Discussion
t / worse than before on purpose?thebraketester said:
Well, to conclude possibly in a not all surprising way, I bought a home pod mini. Gone are the annoying connecting/disconnecting device announcements. It obviously came at a cost though.
I personally went the other way, I couldn’t get on with google tech, it constantly disconnected from Bluetooth, even if the sound quality was pretty good I ended up with an echo studio and 2 echo gen 3, which yes do announce when connecting, but at least stay connected!thebraketester said:
Well, to conclude possibly in a not all surprising way, I bought a home pod mini. Gone are the annoying connecting/disconnecting device announcements. It obviously came at a cost though.
Definitely a better choice for music in my experience.I don’t get on with Siri as well for the smart home stuff, so stick with Alexa for that, but Apple makes the music side much more simple, provided you’ve got other Apple devices of course!
Got an Echo device in pretty much every room, along with smart devices like lights, plugs, and IR blasters.
Everything works, but have to be careful with the phrases used to trigger routines, or a similar device in a different room responds.
Is it possible to only get devices in the same room group to respond?
i.e., when I say "lamp on" to the Echo in the main bedroom, only the bedside lamp in the main bedroom comes on? Or, "TV on" in the kitchen only turns on the kitchen TV.
Sometimes I get the "several devices share that name" response, or the device in a different room gets activated.
I've had to use different trigger words in different rooms, calling the lounge TV "TV", kitchen TV "telly", etc.
Everything works, but have to be careful with the phrases used to trigger routines, or a similar device in a different room responds.
Is it possible to only get devices in the same room group to respond?
i.e., when I say "lamp on" to the Echo in the main bedroom, only the bedside lamp in the main bedroom comes on? Or, "TV on" in the kitchen only turns on the kitchen TV.
Sometimes I get the "several devices share that name" response, or the device in a different room gets activated.
I've had to use different trigger words in different rooms, calling the lounge TV "TV", kitchen TV "telly", etc.
You need to add the devices in to groups with the echo device I believe, so in theory if you have a group called lounge and add the lounge echo and the lounge lights into that group, when you say Alexa turn on the lights when you’re in the lounge, then only the lounge lights should turn on.
ThunderSpook said:
You need to add the devices in to groups with the echo device I believe, so in theory if you have a group called lounge and add the lounge echo and the lounge lights into that group, when you say Alexa turn on the lights when you’re in the lounge, then only the lounge lights should turn on.
I have got all the Echo and smart devices in groups already.The problem is with routines, and where devices have similar-sounding names.
Lounge TV (actually a Shelly smart switch that turned on power to the AV wall) was coming on if I said "TV On" to to the kitchen Echo (should just make a Switchbot IR hub send power codes to the kitchen TV and amplifier), so I had to use the word "telly" as the trigger word.
I'd like to just use "TV on" in any room, and have Echo device that responded to my voice turn on the TV in its group.
Similarly, my bedside light is called "lamp", and the downlighters in the lounge are called "lights". If I forget, and say "light on" (rather than "lamp on") in the bedroom, the lounge lights come on. I only want lighting to be controlled in the room where I speak.
I know I could add the room/group name to the trigger phrase, but I want to keep it as simple to use as possible.
I don't believe what you are trying to do is possible as they are networked together in your home.
If you set up your lounge lights as "lights" every echo in your network (home) will only recognise the command "lights on" as being a command to turn on your lights in the lounge. The networked echos do not recognise your position in your house just because you've decided to call both your bedroom and lounge lights "lights". You have to differentiate between them by calling them other things.
My lounge lights are called "lights" but my main bedroom lights are called "main bedroom lights" and other bedrooms are similarly designated (ie "Guest bedroom lights" etc).
If you set up your lounge lights as "lights" every echo in your network (home) will only recognise the command "lights on" as being a command to turn on your lights in the lounge. The networked echos do not recognise your position in your house just because you've decided to call both your bedroom and lounge lights "lights". You have to differentiate between them by calling them other things.
My lounge lights are called "lights" but my main bedroom lights are called "main bedroom lights" and other bedrooms are similarly designated (ie "Guest bedroom lights" etc).
Been having a play with this, and it is possible - but apparently only with devices that are designated as device type "lights" in Alexa.
Main bedroom group, Echo Show, bedside lamp called "bedroom lamp".
Second bedroom group, Echo Show, bedside lamp called "table lamp".
If I say "lamp on" in the main bedroom, only the main bedroom bedside lamp comes on.
Same in the second bedroom, only that room's lamp comes on.
If I say "lights on" in either bedroom, the lounge lights come on. I have routine which turns on all the lounge lights at 100% which is triggered by the phrase "lights on".
It seems to me that Alexa will first try and find a device in the same group as the listening Echo device that matches the trigger word and can respond to an "on" or "off" command.
If it can't find a matching device, it will then treat the command as a call for a routine to be run.
So, what I want to do will work with lighting devices. I just need to use suitable direct commands and specific device names, rather than relying on routines with trigger phrases that can be seen as device names?
The same logic would explain the TV confusion between rooms - in the kitchen, "TV On" is being interpreted as a request to run the "TV On" routine, which is for the lounge TV Shelly switch. The actual TV in the kitchen is controlled by a Switchbot hub IR blasters, which I think can't be natively controlled by Alexa, only by a routine.
I have read somewhere that a smart plug can be designated as a "light" in Alexa, and will then work only in the same group. Not tried that yet though.
It would be good to know Alexa's logic flow.
Main bedroom group, Echo Show, bedside lamp called "bedroom lamp".
Second bedroom group, Echo Show, bedside lamp called "table lamp".
If I say "lamp on" in the main bedroom, only the main bedroom bedside lamp comes on.
Same in the second bedroom, only that room's lamp comes on.
If I say "lights on" in either bedroom, the lounge lights come on. I have routine which turns on all the lounge lights at 100% which is triggered by the phrase "lights on".
It seems to me that Alexa will first try and find a device in the same group as the listening Echo device that matches the trigger word and can respond to an "on" or "off" command.
If it can't find a matching device, it will then treat the command as a call for a routine to be run.
So, what I want to do will work with lighting devices. I just need to use suitable direct commands and specific device names, rather than relying on routines with trigger phrases that can be seen as device names?
The same logic would explain the TV confusion between rooms - in the kitchen, "TV On" is being interpreted as a request to run the "TV On" routine, which is for the lounge TV Shelly switch. The actual TV in the kitchen is controlled by a Switchbot hub IR blasters, which I think can't be natively controlled by Alexa, only by a routine.
I have read somewhere that a smart plug can be designated as a "light" in Alexa, and will then work only in the same group. Not tried that yet though.
It would be good to know Alexa's logic flow.
A few more tweaks, and the lighting is now working as I wanted:
Saying "lights on" only switches on all the lights in the same group as the Echo device that I'm speaking to.
Using sub-groups for the lounge downlights means I can switch pairs/zones by using the zone name, or "ceiling" to switch all the downlights. I can also switch individual lights by using the device name.
What tripped me up was using a routine ("lights on") to turn on all the lounge downlighters, rather than relying on Alexa's native command "lights on", which just switches the correct group's lights. If I said "lights on" in the bedroom, Alexa interpreted this as me asking for the routine "lights on".
Disabling this routine made everything work correctly.
I can still control the lights in a different room (group) if I also say the group name.
It's actually pretty clever, now that I have a better grasp of the logic used.
If only Alexa natively supported the Switchbot hub/IR blaster, the multiple TV control issues would be sorted. I can't see a way around using routines for this, and routines can't be specific to one group from what I can see.
Saying "lights on" only switches on all the lights in the same group as the Echo device that I'm speaking to.
Using sub-groups for the lounge downlights means I can switch pairs/zones by using the zone name, or "ceiling" to switch all the downlights. I can also switch individual lights by using the device name.
What tripped me up was using a routine ("lights on") to turn on all the lounge downlighters, rather than relying on Alexa's native command "lights on", which just switches the correct group's lights. If I said "lights on" in the bedroom, Alexa interpreted this as me asking for the routine "lights on".
Disabling this routine made everything work correctly.
I can still control the lights in a different room (group) if I also say the group name.
It's actually pretty clever, now that I have a better grasp of the logic used.
If only Alexa natively supported the Switchbot hub/IR blaster, the multiple TV control issues would be sorted. I can't see a way around using routines for this, and routines can't be specific to one group from what I can see.
clockworks said:
If only Alexa natively supported the Switchbot hub/IR blaster, the multiple TV control issues would be sorted. I can't see a way around using routines for this, and routines can't be specific to one group from what I can see.
It does. Create individual scenes in Switchbot, then use Alexa routines to trigger the scene.Have an annoying issue with device groups and wonder if any bright spark in here can help.
I have an amp and a TV. Both of these are paired with Alexa using the required skill (MusicCast for the amp, ThinQ for the TV). I can turn both of them on or off by saying "Alexa, turn on media room TV" or "Alexa, turn on media room sound".
I wanted to be able to turn both amp and TV on and off with one command, so I put them both in a device group called "media room". Now I can turn both TV and amp on by saying "Alexa, media room on", which is great.
The problem is that I want to be able to control one specific device in the group by using the group name. I never want to change the volume, mute, or HDMI input on the TV, the TV volume is always down and it always just needs to have the amp output going in to HDMI1. But if I say "Alexa, mute media room" or "Alexa, set HDMI3 in media room" I specifically want to control the amp volume or select the amp input, and never the TV. But it seems to be pot luck whether Alexa decides to change the amp HDMI/volume or the same on the amp or on the TV. I can say "media room sound" which does work, but sometimes Alexa will mishear, and my wife can never quite remember the "sound" bit. Just being able to use the group name would be much more convenient.
The only way you seem to be able to bias a group command toward a specific device is with "preferred speaker", which I've tried, but doesn't help. It still seems random which device will respond to a command which could apply to any device in the group. Does anyone know how you can limit a device to only on/off in a group, or bias one device in a group to always have priority? Maybe with a routine or alternative skill?
I have an amp and a TV. Both of these are paired with Alexa using the required skill (MusicCast for the amp, ThinQ for the TV). I can turn both of them on or off by saying "Alexa, turn on media room TV" or "Alexa, turn on media room sound".
I wanted to be able to turn both amp and TV on and off with one command, so I put them both in a device group called "media room". Now I can turn both TV and amp on by saying "Alexa, media room on", which is great.
The problem is that I want to be able to control one specific device in the group by using the group name. I never want to change the volume, mute, or HDMI input on the TV, the TV volume is always down and it always just needs to have the amp output going in to HDMI1. But if I say "Alexa, mute media room" or "Alexa, set HDMI3 in media room" I specifically want to control the amp volume or select the amp input, and never the TV. But it seems to be pot luck whether Alexa decides to change the amp HDMI/volume or the same on the amp or on the TV. I can say "media room sound" which does work, but sometimes Alexa will mishear, and my wife can never quite remember the "sound" bit. Just being able to use the group name would be much more convenient.
The only way you seem to be able to bias a group command toward a specific device is with "preferred speaker", which I've tried, but doesn't help. It still seems random which device will respond to a command which could apply to any device in the group. Does anyone know how you can limit a device to only on/off in a group, or bias one device in a group to always have priority? Maybe with a routine or alternative skill?
I have an Echo in my own house plus one in a house that I rent near work. I also have various home automation kit in both houses - Harmony remote hubs plus Hue Lights (with some 3rd party bulbs) principally.
Any way to have them all configured with Alexa and have it intelligently control the ones in the location of the Echo that hears me speak? It seems that only the kit I originally set up in the rented place is recognised, when I look at the known devices in the Alexa app. Its pretty annoying since I now spend more time in my own place (though this may change soon, I guess, as the company is trying to get people back into the office).
The echo in my own place does recognise some devices like my Blink Cameras (they are only present at that location, not in the rented house).
Any way to have them all configured with Alexa and have it intelligently control the ones in the location of the Echo that hears me speak? It seems that only the kit I originally set up in the rented place is recognised, when I look at the known devices in the Alexa app. Its pretty annoying since I now spend more time in my own place (though this may change soon, I guess, as the company is trying to get people back into the office).
The echo in my own place does recognise some devices like my Blink Cameras (they are only present at that location, not in the rented house).
Echo Auto's are now turning up on Facebook Marketplace cheaply enough. I bought a couple for £10 each recently and I've got them in both cars... they work great. They are different to home devices in that they're basically a bluetooth mic and speaker, and use the Alexa app on your phone for all the Alexa things.
It means I can listen to Greatest Hits radio premium without the adverts, which is the main purpose. But you can open Spotify playlists etc. Also good for a quick check on traffic conditions etc.
It means I can listen to Greatest Hits radio premium without the adverts, which is the main purpose. But you can open Spotify playlists etc. Also good for a quick check on traffic conditions etc.
Somebody said:
It does. Create individual scenes in Switchbot, then use Alexa routines to trigger the scene.
By "natively support" I meant without using Switchbot scenes and/or Alexa routines.I can turn the TVs and amplifiers on and off using Alexa voice commands, and I can turn them on and off together using Alexa routines.
I have to use different trigger phrases for each room though, as routines can't be tied to just one Echo device.
The TVs and amplifiers show up in the Alexa "Devices" list, but with very limited direct functionality - just on/off, and basic volume control. Channel control for the TV only seems to work for a single digit channel number.
Using Switchbot scenes (called by an Alexa routine) to try and enter a 3 digit channel number doesn't really work, as it takes too long to transmit the 3 digits. A scene containing "101" usually makes the TV switch to channel 10, the switch again to channel 1.
The issue seems to be that the scenes are stored remotely on the Switchbot "cloud", and the Alexa routines are stored remotely on the Alexa "cloud". Makes the whole thing very laggy and unreliable.
It's good for what it does, but the slow response from the Switchbot "cloud" when called from Alexa is very frustrating. It seems far worse via Alexa than if I just use the Switchbot mobile app, and affects all my Switchbot smart devices. Motion sensors take 4 or 5 seconds to turn on lights, for example (sensor acts as trigger for smart lamp, using Alexa routines).
Not just Switchbot that has these delays though. Same problem with Shelly devices if I try and do something beyond the basic "on/off" that Alexa supports as direct commands.
I guess the problem is really down to the Alexa "Skills" from third parties being quite limited.
Lucas Ayde said:
I have an Echo in my own house plus one in a house that I rent near work. I also have various home automation kit in both houses - Harmony remote hubs plus Hue Lights (with some 3rd party bulbs) principally.
Any way to have them all configured with Alexa and have it intelligently control the ones in the location of the Echo that hears me speak? It seems that only the kit I originally set up in the rented place is recognised, when I look at the known devices in the Alexa app. Its pretty annoying since I now spend more time in my own place (though this may change soon, I guess, as the company is trying to get people back into the office).
The echo in my own place does recognise some devices like my Blink Cameras (they are only present at that location, not in the rented house).
I think the only solution is to have 2 Alexa accounts, one for each property?Any way to have them all configured with Alexa and have it intelligently control the ones in the location of the Echo that hears me speak? It seems that only the kit I originally set up in the rented place is recognised, when I look at the known devices in the Alexa app. Its pretty annoying since I now spend more time in my own place (though this may change soon, I guess, as the company is trying to get people back into the office).
The echo in my own place does recognise some devices like my Blink Cameras (they are only present at that location, not in the rented house).
clockworks said:
I think the only solution is to have 2 Alexa accounts, one for each property?
Thanks ... the problem is that the Echo/Alexa links to your Amazon account rather than being its own thing. I get the impression it would be quite difficult to actually have two different accounts on Amazon - they seem to be pretty big on having one account with multiple delivery addresses ...Lucas Ayde said:
Thanks ... the problem is that the Echo/Alexa links to your Amazon account rather than being its own thing. I get the impression it would be quite difficult to actually have two different accounts on Amazon - they seem to be pretty big on having one account with multiple delivery addresses ...
If you use a different email address for each account, how would they know?Gassing Station | Computers, Gadgets & Stuff | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff