Share TechNut's profile
TechNut
TechNut's stats
- Review count1
- Helpfulness votes6
- First reviewJanuary 27, 2015
- Last reviewJanuary 27, 2015
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating2
Reviews comments
- Review comment count0
- Helpfulness votes0
- First review commentNone
- Last review commentNone
- Featured review comments0
Questions
- Question count0
- Helpfulness votes0
- First questionNone
- Last questionNone
- Featured questions0
Answers
- Answer count0
- Helpfulness votes0
- First answerNone
- Last answerNone
- Featured answers0
- Best answers0
TechNut's Reviews
Belkin WeMo F7C029FC Insight Plug: Monitor your energy usage and control your home electronics from almost anywhere using your Android or Apple® smartphone or tablet. Receive personalized notifications about your devices from the WeMo App.
Customer Rating
2
Does what it says, but you cannot rule the world.
on January 27, 2015
Posted by: TechNut
I originally discovered WeMo products after searching for a device to remotely cycle the power to a server computer located across town in the event of a system freeze, a product like this was an absolute blessing. Professional networking gear which performs the same function can cost hundreds, so I was quite pleased to find this handy little doodad economically priced.
Alright, the WeMo app found the switch, sweet! But wait.... I have to...update....the....firmware...on....an....outlet? Ooookay, (Unexpected life achievement) I go along with the update, not really giving it much more thought since pretty much every electronic device purchased these days will almost certainly require an update right out of the box. I get it. Bug fixes are good! I fumble along with updating the firmware on the future socket, wait more than the stated 10 minutes for updating even though it's connected to a fiber network. Unplug, plug back in, no dice. Perform a factory reset, (Which instructions as to how to do were buried in the app's help section.) No biggie, but another hurdle to jump in a mildly frustrating situation. A 1 cent sticker could of made the difference between a return here for a noob. Strike 1
Alright, got a factory reset done, connected with the app over Wi-Fi, aaaand, another firmware update... >:s Wait, download, update, restart the app. Alright! We are in business, (Wi-Fi) side....
After struggling with the initial setup, I then moved onto the controlling the world capabilities of this. I go to try to cycle the switch over 3g/4g, and the app says no device found. D; I dive into the support section of the app, it notes that the device will have issues communicating with networks that use special characters in the routers SSID, such as ($*&+@#_). I changed the network name to something more suitable, and carried on. Ok not really a huge deal breaker, but Belkin should really consider adding a notation about this to the minuscule amount of documentation found inside the box. Those who are less inclined to hopelessly wander the app's help section would have almost certainly returned this item. (Heads up WeMo stock holders) Strike 2
At this point, the switch is functioning as the box states, I am elated to finally have this magical box in my life, it is going to save my sleep! I was so astounded at its functionality, I decided to look into WeMo's other products...
I picked up a WeMo wall switch, and the remote LED lightbulb kit for my home. Coool, future, hell yes. Then proceeded to setup the bulbs, which were actually much easier to setup having the knowledge of the first round. I then get to the point of setup to enable remote access to the bulbs over 3g/4g. Upon enabling remote access, I notice I no longer have remote control to the wall outlet installed across town for the server >_< After reading the grayed out text on the Remote Access portion of the app, it does state something along the lines of "Remote access will only work from one location with this device" *sigh* a warning before wiping remotely accessed WeMo's would be nice.
I then drive back across town, jump on the Wi-Fi network the WeMo wall outlet is located on, enable remote access again, because the app or website does not keep a history for you to swap. Back in the saddle (or so I thought). Then head on home to mess with the light bulbs, I connect to the local Wi-Fi, open the app, and I now can't even access the lightbulbs at my house, because the switch is added at another location. Strike 3
In conclusion, this type of technology will definitely gain a solid foothold in the market, although Belkin and WeMo have seemed to put a good polish on this item from the shelf, once you get it home you will shortly discover they have left a lot of loose ends, and practically are setting themselves up for failure due to rushed programming and the severe expansion limitations imposed by said software.
If you only ever plan on owning one WeMo device, I might recommend this product only if you are willing to take the time to bumble through setup, but if you are planning on an expansive network in other locations, the future has not yet arrived. I traded the WeMo wall switch and bulbs to for some regular LED lightbulbs so I can at least save that drive across town.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Share this review:
+4points
6of 8voted this as helpful.
TechNut's Review Comments
TechNut has not submitted comments on any reviews.
TechNut's Questions
TechNut has not submitted any questions.
TechNut's Answers
TechNut has not submitted any answers.