Vera Edge and Amazon Echo

Nelbert

Anyone have this combo?

I've just ordered an echo dot and already have a Vera edge (working great for about 2 years now).

Just wanted to see if anyone has the combo and signed up for the Vera skill beta program?

vms7ply9t6dw4b

Nelbert wrote: »

Anyone have this combo?

I've just ordered an echo dot and already have a Vera edge (working great for about 2 years now).

Just wanted to see if anyone has the combo and signed up for the Vera skill beta program?

I do, and it doesn't work. I actually specifically bought the dot as soon as the beta went public but what Vera don't tell you is that the skill hasn't been enabled in the UK it's for USA only for the time being. They still haven't said that anywhere in the release notes and say it's down to Amazon to enable.

Nice little toy for playing Spotify etc in the meantime though

Nelbert

Ezequiel Faithful Dial wrote: »

I do, and it doesn't work. I actually specifically bought the dot as soon as the beta went public but what Vera don't tell you is that the skill hasn't been enabled in the UK it's for USA only for the time being. They still haven't said that anywhere in the release notes and say it's down to Amazon to enable.

Nice little toy for playing Spotify etc in the meantime though

Well that's disappointing.... can see lots of issues getting the US skill working properly..... hopefully they iron all the bugs out with the yanks and it just works when launched here

Nelbert

Ezequiel Faithful Dial wrote: »

I do, and it doesn't work. I actually specifically bought the dot as soon as the beta went public but what Vera don't tell you is that the skill hasn't been enabled in the UK it's for USA only for the time being. They still haven't said that anywhere in the release notes and say it's down to Amazon to enable.

Nice little toy for playing Spotify etc in the meantime though

Have you tried the Hue bridge Alexa workaround? Sounds a bit overly complex.

Nelbert

I got the vera working with IFTTT and as a result Alexa via Domoticz (freeware home automation).

Set up Domoticz with user name and password
forward port to make it accessible.
set up virtual on / off switch in Domoticz which fires http on change at the vera within the LAN to run scenes (could go to device level too).

With that in mind you set up IFTTT with alexa and the maker services.

Set up an alexa voice trigger and your maker to switch your Domoticz switch on / off.

Alexa to IFTTT to Domoticz to Vera.... security intact and scenes run. Been testing tonight with timed commands (my echo hasn't arrived yet) and works perfectly. 6 seconds is the longest delay. Links below for how I got it all working.

http://wiki.micasaverde.com/index.php/Luup_Requests#action

https://www.domoticz.com/wiki/Domoticz_API/JSON_URL's#Turn_a_light.2Fswitch_on

https://www.domoticz.com/wiki/IFTTT_integration_with_Domoticz

fergalom

Nelbert wrote:

Alexa to IFTTT to Domoticz to Vera.... security intact and scenes run. Been testing tonight with timed commands (my echo hasn't arrived yet) and works perfectly. 6 seconds is the longest delay. Links below for how I got it all working.

why not drop ifttt and go direct alexa to domoticz? Alexa to domoticz is pretty much always < 1sec.

Also what's the benefit of ifttt if you have a system like Vera or domoticz? (Never used ifttt but it gets mentioned a lot here.)

Nelbert

fergalom wrote: »

why not drop ifttt and go direct alexa to domoticz? Alexa to domoticz is pretty much always < 1sec.

Also what's the benefit of ifttt if you have a system like Vera or domoticz? (Never used ifttt but it gets mentioned a lot here.)

No direct link to domoticz via Alexa. Vera have an echo skill in beta but it's US only and having problems at the moment. No secure way of passing command from internet to Vera directly.

It's a workaround until Vera developers get a stable skill working and roll it out to outside the US.

IFTTT allows custom triggers from all sorts...... so if you remember the Renault ad from a few years back of about saving money that culminated in a posh old man saying "Morgan turn on the heating" you'll understand my childish needs. IFTTT Also links to harmony hubs so I could trigger a couple of different things involving different equipment with one voice command.

Nelbert

Out of curiosity installed the ha-bridge software that imitates a phillips hue system. Works excellently vera devices and scenes and harmony activities. Haven't mapped individual harmony controls yet (I may just map pause / unpause so I can pause whatever I'm watching if the door or phone rings).

fergalom

Tried that also with Domoticz but found this more effective - slightly more effort to setup.
Bonus is thermostats work so you can ask "alexa to set heating to x degrees"

https://github.com/madgeni/alexa_domo

Nelbert

fergalom wrote: »

Tried that also with Domoticz but found this more effective - slightly more effort to setup.
Bonus is thermostats work so you can ask "alexa to set heating to x degrees"

https://github.com/madgeni/alexa_domo

Yikes, the setup looks a bit full on...... I was happy with the ha-bridge as it was a lot less work than I originally thought. Docker container with net access and a few env variables for the ip and port number and you're away. Up and working in minutes.

I don't have a thermostat, just heating on or off. Thermostat/s and rest of lighting is part of plan for 2017.