Google Home FAQ

BrookieD · 21-06-2019 8:40am

i was going to purchase a Lenovo but heard of this before - glad i went with the Google version. In fairness its flawless and sits great in the kitchen. Love the ability to broadcast to it when in work from my iPhone. Youngest boy loves it that feature.

OldMrBrennan83 · 21-06-2019 8:54am

It's a pity because the Lenovo is a far nicer device. Like everything they do, they just release things and forget about them unfortunately though.

mx5ire · 21-06-2019 9:08am

i suppose the question really is, is it the Lenovo that is the issue or is it a Google Assistant issue ? All working fine this morning, it seems to do this slowness thing in the evenings, not really during the day. I tried some voice commands from Google Home on my phone last night, to turn lights on, and that didnt work either. Which points towards a wider issue with Google Home / Assistant rather than Lenovo unit itself.

McMurphy · 21-06-2019 9:48am

My minis that had disappeared have now just as mysteriously reappeared, but the broadcasting issue still remains.

Whenever I broadcast, it only goes through the main device in the dining/kitchen area.

The 3 mini's work perfectly in every other way, even linked to separate Spotify accounts,.

I know it's a trivial minor thing, but it's a bugging issue for me now that they just aren't working the same way as the rest of them are.

Anyone any advice?

R.O.R · 22-06-2019 8:38am

Johnny Dogs wrote: »

My minis that had disappeared have now just as mysteriously reappeared, but the broadcasting issue still remains.

Whenever I broadcast, it only goes through the main device in the dining/kitchen area.

The 3 mini's work perfectly in every other way, even linked to separate Spotify accounts,.

I know it's a trivial minor thing, but it's a bugging issue for me now that they just aren't working the same way as the rest of them are.

Anyone any advice?

Have you tried turning them off and back on again?

taytobreath · 22-06-2019 6:36pm

mx5ire wrote: »

i suppose the question really is, is it the Lenovo that is the issue or is it a Google Assistant issue ? All working fine this morning, it seems to do this slowness thing in the evenings, not really during the day. I tried some voice commands from Google Home on my phone last night, to turn lights on, and that didnt work either. Which points towards a wider issue with Google Home / Assistant rather than Lenovo unit itself.

I dont think its Lenova, mine was perfectly fine until a few weeks ago.

mx5ire · 22-06-2019 8:48pm

At it again this evening, next to useless. Fine this morning. Voice also working fine on a couple of phones - so while it might not be a hardware fault it does appear to be more Lenovo specific.

taytobreath · 24-06-2019 6:33pm

mx5ire wrote: »

At it again this evening, next to useless. Fine this morning. Voice also working fine on a couple of phones - so while it might not be a hardware fault it does appear to be more Lenovo specific.

I just tried to add something to my shopping list using the Lenovo and it didnt respond, I have a google mini upstairs and tried that and it said I cannot answer personal questions about you.

This I think is a google problem and not Lenovo specific

McMurphy · 25-06-2019 9:37am

R.O.R wrote: »

Have you tried turning them off and back on again?

Um. Yeah.

R.O.R · 26-06-2019 2:57pm

Johnny Dogs wrote: »

Um. Yeah.

Well, that's the extent of my 1st line IT troubleshooting knowledge exhausted :pac:

Did you move any of them around at any point, or do some of them get very occasional use?

I had an issue with a Mini when it was moved from the family room to the office (replaced by a GH in the family room). Kept falling off the network from the office and only way to get it back was to unplug it for a reset.

Can't remember what eventually fixed it, but I made a point of asking a question every day when I was near the office, and it's been fine for the past few months.

BrookieD · 27-06-2019 10:14am

Johnny Dogs wrote: »

Um. Yeah.

Did you try disable band switching on your router for the google home devices.... I had hellish issues until i jumped onto that fix. Solved all issues and now all three solid connections and broadcast with no issues.

taytobreath · 27-06-2019 6:49pm

My Lenova display seems to be back working normally now.

kaisersose77 · 01-07-2019 11:33pm

Anyone able to set a reoccuring radio alarm for a specific station? I would like to wake up to talk sport radio each workday but if i ask it to set a reoccuring radio alarm it picks a random station (trip hop expectations!) and doesnt give me the option to pick talksport. If i set a once off radio alarm i can specifiy talk sport.

Fishy1 · 02-07-2019 8:06am

kaisersose77 wrote: »

Anyone able to set a reoccuring radio alarm for a specific station? I would like to wake up to talk sport radio each workday but if i ask it to set a reoccuring radio alarm it picks a random station (trip hop expectations!) and doesnt give me the option to pick talksport. If i set a once off radio alarm i can specifiy talk sport.

“Wake me at 7am with RTÉ Radio 1 every week day morning” works for me. I know that’s not the station you’re looking for, but try swapping out the RTÉ radio 1 part for Talk Sport Radio.

the heathen · 02-07-2019 10:00am

kaisersose77 wrote: »

Anyone able to set a reoccuring radio alarm for a specific station? I would like to wake up to talk sport radio each workday but if i ask it to set a reoccuring radio alarm it picks a random station (trip hop expectations!) and doesnt give me the option to pick talksport. If i set a once off radio alarm i can specifiy talk sport.

It's preventing you from listening to Alan f**king Brazil every morning. That's not a problem. That's a feature.

L1011 · 02-07-2019 6:57pm

Anyone got the Lenovo "Clock" yet?

Need a clock for the bedroom for morning timekeeping (my partner, not me) and like the form factor - and no camera; could also get rid of the Mini beside the TV then.

If the speaker(s) are even slightly better than the Mini that'd be nice as you'd have to be nuts to want to hear anything over those!

copacetic · 02-07-2019 8:26pm

I’m looking to get another home hub, according to this
https://www.theverge.com/good-deals/2019/7/1/20677068/google-home-nest-sale-pre-prime-day-bh-best-buy-walmart

They are now 79$ on US google store, they are still 119£ in UK store, anyone seen these prices generally filter through?

Sheep Shagger · 02-07-2019 8:56pm

copacetic wrote: »

I’m looking to get another home hub, according to this
https://www.theverge.com/good-deals/2019/7/1/20677068/google-home-nest-sale-pre-prime-day-bh-best-buy-walmart

They are now 79$ on US google store, they are still 119£ in UK store, anyone seen these prices generally filter through?

They were €99 at Dublin airport a few weeks back (not as cheap as the US but still).

Spocker · 02-07-2019 11:50pm

L1011 wrote: »

Anyone got the Lenovo "Clock" yet?

Need a clock for the bedroom for morning timekeeping (my partner, not me) and like the form factor - and no camera; could also get rid of the Mini beside the TV then.

If the speaker(s) are even slightly better than the Mini that'd be nice as you'd have to be nuts to want to hear anything over those!

I got one direct from Lenovo in the UK via Parcel Wizard. Very tidy, clear bright screen and the alarms are pleasant enough. Plays RTE radio loud and clear for me, good enough for a bedroom

fergiesfolly · 09-07-2019 10:24pm

This might be better in the Philips Hue thread, but however..
I have my Hue lights linked to my Google Home speaker, but lately it doesn't recognize the light under certain circumstances.
It will turn on the light, but not off or adjust brightness.
I just get the message" It looks like that device is not set up yet"
It will turn off that light if I tell it to turn off ALL lights.
I've deleted the light, the room it's in and unlinked and re-linked the my Philips Hue account to try and reset it.
Nothing's worked.
Any help would be appreciated.

ilovesmybrick · 10-07-2019 5:47pm

fergiesfolly wrote:

This might be better in the Philips Hue thread, but however.. I have my Hue lights linked to my Google Home speaker, but lately it doesn't recognize the light under certain circumstances. It will turn on the light, but not off or adjust brightness. I just get the message" It looks like that device is not set up yet" It will turn off that light if I tell it to turn off ALL lights. I've deleted the light, the room it's in and unlinked and re-linked the my Philips Hue account to try and reset it. Nothing's worked. Any help would be appreciated.

It could be that there's an update waiting for the hub or the lights. Fixed a similar issue I had a short while ago.

kaisersose77 · 25-07-2019 10:10am

For anyone looking for google mini wall mounts, i got one of these and looks the job

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07RRHK1XJ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Cheaper directly from seller especially for 2 pack. Havent chanced it yet though and would have to make sure seller sends to uk/ireland plug model and shipping could be longer as amazon ship the above directly.

https://www.kiwidesign.shop/collections/accessories-for-google-products/products/kiwi-design-outlet-wall-mount-rubber-holder-compatible-with-home-mini-by-google-a-space-saving-accessories-case-for-home-mini-speaker1-pack-gray

https://www.kiwidesign.shop/collections/accessories-for-google-products/products/kiwi-design-outlet-wall-mount-holder-compatible-with-home-mini-by-google-a-space-saving-accessories-case-for-home-mini-by-google-gray-2-packs

digitaldr · 25-07-2019 11:15am

Cable tidy is a great idea. The last picture beside the shower is well dodgy though!

SleetAndSnow · 25-07-2019 1:53pm

Interesting, when I used to tell my Google home to turn on my lights it would say "sure, turning on bedroom", now it does a little tone and a different one for turning them off!

b.gud · 25-07-2019 2:18pm

SleetAndSnow wrote: »

Interesting, when I used to tell my Google home to turn on my lights it would say "sure, turning on bedroom", now it does a little tone and a different one for turning them off!

Yeah they changed that interaction in the past few days

donspeekinglesh · 25-07-2019 2:21pm

SleetAndSnow wrote: »

Interesting, when I used to tell my Google home to turn on my lights it would say "sure, turning on bedroom", now it does a little tone and a different one for turning them off!

https://www.androidpolice.com/2019/07/24/google-home-assistant-lights-silent/

SleetAndSnow · 25-07-2019 3:04pm

donspeekinglesh wrote: »

https://www.androidpolice.com/2019/07/24/google-home-assistant-lights-silent/

it really is so much better

Dr_Colossus · 10-08-2019 11:27pm

I have a Google Hub since they were released and find it decent although the microphone is pretty poor and getting worse if anything, really have to speak loudly and repeat yourself sometimes which is very annoying.

Anyway I got a Google Mini during the week and microphone seems a lot better but even though it's set up the same as my Google Hub it won't play song requests and advises that YouTube premium is required.

I don't have this issue with the Hub, I don't have a Youtube premium subscription but any request made plays through Youtube Music and it works well. Anyone know why the two devices are behaving differently, had a quick look online but nothing concrete thus far.
Thanks

Gulliver · 10-08-2019 11:56pm

Dr_Colossus wrote: »

I have a Google Hub since they were released and find it decent although the microphone is pretty poor and getting worse if anything, really have to speak loudly and repeat yourself sometimes which is very annoying.

Anyway I got a Google Mini during the week and microphone seems a lot better but even though it's set up the same as my Google Hub it won't play song requests and advises that YouTube premium is required.

I don't have this issue with the Hub, I don't have a Youtube premium subscription but any request made plays through Youtube Music and it works well. Anyone know why the two devices are behaving differently, had a quick look online but nothing concrete thus far.
Thanks

I could be wrong, but I read somewhere it's a feature/perk that Google devices with a screen can play requests from YouTube/YouTube Music. Audio-only ones can't.

FastFullBack · 11-08-2019 7:32am

Dr_Colossus wrote: »

I have a Google Hub since they were released and find it decent although the microphone is pretty poor and getting worse if anything, really have to speak loudly and repeat yourself sometimes which is very annoying.

Anyway I got a Google Mini during the week and microphone seems a lot better but even though it's set up the same as my Google Hub it won't play song requests and advises that YouTube premium is required.

I don't have this issue with the Hub, I don't have a Youtube premium subscription but any request made plays through Youtube Music and it works well. Anyone know why the two devices are behaving differently, had a quick look online but nothing concrete thus far.
Thanks

I have the same setup and also get different results between the two.

Are you able to select exact songs on the hub?

For me I don't have any music subscriptions but I've somehow tricked my hub into allowing me to select specific songs on Spotify.
When I try it on the mini, I get told I need Spotify premium.

Mantis Toboggan · 11-08-2019 9:23am

Dr_Colossus wrote: »

I have a Google Hub since they were released and find it decent although the microphone is pretty poor and getting worse if anything, really have to speak loudly and repeat yourself sometimes which is very annoying.

Anyway I got a Google Mini during the week and microphone seems a lot better but even though it's set up the same as my Google Hub it won't play song requests and advises that YouTube premium is required.

I don't have this issue with the Hub, I don't have a Youtube premium subscription but any request made plays through Youtube Music and it works well. Anyone know why the two devices are behaving differently, had a quick look online but nothing concrete thus far.
Thanks

Sounds like dust blocking the microphone, get a vacuum cleaner to it!

Dr_Colossus · 11-08-2019 9:25am

Gulliver wrote: »

I could be wrong, but I read somewhere it's a feature/perk that Google devices with a screen can play requests from YouTube/YouTube Music. Audio-only ones can't.

Thanks, that seems to apply. Serious flaw the mini/home so, would rather pay a higher initial price than have all these monthly subscriptions.

FastFullBack wrote: »

Are you able to select exact songs on the hub?

For me I don't have any music subscriptions but I've somehow tricked my hub into allowing me to select specific songs on Spotify.
When I try it on the mini, I get told I need Spotify premium.

Yes, I have YouTube Music set as the default player and the hub will play specific song requests no problem. When I try the same on the mini it says I need YouTube Premium for song requests and instead plays random tracks from the same singer/band or songs it thinks are related if a singer/band wasn't specified.

wexfordman2 · 11-08-2019 11:14am

For anyone with google gsuite accounts, you should be aware that you will have extremely limited functionality with Google home devices. Calendar functions are it supported, and within the last 24hrs they have removed the reminder function for those of us with gsuite accounts.

christy c · 13-08-2019 7:07pm

I have a two Google home minis and a couple of smart plugs set up. The smart plugs were Sonoff cheap ones I got online, and I regularly got errors. For example, the one I have connected to the lamp is called "lights" and would get an error something like "Sorry, there was an error for the lights".

Thought this might have been because the smart plugs we're cheap, but got a TP link smart plug and get the same thing.

Any idea why this might be? Distance to router not an issue as one of them is in the same room.

The high horse brigade · 13-08-2019 7:13pm

christy c wrote: »

I have a two Google home minis and a couple of smart plugs set up. The smart plugs were Sonoff cheap ones I got online, and I regularly got errors. For example, the one I have connected to the lamp is called "lights" and would get an error something like "Sorry, there was an error for the lights".

Thought this might have been because the smart plugs we're cheap, but got a TP link smart plug and get the same thing.

Any idea why this might be? Distance to router not an issue as one of them is in the same room.

Change the name to sitting room socket or something like that. Having it setup and called simply lights will cause issues and mixups to Google Assistant. I find things work much better with more decisive naming.

ferrigan101 · 13-08-2019 7:31pm

christy c wrote: »

I have a two Google home minis and a couple of smart plugs set up. The smart plugs were Sonoff cheap ones I got online, and I regularly got errors. For example, the one I have connected to the lamp is called "lights" and would get an error something like "Sorry, there was an error for the lights".

Thought this might have been because the smart plugs we're cheap, but got a TP link smart plug and get the same thing.

Any idea why this might be? Distance to router not an issue as one of them is in the same room.

As THHB says, call them "plugs"or something. When you say lights GH will look for smart lighting in the room rather than the smart plugs.

christy c · 13-08-2019 9:58pm

Thanks guys, I'll give that a go

setanta1984 · 14-08-2019 9:21am

christy c wrote: »

I have a two Google home minis and a couple of smart plugs set up. The smart plugs were Sonoff cheap ones I got online, and I regularly got errors. For example, the one I have connected to the lamp is called "lights" and would get an error something like "Sorry, there was an error for the lights".

Thought this might have been because the smart plugs we're cheap, but got a TP link smart plug and get the same thing.

Any idea why this might be? Distance to router not an issue as one of them is in the same room.

I am getting this a LOT with my TP Link smart plugs over the last month or so. The main one I use is called "Fan" so I don't think it should be clashing with anything as suggested in the posts above.
Often I'll get "Sorry, there was an error for the fan" but repeating the request immediately works as expected. Sometimes I have to open the TP Link Kasa app to switch the plug on manually and then the voice command seems to work again.

christy c · 14-08-2019 12:43pm

setanta1984 wrote: »

I am getting this a LOT with my TP Link smart plugs over the last month or so. The main one I use is called "Fan" so I don't think it should be clashing with anything as suggested in the posts above.
Often I'll get "Sorry, there was an error for the fan" but repeating the request immediately works as expected. Sometimes I have to open the TP Link Kasa app to switch the plug on manually and then the voice command seems to work again.

Yes, I'm in the same boat still with the Sonoff and TP link even after renaming.

jogdish · 15-08-2019 9:56am

OK G play newstalk radio - weird tone "this station does not stream audio over the internet please contact TuneIn etc etc

Same goes for RTE radio 1, really sick of this.

ilovesmybrick · 15-08-2019 9:57am

jogdish wrote: »

OK G play newstalk radio - weird tone "this station does not stream audio over the internet please contact TuneIn etc etc

Same goes for RTE radio 1, really sick of this.

Apparently it's a global issue with Tunein, had the same problem this morning.

jogdish · 15-08-2019 9:59am

ilovesmybrick wrote: »

Apparently it's a global issue with Tunein, had the same problem this morning.

Thanks!

Insert rant about taking audio direct from a URL :mad:

digitaldr · 15-08-2019 10:06am

EGriff · 15-08-2019 10:07am

I'm thinking of getting a Google hub to replace the radio in the kitchen. I have a home and a mini already in different rooms.

What I want to know is can you use the screen on the hub to select music or a radio station without using voice?

namloc1980 · 16-08-2019 5:36pm

EGriff wrote: »

I'm thinking of getting a Google hub to replace the radio in the kitchen. I have a home and a mini already in different rooms.

What I want to know is can you use the screen on the hub to select music or a radio station without using voice?

In short no. Voice control only with some very limited screen control for Google Play Music. For the radio (TuneIn) only voice control will work.

CantGetNoSleep · 20-08-2019 9:33am

EGriff wrote: »

I'm thinking of getting a Google hub to replace the radio in the kitchen. I have a home and a mini already in different rooms.

What I want to know is can you use the screen on the hub to select music or a radio station without using voice?

Where is the best place to buy a Home Hub in this day and age?

BrookieD · 20-08-2019 12:41pm

CantGetNoSleep wrote: »

Where is the best place to buy a Home Hub in this day and age?

Keep an eye on Adverts.ie - pop up there regular enough for 75>100 €

Sheep Shagger · 20-08-2019 10:15pm

CantGetNoSleep wrote: »

Where is the best place to buy a Home Hub in this day and age?

Down to £89 and they will post via parcel motel if you want to buy brand new.

https://www.johnlewis.com/google-home-hub-hands-free-smart-speaker-with-7-inch-screen/charcoal/p3823748

Dublin.airport Dixons has them too.

McMurphy · 05-09-2019 7:08pm

Have Google home in the kitchen that's got YouTube music selected as it's default music provider (use to be Spotify)

Works grand for me, but when the wife or any of the kids ask it to play a specific song, it tells them that it can only play specific songs from Spotify.

I should add that we have Google minis in the kids bedrooms, they work fine playing whatever song is requested from them too, ditto the one in the workshop.

Anyone any ideas why the one in the kitchen will only play ball with my voice?

mx5ire · 10-09-2019 10:14am

Is anyone else noticing that Google Home "Hey Google" requests are not being heard / recognised the first time that you say it ? I am noticing this on a Home Mini, and on my piece of junk Lenovo smart display. After you repeat the "Hey Google" its seems to be fine.

Google Home FAQ

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