A solar-charged Wi-Fi hose timer that joins your router directly, with weather-based skipping and a built-in flow meter, and no hub or disposable batteries.
Updated
- 1 Zones
- Solar Power
- 2 years Warranty
- 2.9 psi Minimum water pressure
Pros
- Joins 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi directly, so there is no hub or bridge
- Solar panel charges a built-in battery; plug-in charging port too
- Built-in flow meter logs water used and flags blocked flow
- Weather-aware schedules, with a choice of weather provider
- Two-year limited warranty
Cons
- Needs good 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi at the faucet (Netro says within about 100 ft)
- Needs at least an hour of direct sun on a sunny day to stay charged
- Sealed battery: Netro says never to open the compartment
- No Canadian seller: Netro's own store prices in US dollars, duties extra
- Best for
- A sunny faucet within good Wi-Fi range of the house, where you want app control and weather skipping without a separate hub.
- Not for
- Shady spots or faucets far from the router, where a hub-based timer such as the Rachio or B-hyve copes better.
Our verdict
The Pixie 2 is Netro’s second-generation hose faucet timer, and its appeal is what it leaves out. There is no hub: you set it up over Bluetooth from the Netro app, and it then joins your 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network directly. There are no disposable batteries either: a solar panel charges a built-in lithium battery, and a waterproof charging port lets you top it up or keep it plugged in. A built-in flow meter records how much water each run uses and flags when water stops flowing, a feature the Rachio also has.
Those strengths set its limits. The faucet needs good Wi-Fi, within about 100 ft of the router in most cases by Netro’s account, and the panel needs at least an hour of direct sun on a sunny day. Netro rates it for about 3 to 116 psi, the widest range here, and gives a two-year warranty. It is new, so we found no owner reviews of this model to report.
Sun and power
Netro says an hour of solar charge gives roughly one to two days of normal use, so a faucet that never gets direct sun is the wrong home for it. Leave the timer switched on between runs: it sleeps after five minutes to save power and wakes now and then to sync. The battery is sealed, and Netro says never to open the compartment, so a battery that will not hold charge is a job for Netro support.
Watering modes and the flow meter
The app offers two levels. In Basic you write your own programs and the timer skips them for weather and watering rules; in Advanced it builds schedules itself from soil moisture and your watering rules. Weather comes from WEATHERAPI unless you pick another provider in the timer’s settings. At the faucet, two quick presses of the watering button start a manual run and two more stop it. The flow meter logs water used per run and the status light flashes blue for five seconds as a water shortage alert.
Fitting, winter and buying
Netro’s pages mention metal threads but do not name the thread standard, and its manual warns against pulling on the attached hose, which strains the timer. The manual gives no winter storage advice beyond a 32 F operating minimum, so treat it like the other timers here and bring it in before freezing weather, as our winterizing guide describes. Netro says nothing about backflow prevention either. The usual minimum is a hose bibb vacuum breaker that screws onto the faucet (EPA’s cross-connection control manual describes it), but your water utility sets the rules; see our backflow preventer guide. Netro ships to Canada from its own store but prices in US dollars, with duties and taxes on top. For a hub-based alternative that copes with a faucet far from the router, see the Rachio Smart Hose Timer, or compare all the picks in our best hose timers guide and every hose timer we compare.
Netro Pixie 2 Smart Hose Faucet Timer specs
- 1 Zones
- Solar Power
- 2 years Warranty
Control
| Zones | 1 |
|---|---|
| Wi-Fi app | Yes |
| Bluetooth app | not listed |
| Needs a hub or bridge | No |
| Weather-based scheduling | Yes |
| Controls on the unit | Yes |
| Zones with expansion | not listed |
| Flow sensor support | Yes |
Install
| Power | Solar |
|---|---|
| Batteries | Built-in rechargeable lithium, 3200 mAh (solar or plug-in charging) |
| EPA WaterSense labeled | not listed |
Water supply
| Minimum water pressure | 2.9 psi |
|---|---|
| Maximum water pressure | 116 psi |
| Minimum flow needed | not listed |
| Connects to | not listed |
Support
| Warranty | 2 years |
|---|
Manufacturer figures, checked 2 Nov 2026. — means not listed.
Where to buy the Netro Pixie 2 Smart Hose Faucet Timer
- Netro$119Go to Netro (opens in a new tab)
Prices and stock change; the retailer’s page is always the final word.
No Canada price yet. Switch region in the header for US prices.
Netro Pixie 2 Smart Hose Faucet Timer questions
Does the Netro Pixie 2 need a hub?
No. You set it up over Bluetooth from the Netro app, and it then connects straight to a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network, so there is no bridge to buy or place. The catch is range: Netro suggests keeping the faucet within about 100 ft of the router in most cases, and a red status light after setup means it could not connect.
What happens if the Pixie 2 battery runs flat?
It stops watering. Netro says to charge it for at least four hours in sunlight, or two hours from the charging port, then hold the power button for three seconds to turn it back on. To avoid it, give the panel at least an hour of direct sun on sunny days, leave the timer on between runs, and keep it plugged in through a long cloudy spell.
How much sun does the Pixie 2 need?
Netro asks for at least an hour of direct sun on a sunny day and says an hour of charge gives roughly one to two days of normal use. A faucet in deep shade may not keep up. In that case use the waterproof charging port, or choose a battery timer such as the B-hyve XD or the Rachio instead.
What warranty does the Netro Pixie 2 have?
Two years from the date of manufacture, for the original installer, under Netro’s limited warranty; Netro repairs or replaces defective units. It excludes damage from water carrying sand, silt, rust or corrosive chemicals, from improper installation, and from uses other than irrigation. Netro also offers a 30-day full refund on a timer returned in its original condition.