Controlling WiFi Devices without Internet?

[Doghouse]

Please forgive me if this has already been asked and answered. I was not able to find an answer that matched what I am trying to do. My Wife and I are in the process of putting my mother-in-law's house on the market. I would like to control WiFi enabled switches to control the lighting to give the house the appearance of someone living in the house. We turned off the internet since there is no one there. The wireless router is still at the house. Is it possible to connect a Pi to the router (either wireless or via Ethernet cable) to control WiFi switches to control the lighting?

[DougieLawson]

It largely depends whether your WiFi lights use an open protocol and not something proprietary with public/private key security.

If you can determine the protocol that's used and can find a python3 library to drive it then it should be possible. The risk is your estate agent will come up trumps before your programming skills catch up with fiddling with the lights.

[hippy]

Is it possible to connect a Pi to the router (either wireless or via Ethernet cable) to control WiFi switches to control the lighting?

You can connect the Pi to the router, but whether you can control your Wi-Fi devices depends on whether they can be controlled locally or will only accept commands via the internet.

Most sensible home automation products will allow local control or everything stops working when the internet connection goes down but some devices do require an internet connection.

You'll also need software to control the devices. Details of the devices, any product information, will help get you an answer on what that software would be and the protocols used.

[Doghouse]

Thank you for the replies. I think I'll return to my earlier idea of just getting some timers for some of the outlets. My ideas would be more fun, but at a cost in time and materials. Thank again!

[PhatFil]

I would suggest looking at the itead sonoff range of 'smart' plug in sockets and Bulbs.

I use a number of these reprogramed with alternative firmware but it sounds like the stock firmware and phone app may be sufficient for your needs ??

at £8-£10 per unit they are very good vfm and can operate timers based on the internal clock (not that accurate so will wander a few minutes over a month, WITHOUT WEB access once set up (for initial setup/config web access and the phone app are needed.)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sonoff-Assista ... B072ZT9NW5
(I think you will find em cheaper if you look beyond amazon prime )

The Tasmota firmware i use dose not rely on external servers or the phone app instead hosting a web interface on the device itself which can also use mqtt for local and remote control.
, https://github.com/arendst/Sonoff-Tasmota/wiki