Well, this *****...'Dear John' Letter from Belkin

[kbuhagiar]

I received this message from Belkin today.

Long story short, all off my WEMO light switches will stop working in January. I've got seven of these buggers installed in my house.
I'm not pleased, yet somehow in this day and age I'm not shocked.

https://manage.kmail-lists.com/subscriptions/web-view?a=R7Hguj&c=01JZTNSXHNVWJAHQC3A4Z6PBB7&k=c6d7d397d8ef70dc9a3a201d2328e337&g=Y7Tbn5&m=W845KY&r=01K8TVVM92PJQVDKD8ABF6J4D6&e=01JZTNSXHNVWJAHQC3A4Z6PBB7

Any recommendations for replacements? I also have some Leviton, Kasa, and GHome wireless switches installed.

 

[Junkman]

I knew that the subscription model was coming to automobiles; however, I never realized it was also being used in homes. I wonder how long it will be before a savvy attorney starts a class-action lawsuit against them.

 

[bluedog225]

*** hats. Sorry.

I’ll put them on the ‘never buy‘ list.

 

[whateg01]

I knew that the subscription model was coming to automobiles; however, I never realized it was also being used in homes. I wonder how long it will be before a savvy attorney starts a class-action lawsuit against them.

It's not a subscription, as I understand it. It's just use of a cloud service. Much like if your free g mail was going to be discontinued next month because Google was discontinuing the service.

I'm not sure how you would propose some of those cloud based services be provided. If you want to open the garage door while you're not there, somebody has to provide a conduit to do so unless you have your own server and application software to handle the communication.

 

[N_Jay]

I use SonOff but don't realy like depending on Chinese servers.

 

[niget2002]

I've been moving everything to Kasa. I use home assistant for my automation and it talks directly to the ip of the device once set up. Alexa also works well with them.

 

[Chuckster in NJ]

Just like everything else nowadays: Planed obsolescence on "throw away" products.

 

[CMB41]

I received this message from Belkin today.

Long story short, all off my WEMO light switches will stop working in January. I've got seven of these buggers installed in my house.
I'm not pleased, yet somehow in this day and age I'm not shocked.

https://manage.kmail-lists.com/subscriptions/web-view?a=R7Hguj&c=01JZTNSXHNVWJAHQC3A4Z6PBB7&k=c6d7d397d8ef70dc9a3a201d2328e337&g=Y7Tbn5&m=W845KY&r=01K8TVVM92PJQVDKD8ABF6J4D6&e=01JZTNSXHNVWJAHQC3A4Z6PBB7

Any recommendations for replacements? I also have some Leviton, Kasa, and GHome wireless switches installed.

Check this out on GitHub. Maybe a partial solution. It addresses the loss of Belkin support
You will need to use Apple Homekit

GitHub - homebridge-plugins/homebridge-wemo: Homebridge plugin to integrate Wemo devices into HomeKit.

Homebridge plugin to integrate Wemo devices into HomeKit. - homebridge-plugins/homebridge-wemo

github.com

 

[PelicanPines]

I also have 7 wemo lights... The way I read the notice... They may still work but you can't change any settings. I'm annoyed.

 

[LOW1]

Forgive me, but what are the advantages of these products to begin with? I admit to being a technology adverse old fuddy-duddy but are they not just novelties/toys that needlessly complicate one’s life?

 

[mm08822]

Just like everything else nowadays: Planed obsolescence on "throw away" products.

AKA - under-the-radar consumer extortion.

 

[Old tool guy]

Forgive me, but what are the advantages of these products to begin with? I admit to being a technology adverse old fuddy-duddy but are they not just novelties/toys that needlessly complicate one’s life?

Rather than getting up off the sofa to walk across the room to turn the lights on, you can stay cozy and warm under the blankie.

 

[mm08822]

Rather than getting up off the sofa to walk across the room to turn the lights on, you can stay cozy and warm under the blankie.

Another enabler for the armchair commandos.

 

[pembol]

I learned this lesson the hard way with Smart Things many years ago - never rely on any installed device that relies on a cloud server for functionality. Running cloud servers costs money, so no company will keep them running when they are no longer generating new revenue. For our new house, all our lighting is Lutron Caseta, which has full local control (ie if Lutron goes bankrupt, the devices continue to work).

 

[kbuhagiar]

Forgive me, but what are the advantages of these products to begin with? I admit to being a technology adverse old fuddy-duddy but are they not just novelties/toys that needlessly complicate one’s life?

To you, perhaps. To each his own.

 

[PCustoms]

I'm still pissed that AOL dropped dialup...

 

[sparky 1971]

I'm a big fan of things that have been proven to work day in and day out. Among those things are manually operated light switches.

 

[CoogarXR]

Rather than getting up off the sofa to walk across the room to turn the lights on, you can stay cozy and warm under the blankie.

"...but I already have The Clapper for that, and it doesn't need the cloud!"

 

[Old tool guy]

"...but I already have The Clapper

Talk with your doc, they have shots for that now.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I learned this lesson the hard way with Smart Things many years ago - never rely on any installed device that relies on a cloud server for functionality. Running cloud servers costs money, so no company will keep them running when they are no longer generating new revenue. For our new house, all our lighting is Lutron Caseta, which has full local control (ie if Lutron goes bankrupt, the devices continue to work).

smart things as in the samsung app?

 

[pembol]

smart things as in the samsung app?

Yup. Before it Samsung bought it, it was a piece of hardware that interfaced with devices in your house, and you set up routines and automations, but it required a cloud server. Samsung bought it, and quickly decided they no longer wanted to support the existing hardware - it was pretty quickly abandoned leaving existing users SOL.

 

[walta]

Coming soon too the smart features of a cars we may already own.

Walta

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Yup. Before it Samsung bought it, it was a piece of hardware that interfaced with devices in your house, and you set up routines and automations, but it required a cloud server. Samsung bought it, and quickly decided they no longer wanted to support the existing hardware - it was pretty quickly abandoned leaving existing users SOL.

awww ok. i use the smart things app to control my TV but thats it...

 

[BurtEggley]

it is a new business model. Acura (Honda) sold all those cars and promoted the option of call emergency in an accident, traffic on nav maps, search for a local business on your nav - say a starbucks etc., charged people all that money for the electronics in the car whether they wanted to renew the subscription annually or not. Some people aren't interested, others are, especially in a state where it is a ticket even to hold a phone for a second to look at it, say a map. So in May they announced they were shutting down their servers that operate all the electronics on cars 2020 and older. Even shut it off on some of their two year old cars still under warranty because it was more profitable to go another direction. Look what Microsoft did with Windows 10 and 11. It is a brave new world out there, and one had best amortize the cost of whatever they are buying over 3 to 5 years. If that doesn't make sense, don't buy it. Look at all the engine and transmission failures in new pickup trucks, and how many people are losing money on that. Even Allison told GM this week that GM could no longer advertise they were putting Allison transmissions in their trucks under license to manufacture them. Allison is tired of promises that don't come true, on transmissions GM makes and puts the Allison badge on. It is a disease that is plaguing this country especially.

 

[thunderskunk]

I have this theory… they got a gold mine where the gold digs itself up and transports it to the bank each month. Every business that decides they want to keep the gold and cash out makes every customer just that much more hesitant to make the same mistake. Hopefully, a worlds worth of customers will just ignore subscriptions as some old practice that doesn’t make sense to participate in.

Maybe our grandkids.

 

[Shiftless]

I'm a big fan of things that have been proven to work day in and day out. Among those things are manually operated light switches.

Me too
I have over 20 of these in our house and they are all VERY reliable. Once in a while one fails but it’s super easy to swap them out and they only cost a few bucks.

 

[Codyboy]

Me too
I have over 20 of these in our house and they are all VERY reliable. Once in a while one fails but it’s super easy to swap them out and they only cost a few bucks.

This. My house will continue to function with or without the interwebs.
All my stuff is and will be standalone devices.
I have tried some novelty stuff before like the garage door opener. The novelty wore off quickly and don't use it anymore.
When I put in my cameras I could gave went with a cloud based setup. Wasn't comfortable with that, so although it is connected to the interwebs it is standalone and I can log directly into the NVR.
My daughter just bought a new hot water heater. It has wifi. I just rolled my eyes.

 

[jblnut]

I'm still pissed that AOL dropped dialup...

I have stacks of CD’s with minutes on them I wasn’t able to use. What a rip job.

 

[mm08822]

I have stacks of CD’s with minutes on them I wasn’t able to use. What a rip job.

This deserves a call into customer service

 

[Junkman]

This deserves a call into customer service

When I moved to New Hampshire in the early 1960s, pay telephones like this were still available. Under the phone was a coin box made of wood and metal, along with a crank to use for calling the operator. You gave her the number you wanted to call, and she told you how much to deposit into the box. She would know exactly what coins were deposited by the ding of the bell that each coin made. Those were much simpler times and in many ways a lot better time.

 

[mm08822]

When I moved to New Hampshire in the early 1960s, pay telephones like this were still available. Under the phone was a coin box made of wood and metal, along with a crank to use for calling the operator. You gave her the number you wanted to call, and she told you how much to deposit into the box. She would know exactly what coins were deposited by the ding of the bell that each coin made. Those were much simpler times and in many ways a lot better time.

When local calls were a scandalous 5 cents.

 

[Shiftless]

When local calls were a scandalous 5 cents.

So when you were ready to “drop a dime” on somebody you could make 2 calls !

 

[kbuhagiar]

This. My house will continue to function with or without the interwebs.
All my stuff is and will be standalone devices.
I have tried some novelty stuff before like the garage door opener. The novelty wore off quickly and don't use it anymore.
When I put in my cameras I could gave went with a cloud based setup. Wasn't comfortable with that, so although it is connected to the interwebs it is standalone and I can log directly into the NVR.
My daughter just bought a new hot water heater. It has wifi. I just rolled my eyes.

Okay, okay, I get it, it's my fault for being tempted by the fruit of technology.
Simplicity is the one true path.

Yes, I'm a bit of a bells and whistles guy, but FWIW all of my Belkin wall switches will still work as, er, wall switches, even after the shutoff date. So it's not like I can't turn the lights on and off without the Internet, and that's by design on my part.

 

[Racer_X]

Me too
I have over 20 of these in our house and they are all VERY reliable. Once in a while one fails but it’s super easy to swap them out and they only cost a few bucks.

 

[PCustoms]

Okay, okay, I get it, it's my fault for being tempted by the fruit of technology.
Simplicity is the one true path.

Could be worse

I had a relative do their whole house in the RadioShack wireless switches...

 

[Spikes]

You might look at Aqara brand switches. I replaced most of my dumb switches with them. I like the added functionality of controlling multiple devices or scenes with each switch.

 

[Firebrick43]

This deserves a call into customer service

A great fishing tool

 

[Spikes]

A great fishing tool

Shockingly good!

 

[Git]

I felt the sameway when HomeSeer decided to require an annual subscription if you wanted to use Alexa or other smart home services.

I have whole bunch of Z-wave devices and I am slowly moving over to SmartThings. Take a look at devices that are 'matter' certified - there are some big names involved with that

"Matter-certified devices are smart home and IoT products that comply with the Matter protocol, an open industry standard designed to guarantee interoperability, security, and reliable performance across platforms like Apple HomeKit, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Samsung SmartThings"

 

[Shiftless]

After reading all the posts in this thread, I do believe I will stick with my click on - click off switches.

I’ll admit I have a timer to run my outdoor landscape/security lights and a programed control box for my 3 zone drip irritation system. Both of those have a cord and a plug to connect to the receptacles on the wall.

Luddite? Maybe