GE Lighting CYNC Outdoor Smart Plug, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Outlet Socket, Weather Resistant Plug, Voice Control Outlet, Works with Alexa and Google Home

Easy setup and works perfectly. I would recommend this product.

Does what it’s supposed to

I had a unreasonably difficult time getting the schedule set up, granted this is my first smart plug. But after many trial and errors I got it figured out and the support line was also helpful.

I have two plugs on the outside of my house that I use for my Christmas lights. In the past, I had used timers to get them to come on and off. Seemed like I could never get them in sync so the lights would turn on and off at the same time. Also trying to adjust for sunset was tricky. I purchased two of these and connected them to my Wi-Fi meshed network. (I mention my mesh network as needed good wi-fi signals outdoors and a long ways apart.) If you have not set up smart switches previously this is a little tricky to set up and run on and off at the right time. But if you are already used to smart switches and Alexa integration this is a typical installation.

if you are currently using Alexa enabled devices the due not require connection to a central hub, this device will not work unless you install one. That could be a GE Cync or another brand.

I tried both the seamless home install and the linked device setup and neither worked. For the seamless setup, Google home can see it but the install fails every time. If you go to the Google home troubleshooting page for it, it says if this happens with a GE Csync device, to install in their app first and try. Its a great sign that Google has to add this to their docs but ok. I was able to get this setup in the Cync app successfully. Then you click the link in the app to integrate this with the Google home service. It requires your username and password to Cync to allow access. After entering it, it just hangs and does nothing. I tried multiple factory resets, moved it indoors next to my router and a Google home hub to see if it helped. Nothing did. For context I have roughly 50 smart devices at my home. I have Orbi 2.4 and 5ghz wifi with 3 satellites and 2gbps fiber internet. I am a software architect that builds services like this every day so this is not my first rodeo with setting these types of things up. This device is either defective or has an install process so fragile that it is going to be a nightmare when Google pushes out an update. I expected more which is why I went with a GE product instead of something else. After spending 2 hours trying to get this integrated with Google home, I finally gave up and returned it.

App is the worst I’ve ever tried to use. Have used it for a couple of years and has been a family joke that the app is possessed, with random turn-on and turn-off of outdoor lights and fountain. Much too much time spent, unsuccessfully trying to find causes in app. Finally had enough and am replacing!

This has been a godsend to my patio light display. I can control the lights withought ever going outside. The 2nd outlet I use for charging my batteries for my garden tools. I’m able to turn it off after batteries being charged so it doesn’t ruin them. Bluetooth is a breeze to set up.