Amazon Echo - anyone have one?

Soldato
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Oh either way it doesn't seem to be working.

I ask the same thing every morning and as of today it just tries to play a random artist station on Amazon music and won't acknowledge TuneIn

Working for me, I just tried "Alexa, play talksport" and got the reply "Talksport on TuneIn" before the station started playing.
 
Man of Honour
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So I always say

"Alexa, play Heart Oxfordshire on TuneIn"

Which works without fail until today, where instead it would just say

"Here's a station you might like, Sam Smith" (uwotm8)
 
Soldato
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So I always say

"Alexa, play Heart Oxfordshire on TuneIn"

Which works without fail until today, where instead it would just say

"Here's a station you might like, Sam Smith" (uwotm8)

Interesting... Try, "Lexa, tunein to Heart Oxfordshire". (Which is what I'd say)

That said, I know tunein isn't very accurate in what it ends up choosing, which is why I end up using radioplayer more often.

Additionally if you then, "Lexa, open radioplayer", it'll simply open it on the last station you were listening to.

ps: Yes I say "Lexa" :)
 
Soldato
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Interesting... Try, "Lexa, tunein to Heart Oxfordshire". (Which is what I'd say)

That said, I know tunein isn't very accurate in what it ends up choosing, which is why I end up using radioplayer more often.

Additionally if you then, "Lexa, open radioplayer", it'll simply open it on the last station you were listening to.

ps: Yes I say "Lexa" :)

Just tried "Lexa, tunein to Heart Oxfordshire" and it seems to work...
 
Soldato
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Just got a bunch of my old 433mhz B&Q Byron "HomeEasy" remote control plugs I bought years ago working with Alexa using this 30 quid hub which is a result:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Home-Aud...sal-Control-Compatible-Smartphones/B01H6Y55QQ

It was a bit of a faff to set up the Broadlink as it doesn't support IFTTT out of the box and you need an Android device (Fire TV in my case) on your network running a webserver via this app: http://rm-bridge.fun2code.de/ and *then* some IFTTT integration. Now it's running it works just as well as any of my other smart plugs and I've saved a packet. It should work with most 433mhz remote plugs (any of those old remote plugs that had/have little remotes).

If anyone is interested I'll make a HOWTO as it only takes 10 minutes to set up once you get over a few silly (and easy) hurdles which took me a while to figure out.
 
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Associate
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Just seen a clip on Facebook/Youtube where a little kid asks Alexa to play their favourite Nursery Rhyme ("Digger Digger" apparently) and the potty mouthed Alexa starts listing all of the types of porn which he might want to search for :eek: (not linked to avoid contravening any forum rules, but easily found on Youtube if you want a laugh!)
 
Soldato
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Just got a bunch of my old 433mhz B&Q Byron "HomeEasy" remote control plugs I bought years ago working with Alexa using this 30 quid hub which is a result:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Home-Aud...sal-Control-Compatible-Smartphones/B01H6Y55QQ

It was a bit of a faff to set up the Broadlink as it doesn't support IFTTT out of the box and you need an Android device (Fire TV in my case) on your network running a webserver via this app: http://rm-bridge.fun2code.de/ and *then* some IFTTT integration. Now it's running it works just as well as any of my other smart plugs and I've saved a packet. It should work with most 433mhz remote plugs (any of those old remote plugs that had/have little remotes).

If anyone is interested I'll make a HOWTO as it only takes 10 minutes to set up once you get over a few silly (and easy) hurdles which took me a while to figure out.


Great job :) I'm hoping someone gets the Sony Android TVs working with Alexa.
 
Soldato
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I think one obvious failings of the Echo is not being able to give alarms/timers a name/description.

"Lexa, time three minutes for eggs"

...and then Alexa to tell you when giving you the timer warning sound, "Eggs"


"Lexa, set alarm for 6am to phone mum"

...and again at 6am, as well as a warning beep, you get "Phone mum".
 
Associate
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I think one obvious failings of the Echo is not being able to give alarms/timers a name/description.

"Lexa, time three minutes for eggs"

...and then Alexa to tell you when giving you the timer warning sound, "Eggs"


"Lexa, set alarm for 6am to phone mum"

...and again at 6am, as well as a warning beep, you get "Phone mum".

Agreed, could do with a lot more flexibility to the alarm/timer function. Hopefully they'll update the device with that at some point.
 
Caporegime
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I've sent mine back...it fails more often than not to do what I want...

To the point it was annoying the hell out of me.

It still defaults to playing music from Amazon when I have a Spotify premium account.

It won't find artists on Spotify when they actually exist...

Turning a light on is not taxing by hand

The sound quality of tune in radio sucks coming through my hifi compared to my digital satlite box.

I was in love with Alexa at the start but the relationship has become tired and I just want her to leave me alone now.

Plus she is too connected with Jamie Oliver etc...and people wanting to be hipsters with lumberjack beards.

As for operating my my entertainment system ...one button on my Logitech remote turns it all on.

Asking for it is not worth the expense.

In fact it's quicker just to press the watch Tv activity button on my remote !

I've kept a couple of tplink wifi plugs though...but I can operate them and program them on my phone

Alexa is just not needed.
 
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Associate
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I use Alexa and home assistant really. Just configured my stereo to appear as a BT receiver and configured the Dot to connect to it; all good.

What I /really/ like is that I can configure the playlist from spotify using the tablet/computer, queue stuff etc, but I can then yell 'alexa, NEXT!' or whatever when I'm cooking or whatever.

I also replaced all the light wall switches with 433Mhz ones, and have all the switches configured in home assitant, with groups etc. So I can /at last/ tell alexa to 'turn off downstairs' when I go to bed.

Home assistant also now know when I'm home, and will turn on some lights automagically if I'm home and it's sunset... that sort of things.

Love the home automation thing, but Alexa cherry on top of the cake for me.
 
Soldato
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I can't get my Hub 2 and 3rd gen lights working as they should.
I can turn the light on\off or dim\bright ok. But the Hue scenes won't work.
Like I try "Alexa, Savanna sunset in living room" I get "sorry I can't find a device with that name" :mad:

I've factory reset everything and started again with no luck. Can anyone advise me?
 
Soldato
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I can't get my Hub 2 and 3rd gen lights working as they should.
I can turn the light on\off or dim\bright ok. But the Hue scenes won't work.
Like I try "Alexa, Savanna sunset in living room" I get "sorry I can't find a device with that name" :mad:

I've factory reset everything and started again with no luck. Can anyone advise me?

Sounds like most tech, marketed and sold as making your life simpler and easier, but the reality being you waste time and energy trying to troubleshoot it when it invariably stops working. And within a year there's a new and improved version you're compelled to buy.
 
Soldato
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Solihull-Florida
Sounds like most tech, marketed and sold as making your life simpler and easier, but the reality being you waste time and energy trying to troubleshoot it when it invariably stops working. And within a year there's a new and improved version you're compelled to buy.



About right. I've seen some people on youtube that got it to work right, so I was hopeful. Looks like getting a Google home :(
 
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