Amazon Alexa and Echo FAQ

bk · 09-11-2016 5:08am #1

What is Amazon Alexa?

Amazon Alexa is Amazons Artificial Intelligence that can work across multiple devices (Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, Fire TV, etc.) and can be used to answer questions asked by voice and control home automation devices by voice.

What is Amazon Echo?

Echo is a Bluetooth speaker that can sit in a room and comes with microphones and Amazons AI Alexa that can be used to answer questions by voice and control music playback and home automation devices by voice.

What is Amazon Echo Dot?

The Echo Dot is the little brother of the full size Amazon Echo. It is a smaller, cheaper device that lacks the full size speaker of the Echo. It includes the same microphones and Alexa AI as the full size speaker. While it also includes a small speaker, the speaker isn't good enough for quality music playback, but ok for answering voice commands and alarms. However the Echo Dot can be connected to better quality speakers (hifi system, AV receiver, bluetooth speakers, etc.) via either a 3.5mm audio out connection or over bluetooth.

Can I buy the Amazon Echo/Dot in Ireland?

No, not directly. However you can buy it from Amazon UK and get it shipped to Ireland by either Parcel Motel, Parcel Wizard or Address Pal shipping services.

How do I set the Echo/Dot up?

You either use the website alexa.amazon.co.uk or you use the Alexa app for iPhone or Android. The easier way is to use the website, but see below for more information of the mobile apps.

Can I use alexa.amazon.co.uk on a mobile browser.

Yes, initially it will tell you to use the app, however you can use your mobile browsers optino to display the desktop version of the website, it will work fine.

Can I get alexa app for iPhone?

The Alexa app isn't available on the Irish Apple App Store, however it is reltivaly easy to temporarily change your app store to the UK App Store and download it from there after which you can change it back to the Irish app store.

Can I get the alexa app for Android?

The Alexa app isn't available in the Irish Google Play Store. However it is possible to install the app by downloading the app to your laptop and sideloading the app to your Android phone. You can do a google search for more details on how to do this.

Will I be able to use my Irish address in the app?

Sort of. Amazon uses the Microsoft Bing Maps for it's addresses. Bing Maps address database for Ireland is very poor. Your address might not work, however you might find that a near by street address will work.

Will commuting times work?

If you manage to set your home and work address (see above answer), then yes you will be able to get commuting times.

However Amazon uses Bing Maps, so commuting times aren't as accurate as Google Maps and also you can't get commuting times by walking/cycling/public transport.

Will I be able to ask for the weather in my location?

Yes, though you will have to specify the location:

"Alexa, what is the weather like in Dublin?"

Note you will have to specify "in Dublin" "in Cork"

Will I be able to play music using Spotify Premium.

Yes, and in general it works well. For instance:

"Alexa, play music on spotify"
"Alexa, play rock on spotify"

Note the you have to specify "on spotify" each time.

Will Spotify Free work on Echo

No, it requires a premium account.

Can I play music out in multiple rooms if you have multiple Echo/Dots?

No, however you can change the room it is playing in by saying "Alexa, resume Spotify" in the room your are currently in and it will start playing in that room.

Will I be able to play Irish and UK radio stations?

Irish radio stations are extremely buggy and mostly don't work by voice control. It is extremely hard to get it to play the usual Irish radio stations.

UK radio stations work ok, for instance:
"Alexa, play BBC Radio 1 on tunein"

Notice that you have to specify "on tunein" for each station.

A work around for Irish stations is to select the station by the Alexa app or website and then you can pause it by voice.

If you listen to the same station every day, then you can select the station via the app or website first time and from then on use the follwoing vocie command to play it:

"Alexa, resume tunein".

Does it support other music services?

Yes, it also supports Amazons own music service, however that can require a UK credit card like Revolut to get working in Ireland.

Does it support playing music from a phone via Bluetooth?

Yes, Amazon Echo can work as a basic Bluetooth speaker.

What Home Automation Services does it support?

Many, including but not limited to:

- Philips Hue (smart lights)
- Belkin Wemo Smart Plugs
- Netatmo/Hive/Tado/Nest Smart Thermostats
- Smarthings
- etc.

Does it work with IFTTT?

IFTTT is currently not working in the UK and Ireland. However it does work on Amazon US Echo's so it will likely come eventually to UK and Ireland.

However an alternative service Yonomi does work with Amazon Echo and works very well.

Does it work with Logitech Harmony Remotes?

Basic support (turn on/off activities only) works in US Echos, but not UK and Ireland yet. However you can get the same level of support for Harmony in UK and Ireland using the excellent Yonomi app.

More to come.......

Tom Cruises Left Nut · 09-11-2016 1:11pm

So IFTTT doesn't work here at all then ?

bk · 09-11-2016 1:16pm

Tom Cruises Left Nut wrote: »

So IFTTT doesn't work here at all then ?

Not unless you set yours up as a US Echo. However I assume this will be fixed soon, I can't see why it wouldn't and it most be a top priority for devs.

Yonomi is also worth checking out as an alternative to IFTTT. While Yonomi can't do as much as IFTTT, it seems to work much more reliably for what it does support and it works with the UK Echo.

Stoner · 09-11-2016 3:33pm

Tom Cruises Left Nut wrote:

So IFTTT doesn't work here at all then ?

You mean just for the echo right?

Tom Cruises Left Nut · 09-11-2016 3:36pm

Stoner wrote: »

You mean just for the echo right?

Yep, ordered the echo dot this morning

whiteley91 · 09-11-2016 4:26pm

I think it would be a good idea to sticky these in the forum along with the Google home FAQ thread. Would be a good starting point for people new to the forum and can always add more FAQ's as needed.

kennM · 10-11-2016 12:16am

Hey guys,

Quick question... anyone know if you can set the Device Location to an address in Ireland? Been trying with no success thus far. Got hooked up to spotify/nest etc. so far and pretty impressed.

Still early days yet though

bk · 10-11-2016 1:36am

kennM wrote: »

Hey guys,

Quick question... anyone know if you can set the Device Location to an address in Ireland? Been trying with no success thus far. Got hooked up to spotify/nest etc. so far and pretty impressed.

Still early days yet though

If your address doesn't work, then try close by street names.

methodinsane · 15-11-2016 3:50pm

Bit disappointed to hear it doesn't do so well on TuneIn. I'm looking for a new kitchen/sitting room radio device that has bluetooth and internet radio. I thought maybe this would be a good fit but at the moment I'm not sure it's worth the hassle. Unless somebody can tell it works fine with asking to play Nova or TodayFM on TuneIn?

Thanks.

degsie · 15-11-2016 5:00pm

methodinsane wrote: »

Bit disappointed to hear it doesn't do so well on TuneIn. I'm looking for a new kitchen/sitting room radio device that has bluetooth and internet radio. I thought maybe this would be a good fit but at the moment I'm not sure it's worth the hassle. Unless somebody can tell it works fine with asking to play Nova or TodayFM on TuneIn?

Thanks.

You can select any station from the app (or web) and play via echo that way. If you play the same station all the time, then manually select that station and then say "Alexa, play tunein" and it will always select the last played station.

methodinsane · 15-11-2016 5:38pm

degsie wrote: »

You can select any station from the app (or web) and play via echo that way. If you play the same station all the time, then manually select that station and then say "Alexa, play tunein" and it will always select the last played station.

Cool thanks for the info. It's been a while since I used TuneIn. Do you know does it have a preset ability so you could say something like "Alexa play preset 1 on TuneIn"?

Thanks!

bk · 15-11-2016 5:39pm

methodinsane wrote: »

Cool thanks for the info. It's been a while since I used TuneIn. Do you know does it have a preset ability so you could say something like "Alexa play preset 1 on TuneIn"?

Thanks!

No, there is currently no way to do this.

On the whole, Google Home handles Tunein far better. Though GH is not officially available in Ireland yet

Irish Gunner · 15-11-2016 6:02pm

On the Echo for TuneIn you have to name the radio station ??
I don't listen to many Irish radio stations so do I just have to say Alexis play 'name of station'......better get my naming right

Tom Cruises Left Nut · 15-11-2016 6:20pm

bk wrote: »

If your address doesn't work, then try close by street names.

Can't seem to add any IE address to the echo app

Any other suggestions ?

kennM · 15-11-2016 7:03pm

I couldnt get it sorted.... ended up just adding Belfast address so timezone was right

degsie · 15-11-2016 7:25pm

Irish Gunner wrote: »

On the Echo for TuneIn you have to name the radio station ??
I don't listen to many Irish radio stations so do I just have to say Alexis play 'name of station'......better get my naming right

It's phrased "Alexa, play <name_of_station> on tunein" but as mentioned Irish radio stations are very hit-and-miss.

Tom Cruises Left Nut · 16-11-2016 11:42am

Any update at all on IFTTT working ?

bk · 16-11-2016 12:10pm

Tom Cruises Left Nut wrote: »

Any update at all on IFTTT working ?

No, unfortunately

Kurn · 16-11-2016 12:19pm

degsie wrote: »

It's phrased "Alexa, play <name_of_station> on tunein" but as mentioned Irish radio stations are very hit-and-miss.

I often wondered is that because of the fada on R. I always have trouble with the RTE stations

rolion · 16-11-2016 1:42pm

Hi,

Before spending time in reading and doing my home work on these devices...can anyone confirm if they are constant listening and passing & processing the information to some external / third party cloud provider OR is a local based solution!?

Thanks

degsie · 16-11-2016 1:58pm

Kurn wrote: »

I often wondered is that because of the fada on R. I always have trouble with the RTE stations

You mean fada on 'e'?

bk · 16-11-2016 2:16pm

rolion wrote: »

Before spending time in reading and doing my home work on these devices...can anyone confirm if they are constant listening and passing & processing the information to some external / third party cloud provider OR is a local based solution!?

Google Home and Amazon Echo both locally constantly listen out for their activation words (e.g. "Hey Google", "Alexa"). Once it hears those activations words, they start recording the rest of what you say for a few seconds and that gets uploaded to the cloud to be processed. After those few seconds they stop listening again.

You can tell when they are listening as they light up the top of the device while listening.

You can review and delete the recordings they have made and uploaded to the cloud service with their apps.

They both also have a button to turn on privacy mode, where they completely stop listening.

Kurn · 16-11-2016 3:44pm

degsie wrote: »

You mean fada on 'e'?

obviously

Kurn · 16-11-2016 4:02pm

Mine is very close to the TV, and interestingly, I noticed when the Amazon Echo ad comes on the telly, it listens when it hears its name, but then quickly stops when it hears the next line in the ad. I wonder they they program in this to ignore these ads.

Sad that I notice these things :rolleyes:

adox · 16-11-2016 5:28pm

On the Spotify thing, I do not have to say "on spotify" with my commands to get it to work. I have it set as my default source and dont have amazons music service.

I just say "play jazz" "play Christine And The Queens" etc and it plays them from Spotify.

trevor1973 · 17-11-2016 9:25pm

Thanks for the FAQ

JoeCole26 · 18-11-2016 5:11pm

Can I get alexa app for iPhone?

The Alexa app isn't available on the Irish Apple App Store, however it is reltivaly easy to temporarily change your app store to the UK App Store and download it from there after which you can change it back to the Irish app store.

Is this possible to do through your iPhone - any links on how to do it anywhere?

Thanks!

bk · 18-11-2016 5:51pm

JoeCole26 wrote: »

Can I get alexa app for iPhone?

The Alexa app isn't available on the Irish Apple App Store, however it is reltivaly easy to temporarily change your app store to the UK App Store and download it from there after which you can change it back to the Irish app store.

Is this possible to do through your iPhone - any links on how to do it anywhere?

Here:
http://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/89185/how-can-i-change-the-ios-app-store-country-on-my-iphone-5

Also remember you go just use alexa.amamzon.co.uk in Safari if your change it to desktop mode, much easier option.

bk · 18-11-2016 5:55pm

So it turns out that I don't have to say "in Dublin" any more when asking for weather!

I can just ask it "What is the weather like?" or "Will I need an umbrella?" and she responds, "In Dublin, Ireland, the weather is ......".

Also Spotify is now working better I can just ask it (no need to say "on spotify" any more):

- Play Rock Music
- Play Greenday

However "Play Music" still doesn't work, I still have to say "Play Music on Spotify".

Some nice improvements.

givecredit · 18-11-2016 6:49pm

bk wrote: »

However "Play Music" still doesn't work, I still have to say "Play Music on Spotify".

Some nice improvements.

Have you tried "resume Spotify" shorter...

bk · 19-11-2016 10:57am

givecredit wrote: »

Have you tried "resume Spotify" shorter...

Yup, good point and actually if you only use Spotify (and not tunein as well) you can just go "Alexa, resume".

adox · 19-11-2016 12:24pm

bk wrote: »

So it turns out that I don't have to say "in Dublin" any more when asking for weather!

I can just ask it "What is the weather like?" or "Will I need an umbrella?" and she responds, "In Dublin, Ireland, the weather is ......".

Also Spotify is now working better I can just ask it (no need to say "on spotify" any more):

- Play Rock Music
- Play Greenday

However "Play Music" still doesn't work, I still have to say "Play Music on Spotify".

Some nice improvements.

Was there a recent update? I still have to specify location for weather although Spotify always worked for me without saying it's name.

bk · 19-11-2016 1:09pm

adox wrote: »

Was there a recent update? I still have to specify location for weather although Spotify always worked for me without saying it's name.

I'm guessing so, it seems the software updates are automatic. I'm on software version 4172 for the Echo and 564186420 for the Dot *

* Weird that there is such a difference in the format of the software versions between the Echo and Dot!

adox · 19-11-2016 9:33pm

So bizzarely after adding a full Dublin address in the app, when I say "how's the weather?" It gives me the weather for some place in Japan!

It knows where I am as it has my correct location when I ask where I am.

Stoner · 19-11-2016 11:16pm

adox wrote:

So bizzarely after adding a full Dublin address in the app, when I say "how's the weather?" It gives me the weather for some place in Japan!

Lol did that for me today too

bk · 20-11-2016 9:35am

Same here!! I don't think it is 22 in Dublin!

uck51js9zml2yt · 20-11-2016 9:52am

Alexa Weather Dublin
-2 degrees

givecredit · 20-11-2016 10:56pm

A lot of thunderstorms in Le-Son the last few days. Anyone have a fix for this?

BanjoB · 21-11-2016 1:22am

No matter what Irish address I out in for device location my echo dot will not allow it to save. I'm in waterford and have tried 10 addresses but no joy. How did people on here get Dublin to save. Just looks like the app won't register a republic address.?

Tom Cruises Left Nut · 21-11-2016 7:45am

BanjoB wrote: »

No matter what Irish address I out in for device location my echo dot will not allow it to save. I'm in waterford and have tried 10 addresses but no joy. How did people on here get Dublin to save. Just looks like the app won't register a republic address.?

I just used o'connell Street in dublin

Irish Gunner · 21-11-2016 6:10pm

Has anyone used the TP Link wireless plugs with Echo
https://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-Control-Anywhere-HS100-UK/dp/B01I3ZCBFK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1479748132&sr=8-1&keywords=wireless+plug
Was looking at Hue but looking at these for lamps in house?

PreCocious · 21-11-2016 6:47pm

I got a TP-Link wireless plug and it works perfectly with the echo. You need the Tp-Link Kasa app as well and have to link the account and find the device but the whole thing is up and running in minutes. Just be careful that you name the plug with a straightforward name that will be understood by Alexa .

podge3 · 23-11-2016 9:05pm

Irish Gunner wrote: »

Has anyone used the TP Link wireless plugs with Echo
https://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-Control-Anywhere-HS100-UK/dp/B01I3ZCBFK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1479748132&sr=8-1&keywords=wireless+plug
Was looking at Hue but looking at these for lamps in house?

These are now reduced to from £25 to £20.

Kurn · 24-11-2016 11:17am

Anyone ever try "Simon says" on Alexa. I saw a prank someone did with it on youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1plnA_kdCXU

(Hope I did not oversell the prank - not that great). But I never knew you could get Alexa to repeat what you say.

Irish Gunner · 24-11-2016 1:42pm

podge3 wrote: »

Irish Gunner wrote: »

Has anyone used the TP Link wireless plugs with Echo
https://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-Control-Anywhere-HS100-UK/dp/B01I3ZCBFK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1479748132&sr=8-1&keywords=wireless+plug
Was looking at Hue but looking at these for lamps in house?

These are now reduced to from 25 to 20.

Thanks think I will buy a few of these also Cheers

givecredit · 24-11-2016 2:12pm

Irish Gunner wrote: »

Thanks think I will buy a few of these also Cheers

They are reduced to £16.49 now. Out of stock. But you can still buy.

BoardsMember · 24-11-2016 4:15pm

Irish Gunner wrote: »

Has anyone used the TP Link wireless plugs with Echo
https://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-Control-Anywhere-HS100-UK/dp/B01I3ZCBFK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1479748132&sr=8-1&keywords=wireless+plug
Was looking at Hue but looking at these for lamps in house?

Are there any similarly priced smart sockets compatible with Google Home out there?

Sorry should have posted in the Google Home thread, will do so now.

Irish Gunner · 24-11-2016 5:07pm

givecredit wrote: »

Irish Gunner wrote: »

Thanks think I will buy a few of these also Cheers

They are reduced to 16.49 now. Out of stock. But you can still buy.

In London in 2 weeks so wanted to order soon so I could collect them when I am there will hold out and see when they come back in stock so I can choose delivery address

Cheapo · 25-11-2016 1:21am

Echo and Echo Dot now reduced - https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=echo

bonkers · 25-11-2016 11:42am

Thinking about getting this to replace bluetooth speakers in my place,

Wanting to have a speaker in each room that are connected to the wifi and let me use spotify premium in each

Would you guys reccommend?

bk · 25-11-2016 11:58am

bonkers wrote: »

Thinking about getting this to replace bluetooth speakers in my place,

Wanting to have a speaker in each room that are connected to the wifi and let me use spotify premium in each

Would you guys reccommend?

Yes, I'd highly recommend it for that. If your bluetooth speakers are good ones, then you could keep them and use them with the Echo Dot

Amazon Alexa and Echo FAQ

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