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For Lightwave L2 Link Plus + Lighting Starter Kit, 33 customer reviews collected from 2 e-commerce sites, and the average score is 3.7.

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9.10.2019

I've been using Lightwave - or LightwaveRF, as it used to be named - to control my lighting since 2012. Despite seeing a lot of negativity, it's always worked perfectly for me. Recently, my old GEN1 Connect Series Hub burnt out, and by coincidence, I was given this brand new Generation 2 Smart Series Hub to review.This Smart Series hub (GEN2) now utilises the more advanced 868 Mhz radio frequency, supporting two-way communication, two-way switching, energy monitoring, Apple HomeKit, and IFTTT. The older GEN1 Connect Hub used the basic 433.92 Mhz radio frequency, which only supported one-way communication and was far more limited.For setup, this hub requires Lightwave's newer app - it does not work with the old app.The new app (Android version) is quite refreshing after having suffered the old app for so many years. It's not that the old app didn't' function well; it just wasn't designed well.Hub setup is as simple as ever - it's basically plug-and-play. Compared to the cheap Wi-Fi plugs that are now available, and a pain to set up, this hub is a pleasure to set up and use.Adding smart devices is all very straightforward, and I had no problems pairing both new GEN2 and old GEN1 devices to this new system. For the older stuff, just ensure you tap "LINK CONNECT SERIES DEVICE" on the link device page.The wall switch included with this is, as I expected, very easy to install. Not only does it function well and feel great quality, but it also looks awesome!In terms of automation, Lightwave allows you to do the following things (and again, all straightforward to configure).+ Timers - e.g., At dawn, turn kitchen light on.+ Schedule+ If-Do - e.g., If the window is open, turn heating down.+ Group - e.g., Turn all table lamp lights on.+ Two-Way Switching - Setup two-way and multi-switch.+ Do - Trigger several actions with one switch.For voice control, Lightwave supports Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit (Siri). I have Alexa devices in every room, which allows me to control Lightwave devices no matter where I am in the house. It all works wonderfully well!There are heating options built-in to Lightwave, but this is one feature I haven't used. I've opted to go with TADO as I had a spare kit given to me, so I may as well use it.To conclude, Lightwave has improved drastically since the first version. It was always great for lighting and power control, but not much else. Now it has matured into a top home automation system that offers excellent value over other systems. It is also improving all the time - things like the newly released developer API is good to see. There will always be a debate on whether this system is better (or worse) than Z-Wave or Zigbee. I'd perhaps take a look at Z-Wave if I lived in a palace with lots of money and needed an expandable mesh network, but for use in a modestly sized house, Lightwave works great! ...I just hope they send me their next-generation hub when/if this hub burns out in 2026. ;)
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22.10.2018

Lightwave was my choice when I decided to put some home automation into my home because the sockets and lights fit in with normal household decoration. They are well made brushed stainless steel outlets and switches.However my Gen1 system was not without its faults. Every now and again the automation would not work and the gateway hub wasn't perfect. Mostly okay but room for improvement. I was actually about to buy the new system gateway to improve things when I got this to check out. Happy days.And I'm glad to report that it is indeed a real improvement.Firstly, the gateway seems to give a better overall coverage and is more reliable.I have a large house and this covers the whole of it despite the fact that when I renovated it I used foil backed plasterboard to improve thermal efficiency thus creating a bit of a Faraday cage.Size is simimar to the old gateway which a more rounded appearance. Its still basically a small white, light box. Easy to tuck away and mine is in a cupboard upstairs.Sockets and switches are really well made and have a good heft and look just like most high end brushed stainless steel outlets. The one thing to bear in mind is that they are fairly deep becasue of the inbuilt switches so make sure that your back boxes are deep enough. When I renovated my house - and with previous experience - all my swtich and power back boxes are the deepest you can get. If you have the really shallow type then forget it unless you are happy to replace with deeper ones.In use I did wonder if it would be a pain as I already had the Gen1 Lightwave RF system installed but, I'm happy to say that it was a doddle. Download the app, install onto your wifi network and then follow the app steps to set up your outlets/sockets. If you have Gen1 stuff already fitted then you will have to pair them up again but it literally takes about 3 seconds per outlet/switch.You can then use the app - which is different to the old one - to set up timers and routines. I took a bit more time than I should setting all my old stuff up again for dusk till 2230 because like most blokes I didn't step through each stage. Once I'd worked out how to do it each timer took about ten seconds to set up. And my tip there is to understand that each timer is one action. Turn on at a set time or dusk/dawn and then save. Turn off at a set time dusk/dawn then save.Overall a real improvement over the old system.
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18.9.2019

I like what Lightwave are trying to do here. They have designed a suite of smart sockets and switches and controllers that will transform your home into a smart home from the inside out. The main drawbacks are the need to physically switch your sockets/switches and once you are locked into their platform then you'll want to stick with it and upgrade more of your devices. Alternatives like Hive (which is primarily to control your boiler but also can be expanded to control smart lights and switches and is compatible with other lightbulbs like philips Hue) exist and are easier to install as you simply fit smart bulbs and smart plug in switches rather than changing wall sockets.So first thing to think about is - is your home heating system compatible with Lightwave or not? If you already have smart heating maybe look and see if that can be expanded to include control of plugs and switches. It doesnt make sense to have two different smart systems. Anyway if you aren't happy with your current system or don't have one then read on:This starter kit comes with the link plus hub (the brain of the system which plugs into your router) and one double wall socket and one dimmer switch. The overall design of the switches and sockets is good with a clip off brushed metal faceplate so they appear screwless. Changing out your sockets is actually quite easy - just follow the instructions and remember basic electrical safety measures such as making sure the mains electricity is off. The dimmer switch is compatible with most LEDs (but check your manufacturer) and calibrates itself automatically after switching on. Connecting the system to the hub is easy - just download the app on your smartphone and follow the instructions. This starter set will allow you to do some basic things like set timers for the light or the wall socket. Want your coffee machine to come on in the morning so the coffee is ready by the time you wake up? Want to turn on the hallway light before you come home? Easy peasy. One you get used to it you won't want to stop here and you will be looking to replace other sockets and switches and possibly your heating controller to make the most out of the system. So do your homework - if you want a sleek, modern and built in smart home system then look no further. If you'd rather avoid faffing around with a screwdriver and changing your sockets then look at the alternatives.
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5.10.2018

For smart home technology, it often falls down when you've got existing non smart items and have to replace a large number of items to get everything to work together. The options here from Lightwave RF aim to solve that with a retrofit solution. To be successful, it would have to be simple to install and work almost as well as any full replacement product.A quick note here on how this is set up and works. Essentially there's a router type device, similar to what you need with Samsung Smarthings or Philips Hue which will need to be plugged in via a physical cable to your router and also power, which then connects to the other items you have - the requirement for the physical connection was atad annoying as was adding yet another one of these type of devices to my collection.Once you've got this part set up you can then replace a light switch and a double plug socket with the corresponding smart versions - these will allow you to turn the lights up and down from app or other devices or turn the plug sockets on and off. Installation is relatively straightforward if you have the right electrical screwdrivers and your wires are appropriately labelled, however the real sticking point is compatibility. For both to work you need enough depth in your sockets, which is pretty tight for many even with the spacers provided and for the dimmers to work you need the right type of lights. Both of these are documented well on the website but certainly check before you buy.Once you've got it installed, it works reasonably - thought the app could be more feature rich and it would be good to see additional integrations with other smart home brands. I can see genuine use cases for this but it is in it's infancy so only time will tell on that one. Overall therefore, there's some decent technology here and I'm pleased to see it as being easily retrofitted if compatible though more is probably required to make it as useful as it could be.
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25.12.2018

I don’t understand all the people who complains about the gen 2 solutions. Indeed hub is pricy and could be better looking but it doesn’t matter as unlike dimmers which are good looking, you are not placing your hub on the wall. So again. Doesn’t matter how it looks.Also I have seen some reviewers giving 1 star to dimmers for flickering, just to admit at the end of their review that if you calibrate lights from app, it works perfectly but complaingon about setup. What? Yes setup that they have to manually chose source of light or calibrate it, which is nonsense as it is like giving one star to amazon echo just because you need to create amazon account to get it working.I think people completely misunderstands the difference between smart bulbs and smart dimmers.Smart bulbs are expensive and designed to do just single thing. Smart dimmers are less expensive in long run and you can use whatever lights you want! I have leds for example in kitchen and dining room, can’t imagine buying 10 smart bulbs to fill all the wholes. Cheaper was to buy 2 dimmers.Now the challenge with dimmers is that indeed users might need more setup than with smart bulbs. But this is because smart dimmers have to work with different light sources where each of them has different powering characteristics. What is wrong with that? I am finding it very good idea that they allow us to work with different light sources instead of them saying it works only with one but out of the box.People who are finding the dimmers difficult are simply wrong. Lightwave is the only producer in Europe as far as I am aware who decided to face the challange of supporting different types of lights and in my opinion they did it very well.I have personally 9 gen 2 dimmers and absolutely love them.It is stupid to complain that they require setup because everything does.
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4.8.2019

I've had a remote dimmer switch for several years and have looked at moving to something that a smartphone can use. This was a perfect opportunity.The box contains a control box that pugs into your router/switch. A dimmer wall switch. Ethernet cable and a USB cable/power supply. There is a small manual but most of the guides are on-line.Once you have installed the dimmer switch to the wall (Disclaimer: If you are not sure what to do, consult a qualified electrician) you need to pair it to the control box by means of pressing the dimmer buttons. Once paired, you can then connect from your smartphone after downloading the app. To get the best results you need to calibrate the setting for your bulb.This will reduce any flicker and allow full dimmer range. You need to follow the instructions carefully.Coupled with a Philips LED bulb I find I get a nice clean, white light with no flicker and no buzz that other bulbs can produce. The dimmer function is smooth on the app and on the switch but I do find that less than 15% means the bulb is off. If you have an iPhone/iPad you can use the Home app to add Siri integration. Great for turning the light on/off with a simple "Hey Siri, turn light on" or "off".There are firmware updates available to add functionality.One thing I would like to see is the ability to turn off the LED on the switch. You can dim it and change the colour but not turn it off. This is especially useful in bedrooms.I'm now looking at adding the mains power sockets too.
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22.10.2018

We're a household that has quite a few smart devices already - lights, plugs etc. and a Google Home to drive them all, so this socket and dimmer bundle was very exciting to add.Installation was relatively easy for us - the socket replacement was the trickiest part as I had to enlarge the hole in the wall slightly for the new mounting to fit, aside from this though it was fairly straight forward. The dimmer switch was easy enough as well - as mentioned before we have smart lamps in most of our rooms, so added the dimmer to the kitchen which doesn't have these yet, and it fitted in place of the old switch very easily.Adding another hub to my router is a little annoying,but I guess is the price you pay for adding more smart devices to your home. The hub has a good range and is reliable so far - we've had a good response from the devices when trying to control them, so I'm happy how that has worked out.The switches respond reliably when using either the app or voice controls, and so does the dimmer. There is a slight delay, but that's only natural for things like this. The app is pretty good too - it's not going to win any awards but it has most of the things you could want from something like this.All in all a good package if this is what you're looking for. Personally I prefer having individually adjustable lights rather than a dimmer switch on the wall, but that's just me.
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6.10.2018

The sockets are pretty straight forward if you've wired up an electrical socket before. When you have it up and the app running you can control anything you basically plug in to these two sockets independently and away from home too so handy to switch lights on and off while away instead of programming them saving more electric. It works with Alexa app too but there is a bit of a delay about 5 seconds to react. This is an alternative to buying Hue type bulbs that work with the Philips Hue hub or Alexa or both so you can use any type of bulb that's dimmable if you want dimmed lights. This idea would be a lot neater too instead of buying special plugs for controlling things.There are other possibilities such as buying add-ons for your heaters and boiler etc though I wonder if these things are actually making life easier and more enjoyable or simply making us lazy.
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9.2.2021

So I bought this because I have a lot of the older lightwave and Siemens equipment from long ago. I needed to add to the system and so I had to change my hub, add a lightswitch an a socket. All my old connect series equipment paired up well. I have also been able to bing into smartthings so I can control from our Samsung tv. The new sockets actually have power monitors in them, so you can see what power is being drawn! This is awesome. Allworks with amazon Alexa, seems to work faster than he old system, even with the older smart series devices. Ther thermotstat programming is much improved and functions as a new generation device, even though I've had it 5 years!If they could get this down to £30 per double socket and £20 a switch they would take over the UK! The new devices and trhermostats are controllable from homekit on apple.
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15.6.2021

I love these switches, fantastic quality, easy to install however one thing that puts me off is these are not fully compatible with smartbulbs like Philips hue which is a real shame! Not sure if they can be firmware updated to do so or would need a 3rd gen but if these could be compatible to work well with the likes of Philips hue bulbs and still without a neutral wire then these would be one of the best light switches on the market!Customer service are great with this company too and very informative of their products!There's another company that have recently came out with a smart switches that work perfectly with smart bulbs and no neutral wire needed but they don't work with smartthings!Please lightwaverf make your switches work perfectly with smart bulbs and your onto a real winner here!
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5.4.2019

As interesting and as useful as this is, it's also an obvious indication that smart technology is in its infancy.I suppose you could say that we, early adopters, are pioneers in its development and hopefully manufacturers are keenly listening to reviews.You'll need room for another hub on your router and you'll need to wire in these sockets. The app works like a dream and the only thing is that we're left craving more functionality...The world is changing and to age-proof yourself, I think it's useful to dip your toe into smart items just so that it's not all gobbledygoop to you once it all kicks in.This lighting and power kit is a relatively gentle introduction.

31.1.2019

This is a brilliant starter kit for turning your home electrics into a smart system. It includes a double dimmer and a double plug socket with a controller and the brushed stainless steel looks very classy. With my son's help, it was remarkably easy to connect it up and to set up the controller with the home wifi via adsl connector, just like Philips Hue. You can communicate with it via Apple Homekit, amazon alexa or Google Assistant - in my case with alexa - and it works seamlessly. I am so pleased with it and have it hooked up to the lights and sockets I need turned on when I get home. It is brilliant! Definitely getting some more to add to the system!

14.11.2019

The new generation 2 light switches and sockets are great. However, their heating solution is way behind the competition hopefully this changes too.I would recommend both lights and sockets from the gen 2 (smart series)Bring on gen 2 heating ASAP!!Thanks Lightwave!

6.4.2021

A little expensive for what it is but the whole family loves itVery easy to install and use, plus turning off the lights using "Siri" or "Google" means while in bed, is very coolNice automation function as well...you can turn light on or off at certain times

5.1.2019

Have started on the HomeKit road and this product(s) work really well. Well made and fit in well with our newly built home.Set up was straight forward and some nice features such as being able to dim the switch lights for bedrooms etc

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