Monthly Archive: September 2013

I recently installed a small fountain in my landscape near my front door. I ran a new GFI’d electric outlet previously in expectation of a fountain there, but wanted something besides the usual timer for controlling it. After hooking up the fountain… Christmas time and the usual exterior seasonal lights and reindeer were setup. I decided to use this remote solution for those too. Love it! …. no more running outside in the cold to unplug the Christmas lights late at night.

I do have this under my eaves. I definitely feel more comfortable keeping this in a relatively dry location for an exterior solution. So if you have that type of indoor/outdoor situation this is the ticket for you.

We could click this button and turn on the waterfall if we had guests. Worked great. This year, we finally put up holiday lights outdoors and plugged everything into this – and it’s PERFECT!!!! We stand at the window after supper and countdown with our toddler and the lights “magically” turn on – then just a quick click and they are off before bed. No fiddling with a timer, especially the holiday days themselves when we have the lights on all day and night. Awesome little gadet.

One for the back of the house Christmas lights and one for the front Christmas lights. Plugged them in, plugged in the lights and touched one of the remotes while inside the house. Since both of the Skylink units are on the same channel (A) both of the strings of lights went on…..front and back. This works for me.

If you just want one of the sets of lights to go on you need to get real close to one of the units and quickly toggle the remote and maybe just that string of lights will work. So, if you wanted one Skylink to turn on the coffee pot and another Skylink to turn on the lights in a room two WS-100/WS-100Ns would not be what you want. You should look for a two channel unit.

We have outside stairs leading from our living floor to the garage area under the house. I wanted a light that could light the stairs as well as the outside storage area below. Since I needed about 300 watts to light the whole area, a dusk-to-dawn would waste too much power. So, I needed to be able to turn a light on and off from two different locations, upstairs and downstairs. Hiring an electrician to put in all the wiring normally required, plus sheetrock repair for the added switches would have been an expensive job.

The first remote I used on my water fountain all summer without a problem. It worked every time. Now I’m using both remotes for my Christmas lights and they work perfectly. I would highly recommend this product to anyone.

It is a remotely controlled AC power switch. For what it does, it functions flawlessly. I not only can recommend this product if you are needing a remotely controlled AC power switch, but I have purchased another since my original purchase.

With this wireless remote control I was able to put a floodlight out in the yard and shine it into the woods to light it up when we take them out. I used double sided tape to mount the switch to the door so its easy to use without having to constantly plug/unplug an extension cord. This switch works 99% of the time, the other 1% sometimes you have to hit the button more then once to get it to work. ‘m using it at a distance of about 30 feet from the receiver unit, But it really does work well, just remember to let it hang with the outlet side facing down to keep water out as that seems to be the biggest gripe. But for my purposes it works well.

I have a number of these and they work perfectly in each application. One application is to turn on the lights at my boat slip when returning at night. I get great reception distance and find it quite useful. Another use is to turn on/off rope lights on my patio. I would highly recommend this product. Make sure to specify A or B Channel if ordering several.

I could not mount it so it was placed on the ground under the inflatable in a ziplock baggie. We had no moisture problems. We did often need to hit the remote repeatedly to get it to turn on, but I’ll attribute that to being under the decoration instead of mounted.

Note you can order either the “A” or “B” frequency control pair –so you can have 2 separate installations in the same proximity. It would be nice however it they’d throw in an extra hand-held unit with each control –sort of like having a spare key or, in my case, needing to control the same device from 2 different locations and not wanting to have to carry the remote around all the time. I could buy another set, but that seems kind of extravagant. All in all, this seems like a well built device, and I’m very happy with it.

What else is there to say? Saw a reviewer complain that it only worked intermittently. That might be because the user was rapid clicking the remote. If you don’t allow a good second between clicks, it won’t work about half the time. Allow the second – works every time.

While I bought it for Christmas lights, the remote for my central vacuum just failed and rather than spend over $125 for a replacement I decided to try this and it works great. My central vacuum is in one corner of my basement and even at the farthest corner of the 2nd floor the remote works every time. I am exceeding the rated load somewhat for short periods of time (the vacuum isn’t on for more than 10 minutes at a time) with no problems but I’m keeping a close eye on it.

It is true that it comes preset as either channel A or B so make sure you know which channel you are buying if you buy a 2nd, and of course you can’t have more than two.

Everything that should be shut off in the morning is plugged into these all over the house. Before the door is shut I hit a button and I know all that stuff is off because of these wireless remote outlets. Very cool concept and saves me looking all over the house.

First, I ripped open the second receiver and could find no reason to mount it vertically except for the ferite antenna which is mounted horizontally in the box, Radio range may be to only reason that they said it must be mounted vertically. I found no internal device that would cause problems if mounted differently than they recommend. But I’d rather hear that from the manufacturer, yes?

Secondly, the second transmitter DID NOT WORK WITH THE FIRST RECEIVER!

So, they must have different frequencies available, albiet unpublished.

An early poster stated that both of his were on the same frequency. My two are different.

So pay your money and take your chances, yes?

I have a studio outside my residence and this little helper allows me to turn on not only the porch lights to my studio, but an inside light…allowing me to walk out to the building at night feeling safe. I don’t have to worry about entering a dark building.

Simple to install and use. Price is low compared to competitor products and quality appears to be equal. I may buy another one or two for use in different locations.

I understand all units of this model – maybe the whole brand – all work on the same frequency, so independent operation of additional power switches within the range of one remote signal is impossible. To be fair, I don’t know if any competitors offer a choice in frequency either, so this product may be as good as the entire market offers – especially in this price range.

I works reliably and I like it.

I use it to switch my bedroom lamp on a high shelf since my apartment was improperly wired – none of the wall switches actually do anything. It works from the parking lot probably because it’s on a frequency that doesn’t have much other use (according to the FCC’s website). The receiver box doesn’t require line of sight or even height, like most wireless devices. I have it wedged inbetween a dresser and the wall and it is touching the floor.

If you can find one still in stock somewhere and need it for a single device, buy it. You won’t be disappointed.

I have the Skylink plugged into an outlet within my outdoor metal generator housing! for use as an on/off switch for a wireless camera system. The Skylink is 40′ away from my window and with the blinds closed and works perfectly! My only two minor complaints are the plug wire from the base unit is only about 3 inches long and there is no LED on/off light indicator on the base unit. They claim 100′ range but that probably would need line of sight. This unit does have -22 degree low temp operating range, we’ll see this winter! I Highly recommend this unit!

Now, with this small appliance in hand its easy. One handheld turns off five lamps (or other items plugged in). The units that plug into the outlets are larger than others I’ve used, but this was the one product that allowed for five outlets to be controlled with one hand held. You’ll love it. Works through walls too.

They do what they’re supposed to and the only thing I wish they had were multi controllers so you could keep them in separate rooms since they have a pretty long-range reach.

I bought these just because they were cool, but i never ended up using them on anything, i’ve used them a couple times for pranks, but that was it, they sit in my closet.

The lights sit on the floor and the switch is on the cords. I have 5 of them projecting up the walls for extra lighting, they are hidden behind furniture. With the remote I can control all 5 at once without bending or crawling on the floor. It’s awesome. I also have another for turning on/off Christmas decorations, tree, windows, etc.

I can turn on my individual yard lights from my patio. Overhead party lights along house eve on one, Party lights on breezeway eve over ornamental garden on circuit two. Party lights in gazebo & ‘Park’ lights on the third. Low voltage path lights on the forth.

Last but not least are the party lights I use to light my breezeway of my shop as I shut off the various shop lights and still have light to see to return to house where I can simply push number 5 to turn these off. The control units have manual switches that allow the turn on from my shop breezeway as evening light fades.

The same button is used to turn ‘off’ or ‘on’ thus making it difficult to use for the fountain as it takes a minute for the water to begin flowing. The fountain blocks the signal and being impatient the tendency is to keep turning it off and on, without knowing if signal activated the unit. However the ’3 Pack’ of another brand I previously had works for this as it has separate buttons for ‘off’ and ‘on.’ Between the two I have the perfect system(s).

I have some bookcase light and wanted to be able to control them remotely. These do the job but are very large. You may as well plan on buying a short extension cord for each if you have any need to use the rest of the outlets. This is true for a four plug outlet. In this day and age these units should be 1/3 the size and/or engineered not to lock outlets.

I have lamps in the corners of my living room that I can no longer get to without crawling over furniture. These outlets make that an easy fix. I also use on for my WD-Live TV as it locks up fairly frequently and needs to be unplugged and plugged back in. Now I can accomplish this from the couch!

Only down side is I haven’t found an easy way to incorporate these into my Logitech Harmony One remote as it is IR and these are RF.

Some of these switch outlets were not conveniently located for table light location. This product enabled her to put the lamps where she wanted them and then use the remote as her light switch. It has been very helpful and much safer for her. Although we’ve owned this product less than 60 days, it is operating as it is billed; and the price was very fair for what you got. I would buy this one again.

But needed more receivers to accomodate my 2 “Subwoffers” for my sound system and 3 seperate sets of lights..

I wanted them to be controlled by one “transmitter”..

This unit does the job.. Have had no issues . 1 of the receicers is block by a “large” plant and one is “inside” my electric fireplace enclosure because of the outlet location …. no problem with reception… all work as advertised.

Would recommend this product..

Unfortunately there is no on/off signal its really just one button … so if I can’t just turn off the light in my office from my bedroom, I have to get up and make sure I didn’t just turn it on.

Also they partially block the outlet so you can only use a normal two prong plug in the 2nd outlet. (Easily fixed with a 2-6 outlet adapter if necessary).

The remote takes a weird battery, so I bought a cheap 5 pack on Amazon, if I picked up the same type locally I’d either not find it or pay 10 times as much.

Given the price this is an excellent product. I would pay slightly more for a model which had both on and off buttons rather than just one toggle button.

The wireless outlets have numbers on them already so you know which outlets work what switch. However, the wireless outlets are very bulky. Most of the time they will take up the entire wall outlet.

As I walk in my house, I can turn lights on throughout the house before even entering any further. I also have my portable, floor fan plugged into one. Anything plugs into these. I can control everything from my couch without getting up. Not sure if that’s good or not! ….. Next, the coffee maker!!!! Lol …… 5 stars from me!

I got this set about a year ago – plugged them in and plugged in the light fixtures and that was it. It was as easy as that and so far not a single issue… every button on the remote matched from day 1 to now… no loss of connectivity. I’ve given 4 stars ONLY because i think they could probably be a little less bulky and maybe a 2nd remote because i imagine if you lose that remote the whole system is no good.

It is awesome to be able to do it quickly and with a remote! The part that plugs into the wall is a bit large so beware, it doesn’t bother me at all. I plan to purchase more next year as gifts.

It is nice to be able to crawl into bed and use one remote to turn lighting on/off around the condo. The condo is medium sized (around 1300 square feet) and the range on the remote works very well from all rooms. I only deducted one star from the review due to the large plastic housing of the modules which can look kind of bulky in the outlets and judging from the weight of the modules, probably do not need to be that large in size. But, most products are not perfect and these work very well.

This is a great idea, I like having the power to control 3 lamps and 2 Christmas trees by a nice little remote!

As people have said in other reviews, the outlets are big, but I don’t care, it is totally worth wasting an outlet on a hard to get to lamp.

The remote takes some weird battery, so don’t know if that will be a pain or not.

I totally recommend this product to anyone who likes turning things on and off by a remote.

For $35, I will probably buy 1 or 2 more. Would make a nice stocking stuffer to some elderly parents.

I DO LIKE THIS PRODUCT BETTER than the other one i have… Here’s why- The actual outlet that you plug your lamp, heater, fan, radio, whatever into has a ON/OFF switch. very convenient! If you are sitting next to the lamp- you dont have to search for the remote to turn it on…. But you do have to reach the outlet, so if its behind the couch then this is not helpful to you. *I also like that the remote works better and from a further distance. In my open floor-plan of a house i can keep the remote in a central location and it works just fine to all the outlets.

THE BAD: the remote on & and off switch – both of them turn the lamp on as well as off … so why they didn’t just put one button for each channel instead of two ill never know. I wish they had, and then the remote would be MUCH smaller!. *also, the units themselves are BULKY. Actually- lets be real – they are HUGE! I even made an out loud comment to myself on how stunningly large they were when i opened the box. You can still use the bottom plug (these have to go in the top outlet) if your other cord for the other appliance your plugging in is slender like a lamp or a fan (or in my case a fish tank).

We would recommend this to a friend! We love that we don’t have to point the controller at the outlet to turn it on our off. We could be in another room or outside if we wanted!