Discussion
paulrockliffe said:
Why would you want to use motion detection on a camera to turn on your outside lights when a PIR is far more accurate?
Define "accurate" in this context.paulrockliffe said:
The point of putting outside lights onto a controllable switch would surely only be so you can run them on a timer to illuminate the house, which doesn't need a whole load of stuff to do, in fact if you have a decent house alarm it'll have timers built in and relay outputs that can be programmed to do the lights anyway. Then if the alarm goes off you can flood the property with light, including all the internal lights. Why would you want to have to ask Alexa to do something that's can be done without asking anyway? Alexa may be useful for bridging between bits of kit where you don't have wires, but it's not adding anything fundamental.
I think you have a narrow view of how other people may live.paulrockliffe said:
Same with Nest, I use Tado, if you balance radiators, setup the scheduling and temperatures properly then you never need to interact with it again. I've not adjusted my heating in two years, it just works.
I take there are no women in your house then.
pmanson said:
Hi,
Anybody else with Hue / Echo been experiencing issues recently?
Alexa seems to be able to switch on lights as normal through a variety of commands but has suddenly started saying that Hue is not responding when I try to switch off the lights.
My Alexa did an update about a week ago , since then tune-in drops in and out (never and issue before) and it doesnt sync my audible library properly. Everything worked perfectly before update Anybody else with Hue / Echo been experiencing issues recently?
Alexa seems to be able to switch on lights as normal through a variety of commands but has suddenly started saying that Hue is not responding when I try to switch off the lights.
Massive amounts of tune-in drops out happening in recent weeks. Yesterday, I gave up listening to it. Annoying. Are there any alternatives?
In more positive news: https://arstechnica.co.uk/gadgets/2017/08/cortana-...
In more positive news: https://arstechnica.co.uk/gadgets/2017/08/cortana-...
Heatmiser skill just landed. I've managed to get it working although it's one of the "Alexa, ask Heatmiser to..." type which isn't as good as it could be. LightwaveRF doesn't need to be referenced by name - you just ask Alexa to turn on/off lights by name.
Nevertheless it does work and I've just appealed to Heatmiser to document what commands might be possible and indicate if they are planning some updates.
This is all very convenient for me as I have expanded my two zones to include 2 separate UFH areas (each with its own Heatmiser UFH controller) and I've bought a hot water controller too - so 5-thermostats in total now.
Nevertheless it does work and I've just appealed to Heatmiser to document what commands might be possible and indicate if they are planning some updates.
This is all very convenient for me as I have expanded my two zones to include 2 separate UFH areas (each with its own Heatmiser UFH controller) and I've bought a hot water controller too - so 5-thermostats in total now.
dmsims said:
Managed to set some Louvolite electric blinds working - ish!
It goes via a Broadlonk RM pro and tasker
Alexa shut blinds - no response
Alexa close blinds - ditto
Alexa blinds on - bingo - hardly intuitive
Ignoring the Broadlink stuff for a minute - how do the motors work? I was put off motorising my roman blinds because of the price of Somfy motors but I still fancy doing it, using LightwaveRF as a controller. But LightwaveRF will only provide a relay signal in one of two directions (at a time). I'd need the motors to provide some sort of switch-off when the limit was reached.It goes via a Broadlonk RM pro and tasker
Alexa shut blinds - no response
Alexa close blinds - ditto
Alexa blinds on - bingo - hardly intuitive
Any details please?
Watchman said:
Ignoring the Broadlink stuff for a minute - how do the motors work? I was put off motorising my roman blinds because of the price of Somfy motors but I still fancy doing it, using LightwaveRF as a controller. But LightwaveRF will only provide a relay signal in one of two directions (at a time). I'd need the motors to provide some sort of switch-off when the limit was reached.
Any details please?
The motors are rechargeable (the charger is supplied with a VERY long lead) and just plugs into the top of the blind at the frontAny details please?
Had the blinds for about 3 months and not charged them yet (after first charge)
The setup is done via the (nice) remote and you set the top and bottom limit plus you can have a mid position (or anywhere you like) stop - all these stops works very well
The remote can control up to 4 blinds individually or in our case it's left to do 2 blinds simultaneously
There is a 5 year guarantee on the blinds and both were around £220 (reasonale size windows, plain (cream) blackout material)
A solar charger is also available
That looks fabulous.
I was put off by the rechargeable motors thinking a mains-powered one would be a fit-and-forget but that installation looks really neat, and if you don't need to recharge them often AND recharging is in situ... well, it just makes a lot of sense.
I'd be interested to understand if the solar charger is efficient enough to never have to top-up... not that that would be a decider for me. I love what you have there. I need to check them out.
I was put off by the rechargeable motors thinking a mains-powered one would be a fit-and-forget but that installation looks really neat, and if you don't need to recharge them often AND recharging is in situ... well, it just makes a lot of sense.
I'd be interested to understand if the solar charger is efficient enough to never have to top-up... not that that would be a decider for me. I love what you have there. I need to check them out.
dmsims said:
Managed to set some Louvolite electric blinds working - ish!
It goes via a Broadlonk RM pro and tasker
Alexa shut blinds - no response
Alexa close blinds - ditto
Alexa blinds on - bingo - hardly intuitive
If you use Yonomi, you could probably set it up so that close / shut blinds worked.It goes via a Broadlonk RM pro and tasker
Alexa shut blinds - no response
Alexa close blinds - ditto
Alexa blinds on - bingo - hardly intuitive
davek_964 said:
dmsims said:
Managed to set some Louvolite electric blinds working - ish!
It goes via a Broadlonk RM pro and tasker
Alexa shut blinds - no response
Alexa close blinds - ditto
Alexa blinds on - bingo - hardly intuitive
If you use Yonomi, you could probably set it up so that close / shut blinds worked.It goes via a Broadlonk RM pro and tasker
Alexa shut blinds - no response
Alexa close blinds - ditto
Alexa blinds on - bingo - hardly intuitive
There is a Broadlink skill which would do away with the Tasker bit but guess what - not available in the UK
liner33 said:
bristolracer said:
Without trawling 300 odd pages
Has anyone found a cure for the almost constant tune in radio drop outs?
Thanks
Nope its infuriating and makes my Echo a doorstop , gone back to the phone and a bluetooth speaker. Has anyone found a cure for the almost constant tune in radio drop outs?
Thanks
i found using a 3.5mm cable much more reliable!
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