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From: Pancho <Pancho.Jones@proton.me>
Newsgroups: comp.sys.raspberry-pi
Subject: Re: USB controlled mains switch
Date: Sun, 19 Jan 2025 15:19:49 +0000
Organization: A noiseless patient Spider
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On 1/19/25 14:13, Adrian wrote:
> In message <vmitka$2719a$11@dont-email.me>, The Natural Philosopher 
> <tnp@invalid.invalid> writes
>> On 19/01/2025 11:25, Pancho wrote:
>>> On 1/18/25 23:07, Adrian wrote:
>>>
>>>> Any suggestions on where to look ?  I'm not interested in a wireless 
>>>> solution, as it is likely to be used in places where signals are not 
>>>> reliable.
>>>  What do you mean not reliable?  Active interference? Otherwise if 
>>> you have a device close enough for USB, it will be close enough for 
>>> Bluetooth or WiFi.
>>
>> Sadly that is not a given. You wont get much wifi to a board inside a 
>> tin box, but you could make a hole for a USB cable...
>>
>> serial over USB can probably do a hundred meters at a pinch, too.
>>
> 
> By WiFi, in this case, I'm referring to my home WLAN.
> 
> This isn't a new install, I'm looking at extending what I do with that 
> particular Pi.  I've tried using the Pi on WiFi in that location and it 
> can disappear off the network for prolonged periods of time.  Likewise 
> if I'm stood next to it with my mobile, it has reverted to 4G rather 
> than WiFi for data, so the location is not really practical for a WiFi 
> based solution.
> 
> Using the Pi as an AP could work, that isn't something I've tried yet. 
> The Pi lives in a plastic IP55 box, so I would hoped that short range 
> (couple of feet) WiFi / Bluetooth would work.
> 

A slight caveat, I don't want to mislead, I use WiFi.

I see some of the plugs use Bluetooth, my older ones are WiFi only. I 
also think some of the plugs that advertise Bluetooth may use it only 
for configuration as opposed to a primary communication method. If you 
want to go that route, read the spec carefully.

My Wifi plugs are reliable, but my house had good coverage from multiple 
Wifi access points (Mesh/Fast Roaming). Cheap stuff, but it works better 
than anything I had previously.