The Most Important Alexa Update Yet! - How To Use Routines
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- Опубліковано 10 лис 2017
- Amazon has released an update which means we can finally create custom phrases for Alexa by using Routines. This gave me a couple of good ideas and has solved a big problem with the Broadlink skill. Most importantly I can go back to feeling like I live in the hit 90's movie Demolition Man.
This video tutorial will show you how to use routines
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I am now going to do my "work"(math, just math) while listening to your video Paul, thanks for the fun content!
And Paul is back again with a Great Video
Thanks Paul, I'm using the Sonoff RF bridge and it was driving me round the bend trying to sort out with the separate on and off. Although they were named 'Something on' and 'Something off' each time Alexa would tell me I had numerous items called by that name, which one did I want, I'd then have to repeat the same instruction.
Your fix with routines has solved it for me.
Love your videos dude. Keep it up!
Another awsome video , all worked as intended. Thanks for the video.
I just make up one (Fake) TV remote for each light, using the on/off button for on RF signal and then custom button in the same remote that I rename OFF which I program the OFF RF signal (works a treat) Great Vids for guidance Paul - top Man!!!
Paul you are the best!
Another Awesome video from Paul. Still looking forward to the UK Broadlink skill being released (whenever that will be).
Another tip: to add delays in between each action in a routine. Simply make Alexa day something in between OR add a “Set volume to 0” in between. Viola! Helpful with An android tv box
Paul, you are the king of home automation. Thank you for all the great info. I hope you get a lot of donations before the holiday season is over.
You are too kind! :)
Really useful videoWas waiting for someone to do a video on the new up date thanks keep up the good work
Great video mate!!
Only just found your channel paul, as im new to all things smart around the home i would like to thank you for all your vids.
You'll really like my next video then as it will hopefully give you some cool ideas!
This channel is fantastic, and has helped me immensely in the week that i have just gotten into home automation.
You are to kind my friend. Thank you!!
So fantastic!!
You are the ONLY channel I have ever subscribed to. Great , practical information and ground breaking videos.
This new process works great with RM Pro but not BLACK BEAN :-( . Love your attitude, just the right amount of crude humor. My old rm plug in was glitchy maybe because I my multiple wireless networks. I had to reboot Alexa, Android device and the rm remote and rediscover to get it in sync again. Most times it took several attempts and recently I was completely unsuccessful. So, this video was the right thing at the right time.
It is the IHC that will not recognize the Black Bean. I almost had it once when it said it failed but the device showed up. Then I could not add remotes to it.
In any case once I used the Broadlink skill I have not had a glitch since. I am hoping it will soon work with my preferred, cheaper Black Beans.
Great video once again... Keep them coming lol
Amazing!
Bravo !!! Thank You Paul, for this great workaround.. Amazing that Broadlink has not updated the Alexa Skill, but Kudo's to Amazon for creating the "Routines" Command.
+Phil Clayton no worries man! Sometimes I'm glad they're so terrible so that I have something to do 😂
Paul Hibbert You have helped so many of us with you're clever ideas. Thanks again.
+Phil Clayton *blushes* 🤣
Thumbs up, Paul. You're doing such a great job! I hope it goes really well for you :)
+Admin A you are far too kind my friend :D
Paul bro. I am using Sonoff switch which is far cheaper and better I guess. You must check them.
my hero!
Brilliant, Paul, I really like your UTube vids! Very informative.
Hi Paul, first of all I've learned alot from your videos and I thank you for that.
FYI, about the on/off. I have the rm3 mini and I use only one power button and it works with Alexa e.g. "Alexa turn TV on/off" same with heater (set as TV) don't know what I did differently I just had the black bean "learn" the remotes. Hope this helps
Hey my friend :) As long as the thing you're controlling is a toggle on and off then this will work fine. My problem is that My light switch has one frequency for on and one frequency for off. That is why this method is necessary for those devices.
-P
Interested in doing this in my theater. Do you still have to use the older version of the Broadlink RM Pro or will the new RM33 RM Pro+? I am in the US and currently have a DIY setup using Girder 3.2, a USB-UIRT, MainLobby (touchscreen) and X10 RF lighting control. I still want to keep the existing system in place, but would love to add voice control. The X10 controls work on the 433MHz frequency. You had mentioned in an older version that the newer models of the RM Pro wouldn't work. Just wanted to get clarification before making the purchase.
Paul, awesome video! 🤘🎉🍻
I need some help connecting an old phone as an IP Camera with the Alexa Camera Skills, any ideas?
Not sure there's anything official out there, but this video series should help!... www.paulhibbert.co.uk/2017/02/24/alexa-home-alarm-system-tutorial/
Paul, i need to enable skills in order to descover the devices, what skill should i be enabling from the skills store.
You cracked me up with Haddock for dinner!😂😂😂
Ironically I had haddock for dinner that day.
Awesome info Paul, thanks so much for the tut! Is there a way to add a custom command to this? Like when I say "good morning" can I have Alexa start my favorite Pandora station to listen to while I work?
There's an interesting thought! There's no official way to do it, but I bet with some ingenuity it could be done using tasker or IFTTT. Will have to give that one some thought!
Great channel, great vid once again...Harmony blue Alexa skill is now available in the UK ...Thank God...no more of that "tell harmony" crap....Maybe a good choice for your next vid??.
Hey dude. I don't have a Harmony hub to do a video sadly, but sounds like a massive improvement!
Hey Paul, i have an RF curtain, anyway to make this trick work with the curtain? its driving me crazy! Thanks!
I have an insanely customized version of e-Control for my RM Pro. If I move to IHC does everything become unusable? Is there a way to migrate all my screen and logic to the newer version?
Hi Paul great video.
I am using the old way from broadlink rm plugin. I noticed after the update from alexa. Alexa will not show what is in rm plugin but they still work any idea how to have them show up in Alexa devices? and the routines does not work with % devices like shade and dimming for light.
Are you looking in "Smart Home" - "Devices"? My stuff from the RM plugin is all still there!
Thank you Paul for the new Trick..
I was able to quickly add a new TV (with one function), by using suppressing the 'Prompts'.
Since I only wanted to Train the BroadLink one control code.. (Which was OFF).
I'm already using "Echo Turn On Lamp" and "Echo Mute Lamp", Per your early video.
Now, I can say use Routines with "Echo Kill lamp"..
PS: When using the old 'mute' mode, I noticed that I could say 'Turn lamp On' or 'Turn lamp Off', to turn ON the lamp!!
Echo will reply "OKay" to both commands, while turning ON the lamp.. So 'Mute' was a must..
However, about 30% of the time, Echo failed to execute a Mute command.. Don't know why..?.
Keep up the good work!!
Hey bud. Because the fake TV is a toggle for on and off you can use both "on" and "off" to trigger the fake button in the fake remote. This means using either word will send the request to switch the lamp on. It's the reason we need the mute command in the first place so that adds up.
Not sure why it would fail to issue the mute command occasionally, unless she is miss-hearing you or the RM pro is struggling to reach the device due to distance. If "kill lamp" is working consistently then I assume she just wasn't hearing the word mute very well :)
Yeah, that 'toggle' mode kinda forces both the words (OFF & ON) to be taken by 'convention'..
Bad part of 'toggle' mode is you might be using 'Reverb', away from the room where the device is.. So, are you turning it on or off? No way to know without some kind of feedback..
I'm trying to delete 'mute' out of my voice command set. Not easy when you're 72 years old. :(
I added in my last two RF sockets last night. I was calling #2 & #3, 'two two' & 'three three', since the words "Kill two two" might be easier for Echo to understand, than "Killtoo".. :)
As before, the words 22, twenty two, or two two, weren't recognized much of the time.. No real reason for Echo to ask me "Do you want me to play the song KILL two two?" or just light up and fade out.
So, I decided to just call RF outlet #2, "Six Six". Just went in and edited the name in IHC (to reload into RM module's memory), used the Alexia app to delete the '22off' Routine and did a new Discover.. "Echo Kill Six Six" works every-time!
PS: My first shots at using the 'Routine' function was "Echo Traffic", to get the traffic condix to Logan Airport + the local weather.. That worked so well, I set a 'Routine' timer on it. It runs on all week days at 12:05 PM.. :)
One problem is not being able to use Alexia to get into 'Routines' when using my Windows 7 PC.. Not liking that. Must use a droid device for some reason.. Pop-up blocker off, didn't help..
To delete the mute command you'll need to make sure it is gone from IHC as well as Alexa otherwise it will keep reappearing. As long as it's gone from IHC it won't keep coming back. :)
Hi Paul,
Informative video as always, does this mean iPhone users are now able to integrate the RM pro with Alexa without having to use the Android RM Plugin? Keep up the amazing videos!
+Christian Grant yup! :)
Hi love the videos. I can not find the broadlink skill in the .co.uk site only .com site - I know you are UK based how did you get the skill?
+PJ Bear hey bud. Check this but be sure to check the description and the pinned comment first... ua-cam.com/video/dO5rExW-7I8/v-deo.html
Hi Paul, first of all, thanks for your share on all your videos which really helpful. I am following you to set up my stuffs now. May I know why you said that only android can work with the broad link rm pro? I am using IOS,. What android can do while IOS can’t?
Hey dude, that was the days before Broadlink made their own official Alexa skill. You can use Broadlink with iOS these days :)
Well , I did every single step . I say '' Alexa illuminate '' for example , and alexa says OK . Nothing happens . BL RMPro is not beaming the signal . ( Skill enabled )
How can I solve the problem @Paul , help me !! :D
have done review of wyze cam which now works with google assistant to tv
Hey Paul how can I add broadlink tc2 light switch to ihc? Thanks for ur videos
Hi mate, I don't think there's a way, there's certainly no official way because Broadlink suck at software. I wonder if you had 2 Broadlink RM pro's whether you could put one into learning mode and then get the other to fire the signal! I might give that a go at some point myself
Hi Paul,
Great video! And pretty helpful!
I followed your steps nd everything works just fine. Now I'm trying to make my tc2 switches work but I can't find anything in the ihc app. Do you know any workaround to control my tc2 light switches?
Much appreciated!
+Noble Savage the jerks at Broadlink STILL haven't sorted this yet. Not a fan of their software or their people at the minute.
The only way to achieve this currently is the old fashioned method using Econtrol and an android device... ua-cam.com/video/DJIhEyMQ0TI/v-deo.html
Paul Hibbert thanks Paul! I bought a cheap Samsung J1 to fix the issue. Not the most convenient way but I guess it does the trick. Appreciate your help
hey! love your videos but im not sure why i cant find the routine option on my alexa:(
Top tip: you can change the icon of the orange tv, under property. From official icons to your own!
Hey Paul, I seem to be having problems with my RM Pro 2...when I run through the IHC setup process, it says it could not be added, I even try the alternate method to add it to IHC and connect it to Wi-Fi...but if I leave it for a while, it seems to eventually connect to the Wi-Fi and the Alexa bridge will work for a while, then randomly the Alexa bridge will stop working...you have any solutions or tricks I should try? Thanks in advance, love your videos!
Sounds like either a faulty unit or a wifi signal issue. Is the RM pro quite a distance from the router?
Try turning off the 5ghz side of your router and connecting the RMPro, the device only works with 2.4ghz, once its connected turn on the 5ghz side, most routers run 5/2.4ghz. I found that was the only way I could connect with a bthub4 took me a day of trying all sorts, dam tech.
Thanks mate, your videos are supremely helpful and also entertaining. My flat has become so much cooler ever since I subscribed to your channel.
Glad to have been of service my friend :)
The Alexa App says that the Smart Home groups just work with the Echo 1st&2nd Generation... Is it true? I am using the Echo 3rd gen. It finds the „TV“ but also playing the routine does not work. In My case i use a TV Remote with toggle, so no 2 TVs needed
Actually for me they pulled the old broadlink skill now from the skills store which stopped working, and the new skill which is supposed to now work with everything can't find any devices at all
Are you planning to review the new Alexa plus at all?
+cfcup2004 perhaps if they send me one. I'd like to and I have sent a proposal weeks ago via famebit but they ignored me. Perhaps I'm still not quite on their radar!
Hey Paul, i'm not seeing the Routines menu option in the Alexa app (android).. any Ideas? UK alexa account which i switched to US & then back again...
i'm dumb.... i had to update the app! :D
Hi @Paul Hibbert Nice video
The Alexa It self didnt properly manage On and OFF grouped commands for example if I want to turn OFF all of my TV Lounge lights (ON or OFF) it only accept ON commands like "ALEXA turn ON ALL TV LOUNGE COMMANDS" it accepted and if I do like this "ALEXA turn OFF ALL TV Lounge LIGHTS" its still send Turn ON Commands it means it looks like it that commands that are stored which it didnt toggle its own self to set the devices state to zero because there is OFF world inside of that trigger paras.. can you tell me how to handle that without creating any new OFF mode grouped separately ?
Hi mate, This tutorial has two separate fake TV's one which is on and one which is off. As long as your routines are pointing at the relevant televisions you will be fine.
Does the rf method work with all rm pro models?
I've been using Routines on my 3 Echo units successfully with my Smart Home devices for about 3 months. I recently had a need to move some of my Smart Devices (BULBS) to new locations and decided to rename them accordingly. The changed worked OK and I can address these devices with their new names; however, the names that show up in the Routines section of the Alexa app where not changed … they still have the old names. I deleted the routines and when I tried to recreate the routines with the new names, the new names were not listed … only the old ones were listed. Fortunately, picking the old names worked.
Am I doing something wrong? Have you heard of this issue?
question now there's routines does that mean you no longer need RM bridge?
Paul, for some reason since accepting an update with the app, it will no longer accept RF signals for the TV, only IR. Have you or anybody else come across this issue? The broadlink app for the RM PRO will still let you sweep for signals however!!
Paul. Have been watching your video's & you have talked me into buying an Echo. The problem is I'm in Australia & can't install the Alexa software in my devices. Any clues.
Cheers. Garry
+garryw1159 hey man, use Aptoide, you should be able to find the Alexa app there :)
What is that glass ball lamp you have?
With the Broadlink, can you actually create a command to turn a TV on, and another to turn a TV off, and for them to be specific? ie: So you can ask it to turn it on over and over, and that will NOT turn it off, because it's a unique ON command?
And likewise with an Amplifier etc?
ie: So you can ask Alexa to "Watch a film" a that will turn your TV and AMP on, but if either of those are already on, they will NOT turn off?
Paul bro can we connect RM mini with the same??.
+First TECH you sure can!! :)
+Paul Hibbert I'm using another app to remotely ask Alexa to perform the routine as Alexa app can not do it via Drop In as the mic and speaker would be engaged in the call.
Hi Paul great vid im in the UK, can i now use broadlink to connect to an iphone instead of an android device to make connection to Alexa?
Hi mate,
If you can get the Broadlink skill then you can ditch the droid. Problem is it's still not available in the UK. This video will show you how to trick Amazon into thinking you're in the US, but bear in mind it will stop Amazon music from working. It is totally reversible though, putting it back as it was will allow Amazon music to start working again. If you're using Spotify then this is a perfect solution and one that I'm still using...
ua-cam.com/video/dO5rExW-7I8/v-deo.html
i have purchased broadlink from ebay and i was sent some fake no name product that doesnt connect to my wifi. As you helped me and i love your videos im going to buy the broadlink from your link in bio
boii what the fuck you just explained in one video my one problem of the day! You Hero!!
How do I get RM pro skill in UK? I can't remember which video you had it on. Also, can I get rid of my android device I'm running for bridge now?
go to amazon.co.uk and change your connect devices region to USA - and add skill on alexa!
Here you go bud! Just bear in mind if you use Amazon music it will screw that up until you revert (no permanent damage but might just be a waste of time if you realise you have to go back to how it was). If you don't use Amazon Music then it shouldn't be a problem, I use Spotify and everything is fine :) ua-cam.com/video/dO5rExW-7I8/v-deo.html
if i revert to uk - will i lose my broadlink skill? havent tried it just encase.
+ALWAYS SMILING if you revert the kindle store too then it will most likely lose the Broadlink skill. You can actually revert the Amazon stuff back to the UK but leave the kindle in the US. Leaving the Kindle in the US keeps Alexa in the US too. Xxx
Hi Great video I live in Spain Is it posible to add routins in spanish words?
Thanks
çok iyi abi adamsın
Sorun değil
Hope you can help. Alexa is duplicating hue lights. Deleting them is no use, after a short time they are back.
Any ideas? Thanks for the videos, they are great.
You'll need to delete them from whatever app is advertising them. Alexa periodically scans and if they exist on the network then she'll keep finding them. If you've used my old fashioned way of doing things with the RM plugin then you'll need to delete them from the RM plugin. If you've done it using IHC like in this guide then you'll need to delete the duplicates from IHC. :)
Hey Paul, great vid. Thanks for the shout out. I was wondering why you don't use the RM plugin to create Alexa devices directly? If you go to RM plugin/Alexa bridge/Alexa device list/ADD ALEXA DEVICE/and from there you can make the RM PRO learn the ON and OFF commands of your devices, and even Tasker stuff. You will name the device whatever you want Alexa to see, and then all you do is discover devices on Alexa and you're done.
Hey dude, no worries!
I used to teach the Econtrol app first in case I need to transfer the settings to other devices that were using Econtrol as a touch panel/remote (mostly so the missus could have physical buttons to press on her phone), though I've stopped this practice since I decided I preferred using desktop widgets to using Econtrol. See my last video and you'll see that I do it your way nowadays :)
I paid for RM Plugin and it worked okay for a few weeks. Then, it started to hang up. It was like the app just went dormant. "Discover Devices" failed to find the droid phone. I could play a UT video or read my mail, and RM Plugin would not be active..
Then, I would open the app, look at the settings and suddenly it could be 'found' again. Too flaky for me. I've taken RM Plugin off line for good.. Too unstable..
Restart worked. I looked into doing a nightly automatic reboot, but can't unless I 'Root' the phone.
Richard Lee, good evening Richard. I'm not sure I understand what you mean when you say the RM plugin wouldn't find your Android phone. Isn't rm plugin installed on the phone? The way I use it is I have an old android box, little cheap one, and I run it 24/7 acting as my "server" running the RM plugin in the background. The only issues I've ever had had to do with my internet, the modem would sporadically lose connection which required me to reboot the device. Unless something is killing the RM plugin process, or the phone is going to sleep, which the plugin has options to prevent that from happening, it's hard to say what caused your issues.
When I said ""Discover Devices" failed to find the droid phone." I meant when I used Alexa's "Discover Devices" command, the RM Plugin app did not work. Nothing would be found. When it was working, my Echo would say "I found five devices". Because it was communicating via the RM Plugin, installed on a phone that was always on. Sleep disabled. The WiFi is solid. Sometimes the app would run for for a week without any problems. Then it would just stall for no reason. Lately, it would stall almost every night.
Not going to worry about it anymore, I'm going with Alexa for my current needs. My RF outlets are working perfectly now. I have confidence that Amazon is going to keep improving Alexa's abilities.
Richard Lee I see. I haven't come across that issue, yet. I am however glad that whatever your setup is is working for you.
Could you do away with using the android bridge, and do you need the broadlink skill as not available for UK
change your region on amazon.co.uk via Manage your Content and Devices which is in the settings.
+ALWAYS SMILING
This will show you how, but be warned if you use Amazon music it screw Amazon music up until you revert the changes. If you use spotify then it's all good. I've been using this method for weeks... ua-cam.com/video/dO5rExW-7I8/v-deo.html
Hi Paul, do you still need the bridge? im wanting to get an RM pro but have an iphone. loving the videos!
Great Video. Love It.
But I noticed the routine does not capture anything for scene.
Not watched full video yet but the harmony blue skill has just shown up in UK yeah!
yes but still not working for me, still got to say 'ask harmony' load of crap.
john manlow it should work with most things for example if I say Echo turn on tv, it will turn on my tv turn on my surround sound amp turn on my Virgin media box and dim my living room Lifx bulbs with that one command.
I can also change channels by saying Echo turn on BBC1 or Echo turn on channel 4
Jason Garbett yes I can do all that but I have to use the same phrase, Alexander ask harmony to turn on BBC.
john manlow and you are definitely using the blue harmony skill?
With the red skill you have to say ask Harmony with the blue skill you don't.
Jason Garbett yes indeed
Hi Paul, is this video still relevant and will it work without having to use RM Tasker or have Broadlink done any new stupid updates rendering the RM Pro totally useless now?
Hey dude. The RM plugin is now working again for all RM pros, but not for 2nd gen Echo and echo plus. The developer is a top bloke and he's working on it.
The official global skill for Broadlink is in beta and apparently works with RF. I've not got round to testing it yet. Still waiting on an official release. I'm planning on doing an updated video when there's further development.
Ah nice one, I will keep my eyes out for your update :)
Hi Paul, me and my joiner pal are huge fans.Although we have hacked an Amazon fire tab 7 to run through your last video, performance wise it was not a total succees. An ACER Iconia 7 again hit compatibility issues and would not load the Alexa. My HTC one 8, running the same level of Android 6 can. Can you recommend a cheap tablet that will load Alexa and the Broadlink skill and be relatively cheap ? My joiner pal and me love your videos. Expect a nice pressie from me and my pal at x-mas.
This made my day my friend. Thank you so much for the kind words!
Check the video description of the last video and you'll find a link to a Samsung tablet that should work great! :)
Great video as usual , but I cannot find "Routines" in my menu! is there any geo-restriction or so?
I asked Amazon (USA) why I couldn't find Routines using my Win7 PC.. They said sorry, not available. So, I'm still using the android app.. That works fine..
+Richard Lee I think it's rolling out user by user which is pretty weird! Won't be long!
Here is the reply from Amazon support. (on 11/14/2017 1:41 PM)
"Hello Richard,
I'm sorry to inform you that to view and edit routines option is currently unavailable for Alexa app for browser.
I completely understand that this feature definitely would be of great help to our Alexa customers. It's unfortunate that this feature is not available right now.
To make things better for you, I've personally forwarded your comments to Alexa development team. They shall surely look into this matter to make ability to view and edit routines from the Alexa app for browser."
Thank you, yes seems it is only available on mobile devices.
Do you need 2 phones to set this up?
Hi there, a Chinese man wants to sell me RM pro old version which only works with 433mHz. Will it be fine to work with Tasker on android? I already have RM3 pro which doesn't work. I don't know if it's because I live in Poland or because of the RM3 version which You told in one of your films that doens't work with tasker. So is it the fault of my localisation? or RM pro 433mHz should be enough?
+Sławomir Chołuj its because it's an Rm03 that it doesn't work.
Take a look at the bottom of your existing one and see if it says 433mhz or 315mhz. Your replacement will need to be the right frequency for your country, so your old one will give you a clue :)
Ok, so if I order RM pro 433mHz will it work with tasker in Poland? even if I'm not in the same wifi? can I use the tasker while not being at home? (because the RM3 pro works only when I'm in the same wifi? so the final question is.. does the tasker work only in the same wifi or can I use my mobile data when I'm not at home and still control devices which are at home? and will the tasker work in Poland? or is there some restriction like with the Amazon echo or Ok google. because these services do not work in Poland? so will the tasker work? or does it have the same restrictions?
I bought Broadlink rm pro but now Alexa app doesn’t have Broadlink anymore..?
Hey paul I'm confused as to why u created a tv remote for your light.. Why did u not just create a custom remote add the on off buttons. Why a tv remote?
+chloe powell hi Chloe. The Broadlink skill is only capable of controlling TV remotes at present. I am tricking Alexa into controlling my lights by retraining a fake TV to control my lights.
hi Paul, have you tried using home-assistant.io/ with the rm pro? i think it allows you to bypass the android app, as its fully integrated with alexa also it may work a little better? thinking about getting an rm pro to try it out, love the channel!
+RoadRunner hey man! I've heard good things about HA for doing lots of customised things, but it also looks very complicated to get into. I was t to look at it at some point when I've got a little more spare time. It runs on a raspberry pi right? Doesn't that mean we're just swapping an android box for a raspberry pi?
yeah i think its either linux or pi, which is great for me as i can just run it on my home server, i don't have an android box (apart from firetv) and don't use an android phone as my daily driver, so was thinking this may be a viable alternative... will let you know how it goes!
also looking at the cheapo gu10 rgb bulbs with the rm pro for my home cinema, would like hue... but they seem a bit costly for what they actually do!!! great vids btw best home automation channel on youtube! 😁
+RoadRunner thanks man! Very kind! I'd like to look into the HA thing but churning out a video a week would be difficult whilst learning how to use HA. Hopefully I'll get in top of it in the new year!
Thanks.....I have a Nvidia shield TV with ir...I want to control it with broadlink and than from Alexa by your TV method....do you know how can I teach Nvidia shield to broadlink....??? I have no ir remote for it only Bluetooth...but sure it have ir
Hi mate, I don't own an Nvidia shield, but as long as you can install the RM plugin then you can use this method :)
Paul Hibbert one more thing is there a way to transfer learned remote from e-controle app to IHC app??
Unfortunately not. Yet another gripe I have with Broadlink. They are not my favourite people at the moment! ;)
My question can we club/group routines, like Alexa Bedroom Appliances OFF will trigger my 2,3 routines I have made in one go? Possible
Sammy Singh I use the im home command which groups my kitchen lights. Turns on my sky my tv and dims the living room lights all from Alexa I'm home.... And it's great
Hi Sammy, The routines portion of Alexa does allow for grouping yes. You simply add all the smart home devices you want to control to the routine and when you give your custom command it will trigger all those devices :)
Alexa can do it - in groups!
Not sure routines can trigger groups? Either way, when you're adding the devices to your routine you can just keep clicking the plus button to add as many devices to your routine as you like, which means you can set the thermostat at the same time as turn the lights off and have a command called "bedtime", or wind the blind down when you put the kettle on and set the command to "quiet time". The possibilities are now totally endless.
Dear Paul, I tried to fool the system as You mentioned, picked up a random TV, and wanted to re-learn ON/OFF but my Broadlink RM Pro does not want to accept RF remote signal at this point. I tried to make it with single click and continuous push on the remote button but nothing happens. I want to make an RF 433MHz remote (for electric shutter) become Alexa compatible, but his way I am stuck. Is it maybe the IHC app? What if I try to download earlier IHC on an Android tablet? Maybe that can help?
i get the same problem
While 'illuminate' works well, sadly I can't get her to accept 'deluminate' as a command - I rather liked 'Demolition Man' too :)
+flyentity I know. I was gutted when I realised I couldn't do it. When I get a but more time I'm going to try every possible spelling I can think of until it bloody works!
Hey bro I request you to make a same video using broadlink blackbean pro. I was unable to do
yes please!me too
Great video but interestingly I don't have the Routine option in my app?
Ok, once i followed one of your other videos for making voice calls and changing my location the the USA it turned up.
But in your previous video I watched using tv on ihc works to turn the tv on and off.....?! So frustrated! Alllls I want to do is say... alexa tv on... alexa go to netflix... alexa up down left right alexa ok.. howw the hell do I get her to open. Netflix.......! I got tv on off workin and left right. But cant open netflix. Please help! Tha ks in advanced! When I use routines.. the operation works on ihc and alexa app, but when I ask alexa to do it she says ok, but doesnt tell the broadlink to send signal?!
launchl Plex on Android and then go up select etc check out this guys solution: ua-cam.com/video/V7SbmCWYzsA/v-deo.html
Been thinking about the RM Pro but the harmony hub looks more attractive due to the simple API and a record of device state. No 433 Mhz on the harmony and is a bit pricey.
I'm still finding it painful watching your videos as your solutions involve hacks around existing hard wired tech. If only you could use an API the solutions would be far more simpler.
It's nice seeing you try though and highlighting hardware we would never consider using... Keep it up
Hi Shafnet, In my opinion the Harmony hub is heavily overpriced and can't do anything more than the Broadlink RM pro, and can in fact do less than the RM pro as you rightly pointed out it can't do RF.
All the functionality of the Harmony hub can be achieved using the IHC app for Broadlink and is just as easy to setup as the Harmony Hub, the Alexa portion just involves adding the Broadlink skill.
The only reason it might be more complicated is if you're in a country where the Broadlink Alexa skill has not yet been released, in which case there are "hacks", but they only involve changing your location on the Amazon website to the US. A word of warning though, if you use Amazon music then it stops Amazon music from working until you put it back so this may not be an option for you. If you're using Spotify then it won't matter :)
My videos are mostly about taking stuff a step further, but the basic stuff is no more complicated than the Harmony hub.
Hope that helps! :)
-P
I have a door sensor that when the door opens, an Alexa routine says "The door is open". QUESTION: I want Alexa to continue to say "The door is open" until I physically close the door. How do I do that?
Latest update in alexa app and ihc now can control tc2
I can;t see that option in IHC??
You are the best! :-)
I do not see routines in the alexa app, do u know why?
Hello mate, there are a lot of theories going around about this. I'm not sure if it's rolling out per user rather than per country. Try updating the Alexa app, or uninstall and reinstall it.
Thanks,
-P
Tx a lot, reinstall the app did it for me. Great job u are doing, u are awsome.
They are NOT enabled when you use Windows 7 at alexa.amazon.com
I was able to use them on the android app... (I am in the USA).
where is I can download a new android application?
All applications in this tutorial are from the Play store :)
Also in my RM Pro IHC app if i try and learn the power button again it will only learn again for the IR signal not the RF? Any hints on where i might be going wrong?
What RF device are you trying to teach it? Do you have a different RF device you could try instead as a test? Sounds like the RF device may not be compatible.
Its just one of those cheap little remotes attached to some LED lights. If i Add a User Defined Remote to the IHC app it will register the remote once i scan frequency but i cannot work out how to have the TV remote scan the frequency
+WayneCarter so you van control it successfully using IHC?
Correct, once it learns the frequency as a user defined remote it will then trigger on and off through the app just fine but as the Alexa part doesnt recognize anything other then TV i was hoping to cheat and setup a TV remote like this video to control it but run into the issue of the RM Pro not recognizing the RF
Hey man, that's very weird! The Learn function in the TV remote opens up the same listening mode as the standard way of learning, there's no difference!!
I honestly don't know what else to suggest other than it might just be bad luck and to try again! Maybe try moving the RM pro temporarily whilst you're teaching it, I've found there are areas of my house where there is RF interference and when I try to teach it a code it get's weird, but if I move the RM pro to another part of the house and try again it works fine. Perhaps you are having the same issue and you got lucky the first time!
Thanks for another amazing video. Anyone know how to get this update for non US users?
The Alexa update is already available for Europe.
Here you go bud! Just bear in mind if you use Amazon music it will screw that up until you revert (no permanent damage but might just be a waste of time if you realise you have to go back to how it was). If you don't use Amazon Music then it shouldn't be a problem, I use Spotify and everything is fine :) ua-cam.com/video/dO5rExW-7I8/v-deo.html
thanks guys
I don’t have the option to select smarthome on my Alexa app, why is that?
Need some help guys. The routines setting is not showing up in the webapp/android app. my country settings are set to the USA already. Can anyone advise? Thanks!
meekgeek same here.
I have a friend with the same problem. Could be that they're rolling it out user by user rather than country by country. It won't be long! Check the app isn't waiting for an update on the Play store.
Please correct me if im wrong? What happens if you say "Alexa Lights ON" then while the lights are on you say "Alexa Lights ON" again? because it's the same signal to turn the lights on or even the TV on as it is to turn them off, do they go off when in fact they are on. ;xD Great videos keep up the great work.
First, look at a RF remote. It has two buttons for OFF & ON.. Now look at a TV remote. It has one button for OFF&ON.
If you use the ON button on your RF remote to teach your fake TV to turn ON your RF socket, it will send the same code if you were to say "off" or "on".. Because it thinks it's talking to a TV, which uses the "same code" to Toggle from ON to OFF (and from OFF to ON)..
But, your RF Socket switch uses two codes, one for OFF and another for ON..
So, to control 5 RF sockets, you will need to use 10 fake TV sets!! (Five with be hacked into turning off the fake TVs, when you train your Broadlink Pro using OFF codes, instead of ON codes for those 5 fake TVs)..
Alexia "thinks" she's turning ON ten TV sets, but Five of those (fake) TV sets will be turned off..
I use "Echo Turn on Lamp", and "Echo Kill Lamp".. (to use my 'Killer' Routines to send OFF codes) :)
+Richard Lee thanks guys! What Richard said! :P
Thanks for the in depth reply Richard. However that's not quite answered my original question. I have some Konoq light switches that use the same on off signal when setting up you simply set A to switch on and B to switch off, that same signal is transmitted you just use a different button on the remote, I think it would be the same no matter how i connect to RM Pro. So in a nut shell no matter what instruction i enter into Alexa the same signal would be sent, and if i repeat the same command im sure it will turn the lights on then off? if i just repeated the same command is this correct?.
Sorry, I've never used a Konoq light switch. If it uses the same RF signal's data-stream of 1s and zeros to turn your lamp on and off, that's what Paul calls the 'Toggle' Mode.
(In digital-speak, it's a Toggle Flip-flop. Find here: www.learnabout-electronics.org/Digital/dig53.php
The input signal makes a 'Toggle' flip-flop change it's latched state). The signal doesn't need to be a binary number sequence, just a single pulse).
It's used on TV sets, the same code is sent to toggle the TV from off to on, or from on to off..
If you are using Toggle mode from a distant location (With Reverb?), you will have no way of knowing for sure, if your TV or lamp is OFF or ON..
Same idea as the up & down codes for volume and channel. If you are changing channels to go up 5 channels, to BBC1.. You really need to know the current channel number. And if your TV set is off or on.. ;)
Thank you Richard that's very informative. My dilema is this? Say im not at home and i want to turn all my house lights on or off how would i know if they are actually on or off? is there some way to tell or see a return signal from the device or the RM Pro, that can verify they are in their on or off state. Any help or info on this would be very much appreciated.
Paul its me jack
+Jack Algar hello young man! Xxx
:)
A "REAL WORLD" Alexa skill is, as an example,
"Alexa - Turn on the nightlight and turn off at 11:00pm" or
"Alexa, turn off the kitchen lights in 15 minutes" or
"Alexa - Turn off the living room lights and turn on the Bedroom lights"
So let me know when that happens.
You can do this... by making a custom routine inside of Alexa... have the custom command for example: "Alexa, Living room to bedroom" And insert 2 commands: 1. Living room lights off 2.Bedroom lights on. Do all of your typical journeys in the house at night. I even have a custom routine to turn off all the lights in the house and put the living room ones on low, AND the TV turning on, AND Sky turning on when i say "Alexa, Movie night."
You can set timers using the new Alexa "Routines" function.. See segment 6:24 above.. Pause at 6:33 and notice the "At Scheduled Time" on the lower part of the display. That's where you can select a time to turn a light on or off.
You will need to use two timers, to turn something ON and OFF.. (Each timer can call an ON or OFF action).
I'm using two of those timer routines with an RF socket, with a USB charger. It's set to run for 1 hour a day, 7 days a week. It charges up my old Samsung tablet everyday. (I only use it for about 20 to 30 minutes each day)..
Re: "Alexa - Turn off the living room lights and turn on the Bedroom lights". That's what Alexa Routines was made for!
When you say "Alexa Bedtime" (for example) you can have it trigger MORE than one action!
See frame 7:32 above. Paul has added one action (turn on bedroom lights), he could just click on "Add Action" again, to add Turning off his living room lights. Or anything else..
There might be a limit to the number of actions you can add.. Who's going to find that out?? ;)
because you asked for an update: Alexa now allows for command stacking in voice commands. "Alexa turn off light x, turn on light y" and this functionality is toggled for each device. Alexa stays awake for a few seconds after a command is parsed, so you can keep giving commands without need to wake it again.
Hi
Can you review Sonoff WiFi bridge
+Binh Tran do you have a link? I'll take a look :)
I bought one and its awful. Waste of $10. Broadlink Pro M is much more stable and does more. Its Alexa integration is pretty poor though and I really dont want to do these crazy workarounds that are cumbersome to setup when you have many devices connected to it. Ugh.
+Mark Chaney I bought the sonoff bridge. It works great for some of my devices and doesn't detect a lot of others. The bridge will control home easy plug sockets but not the home easy mains light switches for example. It also can't detect the code for my blind.
I think if you are building a setup from scratch then you could buy a whole load of cheap sonoff stuff and it will all play nice together.
It also doesn't have IR capability which will be a big turn off for a lot of people.
-P
Paul Hibbert: Sonoff Wifi Bridge can't communicate with rolling code RF stuff (only fix code RF), so shaders, blinds and lots of others are unuseable with it... I tried it but did not succeed, as I wanted my shaders to work with Alexa.
Check out those views xx
+Little Danni B I know right? Button 1 on the remote. Xxx
This is very clever sir - but does Alexa know how to use the three sea shells?......
I'm waiting for you to make an Alexa skill for that ;)