Defender Smart Plugs

Le_Kirk

I also recently upgraded (well BT/Openreach did) from old copper cable to Full Fibre 500 (FTTP) and was provided with a new SH2, which was set up by myself and the Openreach engineer.  

My issue is that the SH2 does not allow split/separate bands for the 2.4/5 GHz and that is affecting my Defender Smart Plugs.  They will only work with 2.4 GHz and the workaround is to turn off the 5 GHz whilst I pair and synch them, then turn back on the 5 GHz.  This is fine until the WiFi decides to disconnect (for whatever mysterious reason) and then I have to go through the rigmarole of turning off the 5 GHz whilst I pair and synch them, then turning it back on. 

I cannot find a (different) Smart Plug manufacturer to guarantee their 2.4 GHz-only plugs will work when 5 GHz is available; has anyone found one that works or has anyone found a dual-band Smart Plug? 

Another solution is to chain a second router with splittable bands.  Anyone recommend a suitable router/hub?

Newcad

Dual band smart plugs are availaibe - but they are like chickens teeth because smart plugs don't really need the 5GHz so manufactures leave it out to keep costs down.
The only ones I could find on a quick search were US specification plugs not UK.

Another option with a second router would be to just use that second router as non-internet-connected Home LAN.
It won't matter then what the SH2 is doing.

Set up a spare router broadcasting it's own 2.4 GHz wifi network and don't connect it to the internet.
As you will only be using the 2.4 GHz then any old router will do. (Old one you or a friend has? Second hand? Charity shop?)
Connect you smart plugs, other IOT devices, and their controllers, (anything/everything that doesn't need the internet), to that non-internet wifi network.
Remember that most Smart Home/IOT devices don't need the internet to work, they only use your existing wifi because it's already there. Taking them off your internet wifi frees up bandwith on that for things that do use the internet.

These articles tell you how to set up a router to give non-internet wifi:
https://www.electronicshub.org/wireless-router-work-without-internet/
https://homenetworkgeek.com/can-a-router-work-without-the-internet/

victor2

I've got 4 different brands of smart plugs and switches - the latest are a Tapo P110 and "Centechia" switch. All are 2.4GHz only and I have a dual band WiFi router with the same SSID for each frequency. When pairing the devices (from my 5GHz enabled smartphone) I have to switch the 5GHz off. Once paired, they run just fine with the phone back on 5GHz, and survive the router being powered off, just are visible again from the app(s) once the WiFi is restored.

Le_Kirk

Newcad said:

Dual band smart plugs are available - but they are like chickens teeth because smart plugs don't really need the 5GHz so manufactures leave it out to keep costs down.
The only ones I could find on a quick search were US specification plugs not UK.

Another option with a second router would be to just use that second router as non-internet-connected Home LAN.
It won't matter then what the SH2 is doing.

Set up a spare router broadcasting it's own 2.4 GHz wifi network and don't connect it to the internet.
As you will only be using the 2.4 GHz then any old router will do. (Old one you or a friend has? Second hand? Charity shop?)
Connect you smart plugs, other IOT devices, and their controllers, (anything/everything that doesn't need the internet), to that non-internet wifi network.
Remember that most Smart Home/IOT devices don't need the internet to work, they only use your existing wifi because it's already there. Taking them off your internet wifi frees up bandwidth on that for things that do use the internet.

victor2 said:

I've got 4 different brands of smart plugs and switches - the latest are a Tapo P110 and "Centechia" switch. All are 2.4GHz only and I have a dual band WiFi router with the same SSID for each frequency. When pairing the devices (from my 5GHz enabled smartphone) I have to switch the 5GHz off. Once paired, they run just fine with the phone back on 5GHz, and survive the router being powered off, just are visible again from the app(s) once the WiFi is restored.

Thanks both for your replies.  I have also found it difficult to find dual band plugs!
I use the facility of my Defender Plugs to create scenes meaning I can turn on the plugs at +/- Sunset, which presumably would need internet connection, else how would plugs know it was sunset?  Or am I being silly?
I wish my plugs would survive a router drop-out but they don't!  The stupid thing i, when it happens, the SMart Life app sends me a message telling me that an event failed to happen!  If it knows that, why not just switch on the darn plug?  I used to use Alexa routines but found it unreliable in terms of using the sunset offset.

Newcad

Do the plugs 'know it's sunset' or are they just in a timer mode?

One thing about setting up a non-internet network, you won't be able to connect to it once out of range.

Ie. You couldn't turn things on/off from work or the pub using your phone. You have to be connected to that network.

Le_Kirk

It is based on the plugs having a routine/scene and knowing what time sunset will be with an offset.  It is also handy to be able to check/adjust or turn on/off remotely when I discovered a few months ago when I was looking after my daughter's cats that Alexa had a general problem with knowing when sunset was (reported by lots of people, including me, on the Amazon Alexa forum) and was able to turn on the lights from her house.

victor2

I don't use Alexa but found the Tapo app really useful. It switches an internal light on one hour before sunset and off at midnight. If the WiFi is not working it follows the previous schedule until the WiFi is back and it can adjust itself.
As the switch is a P110, I can see how much electricity it uses over a summer month and will doubtless compare that to a winter month later in the year. 

Le_Kirk

My son is visiting for a few days and, since we had discussed my issue, he brought with him a spare KASA Mini KP105, which I installed last night.  It does require another app on the phone but if it works for a while, I shall swap my Defenders for Kasa type and ditch the Smart Life app.  The main point is that it installed on second attempt) without querying the 2.4/5 GHz wifi available.  Also the app has the sunset/sunrise with offset and it linked with Alexa without issue and I was able to incorporate it into my Alexa routines.  It even, when set up and checking the devices on the app indicates what time it has calculated to turn on!  I never knew you could have so much fun sitting there with the granddaughters waiting for the light to turn on.