Remote power switch recommendations

[wayner]

There must be many folks here who are using remote power switches to do things like power cycling an HD-PVR. Can we get a roll call on what devices are recommended or not recommended?

This device looks pretty good, has 8 outlets and it is $129 - it looks like a typical price for many of this units is about $400. But you can probably get one or two outlet devices for much cheaper.

Why don't UPS' offer this functionality since they usually provide connectivity between the UPS and PC and it should be fairly easy to add this in, wouldn't it?

p.s. It looks like eric3a has written scripts to help to do an automatic power cycle with the digital-loggers device - you can find it here http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/show...0&postcount=86

[will]

I use the IP Power 9258T (4-outlets) which I purchased for $80.

I use this to power cycle my two cable boxes and two HD-PVRs. I found that my HD-PVRs 9/10 times lock up when the cable boxes update their software at 4 a.m.

I went with the IP Power 9258T because it supports telnet commands and I was able to write a simple batch script that power cycles everything in the correct order and waits for things to reboot.

E.g.,

• HD-PVRs --> off
• Cable Boxes --> off
• Wait 1 minute
• Cable Boxes --> on
• Wait 15 minutes
• Send fireware channel change command to cable boxes to turn them on
• HD-PVRs --> on

If wanted, I'm glad to share my batch scripts.

[DMT]

I also use the IP Power 9258. Bought it for $99 in Canada. This is the version without ping/reboot.

The build quality is high. The UI leaves a lot to be desired (not pretty) but functional. The 4 power outlets can be switched on-off from the WEB UI and/or scheduled (e.g. cycle HD PVRs off-on daily). Currently I use mine only for remote server reboot. Access is http: with basic authentication so if you port forward I would suggest static IP, change port, change device name and disable any settings you are not using. Password needs to be 8 characters! I use IPsec VPN for remote LAN access (the IP Power 9258 has DHCP Client function).

Cheers

[wayner]

Do you guys use this in conjunction with UPS'? Do you plug from HD-PVR (or PC/whatever) to power switch to UPS?

What devices do you have on the switched outlets? Presumably your HD-PVR(s). Does it make sense to put something like your router on it as well? I used to have a router that would occasionally require a reboot although my current Asus model running dd-wrt is pretty solid.

[crusing]

I use a Z-Wave home automation controller and use appliance switches for anything I want remote power off for. It is great because you can schedule it or use convient remote controls. I actually power down all my garage door openers every night when I go to bed. Paranoid I know, but once you have had one open in the middle of the night for no apparent reason it is a little disturbing.

Here is an example

You dont want to use the light modules for anything other than lights though. They have a ramp up, ramp down feature that is not good for other electronics.