Finding TP Links

What to do if AutomationManager or WemoHome cannot find your TP Link devices.

TP Link has done a much better job in the part of the app that connects the device to your wifi. Simple start the app and use the "add" button, then follow the instructions to connect the device.

TP Link has chosen to use polling and a UDP based technology to track device status. This can make them a little difficult to use when you're at home. Enabling remote access will work most of the time though you will need to depend on (and trust) the TP Link cloud service. TP Link is based in China with different privacy laws so be careful. Don't use the same user id and password for your cloud account that you use for other critical systems and note that your wifi SSID and password has been made available to their cloud.

Try to connect all of your TP Link devices to the same part of the network where you will run AutomationManager/AutomationServer if you are running the server. If you are running the server consider disabling remote access in TP Link. Be aware that even with remote access disabled the TP Link devices are still communicating with their cloud; it's best to deny them internet access in your router firewall if possible.

If you run WemoHome or AM Manager on your phone and it typically connects to your 5GHz band on your router you'll have some trouble connecting and getting the status of your TP Link devices. You will likely need to assign the TP Link devices a reserved IP address in your router's DHCP service and use the "find TP Link manually" function in WemoHome or AM Manager.

WemoHome and AM Manager will poll each device directly while open, but when closed the app will only directly poll each device using the refresh period that you've set in your preferences.

The AM Server and any widgets will continue to poll indirectly if you have TP Link devices defined. Indirect polling only works within the same network segment, so be sure to run your AM Server and any device you're using as an automation console (with AutomationManager/WemoHome widgets) within the same part of your network as the TP Links. Typically this means to connect and run them all on the 2.4GHz band of your router. If you are not able to do so you will find the app is more slow to detect manual changes to the TP Link devices - again, based on the refresh frequency in your preferences.