Kasa Smart HS100 WiFi Smart Plug, Classic 1-Pack, White

I bought one and liked it so much, I went out and bought several more. It was equally easy to set up either using the included Kasa app, which was very intuitive and great for easy scheduling and simply turning on and off. But I really purchased it for the Amazon Echo integration and this was seamless. I admit, I couldnt get it to work at first so I called TP LInk customer support which was excellent and they lead me through the problem very quickly. When I bought more, I again couldnt remember and this time I called Amazon Echo customer support. They too were able to quickly help. Both times the problem was that I forgot to check off that I wanted remote access enabled. I use these on several devices but mainly for my AC units. I didnt think it would work since they are all digital but they do - The AC units (which are all 5 years old and from several different makers including both off-brands and major brand names) are designed to recognize when the power has been cut and will turn back on once the power has been restored, making these smart plugs ideal to use for scheduling purposes. The only con is that they take up both sockets which is problematic. Even on most power strips. The solution for myself was to buy a 10 pack of these short extension cords which were on sale for $13.99 and were great for these and many other devices that take up too much room on a power strip: https://www.amazon.com/Etekcity-Extension-Listed-Upgraded-Version/dp/B00CEJW0WQ

I bought this since I liked the idea of automating my home using the existing Wi-Fi network without the need to set up some expensive hub or system. We did not start out on the right foot, however. The electronic outlets in my apartment are placed two in a row, i.e. horizontally instead of vertically - the Smart Plug is so bulky that I can only use one Smart Plug per plate, and I can only squeeze in a smaller plug for the second outlet. Not great at all, particularly since I am already using outlet taps to maximize the number of electric equipment I can use for each outlet. I ended up using these Smart Plugs on extension cords to get around the issue. Another problem I then have is that the Smart Plugs cannot connect to hidden networks. I have one known (password protected) network, and a second hidden network. The hidden network is intended for my equipment, whereas the known network is for friends and visitors. I have to use the known network for the Smart Plugs, and put my phone onto the known network as well for this to work. I can live with it, but not cool. Having said that, once I got past these issues (and I actually started a return before I decided to try it one more time), the Smart Plugs are great. I like the fact that I can switch on a number of lights at once that I would otherwise have to switch on individually. I also like the fact that I can set this to a schedule especially when I am traveling. Already I am thinking that I can link this up to the fan, more lights in other rooms of the apartment and perhaps even my humidifier. Theres a lot of potential in this and overall, Im glad I got these! I got these when they went on sale for around $19.99 each (they are currently $29.99 each), and Ill get more when theres a sale again!

The TP LINK HS100 is an excellent choice for a WiFi smart plug. Set up is easy with the KASA app and once you establish an account for remote control, adding additional plugs is a fast and simple. I especially like the icon selections avaliable to assign to the plugs along with unique names. The app works on both cellphones and tablets. Your phone/tablet and the smart plug must be configured with both on the same 2.4Ghz network, but once completed, the phone/tablet can be switched to an 11a or 11n network. This only works with remote control access or you are confined to local access under 11g only network. I recommend setting up multiple plugs on the same phone or tablet first, discovery and connection is quick and easy on the second device. I deducted a star for the bulkiness of the plug. I also have installed several units of the Power X WiFi Remote Smart Plug by Raynic Electronics, they are not as bulky and have a slimmer profile. You can control local or remote access with the TP LINK HS100, the Power X once configured is remote by default. When on remote you are server dependent and I have experienced server connection issues with both and had to manually control the on/off function of the plug. I recommend the TP LINK HS100 WiFi Remote Smart Plug as a starting point to creating a smart home, with or without the Amazon Echo and Alexa.

Love this for use at home or traveling. I primarily use these smart plugs for lamps also for some kitchen appliances. It makes it easy to turn off lights if I forget and I am in a different part of the house using Alexa or set the coffee pot up and set the smart plug to turn it on in the morning. I can also turn lights on and off when I am away or from home using the Kasa app and check to make sure the coffee pot is off. TP-Link has a section on how to connect your smart plug and use it with Amazon Echo. It requires downloading and using the Kasa app and it is easy if you follow the directions posted on their website. You can name each plug so that you know where and what it controls this is especially helpful if you are using it for a lamp. The Kasa app also has a feature to randomly turn on your lights when you are traveling and it works well. I had neighbors express surprise that I was not home when I used this feature while traveling. These work well I had one smart plug lose the connection I reinstalled it and no more issues. Nothing works perfectly but this has worked well and as expected since I purchased and installed them. The information on TP-Links website is a big help with setup and to learn how to use this with Echo. A useful item that makes things a bit easier for busy people.

Dont get me wrong, I have always liked TP Link products, so I bought this over Wemo. HUGE mistake! I have been trying since yesterday to get the Smart Plug 100 connected to my network and my Echo. Either the Kasa software hangs up on my Samsung G4 or it cant find the plug (5 feet away). Getting it onto the network is another nightmare even though I have two routers. Just keep getting the message that network setup failed:null. I have found that the TP Link website is also of little use in trying to resolve the issue. Amazon says it cannot be returned unless damaged or unopened but will try to send it back and see what happens and then order a Wemo. Wont buy TP Link again without a serious think. UPDATE: After 6 attempts, I FINALLY got it to work, but still not sure I will order another TP Link, but hate to think about going through another setup process with another manufacturer. 2ND UPDATE: After a few days of use, I can say that this product works as promised, but admit initial set up was problematic, even for a tech savy person. HOWEVER, I am pleased with how this product works so have change my review from 1 star to 4. I think it would be in TP Links best interest to include better instructions for set up so others wont have to go through what I did.

Here is my honest review of TP-Link Smart Plug: Pros: - Very Quick to respond from both the Kasa app, and Alexa. Have not tested with Google home - Has support for three pronged plugs, not just the two. - Very easy and quick to setup in the Kasa app! - The Kasa app has support to control the device anywhere in the world! Just need any kind of Internet connection or Cellular Service. - Sleek Design. Does not stick out like a sore thumb. Blends pretty well with most atmospheres. - Adds smart home control to any device with a plug! Whether it be a lamp, charger, light, or even a music player. - Very lightweight. Not too important, but thought I would add it just in case. Cons: - Very bulky. Will take up the entire outlet and the one above/below/adjacent to it. It is also very thick. If you are putting it behind a desk or a dresser, you would need to pull it away from the wall quite a bit. Not a compact device. - Makes a noticeable click noise when turned on and off. Not that big of a deal for me, but may bug some people. - The status LED on the device is not that big, so it is very hard to tell what color it is. Most of the time it just looks yellow. Overall Thoughts: I love this product. I have used this product for 10 months and still love it. There are very few cons, and the ones I listed dont bother me too much. They are just mainly me being picky. I think that this product could be used for a HUGE variety of products. It has so many uses. You can attach pretty much anything to it. I personally use it for a Himalayan Salt Lamp, and it works great. Do I recommend this product? Absolutely. Would I buy this product again? Yep! Should you buy this product? If the cons I listed do not bother you, then 100%! Go get this product!

So far being we have only owned these less than a week and the wife and I are liking using these Wi-Fi Plugs. We have one in the master bedroom at the end of the hall and I have a floor lamp in the corner that we are using one plug there. And wow how nice it is to be able to talk to “Alexa” and say Alexa turn on master bedroom lamp from in the living room. And WOW you hear her say Ok, yeah lets you know she’s working for you. It’s sort of dark as we get to the end of the hall and with the floor lamp on it shines just right out into the hall to see good enough in the end of the hall and lights up the bedroom door way for you so you won‘t trip over something by chance. Never though being 61 years old I’d be one to have Alexa and smart Wi-Fi Plugs and Switches which their next on the list of Alexa’s things for an old dog. But I have ordered some more plugs already after less than a week of owning these which aren’t hard to program to Alexa and make your life some what easier, yeah never thought I’d have Alexa but here I am with the wife (60) and we think some thing like this for older people (older than us) can be helpful. There’s not a whole lot more to write about the plugs accept they work with Alexa and are working as they should and we’ll be buying more of these to use though out the house for sure. We see places in the living room, kitchen, laundry room, garage, and like I said I’m looking into switches to install in the house, even my outdoor shed my Wi-Fi reaches far out of the house to my one work shed. So if your on the fence of what are the best Plugs to buy so far I think these are very worthy to look into, priced in line with others and got them with the black Friday deal when buying Alexa thanks to my wife wanting Alexa and the plugs were like a deal with Alexa. Thanks for reading and hope I helped someone tonight. Good Evening !

This review is for an item I just received. The setup is straightforward, TP-Link include a small card that takes you through the basics of setting up the switch on your home network. It took a lot longer to move the couch and physically install the switch than it did to do the network setup. To setup the device you do need a smart phone or tablet to instal the KASA app. Not sure why they call it KASA. The KASA app searches for devices and runs through the setup onto your WIFi. I checked for new Firmware using the KASA app but it the unit I received was up to date. Wemo devices need updating frequently, maybe TP-Link have simply got this right. Alexa integration worked first time without issues and has been solid since. TP-Link instructions on the web have you use the Alexa app on your phone to detect the devices, you can in fact do this by voice command by saying, Alexa, discover devices, wish the instructions had incuded the voice command. I attached two living room lamps to this one smart switch and it works fine. Using a smart switch without the need for a hub is a much simpler and cheaper way to control lamps than getting smart bulbs plus a hub. I was successful in controlling the switch away from home using my phone, but I found it doesnt work consistently like it does when at home. Id occasionally get a could not connect message. Waiting 10 seconds or so resolved the issue. It is possible to establish scheduled on/off events for each of your switches at different times of day and days of the week. It has an away Mode but this was kinda useless. You can say you will be away from 9am to 6pm for instance and schedules are modified, however much more useful would be an away mode over multiple days for when you are away on vacation. I was surprised that managing your switches cannot be done on the web. The Phone app works fine, but the limited screen size limits how much they can get on the scree at once. Id like the ability to manage the switch(s) from a web page. The Amazon Echo has both app and web page control, TP-Link need to do the same.

I have a water well and one year the outdoor plumbing from it froze. We had no water pressure when that happened because the part that froze was a 2 inch section of pipe that had the pressure sensor on it. You cant buy heat tape for a 2 pipe! The well tech said to insulate that pipe and place a heat lamp near that pipe, turning it on when it gets close to freezing. That involves clamping a heat lamp near the pipe and running an extension cord from the well head to my house, turning it on when it gets cold. It rarely stays cold enough during the day here, but it could happen. But what would I do if I was not home? This WiFi smart plug will hopefully be the answer. Basically, this is a WiFi relay/switch. You download the app, plug in the device to a wall outlet and the app connects the plug to your home network after you supply your routers WEP code. You next specify when the device will turn on. Generally, accessing the device turns it on. The icon on your smartphone Kasa app will turn green. You can have it turn on and off at a certain time on a specified day of the week but not on a specific date on the calendar. By doing so, it acts like setting a smartphone alarm. It asks for your location for sunrise/sunset information and can turn on the device at sunset, etc. There is an option to turn on the device for a low temperature situation, which I assume means outdoor temperature, but there is no setting for what that temperature is when it will turn the device on or at what subsequent temperature will it then turn it off. What if there are conflicts between the set schedule and the temperature? I will have to ask the company about that. In the meantime, I can check the weather and turn it on an off remotely. How long does it take for the smart plug to turn on or off when using the app? It is almost instantaneous. How far away is the smart plug from my Comcast router? About 80 feet.

The TP-Link is a nifty device once you get it up and running. I bought it specifically to start using with the Amazon Echo Dot 2nd gen with Alexa. The directions in the box are very simple but not as obvious as they should be with the two important points below. Before I go any further, this device will only work with the 2.4ghz wi-fi signal. It is very important for you to know your current equipment, that would have saved me a lot of frustration. It turns out my AT&T router will emit 2.4 or 5ghz, not both at the same time. After talking with an agent things improved rather quickly. One other important note, when you are trying to connect your phone via the Kasa app, you need to be within 3 feet, 2 is even better. Again, would have been nice to know upfront. If I had known those tidbits upfront, my total time to connect to my phone and using it with the Kasa app, 5 minutes tops. Connecting and voice controlling with Alexa, another 5 minutes tops. I am physically disabled and must admit, I am very thrilled to be independently controlling device. Not knowing how well the TP-Llink would work, I only purchased one at $22 vs regularly $45+. I am regretting that decision now. If it holds up well over time, this will be the first of many more to come. If it was clearer prior to purchasing it about only operating on 2.4ghz and a 2-foot range from my phone during the initial setup, I would have given it a 5 star. After all, I do really like it and it works great with the Amazon Dot 2nd gen with Alexa. It shouldnt be left out, that the Kasa app on the phone has plenty of options for those not interested in voice control. If over time things change, youll be the second to know.