Remote smart plug or powerstrip

I've heard about them but never used one. I need a *remotely accessible* powerstrip or smart-plug for switching OFF/ON a Netgear GS105 and Zyxel U-100 that occasionally get stuck. Do you use these devices? Any good brands? This is so important that price is not an issue. TIA

I have 4 Meross smart plugs, they need the Ios/Android app on your mobile to connect to, and can also be controlled by Amazon Alexa and I believe Google Home, just type in Meross on Amazon

I use the TP-Link Kasa and now the newer Tapo smart plugs (14 of them) around my home and have proved very reliable, only had 1 fail after 7 years.
As long as you have Wifi at home then you can remotely turn them on and off from anywhere.
I actually use 1 on my router that gives me wifi, however if you turn this plug off remotely then you cannot turn it back on as your router and wifi are now down, however you can set internal timers on them, so mine now turns off at 3am, then turns back on at 3.01am the same day but scheduled to do this every 2 days.

A pack of 4 Tapo P100 are on offer at Amazon for £30, or P110 energy monitoring for £33.

The problem with most of these smart plugs is that they rely on an internet connection to switch them.
The answer is to use a smart plug that utilises the mobile network to control them.
I run a amateur radio repeater here and the stipulation from Offcom was that i could remotely close it down because of the fact that it uses frequencies that are primarily in use and owned by the MOD.
So if the Zyxel U-100 is the only access to the internet at the premises then you will need a SMS controlled switch. The one I use is a GMS SMS controlled switch which uses the 2G network so certain mobile networks wont work with it O2/Giffgaff do work. So I can send an SMS text from any mobile to switch the mains socket off or on.

I also have the Meeros ones, and these also have internal timers, so if the internet dies (ie you switch the plug to the router off), it can still come back on again at the time you specify.

Mine appear to be able to navigate the network and be made available via 5G (through the SmartLife App) without additional configuration on my router.

So these could be a possibility for you.

The Meross ones can be run via a local docker container, but its messy...... I'm still actually shocked companies want to sell and make money when you turn a switch on or off.. Also the meross app is diabolically pants. Oh and google home is horrifically pants...

I noticed you emphasised "remotely accessible". If/when these devices hang, will your internet still be up so they can be remotely powercycled but whatever solution you implement?

Edited by nofappingway (Mon 19-Feb-24 11:26:45)

I use an Athom Plug V2 running an operating system called Tasmota. The plug has a little web site where you set when it switches off and on. My router once got stuck when i was away from home I now use this plug to power it off and on early on Sunday mornings. The schedule is stored in the plug so it operates even if there is no internet connection.

You can buy these plugs here. They show much much power the connected device uses. I now know my fridge uses 1.5 kwH per day.

This is another one.

I just have the standard plugs, combined with Alexa and they work fine, tell Alexa to turn the of and on when I want, I don't use them forr my ONT/Router etc as I have them all connected to a UPS and it doesn't take much trouble to go into the hallway to press the reset button on whatever needs be

Something like this? https://www.solwise.co.uk/telecoms-sms-remoteplug-ver2 (others are available)

SMS-REMOTEPLUG - Remote Power Controller with SMS Control
Fully controlled by SMS (text message)
Turn power on/off & reboot equipment remotely all by text
Real time text alert when mains power is lost/restored (up to 5 users)
Plug & play - simple quick set up all by text (under 3 mins)
Powertxt uses GSM only (no IP address required or Wifi/Data/3G access)
Saves time & money by reducing unnecessary engineering site visits
Real time temperature alerts & automatic control by temperature
Powertxt can only control the mains power to your equipment, it has no connection to the device itself
Control by mobile/cell phone or through EstateView (cloud based centralised management portal)