Amazon Echo

Author
Discussion

bristolracer

5,546 posts

150 months

Wednesday 11th November 2020
quotequote all
It's annoying that the only way to listen to the BBC is via their crappy skill, and there seem to be no way of just casting from the bbc sounds app directly to an echo without having to get into a frustrating discussion with alexa.
At least with google you can find what your looking for in the app and press the cast button rather than enter into negotiations with alexa.

AC43

11,501 posts

209 months

Wednesday 11th November 2020
quotequote all
bristolracer said:
It's annoying that the only way to listen to the BBC is via their crappy skill, and there seem to be no way of just casting from the bbc sounds app directly to an echo without having to get into a frustrating discussion with alexa.
At least with google you can find what your looking for in the app and press the cast button rather than enter into negotiations with alexa.
Which is why it was such a crime when they discontinued ChromeCast Audio. I have them plugged into the back of two of my hifis and that's all I need; that and the Spotify app.

Yes, I can also cast to a couple of Google smart speakers, if I wanted to, or even an Alexa. But why would I? They sound pants. I can also cast music to a couple of Chomecasts plugged into my TV's but, again why would I? I want to listen to music properly through my separates.

The annoying this is that when my CCA's eventually die, I'll have to use Google Dots instead that come with a load of voice activation I'll never use, a speaker function I'll never use and no optical connection into my amp.

It's technology going backwards if you ask me.

Hrumph.


eharding

13,752 posts

285 months

Wednesday 11th November 2020
quotequote all
bristolracer said:
It's annoying that the only way to listen to the BBC is via their crappy skill, and there seem to be no way of just casting from the bbc sounds app directly to an echo without having to get into a frustrating discussion with alexa.
"Alexa....Pair"

<waits a few seconds while she connects to my phone>

<presses "Play" on BBC sounds app>

Oh to be so blessed with such a care-free life that this can be seen as a frustrating experience.

Collectingbrass

2,222 posts

196 months

Wednesday 11th November 2020
quotequote all
eharding said:
bristolracer said:
It's annoying that the only way to listen to the BBC is via their crappy skill, and there seem to be no way of just casting from the bbc sounds app directly to an echo without having to get into a frustrating discussion with alexa.
"Alexa....Pair"

<waits a few seconds while she connects to my phone>

<presses "Play" on BBC sounds app>

Oh to be so blessed with such a care-free life that this can be seen as a frustrating experience.
You're right of course, but when everything else is so seamless it does become irksome, especially as it didn't use to be this way and is a retrograde step by the BBC.

illmonkey

18,219 posts

199 months

Thursday 12th November 2020
quotequote all
Todays tricks are:

Not stopping the music when I say "Alexa stop", which has worked fine until yesterday
Playing 2 songs from a long Apple playlist before stopping by herself.

It's not a lot of money I've spent on them, but the quality of the product is dire. I'm pissed off about it.

james_TW

16,287 posts

198 months

Friday 13th November 2020
quotequote all
I've had a couple of my Echo Dots just stop playing songs for no apparent reason - Really annoying...

illmonkey

18,219 posts

199 months

Tuesday 17th November 2020
quotequote all
Seems to be better from Monday. Gone from about 8 this morning all the way through. This is with my station on apple music.

ecsrobin

17,151 posts

166 months

Tuesday 17th November 2020
quotequote all
james_TW said:
I've had a couple of my Echo Dots just stop playing songs for no apparent reason - Really annoying...
It used to it quite a bit then been fine for months and started being an issue again this weekend for us.

Baron Greenback

7,004 posts

151 months

Tuesday 17th November 2020
quotequote all
Do the people having trouble are you using 5Ghz (worse through walls but fantastic speed) as connection or 2.4 Ghz poorer data rate but better through walls etc. Found the echo was better connection using 5Ghz after I upgraded to a mesh setup with router.

illmonkey

18,219 posts

199 months

Tuesday 17th November 2020
quotequote all
Baron Greenback said:
Do the people having trouble are you using 5Ghz (worse through walls but fantastic speed) as connection or 2.4 Ghz poorer data rate but better through walls etc. Found the echo was better connection using 5Ghz after I upgraded to a mesh setup with router.
My WiFi is both, but it kept dropping connection. So I setup a separate WiFi, albeit on the same network, limited to 2.4 only and the connection seems better. Clearly not enough range on 5Ghz in my house

Tyre Smoke

23,018 posts

262 months

Sunday 22nd November 2020
quotequote all
How on earth do I set a routine where Alexa plays BBC radio Devon each weekday morning at 0615?

I have downloaded the BBC Sounds app, I've enabled the BBC skill, but I can only get as far as Alexa opening the BBC skill at 0615 every weekday. How do I get the station to play automatically?

Baron Greenback

7,004 posts

151 months

Sunday 22nd November 2020
quotequote all
Tyre Smoke said:
How on earth do I set a routine where Alexa plays BBC radio Devon each weekday morning at 0615?

I have downloaded the BBC Sounds app, I've enabled the BBC skill, but I can only get as far as Alexa opening the BBC skill at 0615 every weekday. How do I get the station to play automatically?


Hope that helps

xeny

4,342 posts

79 months

Sunday 22nd November 2020
quotequote all
I thought the BBC pulled all their stations from Tunein? Have they reversed the decision?

Tyre Smoke

23,018 posts

262 months

Sunday 22nd November 2020
quotequote all
No. There is no BBC on Tunein.

Baron Greenback

7,004 posts

151 months

Sunday 22nd November 2020
quotequote all
Tyre Smoke said:
No. There is no BBC on Tunein.
Wierd I tested the routine and your BBC radio channel came out.

xeny

4,342 posts

79 months

Sunday 22nd November 2020
quotequote all
Baron Greenback said:
Wierd I tested the routine and your BBC radio channel came out.
Are you outside the UK? AIUI, they've only been pulled in the UK.

Baron Greenback

7,004 posts

151 months

Sunday 22nd November 2020
quotequote all
xeny said:
Baron Greenback said:
Wierd I tested the routine and your BBC radio channel came out.
Are you outside the UK? AIUI, they've only been pulled in the UK.
I'm in the UK.

edit your right was pulled dont know why it worked for me! Anyone else tried it?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/aboutthebbc/entries/37...


Edited by Baron Greenback on Sunday 22 November 19:50

21TonyK

11,549 posts

210 months

Monday 23rd November 2020
quotequote all
Is the sound quality from the Echo 4 (not the Dot) actually good enough for music/radio in a kitchen?

Tyre Smoke

23,018 posts

262 months

Monday 23rd November 2020
quotequote all
21TonyK said:
Is the sound quality from the Echo 4 (not the Dot) actually good enough for music/radio in a kitchen?
Yes, easily. I think the sound quality is one of it's best features.

With regards to the BBC and Tunein radio, I set the routine to play BBC Radio Devon on Tunein radio at 0615 this morning to see what would happen. I was woken up to Radio DEvon bang on time this morning. What's that all about?

Baron Greenback

7,004 posts

151 months

Monday 23rd November 2020
quotequote all
Tyre Smoke said:
Yes, easily. I think the sound quality is one of it's best features.

With regards to the BBC and Tunein radio, I set the routine to play BBC Radio Devon on Tunein radio at 0615 this morning to see what would happen. I was woken up to Radio DEvon bang on time this morning. What's that all about?
Sounds like they have changed their policy now we are out of EU! no idea really, funky tune when I tested it! I do miss the south country esp clotted cream, so thick