Amazon Echo

[tenohfive]

Ah. If I leave the Dot in the living room, will it work with Netflix commands etc - or am I obliged to use the Fire Stick remote to get that functionality?

Side question: anyone any good with IFTTT? I've got a basic webhook almost working (TP Link don't support IFTTT for the smart plugs yet.) But it's not quite working - it'll turn on, but not off. It's something to do with the state but I can't suss it.

[sybaseian]

tenohfive said:

My TP Link HS100 has turned up (well, the first one anyway.) Surprisingly handy, I'll definitely be getting a few more.

I'm trying to talk myself out of the Fire Stick with Alexa right now though - currently I watch Netflix/Amazon TV etc through an HTPC setup which takes a minute or two to boot up, then needs logging into Windows, then firing up Netflix....has anyone got one and is it painless to just get watching TV quickly? And how much of an issue is it having a Dot in the same room? If it can do the normal Amazon stuff (control my wifi plugs, play music, set timers etc) whilst the TV is on I could justify moving the Dot elsewhere mind - can it do that sort of thing?

Fire Stick and Fire TV are painless - they are always on.

The voice enabled Fire can control your smart lights, heating, play Spotify/Amazon Music on your TV (it is controlled via the mic button on the remote - no wake word)

[sybaseian]

tenohfive said:

I'll stick the Shield on the wish list for future, but at 6 times the price I'm happy to take a punt on the Fire Stick. As much as anything I want Alexa for instantly firing up Netflix etc, whilst still being able to control lights etc. And it solves a headache of playing music - currently due to the Dot crashing when connected by BT to my Anker Soundcore, we basically don't use it for music. With the Fire Stick able to play music through the TV it's handy.
And the Dot is free for another room.

On that note, can anyone recommend a speaker to use with the Dot for music that's been tested with one and definitely works? Preferably mains powered. And reasonably cheap - I'm no audiophile.

My next job is to have a play with IFTTT to see about setting up a programmable holiday mode. Anyone know if you can pair up Google Calendar, IFTTT and smart plugs to turn off most sockets but set a light to come on based upon a calendar event?

I have a number of dots connected via around the house to my sonos systems via aux cables - the dot has an aux out on the back. If you have any old stereo systems, just connect the dot to them.

most smart lights have an app that you can program the lights to come on under a schedule (some even allow you to remotely connect when not at home)

If your smart light app does not allow remote access, you could download the "Reverb" Alexa app for iPhone

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/reverb-for-amazon-...

Edited by sybaseian on Wednesday 12th July 20:36

[dxg]

tenohfive said:

On that note, can anyone recommend a speaker to use with the Dot for music that's been tested with one and definitely works? Preferably mains powered. And reasonably cheap - I'm no audiophile.

My dot in the kitchen is connected to some good, old-fashioned decent-quality computer speakers - one each end of the worktop. Works well. And always works because, you know, wires.

[ajprice]

Just seen this, there's a Fire TV update out or coming that will enable control from an Echo. http://www.androidpolice.com/2017/07/12/alexa-devi...

[theboyfold]

Has anybody been able to get the Harmony Skill to link to the main Logitech account? It won't store the account linking, so I can't control my Harmony Hub

[tenohfive]

dxg said:

My dot in the kitchen is connected to some good, old-fashioned decent-quality computer speakers - one each end of the worktop. Works well. And always works because, you know, wires.

Hmmm, that's an idea.

ajprice said:

Just seen this, there's a Fire TV update out or coming that will enable control from an Echo. http://www.androidpolice.com/2017/07/12/alexa-devi...

Good timing.

I've sorted the IFTTT TP Link issue - I didn't get the idea that you need seperate applets for on and off (under the basic button setup mentioned here.)
http://arcturusenterprises.weebly.com/hs100-ifttt-...

That's a very basic setup (an Android widget to turn things on and off) and yes, I can do the same through the proprietary software. Or Alexa. But I'm going to delve into IFTTT a bit more to see how else it could be used.

[tankplanker]

theboyfold said:

Has anybody been able to get the Harmony Skill to link to the main Logitech account? It won't store the account linking, so I can't control my Harmony Hub

Mine is connected to two harmony hubs, worked first time for me. However I do not use the skill as its rubbish for me, far too long winded to control things. I use Yonomi (https://www.yonomi.co/blog/hey-alexa-meet-yonomi/) to control my harmony hubs and Alexa to trigger Yonomi.

[Watchman]

Badvok said:

My friend has a house full of Hue and to be honest it wouldn't work in our house. Having to leave the physical switch in a constant on I would find my wife would have turned a light off using a wall switch thus disabling the Hue bulb from working.

I believe the answer lies with automation at the switch not the bulb. I have looked at LightwaveRF but I think I'll hold out until January next year when Den launch (I hope!)

https://getden.co.uk

Actually physical switches plus loads more than LightwaveRF offer.

I agree with you about the Hue - I prefer to switch my lighting at the switch/supply itself. But I can't work out if the Den mechanical switch automatically moves if you take control with your phone. I'm guessing not, which means you can't consider "down = on".

But that's OK. I've actually utilised LightwaveRF to do this for me. I have a number of "staircase" circuits already in my house - lounge, dining room, kitchen, hall, and the actual staircase itself is controlled by 3x switches (two normal and an intermediate).

It's easy to insert a lightwaveRF relay into such circuits. It just has to be one of the "ends" - replacing the standard switches. It won't replace an intermediate.

You have to remove your switch, and the wall box, and insert a much deeper wall box. Then the relay will go inside, with the switch in front of it. Works well, and I'm able to tell Alexa to turn on/off a number of lights in our house.

I suspect the Den switches will simplify this but I've already invested in LightwaveRF and it works flawlessly for me. And it has the capability to control much more than lighting - I'm looking into roman-blind motors and a garage door opener next. In fact, Den seems to have far less capability than LightwaveRF in terms of product variations. But it's their relays that makes LightwaveRF so powerful.



Separately, I had a problem with my house alarm. It was built into the house 10 years ago but when one of the back-up the batteries started to fail recently, it went into a full-on alarm situation at 3am one morning. Although I've since repaired it, I've decided I don't like audible alarms, so I'm looking to create some security with a load of cameras and the automatic house lighting. You break-into my house, the cameras will start recording and the lights will all come on. There's no alarm to ps off the neighbours (none of whom would react to them anyway), and I get footage of your activities saved to the internet, with a "ping" on my phone alerting me to the situation.

I'm not sure how Alexa could help with that, other than arming and disarming but then I'd need to instruct Alexa to only disarm if I read out my StarTrek codes.

[tankplanker]

Depending on the remote relay you are looking at you can also fit them behind the ceiling rose saving on any work replacing the switch housing. In the UK this can be preferable as most UK wiring for light switches doesn't have enough cables for the commonly available remote relays while the actual light does so it can be easier to fit the remote relay in the rose all round.

If you are moving to remote relay controlled lights then I would swap toggle switches for push switches. Leaving the toggle switches in place isn't fixing the problem.

[Watchman]

Well, I've got it working from the toggle switches AND the relay. As I have so many of these staircase switches already, I've long since let go of the desire to push them all up=off. Having said that, with the relay in place we tend to use Alexa most of the time so if I feel a bit obsessive and realign the switches, they usually stay oriented up for a while before someone thinks to switch them manually again.

But, I like the suggestion of hiding the relays above the ceiling roses. The way I have done it effectively sheilds the relay inside the metal wall box (in the one downstairs) which can't be good for signal strength. The ones fitted upstairs are within partition wall boxes which are plastic, so no problem there.

[Watchman]

I used this one for its ability to toggle a live input to 2 different outputs:

[Northbloke]

Bought various Hue stuff, TP-Links and a motion sensor in the Prime sale so will be having a play with those soon (not really sure what for yet!)

Also got the Unlimited music 4 month thing which is coming in handy for reading PH threads like this:

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Just shout out Alexa play <whatever> as you're reading the thread. Great addition.

[davek_964]

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.

[Shaw Tarse]

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.

You need another car

[dxg]

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...

[spants]

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...

Echo Dot does
Echo (the large one) doesn't

[davek_964]

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!

[africanant]

theboyfold said:

Has anybody been able to get the Harmony Skill to link to the main Logitech account? It won't store the account linking, so I can't control my Harmony Hub

A few days late to this, but I had the same problem both with Harmony and Yonomi skills. I could go through the linking process, however at the end, it never saved.

Managed to get it working by using a PC rather than the app. Try www.amazon.co.uk/skills and link from there.

Hope that helps!

[tedmus]

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?