# Whats the best outlet for ST? **URL:** \ **Category:** Devices & Integrations\ **Created:** [December 8, 2018, 4:55am UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/whats-the-best-outlet-for-st/145448 "2018-12-08T04:55:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Todd\_Basche](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/smartthings/user_avatar/community.smartthings.com/todd_basche/32/87760_2.png) [@Todd\_Basche](https://community.smartthings.com/u/Todd_Basche)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2018, 4:55am UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/whats-the-best-outlet-for-st/145448/1 "2018-12-08T04:55:45Z")
I just biught a ihome smart outlet. It keeps foing offline, very clumsy to setup. So far very unreliable. Which smart outlets does the community reccomend? ---
**Author:** ![JDRoberts](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/smartthings/user_avatar/community.smartthings.com/jdroberts/32/56577_2.png) [@JDRoberts](https://community.smartthings.com/u/JDRoberts)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2018, 5:50am UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/whats-the-best-outlet-for-st/145448/2 "2018-12-08T05:50:57Z")
There’s no one best: different things work for different people. And, as I’ve said before, different budgets. Most people will choose either a zigbee pocket socket or Z wave pocket socket, Depending on what kind of repeater they need in that particular location. Occasionally somebody will pick a Wi-Fi pocket socket either because they also want HomeKit compatibility or because they intentionally want to choose something they can turn on and off when smartthings is not working, such as if they need to reboot their hub. Wi-Fi is also better suited to real time energy monitoring. But usually people will want to take advantage of the repeating capabilities For zwave or zigbee. 🕶 Have you had a chance to read the networking basics FAQ yet? Start with post 11, then go up to the top of the thread and read the whole thread. That will give you a better idea of how you might want to lay out your network backbone. > [@A Guide to Wireless Range & Repeaters](https://community.smartthings.com/t/a-guide-to-wireless-range-repeaters/11440/11): > > One more thought. While I understand the marketing reasons for the decision, the fact that SmartThings gives customers zero guidance on how to set up a network backbone does lead to a lot of frustration that shouldn’t have to exist. if people knew that .1) The hub should be located centrally in the home, both vertically and horizontally. Don’t put it in a garage or basement as those have concrete and pipes and metal objects which will reduce signal. If your Internet router is off in some inaccessible corner, you can use a Wi-Fi access point that has a ethernet port on the side and plug into that. Also, the hub should not be put in a cabinet. You just want to make it as easy as possible for signal to spread around your house. .2) you need one device that can repeat about every 40 feet… Then check out the device class features FAQ, and it will give you an idea of what people look for for different use cases: > [@Bulbs, switches and sensors, oh my....what to buy (device class features FAQ)](https://community.smartthings.com/t/bulbs-switches-and-sensors-oh-my-what-to-buy-device-class-features/33955): > > So, I’m pretty new to this internet of things world. Originally bought 2 OSRAM tunable LED bulbs with the Wemo Hub and a WEMO insight switch, now I’ve “upgraded” the hub to the SmartThings hub, and looking at ditching the WEMO insight switch for the SmartThings plug, just so I have have support now and not have to wait or deal with adding custom code to the IDE. I’m on Amazon and etc pretty much every day trying to decide what I want to play around with next, or what’s better, etc. I’m here to see what your opinons/preferences are for plugs bulbs sensors: motion, open/close and temp It’s a confusing world out there…Just for bulbs I’m finding LIFX, WEMO, OSRAM, GE Link, Phillips Hue, Cree. For plugs I’m finding WEMO, SmartThings, Aeon Labs, GE…etc It’s hard to decide which is the way… ---
**Author:** ![AnubizDK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@AnubizDK](https://community.smartthings.com/u/AnubizDK)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2018, 10:12am UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/whats-the-best-outlet-for-st/145448/3 "2018-12-08T10:12:32Z")
I use the IKEA outlets… They are cheap and have a decent range, and have been very stable so far… I even use one outdoors for controlling my Christmas lights… ---
**Author:** ![rontalley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e47774/32.png) [@rontalley](https://community.smartthings.com/u/rontalley)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2018, 2:36pm UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/whats-the-best-outlet-for-st/145448/4 "2018-12-08T14:36:10Z")
Do they read power? ---
**Author:** ![Todd\_Basche](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/smartthings/user_avatar/community.smartthings.com/todd_basche/32/87760_2.png) [@Todd\_Basche](https://community.smartthings.com/u/Todd_Basche)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2018, 6:40pm UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/whats-the-best-outlet-for-st/145448/5 "2018-12-08T18:40:28Z")
Thanks great suggestion. I did not know IKEA made them. Todd 650-346-6718 ---
**Author:** ![AnubizDK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@AnubizDK](https://community.smartthings.com/u/AnubizDK)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2018, 7:28pm UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/whats-the-best-outlet-for-st/145448/6 "2018-12-08T19:28:09Z")
No they don’t have that feature… Only On/Off capability… I use the built-in “Zigbee Switch” DH for them… 😉