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From: Mike Scott <usenet.16@scottsonline.org.uk.invalid>
Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.misc,alt.os.linux.mint
Subject: Re: smart plugs???
Date: Thu, 16 Jan 2025 09:33:12 +0000
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On 15/01/2025 20:31, Pancho wrote:
> I think you have to be careful that they are not controlled by a cloud 
> service. If you have a cloud service you need a working wan connection 
> and you are exposed to the cloud service provider disappearing.

(Thanks to all for replying)

This is the rub. tp-link clearly /want/ the consumer to use their 
"cloud" service - which is usually just a fancy codeword for 'we want 
your data'. There's no actual /need/ that I can see in this case.

I've found python modules for actually running the thing - but 
apparently the device's initial setup still needs tp-link's cloud services.

And the problem there is my phone and hudl are ancient so tp-link's code 
won't install - and when I try to install it on my wife's phone, it 
wants me to enable in-app purchases. WHY? It's totally unnecessary. All 
I want to do is set up a device I've already purchased. (And it's not 
going to happen: I avoid in-app purchase software like the plague, and 
I'm not about to set up something like that on a borrowed phone anyway.)

Looks like Argos can have their device returned, although I doubt anyone 
there will have the nous to understand the issues.


(FWIW I assumed there'd be a web interface to set it up, with their app 
as a convenience wrapper for that. But no; it looks as though they use 
BT for initial device discovery and tcp for actual use. Seems madly 
complex to me.)


-- 
Mike Scott
Harlow, England