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

The plug arrived a day early, which has been pretty standard lately. Id already downloaded the Kasa application and setup a user account so all I had to do was plug the plug in and follow the instructions in the app. The plug showed up and other than being patient while it made the changes to the network configure, saved and then rebooted the plug it was very quick. I then tested the plug using the Kasa app and both my Echo and Touch. It worked without a problem, Id read the instructions and followed them so Id already discovered the device with Alexa. I had my daughter test it remotely, again no problem. I suspect the biggest issue will now be my daughter messing with me by turning the light on and off on me. I then unplugged it, gave it the 10 count and plugged it back in. Oh no, it isnt working, the sky is falling! Ha, remember I mentioned the reboot earlier, be patient, dont start unplugging and plugging it in again and again. I waited and what do you know, its working. So far its worked exactly how I expected it too. The only issue I have with it so far is that it does block both ports on an outlet. Id expected this as well however, Id done my homework and read the reviews so as you can see from the picture I had an extension cord ready. I did knock a star off for this however, this day and age with everything requiring power blocking an unused outlet port is unacceptable IMHO. I like that I dont need a separate hub for the TP-Link Smart Plug. Now to see how it handles everyday life, will it hold up, will my wife finally allow me to bring the Echo out of the man-cave? Only time will tell.

I bought this TP-link smart plug for a lamp in the corner of my bedroom. I like the location of the soft lighting when I am reading or watching tv in bed but it got annoying to have to get up and switch it off when I got drowsy. I got the TP-link plug before I got the Amazon Echo so I set it up with the Kasa app which I placed on my Android tablets and phone. The app immediately found the device and connected to my wifi network with the option to give the plug a personalized name. When I would log onto the app, I was presented with a power button next to that name, so it was just a tap on that to turn it off or on. I was quite happy with that. Once I got my Echo, I switched over to using the plug with that. Again, the plug was quickly detected and so very simple to use. I was happy using the app but the Echo raised the bar and it is so nice to be able to just voice my request rather than reaching for a phone or tablet app. The plug is large which may be a concern depending on the size of any other plugs that need to be placed next to it. I have it plugged into a surge suppressor where I have outlets that I do not use, so it is not a problem for me. I plan to purchase more TP-Link plugs since I am quickly becoming addicted to having Alexa’s quick response to my requests for turning it on or off.

I love these little plugs! I have two of them set up in my living room, one for each light. I have them tied into Alexa so I can turn on and off my lights with my voice, which I think is the coolest thing. There was only one time where Alexa could not turn on or off the light and she responded by saying TP-Link is not responding when I issued the commands to turn the lights on and off. I think this is because Alexa requires that you enable remote access to be able to use Alexa with the plug, which means any commands Alexa send to the plugs are being sent to TP-Links cloud. This is ok as long as the cloud works, which it does 99% of the time, but my one concern is that if TP-Link ever shuts down their cloud the plug will turn from being a smart device into a dumb device. As far as setup, these were super easy to set up. I added them via the TP-Link Kasa app and gave them each a name, then added them in the Alexa app. I can use the plugs either with Alexa or via the Kasa app on my phone. If you enable remote access for the plugs, you can use the app to turn the plug on or off from away from home, which is nice so that I can turn on my lights before I get home so I never have to come home to a dark house again.

I bought three of these when they went on sale a while back. It took a while to figure out the correct way to get them set up. I wasnt aware you still had to go online and set up the app on the Kasa web site before you could us it through the internet or Alexa. You can do this with a smart phone or Ipad, it didnt work with a PC. Once I found that out, it went smooth from then on. I first used my Ipad to locate and set them up, no problems here, I could turn them on from anywhere in the house or outside, I havent tried them from another location yet, but it says they will work away from home. Whats keeping me from giving five stars is that its so hit or miss with Alexa. I have two Echos, one in my house and another in my moms house and they both have the same issues. The first issue with Alexa is range. I cant put these farther than 7 feet from the Echo. I can get about 10 feet away in my moms house. Weird thing is that I tell it to turn on a light and it says OK and nothing happens if its over 7 feet away. I tried it with all three units. Keep in mind that it works fine through the internet app and my Ipad. Sometimes, Alexa cant seem to locate one or more of these devices and I have to reset them and set them up again. Also, if you plan on using Alexa, sometimes, you have to say your words a certain way to make her happy. I can say turn on the living room light and Alexa sometimes responds I cannot locate a device called Living Room Light. Then I say turn the living room light on, and Alexa says OK and it happens if Im in range. If you just plan to use your smart phone or Ipad to control these, you should have no problem, they seem to work fine every time.

Was looking for Echo Smart Home compatible smart plugs that didnt need some centralized management unit. The reviews on the HS100s by TP-Link mostly sounded favorable so I bought a couple to try out. The Echo integration works in two steps. First step is to configure the plugs with the TP-Link KASA app which requites setting up a free account and configuring each plug one at a time, naming the plug and joining it to your network. Once thats done, you can control them with your KASA app off your smart phone. The first one configured up fine but my second one had issues which were resolved by doing a rest on it twice and it finally assimilated. In the KASA app you can also setup schedules and calendars for your individual sockets as well, its actually a decent app. The next step is the Echo integration. This involves opening the Echo app and going to Smart Home and learning the KASA TP-Link skills. You will link Echo to your newly created KASA account and then discover devices. The devices will show up as whatever name you gave them in the KASA app. This is also the name you will use when you say Alexa turn <name> on (or off). So setup is fairly easy as long as your follow the correct order of operations and your plugs cooperate. So far Ive had them installed for a couple days and they have not dropped off the network yet. Theyre on my 2.5ghz wifi guest network. The plugs and the rest of your wifi devices dont necessarily need to be on the same wifi network. If youre into security and your router is capable, you could setup a new wifi network just for things and connect your HS100s to that new network. This would get around some of the issues people have with spaces not being support in wifi network names/passwords. As long as everything has open access to the Internet, Echo can control the HS100s just fine on the same network or a different network. From what I can tell, Echo does not directly talk to your plugs. Echo talks to KASA cloud services and KASA in turns talks to your HS100 smart plugs. So far very happy with the HS100s. Will update if anything significant happens positive or negative with them in the future. But I plan on buying more (when theyre on sale again). Update 9/8/16 : These HAD been working flawlessly but for some reason 24 hours ago, they suddenly stopped working. I dont believe that its Alexa, both my plugs still appear in the Alexa app as learned. However when I open the KASA app, it no longer shows the devices so pretty weird how all of a sudden theyve disappeared from the KASA app. I suppose to fix it ill need to start the configuration from scratch again . -1 star for sudden problems with no explanation. Update 12/15/17 : Ive added two more of these to my home thanks to holiday sale promotions with alexa devices. Im using two of them for christmas lights/decorations and have them grouped to come on or off when i ask for Christmas Lights to go on or off. Works great, took like 10 minutes or less to get setup and working, granted Im now pretty experienced with these as all my smart home devices are TP-Link with Alexa. I know what to do when to do it and how to configure it, and it all works great. Will prob be looking at adding some other TP-Link devices in the new year like their cameras. Been very happy with these products. TO follow up on my previous review, once in a while the Kasa servers have a hiccup and voice commands wont operate and the app goes wonkey. When this happens dont do anything just wait it out, use the manual on/off options included. The plugs have on/off buttons for manual override and the light bulbs will go on/off with a light switch. Just flip the light switch off, then on again and the light will come on. When kasa recovers just turn your light on again and wait 30 seconds or so for it to connect and then voice command it to go off.

I bought this to control a TV & Satellite box but after reading some others reviews I realized that it would not do the job I was expecting it to do in that capacity. Im grateful and thankful to those people for their reviews detailing why it wont work to control your TV (basically the device thinks its unplugged from the wall if turned off from a smart plug so turning it back on means rebooting tvs & satellite boxes) before I started unplugging and setting things back up only to find my dreams dashed. Seriously, search TV in the reviews search and see their knowledge and save yourself the hassle. I figured I might as well try plugging an awkward to access lamp into one of the two plugs I bought before I initiated a return and was happy to find that the set up and connection process was effortless and fast. The app was easy to use on my phone, I literally just plugged the plug in, waited for lights to turn colors per the apps on screen directions and within a few minutes, it worked. I then connected my Google Home to it in another seamless & simple set up connection process and now I no longer have to contort my arm to find the switch for this lamp, I just say Hey Google, turn on the lights and on it goes. Theres an audible click when it goes on and off that comes from the plug itself, its a satisfying sound to me. So I was bummed I couldnt use these for what I intended, but am thrilled that I was able to simplify something and expand my Google Homes capabilities. This was my first Smart Home purchase and Im very pleased with the ease of this system. So trust the reviews, dont use this for your TV, but do use it for lamps or other appliances that dont need to reboot to be used. Also trust us that youre going to want the Mini plug if you want second outlet access. This one hangs too low over the bottom outlet if you plug into the top. Lesson learned. If I ever decide to add more smart plugs, I will go with the mini.

The Body: Its 2019 and this plug cannot be used in a wall outlet with other plugs. The bottom of the device is rounded to give a sleek, aesthetic look but prevents any use of the outlet below it. I dont understand why its 2019 and we still have cable/cord manufacturers who cannot design a product or adapter that doesnt hinder the user of adjacent plugs. This device can only be used in one orientation, meaning on a standard US plug, with two outlets, you have to use the top one and because of the extended bottom, you cannot use the second outlet. Wifi: So far, the connection seems alright but the setup in the app required the first plug to update firmware. After waiting, it failed to update. When I found the place to try it again, the device no longer needed a firmware update. I have no idea if the update passed but didnt send the right code for the app to confirm it installed, or what. I guess well never know. Kasa App: During the setup process, youre asked to create an account. It also asks for your location so it can sync the time. You can skip it at that point but you are REQUIRED to enable location services in the app to add a device, with no option to skip. I also dont trust the reason provided for needing the permission as you could allow manual timezone additions. I might return the product just for this fact as theres no reason an app on my device needs location services turned on for a smart plug that wont be moving. If you truly needed the location for time settings then you would let us manually enter the timezone. Conclusion: I have no idea why this has the star count it does. I was frustrated by the design, frustrated by the app, and frustrated by the permissions. I wish electrical cable manufacturers would care about their customers enough to design their products in a way that doesnt prevent the use of adjacent outlets. Either you dont want to or you simply dont care. Based on the design of this product, I can see no reason the bottom of the device had to be the way it is but I guess Ill break out the Dremel and shave off the bottom of the outlet (if I can) so I am not out two different outlets.

I finally pulled the trigger this Prime Day and bought three of these TP Link Wi-Fi switchable plugs while on super sale. One controls two lights in my living room which I have linked to my Amazon Alexa account. A simple Alexa, turn on [off] my lights and it works great. The second plug controls my stereo power, and works great with my Alexa Dot which is connected to my stereo receiver through a mini 3.5mm stereo to RCA plug. Now, I have voice and smartphone control over my stereo, and can play Pandora and other streaming services hands free on my stereo s connected speakers. Great to be able to control song selections and volume (using the Alexa App) for my rear yard speakers while standing in the rear yard. Very impressed with the TP Link switches, and note that when my wireless router goes down, the switches automatically reconnect within a minute or two (sadly, I have yet to get my Echos to automatically reconnect, yet). Only problem I had was setting up the first switch - the new Kasa account I established was not recognized, and there were no clear instructions either that came with the unit, or on their website. Customer service was non-existent - took two days for my emailed help request to be acknowledged. Anyway, eventually I figured out to remove the switch name from the app, and re-installed and renamed it, and the switch worked the second time. Time will tell if these expensive gadgets hold up, but theyre working great so far! Oh, and the App (Kasa) allows one to set up timer-style programs, so my lights come on at 7pm and go off at 1am, unless I ask Alexa to override. You can also activate all your switches remotely using the Kasa App provided you have wifi or cellular access. Great stuff! Time to freak out the babysitter, heh heh!

What did I do without these? I bought one to try on Prime Day. Thats all it took. Pretty soon I was thinking of all the places it would be convenient to use them. The first one went on the bedroom lamp, because I hated trying to fumble in the dark to try to get light. I was always worried Id tip the lamp over. It became indispensable when my arms were full of baby and I didnt have a free hand to turn the lamp on or off as I carried him to bed. The next one I needed was for the tall living room lamp behind the bookcase, followed by the overhead lamp in the office. Now Im pretty sure I need a few more - one for the nursery lamp, one for the garage ... Id even sort of like one for the Christmas tree. The thing we like the most about these smart plugs is not only can I turn them on and off just by talking to Alexa, I can also use my phone to turn them on and off if Im not home. That means when it gets dark at 5 pm and Im lugging groceries up to a dark house ... I can turn the light on before I even get there. I dont have to open the door and wake the baby to go downstairs if someone is coming home late. I can just turn the light on from my bed. I really, REALLY love these plugs. Ill definitely be buying more in the future.

UPDATE: 7/11/2016 TP Link tried very hard to help me with the issue. I was in the middle of an interstate move so they had to close the case and I was to get back to them. I have not, because I dont need to. I plugged the switch that was giving me hell in my apartment, into an outlet in the home that Ive moved into and by luck or whatever, identical setup, nothing, and I do mean NOTHING in terms of settings have been changed or altered, and it operates fine. Normally the switch might work fine for a day or 2 and then pull its shenanigans and not work after that for no good reason. This is no longer the case. Ive had it going for about a week now and it hasnt faltered. I dont know if the issue could have been wifi interference (apt had many, many, many wifi signals. In my current home, Im only seeing 3 or so that dont belong to me and theyre very low; could have been power outlet issues though I tried several outlets and I tried moving the plug close to my router as mentioned below). So, sorry! I cant help anyone having the same or similar issues. I checked the firmware and it hasnt update. Really, nothing has changed except the environment in my case. The apartment I moved out of is a couple hundred square feet smaller too, so its not like I moved into a smaller place and this could be somewhat of an explanation. I cant explain it. Anyway, without any fixing, it seems to be working fine. Fair is fair, Im eating crow and retracting my post below. Ive taken a single star off because I had issues in the first place that were out of my control. This means that this just isnt a 5 star product. Not for me. A 5 star product for me works out of the box, thats when I love a product. Since it didnt work in whatever the scenario, it means that this could potentially occur to someone else. If I could take 1/2 of a star, thats what I would have done. Since I cant, Im giving it 4 stars. In the end, I like the product and I believe that you will too as long as it works as it should. _______________________________________________________________________ Just doesnt work for me. Setup is very simple, the product just doesnt seem to stay connected to my WiFi for some reason. For informational purposes, I own a Netgear X6 Scarab router. 2.4 Ghz wifi is rated at 100% in my bedroom, where I have one of the plugs. I also have a Netgear WNDR4000 which I use as well so that I dont saturate the X6s 2.4 Ghz band. Its also rated at 100% in my bedroom. They are on different channels and I have tried both networks to test the switches. The issue occurs on both. The switch only works at 2.4Ghz. Its a real mystery as to why it doesnt stay connected. Initially, I go through the ropes and set it up and it works perfectly for a day or so and then, randomly at some point after that, the light will go red and nothing can connect to it, not the app and not Alexa, obviously. Ill reboot it and it goes right back to red. I have to actually factory reset and set it up again to get it to work. The idea is great and due to good reviews, I purchased 3 of these. My idea was to put 2 in our bedroom, one for me, one for my wife and link them in a group. When she needs her light, she can just tell Alexa. When I need my light same thing. Sometimes when were both scrambling to get ready in the morning, both lights are on, so I or she can say Alexa, turn bedroom lights off and thats that. Our lights are on tall Chesters beside the bed so wed have to get up to switch them on and off otherwise or use remote wired switches. One of the switches is also in the living room so we can turn a light on from the bedroom before we walk out there if one of us wants to chill out for a while, catching up on some TV late night/early morning (generally me). Ive tried moving the switch to within a foot of the router and it does the same thing. Ive tried a Firmware Update, but there arent any currently. Ive tried rebooting my routers though I refuse to blame them. I mean 1. I can understand 1 router, but Ive tried 2 of them; its highly unlikely that 2 of my routers are at some fault especially when 2. No other product on the network has had any issues whatsoever and I have 25 wireless devices on the network. I would love to assign them a static IP but cant. Either way, I monitor my network and its not like theres anything trying to take their IP addresses. Even after they are reset, they get the same addresses again. Suffice it to say, Im at a loss here and disappointed big time. Ill keep them and hope that a firmware update comes that fixes them, but at this point I will neither endorse nor recommend them to anyone. If anything changes, I will definitely be back. +1 for the feature set, +1 for ease of setup, -3 for just not working.