Orbit's top B-hyve controller: dual-band Wi-Fi, an IP65 case for indoor or outdoor walls and hub duty for B-hyve hose timers, but every schedule is set in the app.
Updated
- 8 Zones
- Plug-in transformer Power
- Indoor or outdoor Mounting
Pros
- Dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4 and 5 GHz) plus Bluetooth
- IP65-rated case for indoor or outdoor walls, 32 to 158°F
- Schedules are stored on the timer and keep running if Wi-Fi drops
- Can power a pump start relay and a valve at the same time
- Acts as the hub for B-hyve Gen 2 hose timers and flood sensors
Cons
- All programming is in the app; buttons only run, skip or cancel watering
- No warranty term in the XR guide; Orbit's default warranty is one year
- No Canadian-dollar price: Orbit's Canadian store charges in US dollars
- Best for
- Owners who want an outdoor-mounted smart controller on a modern dual-band router, or who already use B-hyve hose timers and want one hub for everything.
- Not for
- Anyone who wants to set schedules at the timer itself; the B-hyve 6-zone keeps a full dial.
Our verdict
The B-hyve XR is Orbit’s top in-ground controller and, unlike the B-hyve 6-zone, it has dual-band Wi-Fi, so it joins 5 GHz networks as well as 2.4 GHz, with Bluetooth for setup. Orbit’s user’s guide rates the case IP65 and gives an operating range of 32 to 158°F, so it suits an outside wall, where a lights-off mode and a digital lock-out help. Three color displays and a light ring show watering and weather status by zone.
Day to day it runs on the same free B-hyve app and local weather data as Orbit’s other timers, with four programs, rain delay and Alexa and Google support. Schedules are stored on the timer as well as in the app, and Orbit says watering continues if the Wi-Fi connection drops. The big difference from the B-hyve 6-zone is at the wall: the XR has no dial, so all programming happens in the app, and its buttons only run, skip or cancel watering. A connected XR can also act as the hub for Orbit’s B-hyve hose timers and flood sensors.
Compare it with the rest in our sprinkler controller comparison and our picks of the best smart sprinkler controllers.
Wiring and power
The XR plugs into a standard 120 V outlet (Orbit lists a 0.2 A input and a 1 A output at 24 VAC) and has a knock-out for a hardwired installation. Each valve gets its own numbered terminal, with the valve commons tied together to COM, and the XR can power a pump start relay and a valve at the same time. It works with any standard 24 V irrigation solenoid. Orbit’s guide doesn’t cover rain sensor wiring, so we haven’t listed a sensor input. The CR2032 clock battery and the internal fuse are not replaceable.
Safety: Orbit recommends consulting an electrician for a hardwired XR. Any mains wiring must follow your local electrical code.
Warranty, Canada and owners
Orbit’s XR guide doesn’t state a warranty term. Orbit’s general limited warranty runs one year from purchase unless the packaging says otherwise, so check the box or ask Orbit before counting on more; the B-hyve 6-zone’s manual, by contrast, gives two years. In Canada, Orbit’s Canadian store lists both XR models under the same numbers but charges in US dollars, so we show no Canadian price. We could read only two owners of this exact model, too few for a summary: one reports an easy setup and no Wi-Fi trouble, the other that after two years it sometimes skipped schedules when the internet dropped.
Orbit B-hyve XR Smart Indoor/Outdoor Controller (8-zone) specs
- 8 Zones
- Plug-in transformer Power
Control
| Zones | 8 |
|---|---|
| Zones with expansion | not listed |
| Wi-Fi app | Yes |
| Weather-based scheduling | Yes |
| Controls on the unit | Yes |
| Rain or soil sensor input | not listed |
| Flow sensor support | not listed |
| Master valve or pump start | Yes |
| Bluetooth app | Yes |
Install
| EPA WaterSense labeled | Yes |
|---|---|
| Mounting | Indoor or outdoor |
| Power | Plug-in transformer |
Manufacturer figures, checked 2 Nov 2026. — means not listed.
Where to buy the Orbit B-hyve XR Smart Indoor/Outdoor Controller (8-zone)
- Orbit$169.99Go to Orbit (opens in a new tab)
- Sprinkler Warehouse$142.65Go to Sprinkler Warehouse (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.
Orbit B-hyve XR Smart Indoor/Outdoor Controller (8-zone) questions
Does the B-hyve XR work on 5 GHz Wi-Fi?
Yes. Orbit lists dual-band Wi-Fi, so the XR can join a 2.4 GHz or a 5 GHz network, and it pairs with your phone over Bluetooth during setup. Orbit’s guide asks for at least two bars of signal where the timer will hang, so check with your phone before you mount it. The B-hyve 6-zone joins 2.4 GHz only.
Can the XR be mounted outside without a box?
Yes. Orbit’s user’s guide gives the XR an IP65 rating and an operating range of 32 to 158°F, and Orbit describes it as built for walls exposed to the weather. Choose a spot near power, out of direct sun if possible, with a good Wi-Fi signal. A lights-off mode in the app keeps the displays dark on an outside wall.
Can the XR replace the B-hyve Wi-Fi hub for hose timers?
Yes, once it is on Wi-Fi. Orbit says a connected XR can act as the hub for its second-generation B-hyve hose timers, its XD hose timers and B-hyve flood sensors, so you don’t need a separate hub. That makes it a tidy choice if you already water beds with B-hyve timers on outdoor faucets.
What does Fault mean on a B-hyve XR?
The timer has seen a short in a station’s wire or solenoid and stopped sending power to that terminal. Orbit lists an old solenoid, crossed wires or two valves on one terminal as typical causes. Disconnect that wire and the common, run a short test, then measure the solenoid: 20 to 60 ohms is normal. A P or Pump Fault points to the pump or master valve circuit.