Amazon Echo

[Zoon]

For a bit of fun the magic door skill is worth enabling.

[Andehh]

Nearly bought one last night, but decided to wait until today so I could do a bit more research on it. Finding out that IFTTT is not supported nor is Logitech Harmony Remote (only supported in the US) means Ill have to leave it for now

Edited by Andehh on Wednesday 16th November 11:02

[Shnozz]

I have come very close to buying one a few times but am a bit of a minimalist and cannot help but think this would just turn into another dusty ornament sat unused in the corner. The fact that all my music is on apple play really means it would be used for ordering ubers.

[Watchman]

Andehh said:

Nearly bought one last night, but decided to wait until today so I could do a bit more research on it. Finding out that IFTTT is not supported nor is Logitech Harmony Remote (only supported in the US) means Ill have to leave it for now

Edited by Andehh on Wednesday 16th November 11:02

I'm pretty sure that's a temporary situation. They are adding Skills all the time. I'm waiting until the Sonos one is ready early next year (they say) then I'll buy one to play with. If the HeatMiser and IFTTT Skills follow then it'll be great.

[Type R Tom]

Anyone using lightwaverf for switches? From my research it seems the best value for automating lights. Philips Hue seems excessive.

[Watchman]

Type R Tom said:

Anyone using lightwaverf for switches? From my research it seems the best value for automating lights. Philips Hue seems excessive.

I have a number of relays - they work the same as switches. I use them for automating outside lights.

The difference is that relays can switch in two different ways but cannot dim. If you want dimming, then you still need bulbs that can be dimmed. Most LEDs and CFLs cannot.

[Podie]

Excuse my ignorance, but where do the relays go?

[Shnozz]

Pods - tell me this would be a dusty ornament in my life and be no good for streaming itunes/apple music?

I so want one for the gadget but...

[Zoon]

Shnozz said:

Pods - tell me this would be a dusty ornament in my life and be no good for streaming itunes/apple music?

I so want one for the gadget but...

It's no good for apple music but is good for spotify/amazon music.

[Watchman]

Podie said:

Excuse my ignorance, but where do the relays go?

In my case, it's to switch outside lighting. It all started because my lighting was some distance from where I would want the wall switches. I would have had to bring cabling back through 2 rooms, which would have been messy.

So, instead of paying for the smart face-plate switched sockets, I just wired relays into the supply for each of the lights instead. I had to buy similar boxes that you sink into walls, or surface mount, and blank face plates to house the relays but it looks neat. It was quite a bit cheaper doing it this way, and there's a 3-way relay model which means you only need one electrical supply to control 3 separate items.

You can use the optional remote handsets that come with them if you want convenience (away from a phone) but what I'm currently working on is NFC tags to trigger my phone to switch the appropriate lights. Not got it working yet but it's only time...

[johnxjsc1985]

I am the number one technophobe but I had great fun testing its library of music even down to
"Patricia the Stripper" by Chris De Burgh. As I find TV more and more painful to watch I am hoping to get into some good audio books .

[Cotty]

johnxjsc1985 said:

I am the number one technophobe but I had great fun testing its library of music even down to
"Patricia the Stripper" by Chris De Burgh. As I find TV more and more painful to watch I am hoping to get into some good audio books .

Fancy an interactive adventure? Try The Magic Door
https://www.facebook.com/AlexaMagicDoor/posts/1210...

[OldGermanHeaps]

I have an alexa dot. Its st. It correctly responds maybe 15% of the time. My mrs has the same problem, if you are scottish forget it.

[smn159]

OldGermanHeaps said:

I have an alexa dot. Its st. It correctly responds maybe 15% of the time. My mrs has the same problem, if you are scottish forget it.

Probably cultural stereotyping, but this made me laugh and now I'm trying to talk to Alexa in a Scottish accent to see what happens

"Alexa, add meat an' tatties tae th' shorpun lust"

"Sorry, I can't find the answer to the question I heard..."

Now I feel your pain

Edited by smn159 on Saturday 19th November 12:36

[johnxjsc1985]

smn159 said:

Probably cultural stereotyping, but this made me laugh and now I'm trying to talk to Alexa in a Scottish accent to see what happens

"Alexa, add meat an' tatties tae th' shorpun lust"

"Sorry, I can't find the answer to the question I heard..."

Now I feel your pain

Edited by smn159 on Saturday 19th November 12:36

I cant remember the question I asked but I did get a reply "I'm stumped" which made me chuckle.

[Chris_H]

Well I have a common south London accent but she can't understand me saying 'two'. I ask for radio 2 and she offers me some other obscure station and when I ask for volume 2, she sets volume 10, at which point it's too loud for her to hear me and I have to get up to turn her down which kind of defeats the point!

[ajprice]

smn159 said:

OldGermanHeaps said:

I have an alexa dot. Its st. It correctly responds maybe 15% of the time. My mrs has the same problem, if you are scottish forget it.

Probably cultural stereotyping, but this made me laugh and now I'm trying to talk to Alexa in a Scottish accent to see what happens

"Alexa, add meat an' tatties tae th' shorpun lust"

"Sorry, I can't find the answer to the question I heard..."

Now I feel your pain

Edited by smn159 on Saturday 19th November 12:36

Voice control lift in Scotland
https://youtu.be/sAz_UvnUeuU

[Podie]

Watchman said:

Podie said:

Excuse my ignorance, but where do the relays go?

In my case, it's to switch outside lighting. It all started because my lighting was some distance from where I would want the wall switches. I would have had to bring cabling back through 2 rooms, which would have been messy.

So, instead of paying for the smart face-plate switched sockets, I just wired relays into the supply for each of the lights instead. I had to buy similar boxes that you sink into walls, or surface mount, and blank face plates to house the relays but it looks neat. It was quite a bit cheaper doing it this way, and there's a 3-way relay model which means you only need one electrical supply to control 3 separate items.

You can use the optional remote handsets that come with them if you want convenience (away from a phone) but what I'm currently working on is NFC tags to trigger my phone to switch the appropriate lights. Not got it working yet but it's only time...

Interesting, thanks.

So could I put a relay between the switch and the light to allow it to be automated or switched?

[OldGermanHeaps]

ajprice said:

Voice control lift in Scotland
https://youtu.be/sAz_UvnUeuU

100% scientifically accurate.

[johnxjsc1985]

Chris_H said:

Well I have a common south London accent but she can't understand me saying 'two'. I ask for radio 2 and she offers me some other obscure station and when I ask for volume 2, she sets volume 10, at which point it's too loud for her to hear me and I have to get up to turn her down which kind of defeats the point!

she responds well to commands ending in "you stupid bint".