Breakiing news: UK Amazon Echo works with Evohome!

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  • Cchris
    Automated Home Sr Member
    • Nov 2015
    • 95

    #16
    Originally posted by G4RHL View Post
    I have indulged.

    Having read what it can do I am sure my wife will find it better as she is no technophile.

    Chances are if I peg it she would take out all the wireless operated sockets and lights. Evohome I think she would leave but panic about getting advice on changing settings etc. We probably need a database of Evohome users willing to provide advice to the panicking non technical suddenly faced with having to operate these things. Perhaps Honeywell could give this some thought. Not a database of installers but those who are familiar with the product and able to help out. There are plenty in this forum who I am sure would put their names down for such. We forget there are many who panic at the thought of all these remote operating systems. If we are going to play with our gadgets we owe it to ourselves and families to have some sort of free backup advice panel.
    If it helps, my wife thinks that evohome and alexa are two of (if not "the") best gadgets I have ever bought. She uses them all the time now.

    With regard to the helpful folk, just leave them notes of the web adresses of where to find people - i.e. this forum and others like it (diynot etc). If anyone signed up here and posted stating that they were in need of help figuring out how to work evohome after their husband had passed, im sure there would be no end of volunteers to assist online - plus you wouldn't have the worry of inviting a stranger round to the home knowing full well they are on their own....

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    • bruce_miranda
      Automated Home Legend
      • Jul 2014
      • 2307

      #17
      Originally posted by victorp1612 View Post
      Black Friday deal on Echo and Dot today ... just saying :-p
      I have been waiting for a Dot. Got one! Don't really need the Echo. Let's see how I get on.

      Comment

      • G4RHL
        Automated Home Legend
        • Jan 2015
        • 1580

        #18
        Originally posted by Cchris View Post
        If it helps, my wife thinks that evohome and alexa are two of (if not "the") best gadgets I have ever bought. She uses them all the time now.

        With regard to the helpful folk, just leave them notes of the web adresses of where to find people - i.e. this forum and others like it (diynot etc). If anyone signed up here and posted stating that they were in need of help figuring out how to work evohome after their husband had passed, im sure there would be no end of volunteers to assist online - plus you wouldn't have the worry of inviting a stranger round to the home knowing full well they are on their own....
        A good point with respect to people calling but there will be a way around that.

        The forum is an excellent source of help but many will be in awe of contacting it for fear of things being too technical. We have a society today that is forgetting there are many not so young people who have no technical knowledge, don't have a computer and if they do only use it for basic things. Widows and widowers will be appearing in times to come at a loss about what to do and I am well aware that many when bereavement suddenly hits can panic. Yes Echo looks easy to operate and Evohome is but with the latter I am sure my wife would not know where to start if she needed to rebind the relays etc. and there are few Evohome installers around, none near me, she could call on. It is not something you can ask your next door neighbour to help with. People put off making proper plans and arrangements for when they peg it. 95% of the population will say they know what they want to happen to their estates when they die but only 48% have made a will. People avoid talking about death and certainly don't contemplate leaving instructions. It is where a friendly user of the product can be of tremendous help. And at a time that could be a worrying and difficult one.

        Now how do I explain to my wife next week that when I start talking to Alexa I have not lost my marbles?

        Comment

        • Mavis
          Automated Home Ninja
          • Oct 2014
          • 322

          #19
          I knew you couldn't resist G4RHL I have just bought 2 more!

          Hubby was relatively impressed (in that he still thinks all the tech is a waste of time but I am paying for it so it is ok). He has just walked in the room and asked Alexa how she is. And Alexa understands him (thick Italian/Geordie accent!) so I am impressed.

          I am thinking of writing down key phrases for him - specifically to turn the heating up and down.

          I have only had it set up for a couple of days so need more time to play - I added Evohome first and it worked but then added my Hue, SmartThings and LWRF but Alexa got confused about my Living Room so I took everything off again and only added Evohome again. I want to keep the room names the same on Evo so I think I need to have a think about renaming everything else.

          Comment

          • G4RHL
            Automated Home Legend
            • Jan 2015
            • 1580

            #20
            Originally posted by Mavis View Post
            I knew you couldn't resist G4RHL I have just bought 2 more!

            Hubby was relatively impressed (in that he still thinks all the tech is a waste of time but I am paying for it so it is ok). He has just walked in the room and asked Alexa how she is. And Alexa understands him (thick Italian/Geordie accent!) so I am impressed.

            I am thinking of writing down key phrases for him - specifically to turn the heating up and down.

            I have only had it set up for a couple of days so need more time to play - I added Evohome first and it worked but then added my Hue, SmartThings and LWRF but Alexa got confused about my Living Room so I took everything off again and only added Evohome again. I want to keep the room names the same on Evo so I think I need to have a think about renaming everything else.
            What about using English for say Living Room and other Evohome zones and Italian for Living Room Hue lights etc.?

            Yes, I could not resist and my Dot is en route to me. Nice that it can change connect via Bluetooth to devices - my Bose SoundTouch for example and to get back to this forum, it ought to be easier operating Evohome. In a sense it seems to be the beginning of one device that can be used to control many automated things without having to do around the iPhone for the relevant app.

            Comment

            • chris_j_hunter
              Automated Home Legend
              • Dec 2007
              • 1713

              #21
              just wondered what sort of time lag people are getting, between saying what you want & that thing happening ...

              presumably speed of Internet connection has an effect ... but, two or three seconds, or ... ??
              Our self-build - going further with HA...

              Comment

              • bruce_miranda
                Automated Home Legend
                • Jul 2014
                • 2307

                #22
                It's almost the same time as using the App. The Groups are a great advantage of Echo. I finally have an Upstairs and Downstairs.

                Comment

                • paulockenden
                  Automated Home Legend
                  • Apr 2015
                  • 1719

                  #23
                  Alexa can struggle with 'downstairs' because she's also listening for 'down'.

                  Although strangely 'upstairs' seems relatively immune. Maybe it depends on your voice/accent.

                  Comment

                  • Mavis
                    Automated Home Ninja
                    • Oct 2014
                    • 322

                    #24
                    Originally posted by paulockenden View Post
                    Alexa can struggle with 'downstairs' because she's also listening for 'down'.

                    Although strangely 'upstairs' seems relatively immune. Maybe it depends on your voice/accent.
                    Paul, have you a shedload of smart kit connected to your Echo? If so, how have you approached connecting it?

                    Is the best way to plan first? I have Evohome, LWRF, Hue, SmartThings so a lot of duplication or near duplication. I put everything on then took it off as Alexa was confused and only loaded Evohome.

                    Is the best way to rename everything so each item has a clear different name?

                    Can I pick and chose what I put on? For example I have my hue bulbs within SmartThings but it would make sense that they are connected direct. So is the only way to load up SmartThings and then remove the Hue bulbs that have been uploaded through SmartThings.

                    Comment

                    • G4RHL
                      Automated Home Legend
                      • Jan 2015
                      • 1580

                      #25
                      [QUOTE=Mavis;29449]I knew you couldn't resist G4RHL I have just bought 2 more!

                      I can see why you have bought two more! Like you I have confused my new mistress and will have to wipe and reset and rethink names.

                      Comment

                      • paulockenden
                        Automated Home Legend
                        • Apr 2015
                        • 1719

                        #26
                        My system is as confused as yours, Mavis!

                        One useful feature is that the groups facility in Alexa also works with single devices, so you can use it to set up alternative names, without having to rename your stuff in the various connected systems.

                        Comment

                        • Rameses
                          Industry Expert
                          • Nov 2014
                          • 446

                          #27
                          Originally posted by victorp1612 View Post
                          Had the same issue.
                          To resolve , had to disable and re-enable the skill.
                          After a discovery, I've noticed that HotWater and Eco / Away / Custom modes are available.

                          'Alexa , turn on the hot water' now works

                          [ATTACH=CONFIG]868[/ATTACH]
                          You spotted this. Amazon jumped the gun a little but this is out now. Please rate the integration skill in Alexa app as we know loads of people have used this skill. ( plus this is subject close to my heart so I am keen to show what people think)

                          All the modes apart from day off are supported. Day off confuses Alexa so sorry we are still thinking about that one. (It's the off bit)
                          Right now you cannot set times. I.e. Hot water on for 1 hour - making a quick action on will default to permanent until you say off, or use app etc. Then it will revert to schedule.


                          Ps thanks to the guinea pigs ( you know who you are )
                          Last edited by Rameses; 29 November 2016, 12:21 AM.
                          getconnected.honeywell.com | I work for Honeywell. Any posts I make are purely to help if I can. Any personal views expressed are my own

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                          • chris_j_hunter
                            Automated Home Legend
                            • Dec 2007
                            • 1713

                            #28
                            think we expected more enthusiasm for Echo - impression is there's some way to go ... or maybe the added benefit is not yet all that clear ?
                            Our self-build - going further with HA...

                            Comment

                            • Mavis
                              Automated Home Ninja
                              • Oct 2014
                              • 322

                              #29
                              [QUOTE=G4RHL;29512]
                              Originally posted by Mavis View Post
                              I knew you couldn't resist G4RHL I have just bought 2 more!

                              I can see why you have bought two more! Like you I have confused my new mistress and will have to wipe and reset and rethink names.
                              I am easily impressed! But I know what the reality will be - The same as me using Siri, I won't use it enough to make it second nature. I will have to make an effort. I haven't tried yet but hopefully it will make it easier when my family ask me all the Wiki questions such as how old is he/she when we are watching something on the TV. I will also make the effort to use her to boost the heating in the sitting room in the evenings.

                              Is it just me that greets her in the morning and bids her good night?

                              Thanks Paul, good to know it is not just me that is disorganised with tech! That sounds like a plan putting single items into a group. Hmm think I will sit down with pen and paper at dinner time and try and plan things out (nothing better than a low tech plan to get a high tech solution.)

                              Comment

                              • G4RHL
                                Automated Home Legend
                                • Jan 2015
                                • 1580

                                #30
                                I've wiped Echo completely and will start afresh but like you need to think carfully about how and what I set up giving priority to heating and Bose SoundTouch. I think I will have to rename some items. Paul's suggestion of single items in a group of one is good. With LightwaveRF Alexa wanted to set up devices that do not exist. They did a year ago but all has been unpaired, wiped and reinstalled since so it seems LWRF have an issue as remnants are left and Alexa finds them. This may apply to other systems where we have wiped and redone.

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