Spark not working – won’t start valves despite all attempts

21
Stefano
Updated at 2025-07-23 06:55:23 UTC
Topic: Connected Home

Hi everyone,


I’ve been using a Netro Spark (8-zone model) for some time, but recently it stopped working properly.

The controller connects to Wi-Fi and appears online in the app, but when I try to start any valve (manually or via schedule), it says “communicating” and nothing happens.


Here’s what I’ve already tried:


  • Restarted the Spark multiple times
  • Performed a full reset (12 seconds on RST button)
  • Re-added the device in the app
  • Tried to trigger irrigation manually from both the app and the controller
  • Confirmed that the system works when I open the valves manually from the controller
  • Tried different power supplies
  • Connected to a mobile hotspot instead of my home Wi-Fi (same result)
  • Updated the firmware to the latest version (v3.3.0)
  • Purchased a brand new Spark controller and tested it — same exact issue



At this point, it looks like the issue is not hardware or network-related.

Could it be a firmware bug or a server-side problem?


Any help would be greatly appreciated!


Thanks in advance,

Stefano Mauri


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2 Answers    Click the answer to view the full answer and comments.

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Wency Pan
Updated at 2025-07-30 02:05:24 UTC

Dear customer,


Our R&D team is actively investigating the cause. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you.

Recently, we’ve noticed that other users in Italy have reported the same issue, and they all share a common factor: they are using the Vodafone FWA network. Could you please let us know the brand and model of your home router, as well as your WiFi network provider? If your home is also using the Vodafone FWA network, you can follow these steps to verify whether the issue is caused by the Vodafone FWA network:

First, unplug or disconnect the WiFi router that the device is connected to, and wait for the device’s light to turn red.
Once the light turns red, press the device’s RST button for 1 second—the light will start to flash blue.
Turn on your phone’s hotspot (make sure the phone is not connected to the home WiFi). Then, go to the Netro app > Settings > Controller > Change Wi-Fi network/password to reconnect the device. In the final step of modifying the WiFi settings, connect the device to your personal mobile hotspot.
After connecting to the hotspot, check if the device works properly. This will help determine whether the problem lies with the Netro device or your Wi-Fi system.

Thanks,

Netro Support