Mate, this is the BEST video tutorial ever. Thank you so much. And I thought I know all about Alexa routines. 😅 Please forget about Google and Home assistant and talk more about Alexa. That’s all what we need.
Brian, its not been almost a week since you gave me this video on very good tips. Thanks again. With the help from this video, I finally have Wyze cams showing on my Show 1st gen 8's all day. I have three 1st gen and 1 2nd gen. The 2nd gen Show won't hold the pictures. But 1st gens do fine. With your advice, I found I could stack multiple (3-4) each for each different cam and each different Echo Show" "Show cam on Echo 8" several times in the same routine. And I add a wait command for 10-12 minutes before I send a refresh "Show cam on Echo 8" command string. So, with an hour long routine, I have 3-4 commands to show the cams. Then it ends and the next routine kicks in at the top of the hour. One more trick I use to help my Wyze cams maintain their connection? I have a WiFi plug on the power and I perform a off and wait 3 minutes and back on each morning about 4 am. This gives each camera a fresh connection to my WiFi. Should not be necessary, but it definitely helps.
My Wyze cameras are being selective. I have 5 cameras, but only 3 are working, no matter where I move them in the house. I’ve reset the app, reset the cameras, unlinked and relinked them, but the same 2 cameras still won’t show. I’ve also tried using Alexa Echo and Google Home, but they still won’t display. I don’t know what else to do-can someone help me?
@@asvpjoeyevdo9798 Sure, we can try. Before you go further, I recommend going to the Wyze user forum and ask same question. Lots more Wyze users to assist. 1) Do you have another smartphone available? Use it and create a new Wyze account and try it on the new account. Use your same WiFi. It will work though its same WiFi because its a different Wyze account. Don't have access to another phone? As a family member in a different home. Ask a neighbor you can impose on for a few minutes, and use their WiFi too. I know the pain of doing this too, but it may be necessary to test. Log out of the Wyze app. Restart your phone. Log in again, BUT create a new test Wyze account. Same WifI but different account. If the test account helps, move other devices to it, and forget the original Wyze account.
I bought Eufy camaras. Thay have great detection and you don't need subscription. Once they learn who is normally in the home including pets, it will only alert on strangers now.. Love these cameras...
@@stmpdog1906 Do you get any lag in the video feed? Im seeing about 5 second lag while viewing Live on my Blink mini 2 and outdoor 4 both. Very annoying :(
I’m still getting the “ok” with volume at 0 but this is so cool. Thanks for this. I have indoor and outdoor camera groups now that I can call up when I need them 🙌🏾
Another nice job, Brian. I find it's mostly the manufacturers limiting the time it shows and this is because a large percentage of users, like me, use cordless cameras that need recharging. Even though they might have solar charging like a couple of mine, you can drain them fairly quickly if they're on too often for too long. Furthermore, if there's a particular. camera detection motion, that's the one I especially want on and have less interest in the others unless they're also showing motion. You've given a lot of useful tips. I need to get off my butt and try the outdoor motion detector that I've had for two years!!! The grouping tip is great! Good job, my friend.
Totally agree Google is shameful, main reason I have to have both Google & Amazon smart speakers but I only have Googles smart displays as personal I prefer their look but the lack of things like this is shameful.
Hello, I’m undecided. I have two surveillance cameras, two connected light bulbs that aren’t even plugged in, and connected switches that are also not set up (yes, smart home isn’t something I really use since my house isn’t big, and everything is almost within arm’s reach). My main goal is to display my two cameras continuously and/or display them automatically when there is a motion detection. Would you recommend the Echo Hub or the Fire TV Stick 4K Max? I’ve seen that it’s possible to display the cameras with the Fire TV. The only downside with the Fire TV is that you always have to turn on the TV. In short, based on your opinion, with my Reolink cameras, would the Echo Hub be the best option without using the other features, or is the Fire TV better? Thank you! 🙏
Thanks Brian, great video. Gives me some Homework to do tomorrow on Sunday and get this set up. Perfect 20 min video length. Like the idea of not showing Cams whilst asleep, I will just get Alexa to "Arm Claymores" at this time.
Rather than messing with volume in my routines, I have an old Echo Dot (the first ever version) connected in a quiet corner somewhere, on mute, with a cutoff headphone plug inserted into its headphone socket. I have called this device "mute" - and if I want a routine to run silently, I have the routine set to respond from the "mute" device. This obviates all the speech for that routine without running extra steps that slow the routine down.
I love this video more than any other. I come back and watch to glean new ideas. Since my last visit to watch I did this. I dislike how she announces things. And even when you run a routine, its going to do that "boing, or ping or whatever she calls it. Now bear in mind what you are doing. If you use this wrong, you won't hear any announcement either. 1. Take one of your old Dot's such as a 2nd or 3rd gen. Add it to your account. Set the volume to zero. Now, put it in a sock. You heard me right. Wrap a towel around the sock, and put it in a box. Put the "package" in a closet that has an power outlet, or the attic or the garage, or basement. Put it out of sight and out of ear range. Oh, and one more thing, name is something like Echo Dot Mute. Now in every routine where you want to hear nothing from her, use this Dot Mute for the "Hear Alexa from" choice at the bottom of the routine. (Just don't forget where you hid it, later.) lol Works great.
Brian, Thank you for this video. This is one of the most useful explanation for Echo Show and cams available. Very insightful. Your tips are spot on and highly useful. Background: I have two camera that face opposite directions in my alley. I have been using 1 each Routine for 1 camera at top of the hour to display that camera for as long as possible. This occurs from 0700 am to 0700 pm. (about 24 routines) I had to do one camera per hour because a routine allowed only one Custom command string and at the bottom of the routine. (I have 200 routines. And that's a limit Alexa has imposed in the app. When you near that limit, you need to be creative.) I guess, the Alexa team changed the ability to have more than one Custom string in a routine, but told few. Until your video, I didn't see that I could stack Custom command strings in the same routine. Now, I can "so to speak" force Alexa to re-run the same command string within the same hour, AND extend that hour into the next hour without using another routine. VERY COOL. So, to save myself some time, I created a boilerplate routine stuffed with lots of Custom and standard command strings, and lots of "waits". This routine, become my "Copy to a new routine" baseline. Now, I can create a routine without starting from scratch for those long ones. (Its a lot easier, to delete a command line from a routine, than add a command line to a routine, eh?) Thanks. And thanks for the tip on how to suppress "her" from announcing or "okay-ing" every thing she does. I mean, it was right there in plain view. And it never occurred to me to 'Add Volume, but Set to 0". DUH. I should have seen that long ago. Thanks again. Now, I have 4 routines, (vice 24) re-running the same Command string for 2 cameras at staggered 2 and 13 minute intervals for three hours each. Yes, many times, the Show blanks out, back to Home. But with the multiple Custom command strings already embedded in the routine, I don't have to wait for the top of the hour any more to see them try to display the cameras. BIG Thanks - one more time. These type videos are - ah - "the cat's meow". I like to call them, "merely wonderful". Please keep doing them. VR, follower.
Hey Obi Juan! Thanks so much and I'm glad this one is helping you. I can't believe you've hit the limit for routines, but then again...you do a lot! That's great and I hope this helps a lot! By the way, the volume thing seems to have changed on me already. Alexa is putting the volume up to 1 for the Okay...so it's quiet, but it's there.
I'm at 10:17 into this video. I'm loving your videos. There's just something I like about your presentation. I wasn't a big fan of home automation until my mom got sick with Dementia and I had to set up a baby monitor to keep an eye on her in her room. I use an earlier version of I think its an echo show 5 version 2 or version 3 and I got them by accident to work togheter using a NOOIE cam 360 cam (version 1). My Amazon echo show 5 version 1 or 2 has about a 10 to 15 second delay before showing the contents from the NOOIE cam but I really love the echo show 5 version 1 or 2's format. It's like the perfect display cam for me and I get updates on when my amazon packages have been delivered which is also another feature I wasn't expecting but love. Thank-you for sharing your experience in setting up and testing these cameras and their various services. I now see the value and benefit of home automation and am still learning the joys and wonders of the same and example I plan to sue is a smart wall outlet for turning on and off a window air conditioning unit for my mom from my phone so that it keeps me from having to jump up so much to turn the air conditionin unit on and off for her as she becomes either hot or cold. Thank-you!
I grouped them into a group named Camera Group. "Open camera group" doesn't support that responds Alexa with my Eufy cameras. However, "Show camera group" works just fine. Thanks!
Thanks, that's sweet! One thing that really drives me nuts is how when someone rings my Ring doorbell, sometimes if I'm in the next room, by the time I get to my Show 15, the feed is already gone. ARGH!
Hi i am going to purchase the 4 solar powered Eufy camera and hub and it was great seeing how you can link this to a display in the house. Can you please let me know is there additional hardware required to get the 4 cameras to show on the Eco screen ?
Hi Brian, Thanks for this video. It was helpful to get the live feed to display on my echo show however my blink is not recording the motion when I have the routine enabled. Is there anyway way around this?
I don't know why it would do that. That's a weird one, but...it sounds like you should maybe look at different cameras. Do you have the little hub for your Blink cameras?
Was the beginning a pretty consistent and accurate example for how fast the different devices pull up the camera feeds? The 15 seemed so smooth and fast compared to the others. If you had to rank them in terms of speed (15, 10, 8, 5, hub) for the feeds to pop up, how would you compare them? Thanks!
There's not necessarily a speed difference between any of them. It's all based on network speed. I do find that the 5-in display is the slowest. Otherwise you won't find any real differences
I'm setting up my Eufy cameras next month and I noticed my LG smart TV with alexa integration mentions viewing cameras on the homepage. I might be able to use this on my TV haha, I'll come back in a month and let you know.
Great video! I have 10 or so Nest cameras. Two of which I use as baby monitors. Is it possible to stream just the two baby monitors at night? Does it stream the audio from both as well?
Thank you, Brian! Excellent video! I set up the script for my EchoShow 15 and it doesn't give me full screen when it shows the multicamera.. I have a large border around the multi camera view and on the bottom left it says "Tap on a camera to zoom in". Even I added this routine 3 times, after 1 minute it goes to the Home screen.
I have tried everything to get my blink cameras on the echo show 15 when the blink doorbell is pressed and only get a audio announcement, no video camera feed.
Have you figured a way to make it so it doesn’t trigger multiple routines, for example if someone walks up the driveway then to the front door, it triggers two multi view routines causing it to reload which kind of defeats the purpose
Add an action to disable the other routines if you'd like. You'll have to manage the re-enabling of it though! Otherwise, I'd just set a few cameras to run the routines instead of all of them!
All I want is a blink doorbell press and my echoshow 8 displays the live view. I read elsewhere that the echoshow 15 does not support doorbell press liveview.
So much of this could be simplified is the API's would just allow a direct trigger for pulling up the stream without having to use the custom say to Alexa command. I have been doing it rhis way for years and I too am annoyed at her saying "ok" All the time so I love the idea of using the routine to adjust volume to zero but I was surprised to see you didn't jave to use any delay before setting thr volume back to normal. I think I tried the set volume to zero a long time ago in my person detection routines but die to the delay in alexa response it would still be at normal when she saod OK. Again I wonder if they will ever just implement a then command in routines that says open a camera feed or something to that effect. This way she won't say "OK" all the time natively
It seemed to work ok for me. I did notice that because she was speaking, Amazon bumps the volume to 1 (10%) so you hear the Okay. Annoying, but it is what it is
@@AutomateYourLife Hi. I'm just using "Modes and Routines" (automation app on Samsung Phones) to trigger your multiview idea on my Echo Show 15, everytime someone presses my flat number on my building intercom system as I have Ring Intercom. The "Modes and Routines" trigger is based on keywords in the notification I receive from the Ring App everytime someone buzzes in.
In regards to active times when you want this Multiview routine to run, as an extra peace of mind solution if you have variable Bedtime and wake-up times you could include a "Disable Multiview routine routine" in your 'Bedtime' routine.
Another great vid Brian.. Thank you.. I am wondering if any automators on here know if there is a smart spray mister botle?.. I have cats that are climbing into places that I don't want them to be. Any suggestions are appreciated ..
Is there a certain app interface type that will show 4 cameras via live feed at once? I got the Google hub Max and some Google nest cameras and doorbell.
To see more than one screen at a time, do I need to set up a group. Or just copy the first routine. I also think my blink cameras will not work at the same time.
Good afternoon thanks for your video Do you know of any application where I can put several cameras from different brands and be able to see them on my iPhone or iPad? thank you very much for your help all the best James
Not automatically, no. You can use TinyCam Pro with some cameras to bring up 4...but you'd need an intermediary app to bring up the cameras from a notification. It would be slow and likely buggy.
I followed your directions and have everything setup correctly, however none of the routines are being triggered when someone is at the cameras. The multiview command works verbally and all my Cams work verbally individually. What am I leaving out? I have Ring and Nest cams.
Hi Brian I really enjoy your how you put everything across.Have you had any dealings with ieGeek cameras I can command it on my Show but cant set a routine to allow it to instant display
@@AutomateYourLife All my eufy cameras can only have the routine as "when Motion is detected" and NOT "when a person is detected" DO you think it still might work??
@@workwithamar I don't think so then. You could try turning off the motion detection in Eufy's app and only have person detection running, and then see if it'll trigger using the Motion is Detected option, but...I doubt it.
@@AutomateYourLife Hooray! Some time since my previous visit to this page, the transcript appeared - thank you, Brian - your presentations are the best!
There is a slight issue with this setup. Hardly any camera double feeds. Meaning when the routine is activated and starts the camera feed on the Echo device, you cannot then access the feed from your phone to see and talk to anyone at your property when out and about because the feed is already running on the Echo
Is there an extra step for google nest cameras I followed the steps and the google home app shows motion detection but it doesn’t trigger the command. Thank you for making this video literally the reason I bought the hub!
To me that sounds like the Google nest service is not sending the motion trigger to Amazon. There's nothing that can be done about that except wait and see if it gets better after a couple of days or talk to Google
@@AutomateYourLifethank you for the quick response I set it up in groups instead of the multi view could that cause and issue. I have it triggering front yard on motion and back yard separate
Hi Brian - Is the new "multiview functionality" only available on the new Echo Hub? I cannot get the multiview setup to play with voice or routine using the older Echo Show devices. Thoughts?
That one I don't know. If you can integrate Vivint into Amazon which I think you can do, then it's possible, but I don't know how the cameras perform or whether they have that option
Great video, thanks... You don't mention the Tapo C320WS which I just ordered for this application. It appears to do everything I would need but without the cost for the magnet mount and internal battery. As my location is indoors and near AC power. It's less than half the price, too. I would have ordered it via your affiliate link, but you don't list it.
Hi! I lm in Canada and been struggling to find the DMSS skill to connect my Dahua camera set up. I changed my account to USA but its not coming up in my search. Any advice ? thanks!
No advice for you sadly. Not every camera's gonna work. Maybe wait a few days to see if the switchover works once servers re-point to the new spot, but...doesn't sound good.
This is great but I noticed that my cameras have a 5 second lag in the video feed. I was hoping I could have it double as a baby monitor but that 5 second lag is a deterrent. Is there something I can do to eliminate that?
@@AutomateYourLife I am using Blinks only atm. Figured theyd be more compatible and faster to respond but not quite so. Internet is wifi 6 Tp link Deco meshes. You dont get any lag in the feed at all? Or is there another cam youd recommend that would work lag free?
@shaazy lots of comments in this video of people having success! I've been using Tapo cameras for a bit. Found ring to be good too. Some folks have enjoyed Eufy. Read below :)
The routine works great, but here's the big problem I'm having... on the Echo Show 8 if the display is off then it won't turn back on when the routine runs. If I leave out the volume adjustments in the routine, I can hear it say "ok" like the routine is running, but the routine itself won't turn the display on. And the really weird part is there doesn't seem to be anything you can add to the beginning of the routine to turn on the display, I've spent hours trying everything I can think of. I hate having the display running when I'm not using it, so this is really annoying.
It's all a bit weird. Turn on the screen is a custom command you could use and put at the start of the routine If that doesn't work, something else is going on here. The display should come on regardless of what you ask it to do I think... So maybe an update that was pushed out has caused this? Also you could do something like turn on a light or take another action that would cause the screen to come on.
@@AutomateYourLife Unfortunately that doesn't seem to work. The first thing I tried was a custom action "Alexa, turn on the display" but it doesn't cause it to turn on. Oddly, saying the same thing out loud does work, just doesn't work as a routine. I've tried every variation I can think of on that phrase. I've also tried all sorts of things that you would hope would make it turn on the display, but nothing works, every type of routine I can think of we'll just run but will never turn on the display.
Wyze will generally work, but to get them to do person detection requires a subscription. So as long as you don't want person detection, you should be good without a subscription to Wyze's service.
The set volume command no longer works. You set it to zero or turn off sound and it still plays, only quieter. This effects all custom commands not just show camera feeds, it also occurs on Plex commands. Been broken for at least six months now and given amazon sacked half their Echo developer teams I don't see it being fixed anytime soon.
@@AutomateYourLife thank you. Not sure what I'm doing wrong, I did watch til teh end, still not working. Maybe I'm confused do I need to put the cameras I want to see in a group? When I did and tried to create a routine it wouldn't let me.
@@venjiegose9567 yep! Get them in a group and then make the exact command I use at the end of the video. Those last routines I change the command I use 😃
I just set mines for when someone actually RINGS the doorbell so that way I’m not getting ppl just walking by . I’d only wanna see the cameras when someone press the bell so I can see who it is before I go/get up to open the door
Question if I have a fire TV cube hooked up to a TV could I do this with that assuming the TV was on have the cameras pop up on the TV when motion is detected
You can get way better results via Home assistant, frigate, open silk with no noise playback card and you have an always on local and responsive cctv monitoring echo.
Need a little help here bud. Why there is no option of person detection on the Alexa routine setting, even though my Tapo cam supports person detection and all the latest functions? The only thing to choose is motion detection on the event section.
I don't know that one. It'll depend on the model and what Tapo has available. If it's exactly the model I have, it should be there. It can also depend on the country you're in, FYI.
@@AutomateYourLife I'm in the UK. The Tapo cam I'm using is the C425 and C325WB. They both have AI chip that support person/pet detection etc. Does adding the camera individually on Alexa app or adding them together by enabling skill make any difference?
Not every Tapo camera will have that option. So if you're using the same ones as me it could be a difference in location, but I hadn't heard that from anyone else yet
Lots of asks and comments about them in the video now! Check out some of the models people are saying they got working (and others they didn't) in the comments here
Hey again so I got this to work with the multi view command but when I tried using my camera group it doesn't work any thoughts on why or how to fix this I really want a specific 4 cameras to be shown and to be clear they are all ring cameras and I did put them in a group in the Alexa app
I attempted this with Blink cameras and the Alexa app won't connect with the blink app. I am seeing many recent reviews on the Alexa app for multiple camera apps not being able to connect (topo, arlo, lorax, etc.) Do you know if something recently changed in the Alexa app to prevent all of these from connecting in the app? Thank you.
Some people are reporting the newest versions do person detection triggers in Alexa, but I don't believe many of the older cameras do. They will display though, and can usually do motion detection triggers.
@@Chesterflaps no don't call it multiview. Just make it something unique so Alexa doesn't think you're asking for something else. As in, if you make a group called cameras it will confuse her. Call it Chesterflaps ;)
Mate, this is the BEST video tutorial ever. Thank you so much. And I thought I know all about Alexa routines. 😅
Please forget about Google and Home assistant and talk more about Alexa. That’s all what we need.
Fantastic!
Brian, its not been almost a week since you gave me this video on very good tips. Thanks again. With the help from this video, I finally have Wyze cams showing on my Show 1st gen 8's all day. I have three 1st gen and 1 2nd gen. The 2nd gen Show won't hold the pictures. But 1st gens do fine. With your advice, I found I could stack multiple (3-4) each for each different cam and each different Echo Show" "Show cam on Echo 8" several times in the same routine. And I add a wait command for 10-12 minutes before I send a refresh "Show cam on Echo 8" command string. So, with an hour long routine, I have 3-4 commands to show the cams. Then it ends and the next routine kicks in at the top of the hour. One more trick I use to help my Wyze cams maintain their connection? I have a WiFi plug on the power and I perform a off and wait 3 minutes and back on each morning about 4 am. This gives each camera a fresh connection to my WiFi. Should not be necessary, but it definitely helps.
Whoa! You did some things with this!
@@AutomateYourLife Even Obi Wan Kinobi would be impressed.
My Wyze cameras are being selective. I have 5 cameras, but only 3 are working, no matter where I move them in the house. I’ve reset the app, reset the cameras, unlinked and relinked them, but the same 2 cameras still won’t show. I’ve also tried using Alexa Echo and Google Home, but they still won’t display. I don’t know what else to do-can someone help me?
@@asvpjoeyevdo9798 Sure, we can try. Before you go further, I recommend going to the Wyze user forum and ask same question. Lots more Wyze users to assist. 1) Do you have another smartphone available? Use it and create a new Wyze account and try it on the new account. Use your same WiFi. It will work though its same WiFi because its a different Wyze account. Don't have access to another phone? As a family member in a different home. Ask a neighbor you can impose on for a few minutes, and use their WiFi too. I know the pain of doing this too, but it may be necessary to test. Log out of the Wyze app. Restart your phone. Log in again, BUT create a new test Wyze account. Same WifI but different account. If the test account helps, move other devices to it, and forget the original Wyze account.
I bought Eufy camaras. Thay have great detection and you don't need subscription. Once they learn who is normally in the home including pets, it will only alert on strangers now.. Love these cameras...
Do they show that person detection trigger in the Alexa app?
Ours do person/ pet/ stranger AI detection, but that function may be on the Eufy Home Base ....
@@AutomateYourLife I have not linked to Alexa yet. Was searching for interface ideas and came across you video.
@@ke4755 I have a HB3. It still records all events. I only get push notifications on Strangers
@@stmpdog1906 Do you get any lag in the video feed? Im seeing about 5 second lag while viewing Live on my Blink mini 2 and outdoor 4 both. Very annoying :(
I’m still getting the “ok” with volume at 0 but this is so cool. Thanks for this. I have indoor and outdoor camera groups now that I can call up when I need them 🙌🏾
Yeah she's now doing a volume 1 ok for me too...🤦. But that I can live with if the rest works!😃👍
Another nice job, Brian. I find it's mostly the manufacturers limiting the time it shows and this is because a large percentage of users, like me, use cordless cameras that need recharging. Even though they might have solar charging like a couple of mine, you can drain them fairly quickly if they're on too often for too long. Furthermore, if there's a particular. camera detection motion, that's the one I especially want on and have less interest in the others unless they're also showing motion. You've given a lot of useful tips. I need to get off my butt and try the outdoor motion detector that I've had for two years!!! The grouping tip is great! Good job, my friend.
Thanks Hugh! I'm glad this one has you moving! :)
Another very helpful video. Thanks again, Brian!
My pleasure! Thank you!
The tip on camera groups to defeat seeing four recently triggered cams was worth every minute of this video! Thanks!
Yeah I was some kinda happy when I figured that out. Glad you caught it and it's exciting for you!
meanwhile... Google is deleting functions.
Hey Google, you're losing
They are just streamlining bro.
😁
Multiview is great only if you are within an arms-length of the Echo Show.
Like what? Stop BS'ing...
Totally agree Google is shameful, main reason I have to have both Google & Amazon smart speakers but I only have Googles smart displays as personal I prefer their look but the lack of things like this is shameful.
Very helpful, I like that you can combine camera views from multiple manufacturers!
😃😃
Hello,
I’m undecided. I have two surveillance cameras, two connected light bulbs that aren’t even plugged in, and connected switches that are also not set up (yes, smart home isn’t something I really use since my house isn’t big, and everything is almost within arm’s reach).
My main goal is to display my two cameras continuously and/or display them automatically when there is a motion detection. Would you recommend the Echo Hub or the Fire TV Stick 4K Max? I’ve seen that it’s possible to display the cameras with the Fire TV.
The only downside with the Fire TV is that you always have to turn on the TV. In short, based on your opinion, with my Reolink cameras, would the Echo Hub be the best option without using the other features, or is the Fire TV better?
Thank you! 🙏
Thanks Brian, great video. Gives me some Homework to do tomorrow on Sunday and get this set up. Perfect 20 min video length. Like the idea of not showing Cams whilst asleep, I will just get Alexa to "Arm Claymores" at this time.
Arm Claymores!! 🤣🤣🤣
Rather than messing with volume in my routines, I have an old Echo Dot (the first ever version) connected in a quiet corner somewhere, on mute, with a cutoff headphone plug inserted into its headphone socket. I have called this device "mute" - and if I want a routine to run silently, I have the routine set to respond from the "mute" device. This obviates all the speech for that routine without running extra steps that slow the routine down.
Nice idea!
This is exactly what I have been wanting for a long time. I followed the steps and works perfect. You gained a new subscriber, thanks!
Awesome, thank you!
How about UniFi protect cameras?
Scrypted
Don't use unifi, I've spent a lot of money with them. Ended up selling everything and moving to blue iris with dahua cameras
I love this video more than any other. I come back and watch to glean new ideas. Since my last visit to watch I did this.
I dislike how she announces things. And even when you run a routine, its going to do that "boing, or ping or whatever she calls it. Now bear in mind what you are doing. If you use this wrong, you won't hear any announcement either.
1. Take one of your old Dot's such as a 2nd or 3rd gen. Add it to your account. Set the volume to zero. Now, put it in a sock. You heard me right. Wrap a towel around the sock, and put it in a box. Put the "package" in a closet that has an power outlet, or the attic or the garage, or basement. Put it out of sight and out of ear range. Oh, and one more thing, name is something like Echo Dot Mute. Now in every routine where you want to hear nothing from her, use this Dot Mute for the "Hear Alexa from" choice at the bottom of the routine. (Just don't forget where you hid it, later.) lol Works great.
Nice solve! You really are ObiJuan!
Brian, Thank you for this video. This is one of the most useful explanation for Echo Show and cams available. Very insightful. Your tips are spot on and highly useful.
Background: I have two camera that face opposite directions in my alley. I have been using 1 each Routine for 1 camera at top of the hour to display that camera for as long as possible. This occurs from 0700 am to 0700 pm. (about 24 routines) I had to do one camera per hour because a routine allowed only one Custom command string and at the bottom of the routine.
(I have 200 routines. And that's a limit Alexa has imposed in the app. When you near that limit, you need to be creative.)
I guess, the Alexa team changed the ability to have more than one Custom string in a routine, but told few. Until your video, I didn't see that I could stack Custom command strings in the same routine. Now, I can "so to speak" force Alexa to re-run the same command string within the same hour, AND extend that hour into the next hour without using another routine. VERY COOL.
So, to save myself some time, I created a boilerplate routine stuffed with lots of Custom and standard command strings, and lots of "waits". This routine, become my "Copy to a new routine" baseline. Now, I can create a routine without starting from scratch for those long ones. (Its a lot easier, to delete a command line from a routine, than add a command line to a routine, eh?) Thanks.
And thanks for the tip on how to suppress "her" from announcing or "okay-ing" every thing she does. I mean, it was right there in plain view. And it never occurred to me to 'Add Volume, but Set to 0". DUH. I should have seen that long ago. Thanks again.
Now, I have 4 routines, (vice 24) re-running the same Command string for 2 cameras at staggered 2 and 13 minute intervals for three hours each. Yes, many times, the Show blanks out, back to Home. But with the multiple Custom command strings already embedded in the routine, I don't have to wait for the top of the hour any more to see them try to display the cameras. BIG Thanks - one more time.
These type videos are - ah - "the cat's meow". I like to call them, "merely wonderful". Please keep doing them.
VR, follower.
Hey Obi Juan! Thanks so much and I'm glad this one is helping you. I can't believe you've hit the limit for routines, but then again...you do a lot! That's great and I hope this helps a lot!
By the way, the volume thing seems to have changed on me already. Alexa is putting the volume up to 1 for the Okay...so it's quiet, but it's there.
Now..thanks to you, I can see 3 cameras from all of my Echo Shows! Thanks again, you handsome man.
Yessssssssssssssss!
I'm at 10:17 into this video. I'm loving your videos. There's just something I like about your presentation. I wasn't a big fan of home automation until my mom got sick with Dementia and I had to set up a baby monitor to keep an eye on her in her room. I use an earlier version of I think its an echo show 5 version 2 or version 3 and I got them by accident to work togheter using a NOOIE cam 360 cam (version 1). My Amazon echo show 5 version 1 or 2 has about a 10 to 15 second delay before showing the contents from the NOOIE cam but I really love the echo show 5 version 1 or 2's format. It's like the perfect display cam for me and I get updates on when my amazon packages have been delivered which is also another feature I wasn't expecting but love. Thank-you for sharing your experience in setting up and testing these cameras and their various services. I now see the value and benefit of home automation and am still learning the joys and wonders of the same and example I plan to sue is a smart wall outlet for turning on and off a window air conditioning unit for my mom from my phone so that it keeps me from having to jump up so much to turn the air conditionin unit on and off for her as she becomes either hot or cold. Thank-you!
Well thank you! And good luck with your mom. Take care of both of you!
This WONDERFUL! Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great explanation as always Brian!
Thanks! Enjoy!
I grouped them into a group named Camera Group. "Open camera group" doesn't support that responds Alexa with my Eufy cameras. However, "Show camera group" works just fine. Thanks!
What camera models are you using?
@@dr.crimper1733 Wired Doorbell T8202, Floodlight Cam 2 Pro, and two S220 Pan & Tilts. I didn't want my wireless cameras draining battery for this.
Wired Doorbell T8202, Floodlight Cam 2 Pro, and two S220 Pan & Tilts. I didn't use my wireless cameras to conserve battery life.@@dr.crimper1733
Thanks, that's sweet! One thing that really drives me nuts is how when someone rings my Ring doorbell, sometimes if I'm in the next room, by the time I get to my Show 15, the feed is already gone. ARGH!
Yeah... this can replace that entirely! 😃
Isn't there a motion detection feature that could pre-empt a push and notify you?
Hi i am going to purchase the 4 solar powered Eufy camera and hub and it was great seeing how you can link this to a display in the house.
Can you please let me know is there additional hardware required to get the 4 cameras to show on the Eco screen ?
Nope! You're good to go with your plans
Hi Brian,
Thanks for this video. It was helpful to get the live feed to display on my echo show however my blink is not recording the motion when I have the routine enabled. Is there anyway way around this?
I don't know why it would do that. That's a weird one, but...it sounds like you should maybe look at different cameras. Do you have the little hub for your Blink cameras?
Was the beginning a pretty consistent and accurate example for how fast the different devices pull up the camera feeds? The 15 seemed so smooth and fast compared to the others.
If you had to rank them in terms of speed (15, 10, 8, 5, hub) for the feeds to pop up, how would you compare them?
Thanks!
There's not necessarily a speed difference between any of them. It's all based on network speed.
I do find that the 5-in display is the slowest. Otherwise you won't find any real differences
I'm setting up my Eufy cameras next month and I noticed my LG smart TV with alexa integration mentions viewing cameras on the homepage. I might be able to use this on my TV haha, I'll come back in a month and let you know.
I'll wait! 😃
Great video! I have 10 or so Nest cameras. Two of which I use as baby monitors. Is it possible to stream just the two baby monitors at night? Does it stream the audio from both as well?
Yeah just put them in specific groups. Then use that group with a time limited routine. 😃👍
Hi Mike! Is multi view available on TV through FireStick…trying to set up for my dad on larger device for viewing…thanks SO MUCH….great video!!!
I'm Brian and therefore can't answer this question.
But no, sorry not yet
@@AutomateYourLife lol
Thank you, Brian! Excellent video! I set up the script for my EchoShow 15 and it doesn't give me full screen when it shows the multicamera.. I have a large border around the multi camera view and on the bottom left it says "Tap on a camera to zoom in". Even I added this routine 3 times, after 1 minute it goes to the Home screen.
I will tell you that the regular Echo Shows have that border around the cameras. That's normal. It's not perfect with those for sure.
I have tried everything to get my blink cameras on the echo show 15 when the blink doorbell is pressed and only get a audio announcement, no video camera feed.
Have you figured a way to make it so it doesn’t trigger multiple routines, for example if someone walks up the driveway then to the front door, it triggers two multi view routines causing it to reload which kind of defeats the purpose
Add an action to disable the other routines if you'd like. You'll have to manage the re-enabling of it though!
Otherwise, I'd just set a few cameras to run the routines instead of all of them!
No mention of Blink cameras or Blink doorbells, which are part of the amazon family. Why ? Don't they work well with the echo hub ?
They do work just fine. Person detection is pretty tough to do with Blink though. Costs a subscription like Wyze does with the new mini 2, too
All I want is a blink doorbell press and my echoshow 8 displays the live view. I read elsewhere that the echoshow 15 does not support doorbell press liveview.
So much of this could be simplified is the API's would just allow a direct trigger for pulling up the stream without having to use the custom say to Alexa command.
I have been doing it rhis way for years and I too am annoyed at her saying "ok"
All the time so I love the idea of using the routine to adjust volume to zero but I was surprised to see you didn't jave to use any delay before setting thr volume back to normal.
I think I tried the set volume to zero a long time ago in my person detection routines but die to the delay in alexa response it would still be at normal when she saod OK.
Again I wonder if they will ever just implement a then command in routines that says open a camera feed or something to that effect.
This way she won't say "OK" all the time natively
It seemed to work ok for me. I did notice that because she was speaking, Amazon bumps the volume to 1 (10%) so you hear the Okay. Annoying, but it is what it is
Does this setup work with unifi cameras?
You'll have to wait for someone else who's tried it. :) I never have
that same automation is also useful with the Ring Intercom! Thank you
Tell me more! I've been building some automations with Alexa and would love to understand
@@AutomateYourLife Hi. I'm just using "Modes and Routines" (automation app on Samsung Phones) to trigger your multiview idea on my Echo Show 15, everytime someone presses my flat number on my building intercom system as I have Ring Intercom. The "Modes and Routines" trigger is based on keywords in the notification I receive from the Ring App everytime someone buzzes in.
Neat!
In regards to active times when you want this Multiview routine to run, as an extra peace of mind solution if you have variable Bedtime and wake-up times you could include a "Disable Multiview routine routine" in your 'Bedtime' routine.
Good idea! Also turn on Do Not Disturb mode 😃
@@AutomateYourLife OK. Will do.👍
Thank you
Another great vid Brian.. Thank you.. I am wondering if any automators on here know if there is a smart spray mister botle?.. I have cats that are climbing into places that I don't want them to be. Any suggestions are appreciated ..
Good luck! I saw someone do it once with a relay I thought, but don't know where!
@@AutomateYourLifeWell do you think I can ship these cats to Canada? What is your address? LOL
@@leweezo33 you can...but they'll freeze! It's still snowing!
@@AutomateYourLife Then maybe they will learn their lesson:)
So for a smart home which hub display is best for 4 multi cameras live feed and which cameras?
They all work in the same way. Only the Echo Hub has a slightly different look to the interface when showing 4 cameras. So pick for size :)
Is there a certain app interface type that will show 4 cameras via live feed at once? I got the Google hub Max and some Google nest cameras and doorbell.
between eufy and tapo, which one is best for outdoor camera that can use multiview. Thanks
I'm using Tapo, haven't tested a Eufy camera in a while
We have Eufy new doorbell and cams.
Is eufy or other Free/ no subscription cams work?
Check the description and a few of the other comments. There's some clarity around non-sub cams and Eufy
To see more than one screen at a time, do I need to set up a group. Or just copy the first routine. I also think my blink cameras will not work at the same time.
The first routine is all you need. The rest are perfections/customizations
Good afternoon
thanks for your video
Do you know of any application where I can put several cameras from different brands and be able to see them on my iPhone or iPad?
thank you very much for your help
all the best
James
Nope
We use the name "Alex - A" when we don't want to wake up the device.
Nice! Do you know of any apps that would work as a work around if I wanted to do this with a tablet?
Not automatically, no. You can use TinyCam Pro with some cameras to bring up 4...but you'd need an intermediary app to bring up the cameras from a notification. It would be slow and likely buggy.
I followed your directions and have everything setup correctly, however none of the routines are being triggered when someone is at the cameras. The multiview command works verbally and all my Cams work verbally individually.
What am I leaving out?
I have Ring and Nest cams.
Nest triggers don't work for me. Is that what you are using?
My ring nor nest cam routines are being triggered but they do work when I test them in the app.
Hi Brian I really enjoy your how you put everything across.Have you had any dealings with ieGeek cameras I can command it on my Show but cant set a routine to allow it to instant display
Sadly, I haven't used iGeek in a while. Have you tried a Custom Routine action where you type in what you'd normally say to Alexa?
Have you tested this with arlo? 💪
No, I haven't sorry
Can this be done with Google Nest Hub?
😞 sorry, no
Awesome video, Thanks for sharing. Does this work for Eufy cameras too?
A few asking about that. I don't have a Eufy camera anymore so I can't guarantee it but they'll display last I had one
@@AutomateYourLife All my eufy cameras can only have the routine as "when Motion is detected" and NOT "when a person is detected" DO you think it still might work??
@@workwithamar I don't think so then. You could try turning off the motion detection in Eufy's app and only have person detection running, and then see if it'll trigger using the Motion is Detected option, but...I doubt it.
@@AutomateYourLife Thanks will try
@@workwithamardid it work?
Thanks, Brian! Can you help us with hearing problems locate the transcript of this video? Thank you.
It looks like they're there now! Can you check??
@@AutomateYourLife Still looking for it but don't see it.
I have some hearing problems and use the closed caption feature from upper right on youtube.
Should be a CC button on the video!
@@AutomateYourLife Hooray! Some time since my previous visit to this page, the transcript appeared - thank you, Brian - your presentations are the best!
There is a slight issue with this setup. Hardly any camera double feeds. Meaning when the routine is activated and starts the camera feed on the Echo device, you cannot then access the feed from your phone to see and talk to anyone at your property when out and about because the feed is already running on the Echo
You did see the intro right?
Not saying you're wrong, but it's been just fine for me
Is there an extra step for google nest cameras I followed the steps and the google home app shows motion detection but it doesn’t trigger the command. Thank you for making this video literally the reason I bought the hub!
To me that sounds like the Google nest service is not sending the motion trigger to Amazon. There's nothing that can be done about that except wait and see if it gets better after a couple of days or talk to Google
@@AutomateYourLifethank you for the quick response I set it up in groups instead of the multi view could that cause and issue. I have it triggering front yard on motion and back yard separate
Hi Brian - Is the new "multiview functionality" only available on the new Echo Hub? I cannot get the multiview setup to play with voice or routine using the older Echo Show devices. Thoughts?
It works on them all! Try some of the other commands in this video. They start with Show me
I even showed it working with all the displays
This is really great. Can you do this with Eufy cameras?
It'll depend on the camera specifically, but in general yep :)
@@AutomateYourLife I was thinking of the newest ones the S3 pros
is there a way to keep live view constantly on
@@Warlockphreak it's in the video
Hey had a question does the Tapo Door bell have the trigger for doorbell press to show on Alexa ??
Yep, you can watch our review on that and you'll see all the options you have. There are quite a few
Will this work with vivint system?
That one I don't know. If you can integrate Vivint into Amazon which I think you can do, then it's possible, but I don't know how the cameras perform or whether they have that option
Hi Brian does this work with the blink cameras
Blink doesn't do person detection (except the latest models), but otherwise they will stream!
Do you need home base for Eufy camera ?
For most of their cameras you do :)
Great video, thanks... You don't mention the Tapo C320WS which I just ordered for this application. It appears to do everything I would need but without the cost for the magnet mount and internal battery. As my location is indoors and near AC power. It's less than half the price, too. I would have ordered it via your affiliate link, but you don't list it.
Lemme know if it works for ya, and I'll add it for others to learn from!
Can you get it to show you views from the cameras on the echo shows if you have many of them around the house.
Sadly you cannot. I tried to do that and definitely would have told you guys about it if it was possible
Can you get the 4 camera display on firestick?
Sadly, no
Hi! I lm in Canada and been struggling to find the DMSS skill to connect my Dahua camera set up. I changed my account to USA but its not coming up in my search. Any advice ? thanks!
No advice for you sadly. Not every camera's gonna work. Maybe wait a few days to see if the switchover works once servers re-point to the new spot, but...doesn't sound good.
This is great but I noticed that my cameras have a 5 second lag in the video feed. I was hoping I could have it double as a baby monitor but that 5 second lag is a deterrent. Is there something I can do to eliminate that?
Look at your camera maker. Could be that and usually is. Could be WiFi related too!
@@AutomateYourLife I am using Blinks only atm. Figured theyd be more compatible and faster to respond but not quite so. Internet is wifi 6 Tp link Deco meshes. You dont get any lag in the feed at all? Or is there another cam youd recommend that would work lag free?
@shaazy lots of comments in this video of people having success! I've been using Tapo cameras for a bit. Found ring to be good too. Some folks have enjoyed Eufy. Read below :)
Will Yi cameras work
The routine works great, but here's the big problem I'm having... on the Echo Show 8 if the display is off then it won't turn back on when the routine runs. If I leave out the volume adjustments in the routine, I can hear it say "ok" like the routine is running, but the routine itself won't turn the display on. And the really weird part is there doesn't seem to be anything you can add to the beginning of the routine to turn on the display, I've spent hours trying everything I can think of. I hate having the display running when I'm not using it, so this is really annoying.
It's all a bit weird.
Turn on the screen is a custom command you could use and put at the start of the routine
If that doesn't work, something else is going on here. The display should come on regardless of what you ask it to do I think... So maybe an update that was pushed out has caused this?
Also you could do something like turn on a light or take another action that would cause the screen to come on.
@@AutomateYourLife Unfortunately that doesn't seem to work. The first thing I tried was a custom action "Alexa, turn on the display" but it doesn't cause it to turn on. Oddly, saying the same thing out loud does work, just doesn't work as a routine. I've tried every variation I can think of on that phrase. I've also tried all sorts of things that you would hope would make it turn on the display, but nothing works, every type of routine I can think of we'll just run but will never turn on the display.
Thank you for this video I didn't relize I could do this and I love it
Enjoy!
Do they work with Vivint cameras?
Can't tell you that one. You'll have to see if you can connect Vivint to Alexa first and then see
Great video of steps thank you
You're welcome! Happy to help!
Will it work with Wyze cameras?
Wyze will generally work, but to get them to do person detection requires a subscription. So as long as you don't want person detection, you should be good without a subscription to Wyze's service.
The set volume command no longer works. You set it to zero or turn off sound and it still plays, only quieter. This effects all custom commands not just show camera feeds, it also occurs on Plex commands. Been broken for at least six months now and given amazon sacked half their Echo developer teams I don't see it being fixed anytime soon.
Probably not. Still quiet enough for me today though. Hope it works for you.
Would this work with Eufy products?
It's working with some. Easy way to tell is to get the Alexa app and make a routine with Eufy integrated
I set up this routine but 3 of the 4 cameras are the wrong ones that show up. I double checked everything. Please advise. Thank you!
Keep watching! The routines at the end allows you to specify the cameras
@@AutomateYourLife thank you. Not sure what I'm doing wrong, I did watch til teh end, still not working. Maybe I'm confused do I need to put the cameras I want to see in a group? When I did and tried to create a routine it wouldn't let me.
@@AutomateYourLife I put the cameras I want to see in a group. but it states "This group is not currently being supported"
@@venjiegose9567 yep! Get them in a group and then make the exact command I use at the end of the video. Those last routines I change the command I use 😃
@@venjiegose9567 also watch the name of the group you're using. It can't be cameras or something like that. It has to be unique.
Great video as always. Thx Brian
You bet! Thank you Mike!
I just set mines for when someone actually RINGS the doorbell so that way I’m not getting ppl just walking by . I’d only wanna see the cameras when someone press the bell so I can see who it is before I go/get up to open the door
Can you do this on a fire tablet?
Based on my attempt just now....I can't get it to work😢
Yeah, @aklinger4 is right. I don't believe you can. Nor on Fire TVs at the moment. Not 4 cameras anyways
Question if I have a fire TV cube hooked up to a TV could I do this with that assuming the TV was on have the cameras pop up on the TV when motion is detected
Sadly, my Cube isn't displaying it for me. I would have definitely shown that one :)
@@AutomateYourLife thanks for answering
You can get way better results via Home assistant, frigate, open silk with no noise playback card and you have an always on local and responsive cctv monitoring echo.
I'm sure you could. I'd love to see a tutorial that the average person can execute on
Need a little help here bud. Why there is no option of person detection on the Alexa routine setting, even though my Tapo cam supports person detection and all the latest functions? The only thing to choose is motion detection on the event section.
I don't know that one. It'll depend on the model and what Tapo has available. If it's exactly the model I have, it should be there.
It can also depend on the country you're in, FYI.
@@AutomateYourLife I'm in the UK. The Tapo cam I'm using is the C425 and C325WB. They both have AI chip that support person/pet detection etc. Does adding the camera individually on Alexa app or adding them together by enabling skill make any difference?
@@Captn_Slow nope, it's likely a UK thing.
@@AutomateYourLife Oh, cock...
Will eufy cameras work in hub?
Yep, mostly! Depends on the camera but most will trigger with motion or person
My routine does not have the option of people detection for my tapo cameras. Are you defaulting to U.S. Alexa?
Not every Tapo camera will have that option. So if you're using the same ones as me it could be a difference in location, but I hadn't heard that from anyone else yet
Does this match the eufy cameras?
Lots of comments about Eufy. Check below!
My echo show 8 only shows thumbnail when I tell it show camera any suggestions I'm using ring doorbell and tapo
Your network sounds like it's struggling
Excellent presentation!
Thank you kindly!
Can this be done with eufy cameras?
Lots of asks and comments about them in the video now! Check out some of the models people are saying they got working (and others they didn't) in the comments here
any experience with Reolink?
Not good experiences with Amazon, no.
can you please make a video for us google nest users how to display the 4 camera setup please sir
I would, if you could... :(
@@AutomateYourLife if i could do what sir
Hey Brian can this work with fire tv
Not yet no
Hey again so I got this to work with the multi view command but when I tried using my camera group it doesn't work any thoughts on why or how to fix this I really want a specific 4 cameras to be shown and to be clear they are all ring cameras and I did put them in a group in the Alexa app
Someone else said that here. Just make sure your camera group isn't another word that confuses Alexa.
can I have motion or person detection on my camera to turn on my echo show and automatically display the triggered camera?
Yep, just instead of asking for multiview or a group, ask to show me camera_name
I attempted this with Blink cameras and the Alexa app won't connect with the blink app. I am seeing many recent reviews on the Alexa app for multiple camera apps not being able to connect (topo, arlo, lorax, etc.) Do you know if something recently changed in the Alexa app to prevent all of these from connecting in the app? Thank you.
I know of nothing like this. I'll watch for it though.
Will this work on tapo cctv?
This is a command issued through Alexa, so no...I don't think so
Does anyone know if this will work with Hikvision NVR cameras? Has anyone managed to display Hikvision cameras on their Amazon device?
Does this feature work with Eufy cameras?
Some people are reporting the newest versions do person detection triggers in Alexa, but I don't believe many of the older cameras do. They will display though, and can usually do motion detection triggers.
@@AutomateYourLife thank you.
When the routine triggers, alexa says 'sorry I didn't find a device or group named' and then shuts up. Do we have to activate multiview somewhere?
Nope. Just make sure your group name isn't something confusing to her.
And ask to see multiview using your voice just to see
What group name? Do I make a group called multiview? I've watched the video 3 times and can't see anything about this.
@@Chesterflaps no don't call it multiview. Just make it something unique so Alexa doesn't think you're asking for something else.
As in, if you make a group called cameras it will confuse her. Call it Chesterflaps ;)
Idk why I thought that was Google display in the thumbnail 😂 already got this setup but I really need the Google display to show the same multiview
Sorry! Googs won't do it!
my Wyze cams respond to my voice commands,but when creating a routine they are regarded as unsupported?
What do you mean Tim? They require a subscription to start a routine but should be fine otherwise.
does the wyze camera show thumbnail in the echo hub?
Nope, not for me
I have device volume set to zero before open multiview but alexa still says OK
Yeah I'm getting a little ok at volume 1 now too
Does hikvision cameras work this way
Sorry, I can't comment on that one. Have never used them
i did evthink like on video but when somone is outside the cctv no trun on why helpp
Meanwhile I can't even get nest doorbell camera notifications on my Pixel Fold.
There's a huge thread for the same thing for Pixel 8.
😬😞
I hadn't noticed!