Bye Bye Standby Expansion Pack 2011

Been using this brand of remote socket for several years, a smaller type previously, and more recently these larger units. Of the two I received a few weeks ago, one has ceased to work. I can't be bothered to send it back truthfully, and the other one is working. I use two to connect a swathe of PC related equipment in my study, connecting an extension socket off each of them.So, here's my good/bad summaryGOOD POINTSConvenient to use, saves bending down and switching sockets off. When they work, they generally work well.Physically robustEnergy consumption - I have so many transformers (e.g. printer, router, DECT phone charger etc) that I hate leaving them permanently on for all sorts of reasons, particularly energy consumptionBAD POINTReally only one major one. Reliability. I have purchased about 3-4 of the smaller variety, which have now deceased after a couple of years. These two I'm reviewing here were replacements for other ones that had also gone bad after about a year.PS I don't think I am overloading them; and that was one reason for buying the newer "larger" variety as I believe the rated load is higher.So my all means use them for PCs or other devices as convenient, just don't expect them to be environmentally friendly as advertised (I don't think that shipping plastic/electronic items from China that break and can't be repaired is enviro friendly). So don't expect them to work for ever, and in my experience expect a certain %age to go bad after say 1 year+.I must also say that I have previously used a type from Maplins and they also eventually expired after 2-3 years so perhaps it's a technology limitation/MTBF limitation of the design, rather than being manufacturer or brand specific.

I bought this pack in addition to the ones I purchased about two years ago. They have changed the design to do away with the mechanical channel select switches they had on the earlier product and they need to be set up using the remote control. This is a little trickier than the previous version, not helped by the poor instructions, but most people will be able to do it.My main criticism is that there is a delay in responding to the button press. Not a problem when you are using the remote control but we use them using a wall switch and it is not intuitive to press the wall switch for longer.I am puzzled why these are marketed just to turn off standby; they are equally good at controlling devices without having to stoop down to turn off the switch on the socket. For example, we use the wall switch  Bye Bye Standby Energy Saving Wall Switch  to turn on and off two up-lighters.

I don't suppose that these wireless switched sockets are much different from anyone else's. The remote controller is straightforward and will switch 6 individual groups of sockets (I think - only tested with 3) or all sockets. The sockets can also be switched by a Telldus Stick from your computer but I can switch either with Telldus or the controller not both as the sockets don't seem to be able to learn both the Telldus and the ByeBye remote codes.

Like many other reviewers, I have bought many of these plugs over the years, first the older, smaller model, and subsequently the 2011 model.Of the 6 older ones, ALL 6 failed within 2 years.I had hoped that, having updated the model in 2011, the manufacturer would have addressed the obvious defect that had plagued the previous model (I know from online forums that many others had had the same experience).I am now running 5 of the new models and, alas, one has already failed after 1 year of use, in exactly the same manner as the old models. It's clear therefore that the problem has not been fixed, so I guess it's just a matter of time until the others start kicking the bucket one by one in a slow repeat of the Chronicle of a Death Foretold, where I relive what happened the first time round...It's a real shame, because I love the convenience of this product. When it's not failing, it works really well and it's so useful. Alas, with a lifespan of as little as 1 year, it's really hard to justify it on either cost or environmental grounds.The worst bit is the total lack of any support from the manufacturer. The website [...] has no contact info whatsoever and its "support" section is just a list of self-promoting questions and answers such as "How much energy does the average household waste by leaving appliances on standby?" etc. There are no questions such as "What is your guarantee?" or "What do I do it the product stops working?". No company address, no technical support email, no phone number. Pathetic.The only email address is in a section for distributors. I have tried emailing that person and got no response, as have others, according to online forums.So, I just have to go back to enjoying the ones I still have, until they fail and hope the rest last a bit longer. Will I be replacing them? Mmmm, maybe not this time.UPDATE: March 2013 - 2 more of the 2011 models have now failed (one switches itself off and the other one won't switch off, even when I press the button the socket itself). This means that now 3 out of 5 units of the newer version have failed in under 18 months. This is unacceptable. I am lowering my review to 1 star and I am looking at other brands to replace the dead units.

Now on my 4th pack in 7 years so they don't last but I love having remote control lights in my house and being able to shut down my media hub. Make sure you change the battery in the remote if it becomes difficult to turn on or off the plugs. Would be 5 stars if the units lasted more than just over their warranty period though to be fair each new release lasts longer than the last :-)

I have seven table/floor lamps in my sitting room (much better than a bright, overhead light) and these are a godsend - one click, and it's lights on or off. They do burn out on occasion, but, in my opinion, they're still completely worth it and I wouldn't be without them.