I'm helping my mostly blind father set up a Google Nest Home Mini (2nd gen) so he can enjoy podcasts, audiobooks, and information easily. I chose this device because I'm already familiar with it and can provide tech support if any issues come up.
Since I often need to power cycle my devices, I'm anticipating this will be necessary for him as well. However, because of his balance issues and blindness, I want to avoid having him bend down to unplug it.
I'm on the lookout for smart plugs that I can control from my home, which is just a 10-minute drive from his place, and he does have WiFi. If there's an easier way to reboot the Google Nest Home Mini, I'd love to hear about that, too. I tried giving it a verbal reboot command, but that didn't work.
3 Answers
If you need something that's compatible with various devices, check out an IP power outlet like this one. It has both a manual reboot option and an app. It’s great for unpredictable devices, plus it works well even when your internet connection is acting up.
I have a Tapo P110 smart plug, and I’ve found it really useful. You can easily turn it on and off using the Tapo app, even when you're not connected to the same WiFi. I never had issues needing to power cycle my Google Nest before, but if it comes down to it, this could work well for you!
I've been using a Hama wifi outlet to turn my PC on/off remotely. It works perfectly - you cut the power, wait a bit, and then turn it back on, which allows my PC to boot up. It's like €15 and it even tracks power usage!
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