Amazon Alexa and Echo FAQ

degsie · 10-12-2016 11:06pm

^^^
Try a factory reset using the pinhole reset.

kennM · 11-12-2016 1:09am

corvus4906 wrote: »

Trying to install an echo today for a friend who got it in the states....having issues maybe someone can give a hand with.... I sideloaded the Echo App to their android phone via an APK (as you can't get the app here in Ireland)

App installed fine and i could log into their Amazon account without issue....but i get stuck at the activation screen:

it just keeps spinning for hours. Any ideas what to do?

Edit: Apologies for the large screenshot image - woops.

Had a similar issue.... hung indefinitely. Ended up installing app on tablet and completed fine though tablet. Logged into app on phone then and it connected and worked fine. I've a galaxy S4. Hope it helps

Shefwedfan · 11-12-2016 7:16pm

kennM wrote: »

iPhone Alexa App setup in Ireland.

Hey guys, before i get flamed i did a bunch of reading but no joy..... sorry in advance for long post.

Friend of mine bought an Echo but having difficulties getting app installed. Tried switching Apple account location to UK or US but its looking for credit card details registered in US or UK... rejecting ROI cards. Tried setting paymemt option on account to NONE amd then switching but it looks like UK/US doesnt have that option and again looks for a card... back to square 1.

Tried creating a new AppleID with no payment option against US/UK (tried both) and logged into it on phone... back to square 1, US/UK registered card.

How to install Alexa app on iPhone.. all help appreciated. Have Android myself and it was a doddle... appreciate it gurus

I posted about this previous, what was wrong with my account was I had used Apple Music before and it had tied a subscription to my account. I had it closed but was still listed so wouldn't allow me to move to "none" for credit card

I used the online chat function with Apple and 30 seconds they have removed the subsciption and allowed me to select none. I could change country then no problem

Shefwedfan · 11-12-2016 7:18pm

Any recommendation for Bluetooth speaker? I was thinking Sonos but I don't think it is supported? Looking around that budget....

bk · 11-12-2016 7:35pm

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Any recommendation for Bluetooth speaker? I was thinking Sonos but I don't think it is supported? Looking around that budget....

First of all you are correct, the cheap sonos systems don't currently support Echo dot, though they are supposedly working on support.

BTW Sons make a whole range of speakers, that range in price for £150 (on sale) up to £350. So it depends really.

The UE Boom 2 and UE Mega Boom are two good options IMO. If you want better then that, then I think the Audioengines 5's are pretty great, but expensive.

currants · 11-12-2016 8:36pm

I bought the Anker wireless A3143 from amazon and alexa picked it up easily. I'm not a total audiophile though, it sounds great for 20 watts. I got it for £38 but its £ 44 normally,I think it was a flash deal that gave me 15% off. I have an 84 year old here who is in love with alexa

Classic FM without fiddling with DAB.

Irish Gunner · 12-12-2016 11:33am

Ok picked up the Echo and Dot over the weekend and set up the Echo last night. Got it linked to my Spotify. TP Link and Netatmo heating. Have one of the TP Links set up as Xmas tree so had fund saying Xmas tree lights on/off. However when I said Christmas tree it also recognised that also. Set up the group downstairs lights and able to do turn all these off. Also paired it via Bluetooth with phone and could play songs for this and sound quality good and just have to say Alexa volume up/down.

Also was listening to radio station today via TuneIn and then asked to turn on Xmas tree lamps. Sound went down and lights came on so did not know you could do another command while one was still going.

Collecting Hue lights and Hub tonight so will try to sort this out and ordering a Philips Hue go on Amazon as cheaper there than in UK and no price match for online stores. Take it just choose Prime option for free month then order then cancel Prime subscription?

Few questions.

Had to download the Echo Android app as not available on the Play store. However if this app is updated how can I do this?

Is there any way of changing the name Alexa? I keep on calling it Alexis (after Alexis Sanchez for obvious reasons) before I realising I called it the wrong name. I know it’s bad to call someone not their real name but can this be changed?

Also I put the Echo on Snooze. However its set up beside the CD system so if it’s on snooze can it still take commands if it picks up something from Stereo or TV as picked up something last night while watching something on phone?

I will be setting up the Dot upstairs do I have to go through the same procedure for lining in the TP Link spotify etc. I want to use this as an Alarm clock so can it be set up to repeat daily alarm at 7 am except at the weekend and when I am off / away?

Also can it be set up to wake up to a particular Tune In station or remember the stations I want to?

Will have fun tonight setting up the Hub but these are my initial questions

Cheers

bk · 12-12-2016 11:58am

Irish Gunner wrote: »

Few questions.

Had to download the Echo Android app as not available on the Play store. However if this app is updated how can I do this?

You will have to manually download the updated apk.

Irish Gunner wrote: »

Is there any way of changing the name Alexa? I keep on calling it Alexis (after Alexis Sanchez for obvious reasons) before I realising I called it the wrong name. I know it’s bad to call someone not their real name but can this be changed?

You can change the wake word in settings to either "Amazon" or "Echo"

Irish Gunner wrote: »

I will be setting up the Dot upstairs do I have to go through the same procedure for lining in the TP Link spotify etc. I want to use this as an Alarm clock so can it be set up to repeat daily alarm at 7 am except at the weekend and when I am off / away?

Some things won't need to be set up again, for instance your home automaton tech, however I think alarms are separate per device.

Irish Gunner · 12-12-2016 3:37pm

Cheers
How do I check for what version I have as I checked the app on my phone and its client version 1.24.842.00 Bridge 1.16.4.5 is this the latest one? If not and I download an updated version do I have to go through linking everything again?
Going to keep the Echo as Alexa and change upstairs Dot to Dot so no confusion
Going to mess around with it more later and set up Dot and Hue lights

VictorRomeo · 12-12-2016 3:44pm

bk wrote: »

First of all you are correct, the cheap sonos systems don't currently support Echo dot, though they are supposedly working on support.

BTW Sons make a whole range of speakers, that range in price for £150 (on sale) up to £350. So it depends really.

The UE Boom 2 and UE Mega Boom are two good options IMO. If you want better then that, then I think the Audioengines 5's are pretty great, but expensive.

You can obtain some fairly basic Sonos control via Echo if you use the Yonomi app (IFTTT not working here yet). As in turn on and play a specific Sonos favorite. So you can set up multiple routines to play specific stations or music favorites - Deezer flow in my case. It's of course as mentioned - basic - but it's a good start. When Sonos support is rolled out next year I expect it to be more advanced.

uck51js9zml2yt · 12-12-2016 4:09pm

I got my hue lights going on and off.
Is there anyway of getting the scenes to work?

bk · 12-12-2016 4:13pm

Ariel Big Schwa wrote: »

I got my hue lights going on and off.
Is there anyway of getting the scenes to work?

You need to install the Hue skill.

Irish Gunner · 13-12-2016 11:04am

Ok tried installing the Hue Starter Kit last night and thought I would post here first as trying to control lighting via the Amazon Echo(downstairs) and Dot (upstairs)

Just wanted to test the one light with Echo so got everything set up. Put one light in and called in Living and put this in the downstairs lights and under Hue its under Room ‘Living Room’ Got it so that I can turn on the ‘living’ light and also turn on downstairs lights. Also can request Alexa to dim lights. However how do I get Echo to brighten lights tried bright lights tried increase lights but no joy?

Associated it under Smart Home on the Echo app and can see that that the light is called Living under my devices. At the moment Its offline as I think Miss Gunner used the light switch to turn it off this morning I guess that is why its offline?. Also under Your Devices I have Dimmed in Living room, Hue Color Lamp 2, Concentrate in Living room, Bright in Living room, relax in living room, Energize in Living Room, All Hue Lights, nightlight in Living Room, Spring Blossom in living room, Arctic Aurora in Living room, Savanna sunset in Living room, Colorloop in living room.

I want to be able to dim, brighten, change colour on the lights via Echo. I thought I could do this via the IFTTT app but seemingly only available to US users. I also want to set timers on the Hue lights, but this is more a question for the Hue FAQ discussion. I want to have this option on both the Dot and Echo so that I can control all lights via both Dot and Echo

Any advise and I can try later

Skerries · 14-12-2016 1:51am

I'm using IFTTT but I'm signed in through .uk but I do have a .com account as well
how do I check which one it is connected to?

davo2001 · 14-12-2016 10:17am

FYI: I just got an email to be part of the beta testers for SONOS and one of the questions was "do you have an amazon echo or echo dot"

It's due to start in January so hopefully we will be looking at some sort of official echo / SONOS integration soon.

kennM · 14-12-2016 10:47am

Skerries wrote: »

I'm using IFTTT but I'm signed in through .uk but I do have a .com account as well
how do I check which one it is connected to?

Did I read something that IFTTT has been released against UK also? Announcement was only last night I believe?

Krusty_Clown · 14-12-2016 11:02am

kennM wrote: »

Did I read something that IFTTT has been released against UK also? Announcement was only last night I believe?

Yup:
https://ifttt.com/amazon_alexa

underwaterdog · 14-12-2016 11:21am

Amazon Echo down to £129.99
Amazon Echo Dot down to £44.99

Not as big a discount as the Black Friday sales but still a discount.

mossym · 14-12-2016 11:24am

well f&^k it anyway, ordered 3 dots and the harmony elite last night, better halfs xmas present to me.

kennM · 14-12-2016 11:33am

mossym wrote: »

well f&^k it anyway, ordered 3 dots and the harmony elite last night, better halfs xmas present to me.

If you kick up a little bit of a fuss you'll get the discounted price... I bought echo at £150 and it dropped to £120? for black Friday sales/that week sales. Within 30 days you can return based on change of mind and get your money back. A little bit of common sense and you'll eventually find the right person who'll process the refund.

Ultimately if you return they have processing cost for returned stock, product they can't resell at full price, restocking etc. etc. etc. Cheaper for them to just give you the small discount as token of good will and off you go happy

Got £30 back, so will probably use it to but another dot

degsie · 14-12-2016 11:35am

IFTTT reported working in UK now. Can anyone confirm?

need to read previous posts

underwaterdog · 14-12-2016 11:39am

What IFTTT recipes are people using?

mossym · 14-12-2016 12:02pm

kennM wrote: »

If you kick up a little bit of a fuss you'll get the discounted price... I bought echo at £150 and it dropped to £120? for black Friday sales/that week sales. Within 30 days you can return based on change of mind and get your money back. A little bit of common sense and you'll eventually find the right person who'll process the refund.

Ultimately if you return they have processing cost for returned stock, product they can't resell at full price, restocking etc. etc. etc. Cheaper for them to just give you the small discount as token of good will and off you go happy

Got £30 back, so will probably use it to but another dot

yup, got a 15gbp refund after chatting to a service agent. result!!

thanks

bk · 14-12-2016 12:48pm

Great to see that IFTTT is finally working on the Echo.

underwaterdog wrote: »

What IFTTT recipes are people using?

On my Google Home, I've set up a recipe, that goes "Hey Google, food is ready" and I get a notification from the IFTTT app on my phone. Makes it easier for the better half to call me.

I also use IFTTT to control Logitech Harmony remotes and my Netatmo heating, but those are unnecessary on Echo as it has Skills for those devices.

Irish Gunner · 14-12-2016 12:52pm

I have Echo, Dot,Netatmo,Hue and Hue go.

What are the advantages of IFTTT that I can't do already?

NomadicGray · 14-12-2016 1:05pm

Irish Gunner wrote: »

I have Echo, Dot,Netatmo,Hue and Hue go.

What are the advantages of IFTTT that I can't do already?

Make your hue light turn blue or blink when it starts to rain?

alastair · 14-12-2016 2:03pm

I'm not seeing IFTTT - just the IFTTT Maker Connect skill.

mossym · 14-12-2016 3:13pm

NomadicGray wrote: »

Make your hue light turn blue or blink when it starts to rain?

what do you mean start, you mean it's finally stopped?

NomadicGray · 14-12-2016 3:18pm

mossym wrote: »

what do you mean start, you mean it's finally stopped?

Blue lights, blue lights everywhere.

mossym · 14-12-2016 3:21pm

see a strong rumour on another forum that voice commands for harmony integration are coming shortly, not just the start activities but pause play volume up/down. would be superb if true

fionny · 14-12-2016 7:27pm

So I bought an Echo Dot today, im hoping to gradually make my house "connected" for better or worse :P

Im thinking of buying a few of these TPLink Smart Plug jobbies which work with Alexa https://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-Control-Anywhere-HS100-UK/dp/B01I3ZCBFK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1481739109&sr=8-2&keywords=Smart+switch but im wondering if there are even cheaper options?

Also is there an easy way to make your light switchs smart around the house?

We plan to install Hive thermo's next year when we re-do our heating too so that will be another.

What other cool (and somewhat) cheap things can you do or are worth doing?

NomadicGray · 14-12-2016 7:35pm

fionny wrote: »

So I bought an Echo Dot today, im hoping to gradually make my house "connected" for better or worse :P

Im thinking of buying a few of these TPLink Smart Plug jobbies which work with Alexa https://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-Control-Anywhere-HS100-UK/dp/B01I3ZCBFK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1481739109&sr=8-2&keywords=Smart+switch but im wondering if there are even cheaper options?

Cheaper, and in stock, at the moment in PowerCity
http://www.powercity.ie/?par=20-27-HS100

They work well just for turning things on and off from home with voice or when away through the app.
Im going the Hue route for lights and then using SmartThings for any other home automation. That is not the cheap way to do things but I like the potential of those two products.

15-12-2016 12:44pm

I can't seem to order an echo dot from amazon.co.uk directly to ireland - is a redirect service the only option?

davo2001 · 15-12-2016 12:47pm

glasso wrote: »

I can't seem to order an echo dot from amazon.co.uk directly to ireland - is a redirect service the only option?

Yes and has been since they released it in the UK.

15-12-2016 12:51pm

davo2001 wrote: »

Yes and has been since they released it in the UK.

so many items on amazon seem to be increasingly not available for direct sending to ireland.

judeboy101 · 15-12-2016 12:56pm

Anyone else put Alexa on the car and pretend they are Michael knight?

underwaterdog · 15-12-2016 1:10pm

glasso wrote: »

so many items on amazon seem to be increasingly not available for direct sending to ireland.

Even if they were available it still often cheaper to use services like Parcel Motel. Just a shame product like the Echo are so difficult to localise to Ireland

15-12-2016 1:11pm

underwaterdog wrote: »

Even if they were available it still often cheaper to use services like Parcel Motel. Just a shame product like the Echo are so difficult to localise to Ireland

a real pain when amazon decides to ship items separately and you end up paying parcel motel / other multiple times though!

underwaterdog · 15-12-2016 1:26pm

glasso wrote: »

a real pain when amazon decides to ship items separately and you end up paying parcel motel / other multiple times though!

I have four items on the way, including a dot. Hoping they don't end up separately delivered!!!

Irish Gunner · 15-12-2016 1:43pm

Maybe its just me but Echo seems to be having difficulty understanding my dialect especially around Radio stations. I tried NewsTalk last night and kept getting Young Turks??? Then I also try 8radio.com on TuneIn and although Alexa confirms the name of the radio station it does not work. Got it to work via the Alexa App. Also tried using the dot as an Alarm this morning(had regular one as back up). Got it to go off this morning but then when I tried to get it to stop or snooze by voice control no joy had to press a button on the Dot. Will try out again. Also trying to figure out how to play the last station. I listen to CDNX Camden radio but each morning I keep saying Camden FM so have to check to see if Dot / Alexa will play last station?

ceegee · 15-12-2016 1:54pm

underwaterdog wrote: »

I have four items on the way, including a dot. Hoping they don't end up separately delivered!!!

I ordered two dots yesterday, got a message saying one was being shipped separately so as not to delay the order. followed 2 minutes later by an email saying the second one was dispatched. annoying

15-12-2016 2:05pm

underwaterdog wrote: »

I have four items on the way, including a dot. Hoping they don't end up separately delivered!!!

the only way to avoid this is to go into amazon chat straight after ordering and get onto a customer agent to stop this.

mossym · 15-12-2016 3:18pm

glasso wrote: »

a real pain when amazon decides to ship items separately and you end up paying parcel motel / other multiple times though!

Given they give you the choice of multiple shipments for faster service or a single shipment when ordering its a pain you can easily avoid. Not really amazons fault if you dont pick it

15-12-2016 5:49pm

mossym wrote: »

Given they give you the choice of multiple shipments for faster service or a single shipment when ordering its a pain you can easily avoid. Not really amazons fault if you dont pick it

that's not true. it gives you the option to group items into as low as a number of shipments as possible, not one.
I always select this option, yet have had multiple shipments.

alastair · 15-12-2016 8:08pm

glasso wrote: »

that's not true. it gives you the option to group items into as low as a number of shipments as possible, not one.
I always select this option, yet have had multiple shipments.

Happens all the time. Happened my grouped order yesterday:

We thought you'd like to know that we've dispatched this portion of your order separately to give you a quicker service, at no additional cost to you. The remainder of your order will follow as soon as those items become available.

degsie · 15-12-2016 8:25pm

We thought you'd like to know that we've dispatched this portion of your order separately to give you a quicker service, at no additional cost to you. The remainder of your order will follow as soon as those items become available.

Obviously doesn't heed PM deliveries.

fionny · 15-12-2016 9:47pm

degsie wrote: »

Obviously doesn't heed PM deliveries.

Anyone know of any smart light switches which would work with echo? Something that could replace an existing switch? 1 gang 2 gang or even 3 gang?

Seems to be a gap in the market?

Livolo have "smart" switches but for a remote control

underwaterdog · 15-12-2016 10:32pm

What about Alexa on the Amazon Fire TV? I have one I use for Kodi and Alexa will only work outside of Kodi but doesn't seem to be able to do much.

degsie · 15-12-2016 10:38pm

underwaterdog wrote: »

What about Alexa on the Amazon Fire TV? I have one I use for Kodi and Alexa will only work outside of Kodi but doesn't seem to be able to do much.

Might be US applicable only, but I found this...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=201859020

underwaterdog · 15-12-2016 10:55pm

degsie wrote: »

Might be US applicable only, but I found this...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=201859020

I had read that but it's very limiting talking to the remote and having to select each action from a list of possible results. Need to play with it a bit more I think.

Amazon Alexa and Echo FAQ

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