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- First reviewMay 13, 2015
- Last reviewMay 13, 2015
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ProviderLandru'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
3
Privacy & Reliability Issues
on May 13, 2015
Posted by: ProviderLandru
Verified Purchase:Yes
I really want to say this is a great product, but I have some issues that prevent that. I am using about a dozen WEMO devices. One to periodically power cycle a Tablo, one to cycle network equipment, and the remainder to monitor and manage power in a crypto mine. I have been using WEMO for over a year. For context, I made my living designing computers and electronics, as well as developing firmware for these sorts of things, so I am not without a clue in using these devices.
The Good:
On the plus side, it is really handy to have the ability to restart equipment from anywhere, and the power monitoring is valuable as well. The monthly summary is very helpful. WHEN IT ALL WORKS.
On the down side -
Privacy Issues:
Belkin's WEMO smartphone app is very intrusive, and I have to suspect that Belkin may be selling user data to data mining companies. The app has access to your contact info, cell phone number, and just about anything else to do with your phone. I see no reason for this access given what the app does. There is no functionality which relates to contacts, and the phone has a UUID for unique identification, so there is no reason for them to access your phone number. Far too many app providers feel free to steal your personal info, and we all need to stand up against it. I have solved it in this case by running the WEMO app from an iPod which has no phone number, and contains no contact info, but this sort of extreme measure should not be necessary in order to maintain control of private personal information.
On the plus side, it is really handy to have the ability to restart equipment from anywhere, and the power monitoring is valuable as well. The monthly summary is very helpful. WHEN IT ALL WORKS.
On the down side -
Privacy Issues:
Belkin's WEMO smartphone app is very intrusive, and I have to suspect that Belkin may be selling user data to data mining companies. The app has access to your contact info, cell phone number, and just about anything else to do with your phone. I see no reason for this access given what the app does. There is no functionality which relates to contacts, and the phone has a UUID for unique identification, so there is no reason for them to access your phone number. Far too many app providers feel free to steal your personal info, and we all need to stand up against it. I have solved it in this case by running the WEMO app from an iPod which has no phone number, and contains no contact info, but this sort of extreme measure should not be necessary in order to maintain control of private personal information.
Reliability Problems:
The wi-fi connectivity of this device drops all too often. I have even gone to the trouble of placing an additional access point in the vicinity of the WEMO devices, so it isn't a problem of signal strength.
The wi-fi connectivity of this device drops all too often. I have even gone to the trouble of placing an additional access point in the vicinity of the WEMO devices, so it isn't a problem of signal strength.
From time to time devices also seem to turn off for no apparent reason, although this hasn't happened enough for me to troubleshoot. It may be related to the poor decision by Belkin to use a touch sensor instead of a mechanical switch for manual power control. The touch sensor is an absolute nuisance, and has resulted in more than one inadvertent switching event. As in most engineering, simpler is better.
I also find that the device setup process can be quirky, and (the annoyingly frequent) firmware upgrades break things more often than not, requiring that the device be set back up. The firmware updates sometimes require multiple upgrade attempts.
Security:
In February of last year it became public knowledge that the WEMO devices had serious security flaws. To be fair, Belkin came out with firmware to address the problem, but the nature of the mistakes in the original implementation were so fundamental as to shake my confidence in the development process at Belkin. It would seem that someone at Belkin has a lackadaisical approach to securing a device that has the potential to burn your house down if compromised.
In February of last year it became public knowledge that the WEMO devices had serious security flaws. To be fair, Belkin came out with firmware to address the problem, but the nature of the mistakes in the original implementation were so fundamental as to shake my confidence in the development process at Belkin. It would seem that someone at Belkin has a lackadaisical approach to securing a device that has the potential to burn your house down if compromised.
So why do I use these devices given the negatives, and the fact that I could roll my own solution with an Arduino, RasPi, or Beaglebone?
That's easy. I'm lazy, and they are usable, just annoying. If you're okay with that (as I am) have fun!
That's easy. I'm lazy, and they are usable, just annoying. If you're okay with that (as I am) have fun!
My Best Buy number: 2270146655
My Best Buy number: 2270146655
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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ProviderLandru's Answers
Can just one unit service a 6 story private house?
I think there is a 5-1/2 story limit outside of Alaska.
8 years, 11 months ago
by
ProviderLandru
Where can I find an installer for a video door phone?
There is a new web site for this sort of thing called "Thumbtack", but I've never used them and can't vouch for them. Still, I suppose it beats calling the nearest parole officer and asking for a recommendation from among their "clients" ; ) .
8 years, 11 months ago
by
ProviderLandru
Belkin Wemo F7C030FC Light Switch: This Wi-Fi–enabled light switch lets you control and schedule the lights in your home from almost anywhere with your Android or Apple® smartphone or tablet. The backlight makes it easy to find at night.
why does wemo light switch app sometimes searches for designated light when accessing from remote area?
Ricky,
The simple answer is that you are having connectivity issues. The problem is that the difficulty can be anywhere from the WEMO device to your network, your gateway/router, something on the Internet, or a problem your cell phone's connectivity. You might contact Belkin, but I wouldn't expect too much help from them.
Frequent connectivity issues have been a big problem with the WEMO products for me as well, and I work in these sorts of technologies professionally. To be fair to Belkin, this "simple" remote control involves lots of technology operated by multiple companies, and spread over a lot of territory. OTOH, I frequently can trace my problems to the WEMO device itself dropping the connection to my local network, and I have measured the wi-fi signal strength at the device, so I know it has adequate signal.
Bottom line: WEMO is a so-so technology which has privacy issues as well, and it can be a pain in the neck to use. But I don't know of any competing consumer product that is any better.
The simple answer is that you are having connectivity issues. The problem is that the difficulty can be anywhere from the WEMO device to your network, your gateway/router, something on the Internet, or a problem your cell phone's connectivity. You might contact Belkin, but I wouldn't expect too much help from them.
Frequent connectivity issues have been a big problem with the WEMO products for me as well, and I work in these sorts of technologies professionally. To be fair to Belkin, this "simple" remote control involves lots of technology operated by multiple companies, and spread over a lot of territory. OTOH, I frequently can trace my problems to the WEMO device itself dropping the connection to my local network, and I have measured the wi-fi signal strength at the device, so I know it has adequate signal.
Bottom line: WEMO is a so-so technology which has privacy issues as well, and it can be a pain in the neck to use. But I don't know of any competing consumer product that is any better.
8 years, 11 months ago
by
ProviderLandru
Belkin Wemo F7C030FC Light Switch: This Wi-Fi–enabled light switch lets you control and schedule the lights in your home from almost anywhere with your Android or Apple® smartphone or tablet. The backlight makes it easy to find at night.
I have two porch lights on a switch, will this work?
That depends on how they are wired and how much current they draw.
If they are controlled by only one switch, and the lights are typical residential fixtures, then it will probably work fine. For other configurations, provide the details so you get a meaningful answer.
In all circumstances, please proceed on your own responsibility, I'm just offering an educated guess, and take no responsibility for what you choose to do. There are no safety guarantees with electricity or the Internet as a source of information ; ) .
If they are controlled by only one switch, and the lights are typical residential fixtures, then it will probably work fine. For other configurations, provide the details so you get a meaningful answer.
In all circumstances, please proceed on your own responsibility, I'm just offering an educated guess, and take no responsibility for what you choose to do. There are no safety guarantees with electricity or the Internet as a source of information ; ) .
8 years, 11 months ago
by
ProviderLandru
Belkin Wemo F7C030FC Light Switch: This Wi-Fi–enabled light switch lets you control and schedule the lights in your home from almost anywhere with your Android or Apple® smartphone or tablet. The backlight makes it easy to find at night.
Can i use it with a 220 volts electric system?
I am from Bolivia and we use 220 volts instead of 110 volts.
No, this is a 120 volt device.
8 years, 11 months ago
by
ProviderLandru