IoT stuff is so frustrating, because the useful aspects are overwhelmed by the need to make it profitable. I DIY’d an environment tracking setup totally local on my network to keep track of things like temp/humidity because I’ve got some sensitive acoustic instruments and I need to know when they need to go in their case/get a wet sponge/break out the dehumidifier. Now I have a historical graph of temp/humidity/air quality cycles in my apartment.
I bought a “IoT” power strip because I wanted individually addressable outlets for things like lamps and monitors and centralize the interface but fuckin TPlink took away the python API access and requires an account and so it sits in its box until I can possibly reverse engineer it enough to either write my own firmware or just hotwire the relays for my own purposes.
Could you get around that API limitation by routing control through OpenHAB or Home Assistant?
The only way to control it currently is via an app you need an account for so it removes any ability to be an offline device. Its within my skillset to dump the flash and try to patch it, it should be running some embedded linux firmware going by the mediatek chip in the FCC declarations.
I’ve just had other stuff going on and didn’t feel like dealing with it after the initial disapointment. There is the possibility of regaining the python api but that still requires making a tp-link account and connecting the device to the internet period, so I’m not a fan.
I’m sad that there aren’t more “generic” devices out there that just use standard free protocols
