PlantSmart Gardener's Computer

[Marty Grogan]

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[Thanks Marty, good work, I will cc this post to the email below, but
sometimes  a  good "old fashioned" phone call to the company is called
for - as the domain does not produce a webpage!?!
Bruce]

Marty Grogan writes:

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http://www.h2oinstruments.com/PH_Meters.htm for reliable quality pH metrics.
A bit of background: http://www.omega.com/techref/ph.html
A bit of high-class: http://www.microelectrodes.com/price.htm

Re the PlantSmart: this might be helpful:
 
 
Registrant:
The RHL Group, Inc. (PLANTSMART-DOM)
   1640 S. Sepulveda, Suite 500
   Los Angeles, CA 90025
   US
   Domain Name: PLANTSMART.COM
   Administrative Contact:
      Koch, Scott  (SK6510)  skoch@RHLGROUP.COM
      The RHL Group, Inc.
      1640 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Suite 500
      Los Angeles , CA 90025
      310-444-8801 (FAX) 310-312-5823
   Technical Contact:
      Joffe, Edward  (EJ1358)  ejoffe@RHLGROUP.COM
      The RHL Group, Inc.
      P.O. Box 250044
      Los Angeles, CA  90025
      US
      310-444
-8801 310-312-5823
   Record expires on 27-Jan-2003.
   Record created on 27-Jan-1999.
   Database last updated on 20-Aug-2002 22:15:06 EDT.
   Domain servers in listed order:
   NS.RHLGROUP.COM              216.172.39.199
   DNS1.DONYA.COM               216.100.87.50
 
>
>One of the sowacs members writes:
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>Hi Bruce,
>
>some friends and I are studying automatic irrigation systems and  are
>curious about an inexpensive moisture sensor sold by various companies.  It's called
>"PlantSmart^(TM) Gardener's Computer" and it retails for $30.  Having looked at the variety of techniques
>for measuring soil moisture (gypsum blocks, TDR, capacitance, tensiometers,
>etc.), I am not sure what technique this product uses.  Do you know or can you
>suggest a method of finding out?  The link to the product is given below:
>
>http://www.brookstone.com/shop/product.asp?product_code=235416&world_code=3&category_code=35&subcategory_code=478&search_type=subcategory
>
>Thanks for your help and for hosting this discussion forum.
>
>[Bruce comments:
>There  are several manufacturers of this type of unit targeted mainly
>at  the  home  market. They magically produce a digital readout of not
>only  soil  dryness or wetness but this model does pH and light levels
>too. They are sold without any explanation of measuring technique, range,
>accuracy  or reliability, all of which we are interested in and need to
>know in order to be able to use with confidence.
>If  anyone  can  shed  any light on how these units work, please share
>with the group.]
>
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>
>
>
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