On 29 Sep, 11:10, Jethro wrote:
I want to be able to power-cycle my loft based PC ... anyone know of a
good reliable remote control plug ?

Well, B&Q and the 3pack "Home-Easy" on/off plugs are now chez Jethro.
1 is already on the PC, and the other two are awaiting a sensible
application ... I suspect the outdoor Xmas lights will be first in
line.

Quite impressed with the Home-Easy range ... home automation never
seemed so easy. I particularly liked the SMS-driven controllers,
although I can't think of a use right now.

Just to explain why I wanted the plug in the first place .... I've
wanted to set up a "download" server for ages now, which I can whack a
bitorrent, or large FTP onto, and just leave it running. However there
is no way on Gods green earth I'm going to leave a Windows box open to
the internet 24/7, firewall or not. Which proved a good excuse to
teach myself Linux (Ubuntu). However, due to various struggles getting
a wireless USB key working the whole project took a *little* longer
than I told the missis. To be fair, she'd been very patient, and
didn't harp on about the loss of the front room. However after 4
months it was a little more than a joke, and I was given an
ultimatum ... so the PC went into the loft, without being 100%
prepared, or tested (at least I can NXMachine into it).

It's "frozen" a couple of times, and required a restart (after which
it works fine), and having to get the loft ladder down etc etc etc -
especially if I'm not at home (I remote in from work, and the missis
can't climb a ladder). So I thought the remote was the best solution -
although it remains very much a "nuclear" option.

Fingers crossed, the machine stayed up 10 days before I fitted the
plug, so it's possible that the problems been fixed by one of the
updates I installed recently.

Thanks for everyones help - hope you all enjoyed the debate !