Beginner's guide to Alexa?
Discussion
Does such a thing exist in an up to date form?
I've managed to set up Alexa and a few Echo devices to play music from my iMac, and to control my Harmony hub-based remotes, as some halfway-decent documentation exists for these features.
Really struggling with a "works with Alexa" Roberts iStream radio though. I can't find any official or unofficial guides, just some old tweets and a video from Roberts that are no use at all. Not sure if I need some kind of extra app or Alexa Skill?
All gets a bit confusing.
Thinking about getting some smart light bulbs, which are also sold as "works with Alexa", and I'd like to understand a bit more how all this stuff works, and which bit of software does what.
I've managed to set up Alexa and a few Echo devices to play music from my iMac, and to control my Harmony hub-based remotes, as some halfway-decent documentation exists for these features.
Really struggling with a "works with Alexa" Roberts iStream radio though. I can't find any official or unofficial guides, just some old tweets and a video from Roberts that are no use at all. Not sure if I need some kind of extra app or Alexa Skill?
All gets a bit confusing.
Thinking about getting some smart light bulbs, which are also sold as "works with Alexa", and I'd like to understand a bit more how all this stuff works, and which bit of software does what.
Trouble is you can do so much with one, if you tried to include everything the instruction book would look like and old style telephone book.
I have an Echo, a Dot, some WIFI plugs, motion sensor and Phillips Hue lights. I don't do a lot with them.
Mainly alarms, timers, listen to music, turn on and off lights
My WIFI plugs are on my bedside lamp which can be programmed to come on in the morning and voice controlled on and off. The other is on my kettle so I can turn it on remotle and arrive once it has boiled.
motion sensor bottom of the stairs to turn the landing light on when its dark. The light switch is at the top of the stairs.
You can use them as bluetooth speakers and play music from your phone, I listen to a lot of YouTube songs like that.
If its linked to your Amazon account you will get notifications of pending deliveries.
There are hundreds of things you can link it to. I linked one to JustEat and could order my last delivery meal in seconds.
I don't have an Echo Show but can probably be linked to a Ring doobell and camers and even call people
I have an Echo, a Dot, some WIFI plugs, motion sensor and Phillips Hue lights. I don't do a lot with them.
Mainly alarms, timers, listen to music, turn on and off lights
My WIFI plugs are on my bedside lamp which can be programmed to come on in the morning and voice controlled on and off. The other is on my kettle so I can turn it on remotle and arrive once it has boiled.
motion sensor bottom of the stairs to turn the landing light on when its dark. The light switch is at the top of the stairs.
You can use them as bluetooth speakers and play music from your phone, I listen to a lot of YouTube songs like that.
If its linked to your Amazon account you will get notifications of pending deliveries.
There are hundreds of things you can link it to. I linked one to JustEat and could order my last delivery meal in seconds.
I don't have an Echo Show but can probably be linked to a Ring doobell and camers and even call people
Edited by Cotty on Thursday 13th April 01:46
Digger said:
What wifi plugs do you use Cotty?
I bought three of the Belkin WeMo Switch plugs in 2016, but not sure if you can still get them. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B009SA9Z6S/ref...
We have an Amazon spy, and it's a great help for certain things.
We both retired some years ago, and I admit that it's only me that can set up new functions, as my wife is a completenumpty technophobe.
Alexa was originally suggested to us by a friend who thought it would be a help for her to control the radio with voice commands. It does that brilliantly.
Then I got tired of running up and turning on the electric blanket before bed time. Now Carol can voice control it on from the sitting room, off from the bedroom, and if she forgets to turn it off, it will turn off anyway at a set time.
At Christmas time - we used the same set up to control Christmas lights.
There's an alarm that is set to go off every day. When it's cancelled, Carol gets a voice reminder to take her medication.
In the meantime it also gets used for providing random information, settling discussions and cheating at crosswords.
Basically - we've found that we look for ways to solve a problem, can I use Alexa; rather than thinking what can I use Alexa for.
We both retired some years ago, and I admit that it's only me that can set up new functions, as my wife is a complete
Alexa was originally suggested to us by a friend who thought it would be a help for her to control the radio with voice commands. It does that brilliantly.
Then I got tired of running up and turning on the electric blanket before bed time. Now Carol can voice control it on from the sitting room, off from the bedroom, and if she forgets to turn it off, it will turn off anyway at a set time.
At Christmas time - we used the same set up to control Christmas lights.
There's an alarm that is set to go off every day. When it's cancelled, Carol gets a voice reminder to take her medication.
In the meantime it also gets used for providing random information, settling discussions and cheating at crosswords.
Basically - we've found that we look for ways to solve a problem, can I use Alexa; rather than thinking what can I use Alexa for.
Since posting, we've got Echo devices in most rooms now. Smart lights in the lounge and bedrooms, Harmony remote linked to Alexa to control the dining room TV, and a Ring doorbell that displays on all the Echo Shows.
A few more things will get added when the lounge gets refurbished- smart curtain openers and a smart switch to turn on the AV system.
Still not figured out the Roberts radio though.
A few more things will get added when the lounge gets refurbished- smart curtain openers and a smart switch to turn on the AV system.
Still not figured out the Roberts radio though.
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