 years, was now subscription based. What good is the app if I now have to pay monthly fees? Avoid Balboa.
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