templates VS mgos-to-tasmota

Setting two on/off cycles with 50 discrete schedules seems like a very inefficient way of doing this when the same thing could be accomplished with two rules. Any compatible device flashed with Tasmota or similar FOSS firmware would make this possible.

Have a look at https://templates.blakadder.com

Another WiFi based option is any compatible smart relay or switch flashed with Tasmota. In Tasmota, SwitchMode 15 decouples the switch state from the relay and sends status changes via MQTT to HA.

2) If you want to switch on/off the light switch in your room, your best bet is to replace your regular light switch with a WiFi light switch. (Yes, you must have some electrical knowledge to do this. But trust me, this is best, most reliable way.) See https://templates.blakadder.com/ for some good devices. Many of them can be re-flashed, so instead of using "their app", the light switch can be a web server that you can talk to from any computer on your network (including your laptop, your phone, etc).

If you're familiar programming ESP boards take a look at this repository of compatible devices.

Wifi switch, I suggest one that runs tasmota. Blakadder website seems to help.

I cannot find the correct model for this plug. On the back it says "WiFi Smart Plug / TWSP017" but I cannot find any reference to this online. I looked at the (long) list of pictures of plugs and sockets at the templates.blakadder.com site, but without finding anything that looks quite like it. There is one power socket, one LED (that never seems to be lit) and one button on the left side. It is a square shape with rounded corners; too generic a description to be useful I'm afraid.

You mention incompatibilities. I am not 100% what you mean but here's a link of Zigbee2Mqtt supported devices and Heres a list of tasmota supported devices . i'd reference these before buying anything.

Tasmota also works on the Shelly devices. It can be flashed over the air (OTA) using mgos-to-tasmota

I have recently bought a Shelly Duo and this flashing process worked painlessly. They also have a RGBW bulb, I haven't tested it though.

They can be flashed ‘over the air’ with tasmota and then reflashed with esphome using this method: https://github.com/yaourdt/mgos-to-tasmota

I prefer the Shelly line myself. Their stock OS is open source and has a lot of capability out of the box, but they can also be flashed to run Tasmota by using this intermediate loader firmware.

So close! Tried to get do the following: https://github.com/yaourdt/mgos-to-tasmota. However, whenever I query the ip address, I get the HTTP auth prompt, which I still can't bypass. Luckily I've been in contact with support, and hopefully can get an RMA soon.