Discussion
Santa gave my 11yr old son an Echo for his bedroom. He has taken great pleasure in instructing Alexa to turn off the living room lights whilst I am sat downstairs, and changing my radio station. I shall seek revenge by setting an early morning alarm on his echo. I can see this battle lasting for many weeks.
Haha, it's all clever stuff.
I am fumbling my way around setting it up. Trying to think of a non-clumsy way to link it to my upstairs powered speakers (aux cable) and my soundbar downstairs (Bluetooth). It doesn't seem possible to switch the output at all so when the speakers are off it comes out through the Echo/Dot... is there a less clumsy way to do this?
I am fumbling my way around setting it up. Trying to think of a non-clumsy way to link it to my upstairs powered speakers (aux cable) and my soundbar downstairs (Bluetooth). It doesn't seem possible to switch the output at all so when the speakers are off it comes out through the Echo/Dot... is there a less clumsy way to do this?
carreauchompeur said:
Haha, it's all clever stuff.
I am fumbling my way around setting it up. Trying to think of a non-clumsy way to link it to my upstairs powered speakers (aux cable) and my soundbar downstairs (Bluetooth). It doesn't seem possible to switch the output at all so when the speakers are off it comes out through the Echo/Dot... is there a less clumsy way to do this?
My Dot is connected to my Sonos Play:1 speaker via WiFi, but I have to tell Alexa to play the music/radio on the Sonos, otherwise she plays it on the Dot by default. It would be nice to be able to set the Sonos as the default speaker, but I don't think this is possible.I am fumbling my way around setting it up. Trying to think of a non-clumsy way to link it to my upstairs powered speakers (aux cable) and my soundbar downstairs (Bluetooth). It doesn't seem possible to switch the output at all so when the speakers are off it comes out through the Echo/Dot... is there a less clumsy way to do this?
I've had a couple of Dots for a while now - one connected to some old pc speakers in the bedroom, and one that connects to my amp via Bluetooth if I want to listen to music in the lounge.
Bought the g/f an echo over Christmas - really impressed with the sound quality of that. Noticeably better than the PC speakers I've used with the Dot, and much better than I expected it to be. If Amazon reduce the price again, I may well pick one or two up - although I do quite fancy a couple of Shows too.
Bought the g/f an echo over Christmas - really impressed with the sound quality of that. Noticeably better than the PC speakers I've used with the Dot, and much better than I expected it to be. If Amazon reduce the price again, I may well pick one or two up - although I do quite fancy a couple of Shows too.
I’d be tempted by a big price drop show.
I’ve no need for it st all though. I go away a lot so I could talk to my family by drop in with video from my phone but all these things I can do already with FaceTime better.
It seems like a static iPad with much less functionality. I’d still be all over another of those two for £160 or whatever it was deals.
I’ve no need for it st all though. I go away a lot so I could talk to my family by drop in with video from my phone but all these things I can do already with FaceTime better.
It seems like a static iPad with much less functionality. I’d still be all over another of those two for £160 or whatever it was deals.
El stovey said:
I’d be tempted by a big price drop show.
I’ve no need for it st all though. I go away a lot so I could talk to my family by drop in with video from my phone but all these things I can do already with FaceTime better.
It seems like a static iPad with much less functionality. I’d still be all over another of those two for £160 or whatever it was deals.
Same here. I could convince myself I need one in the kitchen for cooking videos and in the bedroom for a clock. I almost got the 2 for 1 deal but it ended between me starting and completing the payment by PayPal.I’ve no need for it st all though. I go away a lot so I could talk to my family by drop in with video from my phone but all these things I can do already with FaceTime better.
It seems like a static iPad with much less functionality. I’d still be all over another of those two for £160 or whatever it was deals.
El stovey said:
I’d be tempted by a big price drop show.
I’ve no need for it st all though. I go away a lot so I could talk to my family by drop in with video from my phone but all these things I can do already with FaceTime better.
It seems like a static iPad with much less functionality. I’d still be all over another of those two for £160 or whatever it was deals.
It's a confusing product at £200 when a Kindle Fire with Alexa (albeit you have to press the button to talk) is £50.I’ve no need for it st all though. I go away a lot so I could talk to my family by drop in with video from my phone but all these things I can do already with FaceTime better.
It seems like a static iPad with much less functionality. I’d still be all over another of those two for £160 or whatever it was deals.
ETA Seems Alexa is hands free on the Fire HD10
Edited by B17NNS on Wednesday 27th December 13:43
ky to connect my bedside light to a wifi plug? Already have the Dot set up there for bedtime tunes 
I got a Dot for Xmas, got it all set up and am loving it so far. However I would like to replace the bedside table lamp and the main light in the bedroom with smart bulbs to be controlled with Alexa. What is the most cost effective way to do this? Presumably I will need a hub of some sort? I could probably scroll back a few pages on this thread to find out but I’m a lazy bugger!!
ETA: Not fussed about colour changing, happy with just dimmable.
ETA: Not fussed about colour changing, happy with just dimmable.
Right, Alexa is beginning to bug my happiness and I've only set it up today. We have 2 echo and 2 dots in the house. But I cannot get them to drop in on each other. Drop in activated on all, and all online. But when I ask the lounge to drop into bedroom it refuses. Go into app and it shows them as being unavailable for drop in. I'm on a BT hub which I know causes certain issues.
Other thing, which I have seen someone else mention here, but can no longer find the post or answer, is I have a Hue bridge linked, and it recognises the bulbs and rooms as separate devices. So it gets confused thinking there are multiple things called the same thing, when in reality there aren't. I "forget" the duplicate devices but it seems to keep finding them again.
Help
Other thing, which I have seen someone else mention here, but can no longer find the post or answer, is I have a Hue bridge linked, and it recognises the bulbs and rooms as separate devices. So it gets confused thinking there are multiple things called the same thing, when in reality there aren't. I "forget" the duplicate devices but it seems to keep finding them again.
Help
Jbeale96 said:
I got a Dot for Xmas, got it all set up and am loving it so far. However I would like to replace the bedside table lamp and the main light in the bedroom with smart bulbs to be controlled with Alexa. What is the most cost effective way to do this? Presumably I will need a hub of some sort? I could probably scroll back a few pages on this thread to find out but I’m a lazy bugger!!
ETA: Not fussed about colour changing, happy with just dimmable.
The Ikea Tradfri bulbs are a relatively cheap and I believe work with Alexa using the Ikea hub now.ETA: Not fussed about colour changing, happy with just dimmable.
Personally I'd say Philips Hue is a far superior system, the Ikea bulbs can be used with a Hue bridge so would probably be a good compromise.
Hue bulbs are going for £12.50 a pop for simple dimmable ones; the price difference between Tradfri/Inner and Hue has been negligible since Black Friday.
If you're thinking about expanding your smart home devices I'd have a think about SmartThings though. I've got a motley collection of Hive white and coloured bulbs, Hue bulbs, Samsung and TP-Link smart plugs...it all works through the ST hub (which can be picked up for £50 in a sale - or £100 for the starter kit.) I'm planning on adding cameras and a heating system at some point - no extra hub needed.
Conversely a Hue hub is £25 in sales. So if you're only likely to be interested in lights though I'd look at Hue. There seem to be some good deals to be had on hub & bulb combos with Amazon, Argos and Currys competing with one another.
If you're thinking about expanding your smart home devices I'd have a think about SmartThings though. I've got a motley collection of Hive white and coloured bulbs, Hue bulbs, Samsung and TP-Link smart plugs...it all works through the ST hub (which can be picked up for £50 in a sale - or £100 for the starter kit.) I'm planning on adding cameras and a heating system at some point - no extra hub needed.
Conversely a Hue hub is £25 in sales. So if you're only likely to be interested in lights though I'd look at Hue. There seem to be some good deals to be had on hub & bulb combos with Amazon, Argos and Currys competing with one another.
Jbeale96 said:
I got a Dot for Xmas, got it all set up and am loving it so far. However I would like to replace the bedside table lamp and the main light in the bedroom with smart bulbs to be controlled with Alexa. What is the most cost effective way to do this? Presumably I will need a hub of some sort? I could probably scroll back a few pages on this thread to find out but I’m a lazy bugger!!
ETA: Not fussed about colour changing, happy with just dimmable.
Ours are controlled with Hive sockets. Works perfectly. ETA: Not fussed about colour changing, happy with just dimmable.
Our bed lamps are e14 screw type. As they work off standard plugs it seemed an easy way.
Can be operated individually or as a group
Thanks for your responses guys. Might look into the Smartthings hub for a bit of future proofing. We’re currently living with the in laws till we buy our first house next year (hence only wanting smart bulbs in the bedroom), and it would be nice to be able to buy new smart home bits once we’re in our own place that would work with our existing hub.
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