Amazon Echo

[PixelpeepS3]

tedmus said:

I have radio streaming to a Bluetooth speaker outside (6 Music through Tunein) and it keeps dropping every now and again. Probably 20ft maximum from the dot in the kitchen. Is this a common problem?

Yes, mine regularly loses internet connection when connected to a speaker via Bluetooth.

[Brother D]

So this turned up the other week.

Its actually better than I thought it would be - "alexa - play a film" is great when I'm working in the kitchen cooking.

Screen is pretty good (touch screen) wish this was out before the standard Alexa. I'll probably get another one for the parents so I can do the video conference with them.

[sybaseian]

davek_964 said:

dxg said:

davek_964 said:

Decided last night I quite liked the idea of an Echo Dot in the car, using my phone as a hotspot.

Then I remembered that - despite owning 4 cars - none of them will let me stream music via bluetooth.

Alexa has an aux-out / headphone socket...

I know, but it's not easy (or possible) to use aux in on my cars either. I'll wait until I get a new enough car!

I connected Alexa to one of these so that I can use it in my old Discovery.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wireless-Bluetooth-Transm...

[davek_964]

sybaseian said:

davek_964 said:

dxg said:

davek_964 said:

Decided last night I quite liked the idea of an Echo Dot in the car, using my phone as a hotspot.

Then I remembered that - despite owning 4 cars - none of them will let me stream music via bluetooth.

Alexa has an aux-out / headphone socket...

I know, but it's not easy (or possible) to use aux in on my cars either. I'll wait until I get a new enough car!

I connected Alexa to one of these so that I can use it in my old Discovery.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wireless-Bluetooth-Transm...

Thanks - I do actually have one of those in one of my cars because it's a pain to even connect an iPod in that one. So I must admit, I am tempted to get Alexa for that car!

[Watchman]

Brother D said:

So this turned up the other week.

Its actually better than I thought it would be - "alexa - play a film" is great when I'm working in the kitchen cooking.

Screen is pretty good (touch screen) wish this was out before the standard Alexa. I'll probably get another one for the parents so I can do the video conference with them.

Sounds interesting. What is it?

[esuuv]

Watchman said:

Sounds interesting. What is it?

Echo Show - only in the states at the moment officially.....

https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-MW46WB-Introducing-E...

[Watchman]

esuuv said:

Watchman said:

Sounds interesting. What is it?

Echo Show - only in the states at the moment officially.....

https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-MW46WB-Introducing-E...

Oh man. I have to have one when they come out over here.

[Brother D]

Watchman said:

esuuv said:

Watchman said:

Sounds interesting. What is it?

Echo Show - only in the states at the moment officially.....

https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-MW46WB-Introducing-E...

Oh man. I have to have one when they come out over here.

While it's quite handy the recent update that automatically adds people as "connections" is slightly invasive....

[Shnozz]

As per the recent posters (but minus any bluetooth speaker - wired straight to speakers), my Dot has started dropping out on the radio. Very frustrating. The pauses can either be intermittent or long enough to actually switch it off so you need to wake it back up.

Given that I really only bought my Dot as a glorified radio attachment its rendered pretty useless right now.

[tedmus]

Shnozz said:

As per the recent posters (but minus any bluetooth speaker - wired straight to speakers), my Dot has started dropping out on the radio. Very frustrating. The pauses can either be intermittent or long enough to actually switch it off so you need to wake it back up.

Given that I really only bought my Dot as a glorified radio attachment its rendered pretty useless right now.

Just saw a post in an Echo FB page that Amazon support recognise it as an issue, just emailed them myself so will see what they come back with if they reply.

[Shnozz]

Cheers tedmus - appreciate that. I am not very tech savvy so appreciate that.

Seems odd that its been seamless since purchase and only a recent issue. Same applies to the one I bought my girlfriend - she routes hers via a bluetooth speaker but mine is simply via an aux cable so I know its not that connection.

[tedmus]

I use mine for Amazon music and never have a problem with that so it's not a connectivity or network issue.

I might try the Radioplayer skill at the weekend and see if that's any better.

[ben5575]

I've taken delivery of some TP Link lights purchased in the Prime Day sale.

Straight forward to set up in Kasa (TP Link app) and link that through to Alexa (Skills and Smart Home) and can control them from my Dot. I say 'them' as I have two in my living room grouped into 'Living Room'.

Thing is I can't get them to work properly with my Fire Stick (which is in my living room), unlike like my Dot that is handedly kept in the Kitchen.

Am I missing something somewhere? I 'assumed' that I could just press the Alexa button on my FS remote, say 'Switch on Living Lights' and everything would work as the FS is permanently on. I now have the TV turning itself on (presumably through the FS sending a signal to the TV via HDMI to wake it up) and only one of the lights switching on.

Any ideas? Is there a separate set up on the FS?

[tenohfive]

ben5575 said:

I've taken delivery of some TP Link lights purchased in the Prime Day sale.

Straight forward to set up in Kasa (TP Link app) and link that through to Alexa (Skills and Smart Home) and can control them from my Dot. I say 'them' as I have two in my living room grouped into 'Living Room'.

Thing is I can't get them to work properly with my Fire Stick (which is in my living room), unlike like my Dot that is handedly kept in the Kitchen.

Am I missing something somewhere? I 'assumed' that I could just press the Alexa button on my FS remote, say 'Switch on Living Lights' and everything would work as the FS is permanently on. I now have the TV turning itself on (presumably through the FS sending a signal to the TV via HDMI to wake it up) and only one of the lights switching on.

Any ideas? Is there a separate set up on the FS?

Not as far as I'm aware. I've got the TP Link plugs and I've just tested it with my Fire Stick; works as it should.

[Digger]

There may well be a better thread...

I have an unopened NowTV box with 3 months of Sky Movies iirc. Would a Fire TV box be a better alternative? I don't have a 4k TV yet so 1080p is fine. The ethernet port is a major plus though.

Eta I do have Amazon Prime! Which I guess is a big plus!

Edited by Digger on Friday 21st July 17:59

[tedmus]

Depends what you want to watch.

You can sideload apps onto the Fire Tv for all sorts of content plus if you have Prime you have all that as well.

You should get about £15 for the Now TV voucher code if you stick it on eBay. Saying that it is pretty good for movies and box sets and you can have four devices at a time on one account and watch on two simultaneously.

[tedmus]

tedmus said:

Shnozz said:

As per the recent posters (but minus any bluetooth speaker - wired straight to speakers), my Dot has started dropping out on the radio. Very frustrating. The pauses can either be intermittent or long enough to actually switch it off so you need to wake it back up.

Given that I really only bought my Dot as a glorified radio attachment its rendered pretty useless right now.

Just saw a post in an Echo FB page that Amazon support recognise it as an issue, just emailed them myself so will see what they come back with if they reply.

Amazon said:

I'm sorry to hear about the inconvenience you've experienced with Tune In to play BBC R6 music.

To help you with this, I've checked and would like to inform you that, currently, we're experiencing technical issues with our internal servers which is causing the issue with Tune In.

I would like to inform you that, our technical team are constantly working on it and will fix these errors as early as possible.

For the meantime, please extend your patience and co-operation while we work on this.

[Shnozz]

Thanks Tedmus. Might just use another radio app then in the meantime - will google how to do that!

[ben5575]

tenohfive said:

Not as far as I'm aware. I've got the TP Link plugs and I've just tested it with my Fire Stick; works as it should.

Ahh, turned out to be a case of switch off then on again. All sorted now thanks.

[tedmus]

Shnozz said:

Thanks Tedmus. Might just use another radio app then in the meantime - will google how to do that!

Radio player skill seems a bit more stable, had a couple of 2 second drop outs early on but fine now.