- Smart plugs have been way more reliable for me than bulbs. Grabbed a few cheap ones online last year—no-name brand, nothing special—and they've been rock solid so far. No random disconnects or resets.
- Home Assistant is great if you're patient enough to tinker. Took me a weekend of trial and error to get comfortable, but now I wouldn't go back. Definitely doable even if you're not super techy, just gotta be willing to Google stuff occasionally...
I've had pretty mixed luck with no-name smart plugs myself—some work great, others randomly lose connection every few weeks. Maybe it's just my wifi setup or something. Curious though, has anyone tried flashing those cheap plugs with custom firmware like Tasmota? Wondering if that makes them more reliable or just adds another layer of complexity...
I've flashed a few of mine with Tasmota and noticed they're definitely more stable now, but the initial setup can be a bit fiddly. Have you considered if mesh Wi-Fi might help with your connection drops instead?
"Have you considered if mesh Wi-Fi might help with your connection drops instead?"
Mesh Wi-Fi can definitely smooth things out, but honestly, if budget's tight, it might be overkill. I went down that rabbit hole myself—ended up spending more than planned. Flashing with Tasmota is fiddly at first, sure, but once you get the hang of it, it's pretty solid. Maybe just repositioning your router or adding a cheap extender could do the trick without breaking the bank? Just my two cents...
Mesh setups can be sleek and hassle-free, but yeah, costs can spiral quick. Honestly, smart homes don't have to break the bank—creativity goes a long way. I've seen friends transform their spaces with just a few affordable tweaks and clever positioning. Stick with it... once you nail down your setup, you'll feel pretty proud of what you've accomplished on a budget.
