Amazon Echo

[eatontrifles]

pmanson said:

Does any one know if the TP Link / Wemo smart switches are due to be upgraded/changed in the New Year? They don't seem to be in stock anywhere...

The Wemo switches are always incredibly popular and with it being so soon after Christmas I'd give it a couple of weeks to see if the stock situation improves. They have fluctuated massively in price recently, varying from £25 to £50.

There was an announcement yesterday at CES of some new Wemo (US style) switches https://www.cnet.com/products/belkin-wemo-mini-wi-... so no doubt they're working on new UK versions as well.

[Ste1987]

I asked Alexa to add Quorn Mince to my shopping list, she thought I said "condoms"

It was New Year's Day mind, she was probably a bit worse for wear

[geeks]

Added a vet appointment for the new puppy with Alexa the other day "Alexa, add a new calendar entry for 30th January at 14:00 to take Noodle to the vet" entry was added as New Dog, which although scarily accurate isn't what i asked for, have since retried this twice with no luck, each time noodle is added as "new dog" even in the shopping list where i ask for Noodles..

[aww999]

I have been having problems with radio dropping in and out - given that I only bought the thing to listen to music this is a massive PITA! BBC seems particularly bad but other stations are also affected. Is there anything I can do?

[Chris_H]

aww999 said:

I have been having problems with radio dropping in and out - given that I only bought the thing to listen to music this is a massive PITA! BBC seems particularly bad but other stations are also affected. Is there anything I can do?

If you're using Tune In to listen, it's a well known issue. Try using Radio Player instead. It sorted it out for me.

https://www.alexaskillstore.com/Radioplayer/39477

[JonV8V]

geeks said:

Added a vet appointment for the new puppy with Alexa the other day "Alexa, add a new calendar entry for 30th January at 14:00 to take Noodle to the vet" entry was added as New Dog, which although scarily accurate isn't what i asked for, have since retried this twice with no luck, each time noodle is added as "new dog" even in the shopping list where i ask for Noodles..

I live in a barn conversion and one part is called the "sheep shed" as that's what it was, Alexa was happy with every other room name but not "sheep". Its now called study for similar reasons to yours.

[ajprice]

I can't get the "Tea. Earl Grey. Hot." Star Trek easter egg thing to work, all the other joke things I've tried have been fine, but it doesn't like that, is it just an American one?

[geeks]

Works fine for me. Along with Open Pod Bay doors etc.

[jodypress]

ajprice said:

I can't get the "Tea. Earl Grey. Hot." Star Trek easter egg thing to work, all the other joke things I've tried have been fine, but it doesn't like that, is it just an American one?

I couldn't at first but if you pause at the full stops it should work.

[dxg]

aww999 said:

I have been having problems with radio dropping in and out - given that I only bought the thing to listen to music this is a massive PITA! BBC seems particularly bad but other stations are also affected. Is there anything I can do?

Interestingly, that has started happening for me but only in the last few days.

I wonder if tunein's servers are being swamped by the shear number of these devices now around...?

That's my guess anyway.

[bristolracer]

Anyone using the Broadlink IR RF controllers with Alexa?

[skeggysteve]

FurryExocet said:

"Alexa Bluetooth" is that something you programmed, or is it a default command?

I didn't add it so assume it's a default/built in command.

[smn159]

When I first got mine, the command, "Alexa - fk off", would cause any music to stop playing. Then for a while she responded with something like, "That's not a very nice thing to say". Now the same command seems to have no effect at all.

Pity.

[MrOrange]

"Alexa, shut the fk up ttmangler" works peachy

[poing]

smn159 said:

When I first got mine, the command, "Alexa - fk off", would cause any music to stop playing. Then for a while she responded with something like, "That's not a very nice thing to say". Now the same command seems to have no effect at all.

Pity.

Sounds like every relationship I've ever been in.

Starts out playing along, then tells you off for being childish, then ignores you.

She's scarily accurate sometimes.

[Xaero]

I said the following while music was playing, 'Alexa, S T F U' (the letters only, not the words) and she/it said 'You can say mute music'.

[smn159]

I have carried out some further investigations.

"Alexa - fk Off" - Alexa answers "Well, thanks for the feedback"; music continues.
"Alexa - shut up" - Music stops

Further experimentation will have to wait as my wife has just returned from her yoga class.

[Podie]

Ste1987 said:

I asked Alexa to add Quorn Mince to my shopping list, she thought I said "condoms"

It was New Year's Day mind, she was probably a bit worse for wear

To be fair, they probably taste the same.

[jr502]

Tycho said:

Andehh said:

Yep, I am also in this position, with under the counter lights. And yes this switch was put 'out of the way' thinking we wouldn't need it so much....now her in doors uses it as the 'main light' in the kitchen complete with awkward bloody switch location

Also can't find a light switch that works with the two circuits wired to the standard double switch that also enables on/of via Alexa.

Sooo many super fancy light bulbs & portable WIFI switches, yet none that allow hard wiring to a standard bloody light switch!!

I think that the Lightwaverf switches would work. There is a main switch for the power supply switching and you pair a slave with it which has a switch and rf to control the master.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/c/home-electricals/home-au...

I do exactly this. I have a couple of sockets and an out of place light switch. I fitted LightwaveRF, and now control via the Echo, as well as having some remote LightwaveRF switches.

Having all of downstairs on a single group in the Echo means I can use 'turn off downstairs' at the end of the day or when leaving the house.

[anonymous-user]

Did you need a lightwave hub?