Vertex Cerebra - hands on (1 Viewer)

[FarmerTy]

I may pick one up as for my first controller. Liked the clean interface. Or should I wait for next gen or other models. I'm glad that vertex stepped it up and made this controller some what more affordable than the apex. Hopefully more and more companies would join in on this.

Earlier today I saw tunze also with anew controller what do you think of it?

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Hey John,

If this is going on a running system I would just hold off for a couple months until it gets out of beta. It's running my frag system right now just fine but I'm still waiting on some firmware updates to add options for programming that are needed before I can fully switch over from my Apex.

I'm very happy with the interface and the support from Vertex so far, plus it's just slick.

 

[johntdaballa]

Hey John,

If this is going on a running system I would just hold off for a couple months until it gets out of beta. It's running my frag system right now just fine but I'm still waiting on some firmware updates to add options for programming that are needed before I can fully switch over from my Apex.

I'm very happy with the interface and the support from Vertex so far, plus it's just slick.

Hey Ty,

Oh man love that beta promotion deal, so you're saying it's not stable enough? Vertex said that this beta release is pretty much the full product launch, of course with first gen anything needs a software update to fix all the kinks.
Cerebra interface, compared to all competitors is untouchable. Functionality part I can't answer since I don't have a controller just yet

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[Jamie9169]

I'll agree that the promotional price is fantastic. I bought mine because of the ease of use and the price for a full controller was untouchable. I have not set mine up yet, it's on a new build, but ATX has the only one running right now that I've heard of. Maybe you can purchase it now and wait for the bugs to be worked out later. Surely they will update as they go. Is that a correct statement ATX?

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

 

[FarmerTy]

Sorry I haven't been providing much updates up to this point, been a little busy with work and life. Yes it is truly in beta form but it can run most tanks in current form. The higher-functioning applications will be added down the line as far as integration with other peripherals and even some more advanced programming which is simple to do with quick firmware updates.

The hardware itself is final and will not change from this point and all the changes would just be software and firmware related. It's nice when you're in beta and working directly with the Developers that I can bring up something as simple as a guys, let's add seconds to the timer function so that I can program my auto top off to the second. Their responses, good idea, why didn't we think of that? We will add it in the next firmware update in a couple of days.

I like Jamie's thought about going ahead and purchasing it while it is still in beta and at the introductory price.

 

[FarmerTy]

Just to make note, updating the firmware is as simple as hitting two buttons, typing in the number of the firmware update, and then hit the button "update". Three to five minutes later after it's downloaded and installed itself, you're updated.

 

[johntdaballa]

Just to make note, updating the firmware is as simple as hitting two buttons, typing in the number of the firmware update, and then hit the button "update". Three to five minutes later after it's downloaded and installed itself, you're updated.

That's good to hear that vertex has been very supportive. And open to taking suggestions so easily. I really like the ability to update firmware so easily. Hopefully the cerebra community would be able to make perfect this controller and knock out the competitor's or even just raising bar for all future.

Are they going to have more probes available?

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[FarmerTy]

Vertex support has been a breath of fresh air from the support I've received in the past from Neptune. This is coming from an Apex fanboy who has two Full Apex units running his tanks.

With that being said , I'm sure it helps raise the bar with good natured competition. I think both controllers will be successful in their own right.

Vertex has more probes than you can shake a stick at right now. What else were you looking for?

 

[FarmerTy]

Search results for: 'Cerebra'

 

[Jamie9169]

Probes galore. I have temp, ORP, salinity, PH and one other one that I can't remember right now. They have lots more and more coming. Also a float level sensor.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

 

[johntdaballa]

Ooooh lol I knew it was a dumb question. Are probes proprietary or are there generic ones I can use for both vertex and apex.

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[FarmerTy]

They use BNC so is compatible. I just took the probes from my Apex and swapped them right over. The only ones that are proprietary are the water level sensors. But they have just released the pin assignments for those so you can basically wire in your own DIY level sensors.

Don't forget par sensor slot as well, which can be used as another float sensor if needed.

 

[FarmerTy]

The best part to me is the real USB connections on this controller. I just plugged in a mouse and keyboard and used that to configure my settings.

Now that I think about it, since they are powered USB ports , I may use a slot to keep my backup phone charged that I use as my webcam when I'm away from my tank.

 

[Mark L.]

The best part to me is the real USB connections on this controller. I just plugged in a mouse and keyboard and used that to configure my settings.

Now that I think about it, since they are powered USB ports , I may use a slot to keep my backup phone charged that I use as my webcam when I'm away from my tank.

Wireless keyboard and mouse would be awesome.

 

[johntdaballa]

The best part to me is the real USB connections on this controller. I just plugged in a mouse and keyboard and used that to configure my settings.

Now that I think about it, since they are powered USB ports , I may use a slot to keep my backup phone charged that I use as my webcam when I'm away from my tank.

That would be awesome to plug up a Webcam to this and able to access whenever. I've been wanting to plug one up and network the camera. Have you tested? Or maybe I didn't understand correctly. I can't wait to get mines today. [emoji16]
Loving the features more and more with capabilities of plugging in mouse and keyboard.

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[FarmerTy]

That would be awesome to plug up a Webcam to this and able to access whenever. I've been wanting to plug one up and network the camera. Have you tested? Or maybe I didn't understand correctly. I can't wait to get mines today. [emoji16]
Loving the features more and more with capabilities of plugging in mouse and keyboard.

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Not exactly what I was talking about but I'm sure its possible. Just need one of those programming happy reefers to make an app for it.

I use my old Samsung Galaxy S3 phone and run the IPwebcam app on it when I leave on vacation. That way I can look in on my tank to see if everything is okay. I just needed to keep the phone plugged in at all times to be charged so having an open USB connection to keep it charged would be nice.

 

[Jamie9169]

I have been using the Cerebra for the last week and overall I am happy with it but right out of the box it has a few issues to resolve. The WiFi connection would not work for me, I kept getting an error code that it was too far from the modem. I hooked it up through an Ethernet cable and it worked well. The next issue was updating it, which went fine, but it took an extensive amount of time to complete. The next issue, that still is not resolved, is the Redox probe will not read correctly. I calibrated it and it said it was calibrated fine but it is giving readings that my Redox is -284 V. I do believe this is incorrect. I had issues with the PH probe as well. It would go through the calibration process, which took approximately twelve minutes each time, but when it was finished would give me an error code as follows:"Values for the two reference points are not distinct enough. Please check Sensor and Cable setup". I posted these issues on the Cerebra owners forum and the PH issue did get resolved but the Redox issue is still out there in limbo.

Overall I am happy with this controller but it is the first full controller that I have owned. Had I been using an Apex system previously I might have other thoughts about this one. It is easily programmed and it's very user friendly. I am sure after the minor bugs are worked out it will be a very reliable piece of the reef. For all of you code writers out there, which I am not; not even close, the options are limitless in my opinion.