Most SA boxes have the ability to power on with power and numeric, it should be in the second page of the settings where you can change this from power only.
By using this you can create macros that will turn the box on and off reliably.
Of course the model number you are using might be one that does not have this feature, I don't know as I have not dealt with every Cisco / SA box. I have also heard that this feature is not always available everywhere.
Up here in Toronto I have yet to find a box that I could not turn on and off this way.