Wandering about my local B&Q today - looking for a 2 gang to 3 gang socket
converter (which I later found at TLC for 60% less) I came across;

Byron Remote Control Sockets.

Basically three adaptors that plug into socket outlets and a remote control.
You plug your appliance into the adaptor. Then you can turn those
appliances (up to 3000w) on/off via remote!

We have two table lamps and a floor lamp in our lounge, all of which are a
PITA to switch on/off. No I can sit there & pretend I'm Ernst Starvro
Blofeld! Great fun & useful for £20!

--
Dave
The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk
01634 717930
07850 597257

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
The Medway Handyman wrote:

Wandering about my local B&Q today - looking for a 2 gang to 3 gang
socket converter (which I later found at TLC for 60% less) I came
across;
Byron Remote Control Sockets.

Basically three adaptors that plug into socket outlets and a remote
control. You plug your appliance into the adaptor. Then you can turn
those appliances (up to 3000w) on/off via remote!

We have two table lamps and a floor lamp in our lounge, all of which
are a PITA to switch on/off. No I can sit there & pretend I'm Ernst
Starvro Blofeld! Great fun & useful for £20!

Yes, they are useful- but they've been about for quite a while.

I bought a set of 4 adapters plus remote (different make, and a bit more
expensive) from Maplins several years ago. We use 3 of them regularly - and
the fourth seasonally for the Christmas tree lights. One controls an outside
light which illuminates the pond and is powered from an upstairs bedroom,
but can operated from the lounge.
--
Cheers,
Roger
______
Email address maintained for newsgroup use only, and not regularly
monitored.. Messages sent to it may not be read for several weeks.
PLEASE REPLY TO NEWSGROUP!

The message
from "The Medway Handyman" contains
these words:

We have two table lamps and a floor lamp in our lounge, all of which are a
PITA to switch on/off. No I can sit there & pretend I'm Ernst Starvro
Blofeld! Great fun & useful for £20!

Aldi sell 4-packs for £11 sometimes.

--
Skipweasel
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.

"Guy King" wrote in message
...
The message
from "The Medway Handyman" contains
these words:

We have two table lamps and a floor lamp in our lounge, all of which are
a
PITA to switch on/off. No I can sit there & pretend I'm Ernst Starvro
Blofeld! Great fun & useful for £20!

Aldi sell 4-packs for £11 sometimes.

One off the four was a dimmer last time.
I use them to turnoff all the stuff that uses the little power bricks as
that saves a little bit of electricity.


They are also good for garden lights.. just put a socket strip in a water
proof box, plug in the remote switches and plug in the lamps.
Meets all the legal requirements and you never need to touch a wet switch
with mains behind it again.

I bought a set of 4 adapters plus remote (different make, and a bit more
expensive) from Maplins several years ago.

Mate of mine bought the aldi ones but found his neighbours had same and they
were forever switching
each others stuff on/off

Also currently on special offer (as a single) in Maplin, for £5.99.
"Turn off your Christmas tree lights without leaving your sofa"

J

"jkn" wrote in message
ups.com...
Also currently on special offer (as a single) in Maplin, for £5.99.
"Turn off your Christmas tree lights without leaving your sofa"

J

There's nothing like laziness carried out well!

I often see people frantically looking for remotes for their telly, isn't
this just another thing to get lost?

Mary

In their most recent outburst: Mary Fisher ranted:
"jkn" wrote in message
ups.com...
Also currently on special offer (as a single) in Maplin, for £5.99.
"Turn off your Christmas tree lights without leaving your sofa"

J

There's nothing like laziness carried out well!

I often see people frantically looking for remotes for their telly, isn't
this just another thing to get lost?

Mary

learning remotes

"Mary Fisher" typed



"jkn" wrote in message
ups.com...
Also currently on special offer (as a single) in Maplin, for £5.99.
"Turn off your Christmas tree lights without leaving your sofa"

J

There's nothing like laziness carried out well!

I often see people frantically looking for remotes for their telly, isn't
this just another thing to get lost?

Mary


Yes, but it's potentially a boon for a diabled person who is not too
chaotic...

--
Helen D. Vecht:
Edgware.

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
Owain wrote:

The Medway Handyman wrote:
Wandering about my local B&Q today - looking for a 2 gang to 3 gang
socket converter (which I later found at TLC for 60% less) I came
across; Byron Remote Control Sockets.
Basically three adaptors that plug into socket outlets and a remote
control. You plug your appliance into the adaptor. Then you can
turn those appliances (up to 3000w) on/off via remote!
We have two table lamps and a floor lamp in our lounge, all of which
are a PITA to switch on/off. No I can sit there & pretend I'm Ernst
Starvro Blofeld! Great fun & useful for £20!

And if you superglue the adapters to the kids' tellies and
playstations you can enforce bedtimes without having to pull the fuse
in the CU.
Owain

Not if they're like mine (adapters, that is, not kids!) - which have buttons
which enable them to be turned on and off manually. [Useful for people like
Mary if they mislay the remote g]
--
Cheers,
Roger
______
Email address maintained for newsgroup use only, and not regularly
monitored.. Messages sent to it may not be read for several weeks.
PLEASE REPLY TO NEWSGROUP!

"Helen Deborah Vecht" wrote in message
...
"Mary Fisher" typed



"jkn" wrote in message
ups.com...
Also currently on special offer (as a single) in Maplin, for £5.99.
"Turn off your Christmas tree lights without leaving your sofa"

J

There's nothing like laziness carried out well!

I often see people frantically looking for remotes for their telly, isn't
this just another thing to get lost?

Mary


Yes, but it's potentially a boon for a diabled person who is not too
chaotic...

Of course! but I suspect they're not all being bought by disabled people :-)

And I'm (relatively) able-bodied but still chaotic :-(

Mary

"Roger Mills" wrote in message
...
In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
Owain wrote:

The Medway Handyman wrote:
Wandering about my local B&Q today - looking for a 2 gang to 3 gang
socket converter (which I later found at TLC for 60% less) I came
across; Byron Remote Control Sockets.
Basically three adaptors that plug into socket outlets and a remote
control. You plug your appliance into the adaptor. Then you can
turn those appliances (up to 3000w) on/off via remote!
We have two table lamps and a floor lamp in our lounge, all of which
are a PITA to switch on/off. No I can sit there & pretend I'm Ernst
Starvro Blofeld! Great fun & useful for £20!

And if you superglue the adapters to the kids' tellies and
playstations you can enforce bedtimes without having to pull the fuse
in the CU.
Owain

Not if they're like mine (adapters, that is, not kids!) - which have
buttons which enable them to be turned on and off manually. [Useful for
people like Mary if they mislay the remote g]

I don't mislay the remote - we haven't a telly!

Mind you, the Bose radio etc. can only be operated by a remote and it's very
small. It hasn't been lost yet.

Yet being the operative word. When it IS lost I'll be bereft.

Mary
--
Cheers,
Roger
______
Email address maintained for newsgroup use only, and not regularly
monitored.. Messages sent to it may not be read for several weeks.
PLEASE REPLY TO NEWSGROUP!

Mary Fisher wrote:
"jkn" wrote in message
ups.com...
Also currently on special offer (as a single) in Maplin, for £5.99.
"Turn off your Christmas tree lights without leaving your sofa"

There's nothing like laziness carried out well!

I often see people frantically looking for remotes for their telly, isn't
this just another thing to get lost?

Well in my case, the Xmas tree lights are plugged in the only available
socket which is in the corner behind the TV and tree... over the festive
season, every night it is the bane of my life to have to crawl behind
the telly, reaching under the tree which either impales me with pine
needles or drops them down my neck, as I stretch for the socket to turn
the bloody lights off before bed. Every year I swear I'll sort out a
better solution, but every year the lights go back in the box for
another 11 months without anything being done.

So I'll definitely be first in the queue for one of these things... wWho
knows, I might even actually enjoy Xmas as a result!

David

"Lobster" wrote in message
...

Well in my case, the Xmas tree lights are plugged in the only available
socket which is in the corner behind the TV and tree... over the festive
season, every night it is the bane of my life to have to crawl behind the
telly, reaching under the tree which either impales me with pine needles
or drops them down my neck, as I stretch for the socket to turn the bloody
lights off before bed. Every year I swear I'll sort out a better
solution, but every year the lights go back in the box for another 11
months without anything being done.

There is a lower-tech solution : extension cable, with optional switched
socket if you CBA to unplug/plug the lights.

cheers,
clive

Clive George wrote:
"Lobster" wrote in message
...

Well in my case, the Xmas tree lights are plugged in the only
available socket which is in the corner behind the TV and tree... over
the festive season, every night it is the bane of my life to have to
crawl behind the telly, reaching under the tree which either impales
me with pine needles or drops them down my neck, as I stretch for the
socket to turn the bloody lights off before bed. Every year I swear
I'll sort out a better solution, but every year the lights go back in
the box for another 11 months without anything being done.

There is a lower-tech solution : extension cable, with optional switched
socket if you CBA to unplug/plug the lights.

Yep, that's the sort of 'better solution' I have had in mind for the
past n years but have never got around to actioning... and I know, I
could buy that kit from B&Q just as easily as this remote jobbie...

David

On 2006-11-14 14:47:41 +0000, Helen Deborah Vecht
said:

"Mary Fisher" typed



"jkn" wrote in message
ups.com...
Also currently on special offer (as a single) in Maplin, for £5.99.
"Turn off your Christmas tree lights without leaving your sofa"

J

There's nothing like laziness carried out well!

I often see people frantically looking for remotes for their telly,
isn't this just another thing to get lost?

Mary


Yes, but it's potentially a boon for a diabled person who is not too
chaotic...

Helen

Have you looked at the more sophisticated programmable devices based
around PDAs which will cope with a range of target devices?

"Lobster" wrote in message
...
Mary Fisher wrote:
"jkn" wrote in message
ups.com...
Also currently on special offer (as a single) in Maplin, for £5.99.
"Turn off your Christmas tree lights without leaving your sofa"
There's nothing like laziness carried out well!

I often see people frantically looking for remotes for their telly, isn't
this just another thing to get lost?

Well in my case, the Xmas tree lights are

ARE?

Already/?

It's not even Advent yet!

"Lobster" wrote in message
...

There is a lower-tech solution : extension cable, with optional switched
socket if you CBA to unplug/plug the lights.

Yep, that's the sort of 'better solution' I have had in mind for the past
n years but have never got around to actioning.

Yes, darling, you're proving your manhood :-)

Mary

The Medway Handyman wrote:
Wandering about my local B&Q today - looking for a 2 gang to 3 gang socket
converter (which I later found at TLC for 60% less) I came across;

Byron Remote Control Sockets.

Basically three adaptors that plug into socket outlets and a remote control.
You plug your appliance into the adaptor. Then you can turn those
appliances (up to 3000w) on/off via remote!

We have two table lamps and a floor lamp in our lounge, all of which are a
PITA to switch on/off. No I can sit there & pretend I'm Ernst Starvro
Blofeld! Great fun & useful for £20!

Yep, and yet another potential source of interferance to renault cowners
and their keyless cars...

badger.badger wrote:
The Medway Handyman wrote:
Wandering about my local B&Q today - looking for a 2 gang to 3 gang socket
converter (which I later found at TLC for 60% less) I came across;

Byron Remote Control Sockets.

Basically three adaptors that plug into socket outlets and a remote control.
You plug your appliance into the adaptor. Then you can turn those
appliances (up to 3000w) on/off via remote!

We have two table lamps and a floor lamp in our lounge, all of which are a
PITA to switch on/off. No I can sit there & pretend I'm Ernst Starvro
Blofeld! Great fun & useful for £20!

Yep, and yet another potential source of interferance to renault cowners
and their keyless cars...

I had a Laguna Initiale and whenever I had my 17" LCD monitor on there
was no way the bugger would open let alone start !!

"Staffbull" wrote in message
ups.com...

badger.badger wrote:
The Medway Handyman wrote:
Wandering about my local B&Q today - looking for a 2 gang to 3 gang
socket
converter (which I later found at TLC for 60% less) I came across;

Byron Remote Control Sockets.

Basically three adaptors that plug into socket outlets and a remote
control.
You plug your appliance into the adaptor. Then you can turn those
appliances (up to 3000w) on/off via remote!

We have two table lamps and a floor lamp in our lounge, all of which are
a
PITA to switch on/off. No I can sit there & pretend I'm Ernst Starvro
Blofeld! Great fun & useful for £20!

Yep, and yet another potential source of interferance to renault cowners
and their keyless cars...

I had a Laguna Initiale and whenever I had my 17" LCD monitor on there
was no way the bugger would open let alone start !!

We've not had any problems with our Laguna ... ?

Perhaps it's too old .... R reg

Mary

Mary Fisher wrote:
"Lobster" wrote in message
...
Mary Fisher wrote:
"jkn" wrote in message
ups.com...
Also currently on special offer (as a single) in Maplin, for £5.99.
"Turn off your Christmas tree lights without leaving your sofa"
There's nothing like laziness carried out well!

I often see people frantically looking for remotes for their telly, isn't
this just another thing to get lost?

Well in my case, the Xmas tree lights are

ARE?

Already/?

It's not even Advent yet!


Noooo.... (darling) I meant, as in, "Well in my case, each year the
Xmas lights are..."

David

Andy Hall typed


On 2006-11-14 14:47:41 +0000, Helen Deborah Vecht
said:

"Mary Fisher" typed



"jkn" wrote in message
ups.com...
Also currently on special offer (as a single) in Maplin, for £5.99.
"Turn off your Christmas tree lights without leaving your sofa"

J

There's nothing like laziness carried out well!

I often see people frantically looking for remotes for their telly,
isn't this just another thing to get lost?

Mary


Yes, but it's potentially a boon for a diabled person who is not too
chaotic...

Helen

Have you looked at the more sophisticated programmable devices based
around PDAs which will cope with a range of target devices?


No, but I'm fairly mobile at the moment.

I'm a great believer in using every possible trick on cheap mainstream
gadgets; My Nokia 3120 is my diary cos I can't write much...

--
Helen D. Vecht:
Edgware.

Andy Hall wrote:

Have you looked at the more sophisticated programmable devices based
around PDAs which will cope with a range of target devices?

Sounds interesting: Andy, do you have any pointers for this stuff? Have
had a nose around but can't find anything. Just that SWMBO has recently
been Blackberry-enabled and am interested to find out what it can
potentially do!

David

Mary Fisher wrote:
"Staffbull" wrote in message
ups.com...

badger.badger wrote:
The Medway Handyman wrote:
Wandering about my local B&Q today - looking for a 2 gang to 3 gang
socket
converter (which I later found at TLC for 60% less) I came across;

Byron Remote Control Sockets.

Basically three adaptors that plug into socket outlets and a remote
control.
You plug your appliance into the adaptor. Then you can turn those
appliances (up to 3000w) on/off via remote!

We have two table lamps and a floor lamp in our lounge, all of which are
a
PITA to switch on/off. No I can sit there & pretend I'm Ernst Starvro
Blofeld! Great fun & useful for £20!

Yep, and yet another potential source of interferance to renault cowners
and their keyless cars...

I had a Laguna Initiale and whenever I had my 17" LCD monitor on there
was no way the bugger would open let alone start !!

We've not had any problems with our Laguna ... ?

Perhaps it's too old .... R reg

Mary

This was a new type keycard thingy, If you want some advice keep your
old one!! Mine was brand new (company car) £22,000 top of the range,
in 6 months it had broken down three times a new gearbox fitted umpteen
pressure sensors for the tyres and the built in sat nav would fail on
me intermittantly !! pain in the asre car

Noooo.... (darling) I meant, as in, "Well in my case, each year the Xmas
lights are..."

Shh, dear one, we don't want everyone to know ...

"Staffbull" wrote in message
ups.com...

....

Yep, and yet another potential source of interferance to renault cowners
and their keyless cars...

I had a Laguna Initiale and whenever I had my 17" LCD monitor on there
was no way the bugger would open let alone start !!

We've not had any problems with our Laguna ... ?

Perhaps it's too old .... R reg

Mary

This was a new type keycard thingy,

Ah, yes, I've heard of those.

If you want some advice keep your
old one!!

We keep our cars until they die.

Mine was brand new (company car) £22,000 top of the range,

Heavens! We've never had a new car. It would be silly for us, it's
just a motorised cart. If I had space for a horse (or ox) we'd have a real
cart :-)

in 6 months it had broken down three times a new gearbox fitted umpteen
pressure sensors for the tyres and the built in sat nav would fail on
me intermittantly !! pain in the asre car

I take your point :-)

Mary

"Owain" wrote in message
...
Mary Fisher wrote:
"Staffbull" wrote
Mine was brand new (company car) £22,000 top of the range,
Heavens! We've never had a new car. It would be silly for us, it's just a
motorised cart. If I had space for a horse (or ox) we'd have a real cart
:-)
in 6 months it had broken down three times a new gearbox fitted umpteen
pressure sensors for the tyres and the built in sat nav would fail on
me intermittantly !!

At least the horse would know the way home :-)

Always an advantage when you've been, um, refreshing one's self.

Today I read of a company which is applying for a patent for a phone which
will (remotely) warm the toilet seat.

That's not a _cool_ gadget of course!

Mary

Owain

On 2006-11-15 08:52:10 +0000, Lobster said:

Andy Hall wrote:

Have you looked at the more sophisticated programmable devices based
around PDAs which will cope with a range of target devices?

Sounds interesting: Andy, do you have any pointers for this stuff?
Have had a nose around but can't find anything. Just that SWMBO has
recently been Blackberry-enabled and am interested to find out what it
can potentially do!

David

Typing PDA remote and control as Google keywords will bring up a selection.

Home automation some more.

I have had a Windows CE PDA (an HP One) for some time. This was
running the 2003 CE version and was reasonably OK - it has phone,
bluetooth, WiFi,IrDA... However, like other WM 2003 devices it
doesn't tolerate well having a lot of applications installed and tended
to need rebooting about once a day. To put it in perspective, I had
TomTom navigator installed on it (to keep taxi drivers honest), "push"
email and various other stuff. It was certainly usable although I
really wanted to have something that had an integrated keyboard for
messaging and email. I also wanted something with 3G capability that
could be used as a modem for when WiFi isn't available - e.g. trains
etc.

I did look quite carefully at Blackberry. As a business tool, they
have become ubiquitous and the email service is pretty reliable as long
as one chooses operator carefully. For what it is intended to do, I
think it does a good job. The two drawbacks that I noticed was that
it is a relatively closed device and there is not as much other
software around for it in comparison with WM and Palm; and that quite a
lot of people seem to carry a phone and a Blackberry. I wanted one
device. I couldn't find any Blackberry remote control software.

So it looked as though WM or Palm would be the choices. WM 2005 had
come out and was getting good reviews in terms of stability, so this
seemed to become a viable option. I spent some time researching
different "push" email solutions and found a reliable one. A
discussion about customer retention with my mobile operator brought
forth a Qtek 9000 (WM2005 PDA with all required features).

The older PDA is now being relegated to various purposes around the
house for control purposes.