Amazon Echo FAQ

degsie · 25-10-2016 09:51PM

Basq, have you considered setting up a mobile hotspot and connect the echo and a smart device through it? Might help rule in/out a router issue.

Basq · 25-10-2016 09:58PM

degsie wrote: »

Basq, have you considered setting up a mobile hotspot and connect the echo and a smart device through it? Might help rule in/out a router issue.

Yeah, was my next port of call... unfortunately, am in a timber frame house which struggles to get mobile reception at best of times so trying to get any data through is a big ask. I can't help but think it is WiFi related for some reason though.

Spotify and typical Alexa queries works fine, but the whole area of SmartHome is definitely a no-go for me.

Corholio · 25-10-2016 09:59PM

I think the sound from the Echo is really good actually, was going to set up other speakers but don't really need to now to be honest.

shootermacg · 25-10-2016 10:00PM

shootermacg wrote: »

Just got my dot, app-store told me i'm not eligible for the app. Downloaded an apk from somewhere. Tried to connect the dot to my wireless, no luck getting some time out stuff.

Now it doesn't even see the wireless networks anymore. WTF?

Well fixed that. Apparently I had an earlier version of the app. Seems to be running fine now, even understands my cork accent.

Thelomen Toblackai · 25-10-2016 10:05PM

Corholio wrote: »

I think the sound from the Echo is really good actually, was going to set up other speakers but don't really need to now to be honest.

The sound is good but it sometimes struggles to hear commands if it's playing audio which is why I use a separate speaker.

garbeth · 25-10-2016 10:42PM

Can the dot connect to multiple Bluetooth speakers

degsie · 25-10-2016 10:43PM

garbeth wrote: »

Can the dot connect to multiple Bluetooth speakers

Yes, one at a time.

JAMM222 · 25-10-2016 10:43PM

Basq wrote: »

Yeah, was my next port of call... unfortunately, am in a timber frame house which struggles to get mobile reception at best of times so trying to get any data through is a big ask. I can't help but think it is WiFi related for some reason though.

Spotify and typical Alexa queries works fine, but the whole area of SmartHome is definitely a no-go for me.

maybe you could change the channel on the router or change the band

Stoner · 26-10-2016 01:31AM

setanta1984 wrote:

Another workaround I am looking at is those TP-Link plugs to plug the bluetooth adapter into. Flow should then be tell echo to turn on smart plug, bluetooth auto connects and away we go. Tell it to turn off smart plug, output reverts back to the Echo. Should work, right?

I think so. Can't see why not My Bluetooth speaker system disconnected.

But the feature causing the issue is part of your solution so you only have to juice it up and it automatically connects for you. Funnily enough your Bluetooth adapter is the most automated element in the set up.

Corholio · 26-10-2016 01:50AM

Thelomen Toblackai wrote: »

The sound is good but it sometimes struggles to hear commands if it's playing audio which is why I use a separate speaker.

Good point, yes up quite loud it can struggle to hear commands.

NyOmnishambles · 26-10-2016 09:34AM

Basq wrote: »

Just an FYI - if, like me, you don't give a crap about rooms or scenes.. removing the Hue Skill entirely seems to just give just the bulbs.

Still, no closer though to getting it working though unfortunately... just a constant rotation of "Sorry, something went wrong" and "I'm not quite sure how to help you with that".

On a separate note, did you have to do anything to get it to pick up the Nest and can the Echo control it?

Basq · 26-10-2016 10:19AM

NyOmnishambles wrote: »

Basq wrote: »

Just an FYI - if, like me, you don't give a crap about rooms or scenes.. removing the Hue Skill entirely seems to just give just the bulbs.

Still, no closer though to getting it working though unfortunately... just a constant rotation of "Sorry, something went wrong" and "I'm not quite sure how to help you with that".

On a separate note, did you have to do anything to get it to pick up the Nest and can the Echo control it?

Having similar issues with the Nest unfortunately..

NyOmnishambles · 26-10-2016 10:41AM

Basq wrote: »

Having similar issues with the Nest unfortunately..

I wasn't expecting it to pick up the Nest as it is a Google product

I only got my Echo last night so haven't had a proper play around with it but I don't think it saw my Nest in the discover devices

How did you get it discovered in the first place?
Did you have to add a skill?

Basq · 26-10-2016 10:49AM

NyOmnishambles wrote: »

Basq wrote: »

Having similar issues with the Nest unfortunately..

I wasn't expecting it to pick up the Nest as it is a Google product

I only got my Echo last night so haven't had a proper play around with it but I don't think it saw my Nest in the discover devices

How did you get it discovered in the first place?
Did you have to add a skill?

From my reading around, everything bar WeMo and Philips Hue (just for bulbs mind, not scenes / rooms) requires a skill to be added. So yeah, you need to add a Nest skill.

NyOmnishambles · 26-10-2016 11:12AM

Basq wrote: »

From my reading around, everything bar WeMo and Philips Hue (just for bulbs mind, not scenes / rooms) requires a skill to be added. So yeah, you need to add a Nest skill.

Thanks

I will play around with that this evening and report back

Last night I got it set up and playing Spotify fine, hooked up a wifi plug and got it to turn on the kettle

It seems poor at finding radio stations though, it could not find Q102 (my wife's favourite station) even when specifying Ireland/Dublin so some more figuring out to be done

bk · 26-10-2016 12:57PM

Thelomen Toblackai wrote: »

I didn't realise changing the language from English US to English UK changed Alexa's accent. I changed it today after the update and it just didn't sound right. The UK voice sounds like the one Sky use for it's ads.

I had to change it back to US.

Does this not mean that it is a US Echo now, rather then a UK one?

I found that by setting it to US, a bunch of stuff stopped working, actually this might be the solution to Basq's issues!

Corholio wrote: »

I think the sound from the Echo is really good actually, was going to set up other speakers but don't really need to now to be honest.

I agree. I have both an Echo and a Dot 2. The Dot 2 is hooked up to fantastic Audio Engine 5 speakers (top of the range powered bookshelf speakers) and while they are obviously fantastic sound quality, we still use the Echo in the living room all day to listen to Spotify and find it more then good enough.

There is definitely something to be said for the simplicity of an all in one solution and not having to deal with separate speakers, bluetooth, power, etc.

It is interesting to note that Google Home has no equivalent of a Dot.

bk · 26-10-2016 01:01PM

Basq, what language is your Echo set to under settings?

If it is set to US English, try changing it to UK English. I just remembered that with the firmware update last week, my smart home devices (Hue lights) stopped working * and it turned out that it was because my Echo was set to US English. Changing it to UK English got them working again.

* As in they were discovered by Alexa, but they wouldn't respond to voice, just like you!

adox · 26-10-2016 01:12PM

Yeah I changed my setting to US voice to see how it sounded and Spotify stopped working completely. Changed it straight back to the UK.

Nuttzz · 26-10-2016 02:16PM

I enabled the nest skill and it was discovered and works fine for me

Basq · 26-10-2016 02:21PM

bk wrote: »

Basq, what language is your Echo set to under settings?

If it is set to US English, try changing it to UK English. I just remembered that with the firmware update last week, my smart home devices (Hue lights) stopped working * and it turned out that it was because my Echo was set to US English. Changing it to UK English got them working again.

* As in they were discovered by Alexa, but they wouldn't respond to voice, just like you!

Yeah, I've tried both UK English and US English.. and not working with either unfortunately.

What is weird is I use that Roger Android app to communicate with my Alexa and it seems to go a bit further.. indicates finding devices when saying "Discover devices" etc. But turning on / off lights is giving me something about "multiple devices found with that name" or something.

shootermacg · 26-10-2016 02:34PM

I have a permanent Amazon prime account on amazon.co.uk, but it seems that this isn't shared with amazon.com.

Alexa considers me an amazon.com user. Is there any way to change this?

degsie · 26-10-2016 03:57PM

shootermacg wrote: »

I have a permanent Amazon prime account on amazon.co.uk, but it seems that this isn't shared with amazon.com.

Alexa considers me an amazon.com user. Is there any way to change this?

Contact amazon via email or chat.

ibFoxer · 26-10-2016 04:14PM

I'm quite interested in getting one of these, be it Echo or Dot. I am a Spotify subscriber, and wouldn't mind using TuneIn for radio. Just not sure which would be better?

degsie · 26-10-2016 04:21PM

ibFoxer wrote: »

I'm quite interested in getting one of these, be it Echo or Dot. I am a Spotify subscriber, and wouldn't mind using TuneIn for radio. Just not sure which would be better?

The Dot is cheaper and more flexible in terms of external speaker selection imho. Functionally they are the same right now.

bk · 26-10-2016 04:22PM

Basq wrote: »

What is weird is I use that Roger Android app to communicate with my Alexa and it seems to go a bit further.. indicates finding devices when saying "Discover devices" etc. But turning on / off lights is giving me something about "multiple devices found with that name" or something.

Can you try renaming one of your hue lights to something very unique, for instance call it "Bob".

If you have a lot of lights with very similar names, in particular with just a number as the difference, it can have problems understanding it.

ibFoxer wrote: »

I'm quite interested in getting one of these, be it Echo or Dot. I am a Spotify subscriber, and wouldn't mind using TuneIn for radio. Just not sure which would be better?

Both work great with Spotify. It just depends on how you are going to use it.

The Dot really needs a separate speaker for music, either over 3.5 or bluetooth.

If you are buying a bluetooth speaker, then you will be wanting to spend at least a £100 to match the Echos built in speaker.

The advantage of the Echo is that it is all in one and it just works. No needing to fiddle with extra cables, bluetooth, speakers that are powered off, etc.

The advantage of the dot is that you can use it with pre-existing expensive speakers that you already have and which might have better audio quality then the Echo.

ibFoxer · 26-10-2016 04:25PM

bk wrote: »

Can you try renaming one of your hue lights to something very unique, for instance call it "Bob".

If you have a lot of lights with very similar names, in particular with just a number as the difference, it can have problems understanding it.

Both work great with Spotify. It just depends on how you are going to use it.

The Dot really needs a separate speaker for music, either over 3.5 or bluetooth.

If you are buying a bluetooth speaker, then you will be wanting to spend at least a £100 to match the Echos built in speaker.

The advantage of the Echo is that it is all in one and it just works. No needing to fiddle with extra cables, bluetooth, speakers that are powered off, etc.

The advantage of the dot is that you can use it with pre-existing expensive speakers that you already have and which might have better audio quality then the Echo.

Would it work with the Chromecast Audio i have sitting in a box since it was on sale in PC World? Alternatively i have a bunch of bluetooth speakers already that are pretty good sound wise.

degsie · 26-10-2016 04:51PM

ibFoxer wrote: »

Would it work with the Chromecast Audio i have sitting in a box since it was on sale in PC World? Alternatively i have a bunch of bluetooth speakers already that are pretty good sound wise.

As Amazon and Google are competing in this space they will not play together. Can't see this changing anytime soon.

bk · 26-10-2016 05:10PM

ibFoxer wrote: »

Would it work with the Chromecast Audio i have sitting in a box since it was on sale in PC World? Alternatively i have a bunch of bluetooth speakers already that are pretty good sound wise.

Afraid not, you need the soon to be released Google Home to use Chromecast.

If you are happy with the sound quality of your existing bluetooth speakers and don't mind having two devices plugged in all the time, then yup the dot would be the cheaper option that will work with them just fine.

Stoner · 26-10-2016 05:34PM

NyOmnishambles wrote:

I only got my Echo last night so haven't had a proper play around with it but I don't think it saw my Nest in the discover devices

Same here, didn't expect it, didn't pick it up (nest protect)

Stoner · 26-10-2016 05:37PM

ibFoxer wrote:

I'm quite interested in getting one of these, be it Echo or Dot. I am a Spotify subscriber, and wouldn't mind using TuneIn for radio. Just not sure which would be better?

Well have you a good Bluetooth power speaker somewhere ? If you have the dot will be fine imo.

Amazon Echo FAQ

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