Amazon Echo

[tenohfive]

If there are any Harmony owners in this thread, can I pick your brains?

I've currently got 4 remotes on my sofa - TV, Tivo Box, soundbar and Fire TV Stick. Which of the myriad Harmony options would I need to a) only need one remote, and b) allow Alexa to control it all?

If any of the options allow me to use ST instead of a Harmony hub that would be a bonus as it's saves duplication, but I've no idea if that's feasible and it's not a dealbreaker anyway.

[kingston12]

tenohfive said:

If there are any Harmony owners in this thread, can I pick your brains?

I've currently got 4 remotes on my sofa - TV, Tivo Box, soundbar and Fire TV Stick. Which of the myriad Harmony options would I need to a) only need one remote, and b) allow Alexa to control it all?

If any of the options allow me to use ST instead of a Harmony hub that would be a bonus as it's saves duplication, but I've no idea if that's feasible and it's not a dealbreaker anyway.

The Elite is the best one and often comes up sub-£150 at Amazon.

Any hub-based Harmony would do fine for Alexa control though.

I have used Harmony remotes for years. I currently haven't gone to Alexa for them as I have two Elite/Hubs controlling two completely different systems and Alexa currently only supports one.

If the Harmony integration is as good as it is supposed to be now, I will probably end up having 'Alexa' and 'Echo' set-up on different Amazon accounts to control both.

[dmsims]

If you don't have/want a remote control the Broadlink RM pro can control TV "stuff" does IR (has to be in the same room) + RF and can be made to work with Alexa (by an Android app). Frustratingly the Broadlink skill which would allow this to happen with out the former is still only available in the USA

[B17NNS]

tenohfive said:

Which of the myriad Harmony options would I need.

Elite is the one to go for. You just missed out on a cracking BF deal unfortunately (£130 for the hub, elite and a dot). Alternatively just buy the hub and use your phone or iPad as a remote.

Broadlink is a good shout. This guys does interesting things with it...

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYLnawaM-36HncBBU...

[PeetBee]

tenohfive said:

Quick heads up for British Gas customers - you can potentially get a free set of Hive controlled lights and hub

Thanks, just got an order in today!

If anyone wants to use iTunes via Alexa, have you tried the 'My Media for Alexa' app? (apologies if it's already been mentioned).

I've only been trying it for a week, but so far pretty happy with it - small piece of software on the PC running iTunes and the Alexa skill setup pretty quickly. It even reads in my iTunes playlists and the best part for me is that it allows you to stream different songs on different echoes at the same time. Costs £4 a year for the basic licence.

I've got a dedicated PC running as a Plex server and just transferred my iTunes setup to that, as the PC is always on. Whilst I must sound like an advert I've got no connection to them!

[tenohfive]

PeetBee said:

I've got a dedicated PC running as a Plex server and just transferred my iTunes setup to that, as the PC is always on. Whilst I must sound like an advert I've got no connection to them!

You're welcome.
How much hassle is it to setup a PC as a Plex server? I've got an HTPC that's largely redundant since I got a Fire TV Stick, albeit I've got a tonne of films sitting on there. I installed a Plex client on there awhile back and even set it up the app on the Fire TV Stick with the idea to be able to watch my films through the Fire TV Stick (as it's a lot faster to start than the HTPC) but I keep putting it off. Worth the effort?

[ajprice]

If anyone plays Destiny there is now an Alexa skill and an Echo speaker that is a replica of the Ghost. https://www.engadget.com/2017/11/29/destiny-2-ghos...

[Watchman]

Wife's just ordered me a Harmony Hub for Christmas as Amazon had them on sale. I read that there's not a lot of Alexa-control available for my TV beyond switching it on/off but the phone control might be fun.

Separately, I am one of those annoying neighbours with a lot of Christmas lights. Fortunately, I live rather tucked-away in our little estate in the middle of nowhere - only the ISS can see my display properly. Anyway, it's all controlled by a lot of different LightwaveRF plug-ins which I have grouped together in the Alexa app so that I can simply demand she switches "Chrismas" on or off. Works nicely - she cascades the instructions to the different switches about half a second apart which is quite funky. I suspect that's a limitation with LightwaveRF needing to send individual instructions out serially.

[carreauchompeur]

Right, I was looking at Sonos One to Bluetooth music to, however...

If all I really want is Spotify and internet radio, will this fit the bill better? Is the sound reasonable?

[greygoose]

carreauchompeur said:

Right, I was looking at Sonos One to Bluetooth music to, however...

If all I really want is Spotify and internet radio, will this fit the bill better? Is the sound reasonable?

You could get the sonos one with alexa built in and have both.

[B17NNS]

greygoose said:

You could get the sonos one with alexa built in and have both.

I think they're working on adding Siri and Google too.

That would be a great all in one solution.

[sas62]

For anyone unaware, the Alexa included with the Sonos is not as fully featured at that on Amazon devices. Its a cut down version that for example does not support calling and messaging.

[anonymous-user]

Anyone got anything really awesome connected to their echo(s)?

The best I can manage is plugs with lamps and lights that change colour. I’m considering a robot hoover or maybe electric curtains or blinds. I’m not sure I can face setting up a logitec tv remote thing.

In the summer I’m going to Alexa my garden sprinkler and house fans, maybe a lawnmower too.

[PeetBee]

tenohfive said:

You're welcome.
How much hassle is it to setup a PC as a Plex server? I've got an HTPC that's largely redundant since I got a Fire TV Stick, albeit I've got a tonne of films sitting on there. I installed a Plex client on there awhile back and even set it up the app on the Fire TV Stick with the idea to be able to watch my films through the Fire TV Stick (as it's a lot faster to start than the HTPC) but I keep putting it off. Worth the effort?

It's pretty straight forward, it took more time outside of Plex making sure that the films were in separate folders and the file names were something that it would recognise when it imports them. TV series in particular need to follow the right naming convention (xxx S01 E01), 1but once it's all done it's pretty good at indexing things so that you get the synopsis and even plays the theme music whilst you're choosing an episode.
It does sometimes misindex things, but you can fix match quite easily. That's when you realise how many remakes Hollywood has done over the years!

MrsBee often rolls her eyes at my gadgety ideas, but this is one that she wouldn't be without now! Streams happily to two Fire Sticks at the same time and it's clever enough to resume a film on a different Fire Stick. I've stayed with the standard free licence as it does everything I want.
I haven't tried the Alexa Plex Skills yet so don't know how useful they'd be.

[JD]

Does anyone know if there is a way of stopping Alexa say "OK" after asking a command?

Its pretty clear the lights have come on Alexa, I dont need you to OK it for me.

I got a bunch of Tradfri bulbs from Ikea at the weekend - still not sure everything I can with them and Alexa.

Dimming the lights via voice is pretty cool though.

[768]

JD said:

Does anyone know if there is a way of stopping Alexa say "OK" after asking a command?

There wasn't when I last looked a while ago. Really annoying when you quietly ask it to turn out a light at night and it shouts OK at you.

[anonymous-user]

Has anyone had Alexa rage yet?

Threatening your echo with violence or swearing at it for not understanding which light you want on? I did these today.

I told Alexa I was going to destroy her and then my son came in and calmly said “Alexa light on” and it just went on.

I warned him later about the risk of technology taking over our lives and he pointed out that I was the one arguing with a robot.

[RizzoTheRat]

I can't remember what it's called but there is a skill that causes Alexa to comment on it if you're being rude

However in trying to check what I was called I just discovered the Meanie skill which will apparently tell you to fk off and similar things.

[anonymous-user]

RizzoTheRat said:

I can't remember what it's called but there is a skill that causes Alexa to comment on it if you're being rude

However in trying to check what I was called I just discovered the Meanie skill which will apparently tell you to fk off and similar things.

Meanie skill

[Watchman]

El stovey said:

Anyone got anything really awesome connected to their echo(s)?

The best I can manage is plugs with lamps and lights that change colour. I’m considering a robot hoover or maybe electric curtains or blinds. I’m not sure I can face setting up a logitec tv remote thing.

In the summer I’m going to Alexa my garden sprinkler and house fans, maybe a lawnmower too.

Nothing awesome... No rocket launchers or Thunderbirds-style pop-up garages but some of my lights and all of my heating is under Alexa-control.

I would say this, if you're going for critical system control (not just lighting), I would ensure you have comms that are 2-way. The original LightwaveRF protocol only allows for the hub to send a control signal and not to receive an acknowledgement. If you're going to switch water (which I suddenly want to do too - thanks for the suggestion) then you ought to implement a system that acknowledges commands and can give current-status reports. I believe that's exactly what the gen-2 LightwaveRF stuff can do.