Belkin Wemo Home Automation Switch & Motion Sensor (Discontinued by Manufacturer)

I pre-ordered the set that comprises the switch and motion sensor from Amazon, and it arrived quickly - even though it's still only listed as available to pre-order.Initial impressions are that it just works: plug it in, and let the iPhone app find it - and then you can control your home appliances as easily as with a TV remote - or at least any appliance that you can turn on and off. That's what this switch is: a socket that that you can switch on and off using the iPhone app (although there is an override button on the switch itself). There are 'smart' features too: so for example, you could turn on a fan but make it turn off automatically after a predefined period of time. You know, in case it chops up all the air molecules and you suffocate (n.b. it doesn't, you won't).The motion sensor works as you might expect. I thought it too was a switch, but it's not, it's just the same size as the switch with a small cylindrical unit that is connected via a wire. There is about a second delay from when the sensor detects motion, to when the information travels through the internet and the WeMo service acknowledges it, and then does something - such as turn on the switch controlling a floor lamp in your dark basement.For advanced nerd points, you can also use the IFTTT web service to do some pretty interesting things with the WeMo: for example, the motion sensor can be configured send you an instant message to your phone. Could be handy if you have a holiday home you want to keep an eye on - once you get an IM that someone has entered the building, you could activate another switch over the internet that boots up a computer and starts the webcam. Or activates powerful laser or something. Just saying.Perhaps the most useful thing I have done is use the built-in timer to switch on my George Foreman grill to make me bacon in the morning. I wake up to the smell of crackling bacon. It's delicious, it's good for me, and it's the perfect way to start the day. Then I use the motion sensor to detect that I've hopped into the bathroom with a burnt foot.Note: I had some trouble using the switches and sensors when I left the house, and had to rely on an internet connection rather than my home wifi. However, after a recent firmware update, it all works fine with my Comcast/Apple Airport set-up. I'll be using the system to start up a computer I need to access remotely when I'm away from home.

I purchased a few Wemo light switches, wall switches and motion detectors and have been using them for about a month. I did not have any trouble setting them up, except that one of the motion sensors constantly triggered initially. After unplugging it a few times it finally operated normally. Here are my thoughts:Setup was pretty easy and straightforward, but the app did crash a couple of times.All of the components need a firmware update, which worked on almost every first attempt. One of the motion sensors was having trouble, but did finally take the update.Be careful setting up rules so there is no conflict! If two rules are working at the same time on the same switch, the switch won't respond to either.IFTTT integration was easy, and really makes the system more powerful. Text messages are very fast. Email rules (where IFTTT scans my email and then responds) is a little too slow. But I set the system up to turn on all my lights if my alarm is triggered, pretty neat.My biggest complaint would be that Wemo will only work in one location. So I have the app on my phone set up to control the switches in one house, and the app on my iPad controls the other house. I would really like to be able to control everything on my phone.Also, I could not get the app to find any switches on my husband's Android phone. It didn't work.I would recommend the system for anyone using an iOS device.

UPDATE:I was going to raise this to a two star review because I saw a video review of this product and the actual motion sensor unit had a blue LED light on it. Mine never evidenced any such light, nor was I aware of it due to the dearth of information available on Belkin's website. So I may have just gotten a one-off defective product.However, I am leaving the review score where it's at because Belkin customer service has only sent me token emails that say they want to help but could not reach me. I even gave them my phone number in an attempt to make contact. To date, I have not received any kind of productive reply from them. And if they had at least put together some kind of online manual or troubleshooting, I wouldn't have wasted my time dealing with defective product.The initial setup went well, I didn't have to change any router settings and remote access worked great. However, upon setting up the motion sensor, and after I created a rule, I found that the motion sensor constantly detects motion every 2-3 seconds. I tried again on a lower sensitivity, and finally all the way on the lowest, which requires 30 seconds of motion and guess what, after 30 seconds, it just sets it off again.Meanwhile, the switch itself began turning itself back on after I turn it off. So I reset both to factory settings from the app, and the switch erased itself, but the motion sensor did not, it even had its name and photo still when I plugged it back in. So I just plugged both in and used the handy restore button. Upon going through the switch setup the 2nd time, I was not prompted for new firmware like the first time and although it still switched off and on, it took itself offline before I could check for firmware update. Also no remote access even though I disabled it before both resets. I didn't even try the motion sensor, I am returning the product.

Keeps our lake house a little more secure as now we can have the look of someone being there.

First, the setup was not user friendly. For no reason, it wouldn't connect to the home network. Tried the exact same thinhg again, and it worked.The Android app does not work as well as the iOS version. The app itself only support a few options and is rarely updated by Belkin. The best way to get various options and triggers for the switches is IFTTT.For the price, it did not meet expectations at all. I returned it to Amazon after a week.

The devices themselves are solidly built and work well. The motion sensor is a nice addition.I had several issues with the Android app including occasional crashes, sluggishness, and inability to detect devices. Once setup though, it works as advertised. Unfortunately, there is no home screen widget to allow easy control of WeMo switches. You are forced to open the app and wait several seconds before it detects devices. Setting up schedules and motion based control is fairly straightforward, although changing ON times would reset OFF times as well. I currently use it to control a living room light which turns ON at sunset and OFF at 9PM. From 9PM till 8AM the next morning it works on motion so it's great for late night use or early risers using the living room before sunrise.Overall: Decent product that hopefully will get better through future software updates.Update Nov 2013: Unfortunately, Belkin has made little progress with the Android app. Speaking to a fellow iOS user, the Wemo app seems to work much more reliably.

Works well, but just because the wemo turns the socket on doesn't automatically mean your electronics come on. There's usually another button you have to press on the device to initiate it.

Use this daily for the past few years and no issues.