Consumer Electronics, Gadgets & Accessories

AVM FRITZ!DECT 200 in the test – quite smart power socket

We have now tested almost all smart home products from AVM. One category is still missing: power outlets. With the DECT 200, you can do even more than make non-smart devices smart or switch on devices with your smartphone. AVM has added a few more features, and you can tell by the price.

Features and setup

Anyone who gets a power outlet like the DECT 200 intends to power devices remotely or on a schedule. A maximum of 2,300 watts can be switched with the DECT 200 outlet and the switching times can be freely adjusted. Certain times, sunrise and sunset or specific dates can be selected as events.

But it is also possible to measure the power consumption with the socket. We can see the consumption not only in the past period, but also an expected consumption is displayed. This way it is easier to plan the power consumption or avoid escalating costs.

A special feature is probably the noise detection. If light is switched with the Fritz!DECT 200 and the detection is activated, the light turns on when for example voices or footsteps are detected. After a certain time the light is switched off again. Of course, this process also goes in the other direction to turn off a device.

Connecting to the Fritz!Box is as easy as with the products tested so far. Plug it in and hold down the DECT button on the router. After a few seconds, we can already access the DECT 200 socket via the web interface.

Control and integration

For initial setup, it is worth accessing the Fritz!Box directly. Automatic switching processes can be conveniently set, for example, the coffee machine should be switched on at 8 o’clock in the morning. As with the DECT 500, you can also set random switching processes to provide greater protection against burglars.

You can switch it on and off via AVM’s smart home app. The current consumption and statistics can also be viewed. You can choose between a monthly and yearly view in the statistics. Since the DECT 200 also has a temperature sensor, we can see how many degrees there are in the room.

Through the web interface we can switch the socket as well as view statistics. But here we can set several more functions. The menu item is called “Automatic switching” and that’s what it’s all about. So we can set a time switching or an automatic standby. The most interesting is probably “Switching on noise”. There we can even set the frequency range and the held duration in addition to the sensitivity. Even a clap/knock can be set as a trigger. In addition, it is possible to set whether the Fritz!DECT 200 socket is switched on or off when a noise is detected.

Integration with our typical smart home systems (openHAB, Home Assistant, Home Connect Plus) works smoothly. Switching on and off is straight out of the box, without us having to set anything. In Home Assistant Plus as well as Home Assistant also displayed the current as well as total consumption, but we can not easily display statistics.

Conclusion

There are plenty of switchable sockets on the market. In this case, the Fritz!DECT 200 is probably not an entry-level product, because we put about 50 euros on the table for the product from AVM. Alternatives are usually much cheaper. However, the German manufacturer offers powerful features, a clear app and even browser management.

Switching by sound is already something special. In addition, clear statistics are offered, with which we can analyze our power consumption. The expected consumption can also be displayed to us.

AVM FRITZ!DECT 200

Workmanship
Features
Value for money

95/100

Not quite inexpensive, but a whole lot of features on board. Fritz!DECT 200 is clearly recommendable.

Simon Lüthje

I am co-founder of this blog and am very interested in everything that has to do with technology, but I also like to play games. I was born in Hamburg, but now I live in Bad Segeberg.

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