imagamejunky

I don't have any stereo paired Sonos speakers. But I have tried 2 different zones grouped together. The play command works but I can only get the volume to adjust in one zone. The group volume will not adjust. The Harmony app will not allow volume adjustments to 2 different zones at the same time apparently. I completely agree with you. I don't like having to say "trigger" at all. I also don't like having to ask Alexa to tell Izzy to do commands for the lighting. It's very unnatural. That is exactly why I am hoping the connected home works very soon. It will be much easier for guests in the home to just tell Alexa to turn on lights than having to remember to tell her to then tell Izzy. Junky

It's pretty simple actually. 1- install the hub and set up each of your sonos devices in the harmony app 2- create custom activities in the harmony app. The activities have both a start sequence and an end sequence that can be edited in the app. Example of a start sequence- turn on a sonos play 5, select a sonos favorite (pandora station?), send the play command, send volume up commands (I am sending multiple volume up commands with 1 second delays between each) For an end sequence I recommend using multiple volume down commands with 1 second delays between each before sending a pause command. This makes sure that the volume is down before another start sequence begins. Sonos will turn on with the volume up if you leave it up! 3- create a recipe in IFTTT that triggers a sonos harmony activity to start when you say a custom phrase to alexa. You must say "Alexa, trigger...(custom words that you create)" 4- create a recipe in IFTTT that triggers the harmony activity end sequence when you say a different phrase. I'm using "Alexa, trigger sonos off" It's FAR from perfect, but it works and I'm stoked to be able to turn on sonos with alexa. Problems.. I haven't been able to figure out how to tell sonos to turn on multiple devices (party mode??). I have only been able to control one device at a time. I have had 100% success with this method today BUT about 20% of the time there is a pretty long delay (5-30 seconds!) from when alexa responds verbally to when the sonos system reacts. I'm not sure where this delay is coming from. It may be the harmony hub, IFTTT, the sonos system itself, or my home network...?? Hope this all makes sense. Junky

Hi guys. I picked up a second echo today. Toys r Us had one believe it or not. So far I am very happy with how well these 2 echos work in my home along with the ISY. Sometimes both echos hear me and respond which sounds odd, but mostly only one picks up the command perfectly. I just wanted to say thanks for all the hard work that has already been done to make these devices (echo/ISY) work together. I really love it. In my opinion it is an awesome science fiction experience to be able to communicate with the house verbally, see a task completed, and then hear verbal confirmation. I can't wait until I can tell "her" to turn on devices without the use of the skill. That will help with the nerd "coolness" factor!! On another note, I also bought a harmony hub today to play with. This thing works WAY better with the echo than I expected. If you are an echo user and you are on the fence, you should buy one. With IFTTT and a harmony activity I can now tell alexa to turn on my family room tv and go to the xfinity menu on the cable box ("Alexa, trigger watch TV"). And for an added WAF, I also created an activity that turns on the tv, and then tunes the cable box to the ridiculously stupid Bravo network. "Alexa, trigger Bravo tv" And as an added bonus, I am now also able to do some minor controlling of my sonos gear. For example, I made an IFTTT- harmony activity that turns on the family room sonos play 5, selects a pandora station, and then turns up the volume. I then added multiple volume down commands to the Sonos OFF recipe too. I'm super stoked. If I can help any of you with setting any of this up, let me know. It really isn't difficult and requires no running pc or raspbery pi. Junky

"We had news today from the Amazon Echo Sr product manager. Amazon is about to have a new self-publishing method for connected home adapters and want us to go through it. That was supposed to be ready in late december, but the dev team is late. We are told to wait a "couple more days". Benoit." This sounds promising. Thanks for the update. Junky

Hi guys. Michel and Benoit, do you have any updated info for us concerning the status of the isy as a connected home device? It sure seems like it's taking a long time for Amazon to approve this. I realize that we just had a holiday though. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks Junky

ronbo, If and when you are ready to share your skill I would really appreciate it. I am really hoping for a solution to control my sonos system with the echo. Thanks in advance. Junky

Michel. Have you heard anything from Amazon in regards to ISY/Connected Home integration? Are we going to get a nice xmas gift this year? I keep hoping.. Junky

Noah's Taylor's Nick's Ceiling Can Pendant Chandelier Wine Beer Fridge Refrigerator Cooler Under Side Yard Man door Pinball Machine Video Games Junky Sorry if any of these are repeats. Thanks Junky

Will you please give us a deadline for suggestions before you submit? Instead of 20 posts from each person we could give you some longer lists. Just an idea Junky

Benoit. In the next version will we be able to use the following? Bar Gameroom or Game Room Nook Master Bedroom Landscape Awning Thanks Junky

Please add the ability for Alexa to recognize these words.. Bar Master Bedroom (NOT master's bedroom) Gameroom (NOT games room) Landscape Awning Thanks Junky

I couldn't get anything working until I added names into the spoken name box in the admin console Junky

Something changed overnight with my system. Today I can now use the words LIGHT, LIGHTS, and LIVING ROOM. I can't use these words in the spoken words space, but I can direct Alexa (& izzy) to control devices with these words. For example, I can say "Alexa, tell Izzy to turn on the Entry Lights" and the insteon switch with the spoken name "Entry" will correctly turn on. This did not work yesterday. I couldn't control anything if i said Light or Lights in the command. Junky

Hi guys. I had some time to play around with the echo and the isy admin console tonight. All of my devices and scenes were blank in the spoken word field. This is why I couldn't get any lights to work this morning when I tried. After lots of fiddling around I was able to get almost every device and scene to work tonight. Here are some things that worked and didn't work FOR ME.. Alexa doesn't work with the following words at all: LIGHT, LIGHTS (huge bummer), LIVING ROOM, LAMP, BAR, NOOK, KITCHENETTE, MASTER, BEDROOM, AWNING, LANDSCAPE, CHRISTMAS, XMAS, GAMEROOM, GAME, FANLIGHT. Words/Phrases that worked for me, but are NOT ideal: - A few times while trying to turn on my Bar Lights Alexa mistakenly heard me say BARN. So I used BARN in the spoken field for the Bar Lights and it works now. Funny how she works with Barn but not Bar! - Alexa doesn't understand christmas tree but she does understand TREE by itself. And I'm sure as hell not going to use holiday tree. It's not a damn holiday tree, it's a christmas tree Amazon!! - Instead of Awning I am using PATIO. - I have a ceiling fan in my gameroom. Instead of Gameroom or Fanlight I'm having to just use FAN. This sucks. Other tidbits. -By making a scene for a single device with a different spoken name than the device itself I have been able to get Alexa to recognize more than one word/phrase for the same device. Example- The dining room chandelier. I can successfully call it both Dining Room and Dining. Same for Entry Way and Entry. Same for Upstairs and Hall. -Alexa works great with turn on and off. I haven't had to use switch on and off -Many times when Alexa doesn't understand me I repeat the command and I over annunciation the word IZZY. If she doesn't hear the word IZZY perfectly then she is apparently looking for connected home devices (that I don't have) Hope this helps someone else. Junky

Alexa said this to me this morning after I said alexa, open izzy. She didn't repeat this any other time I spoke a command. I only had a half hour to mess with this skill this morning before work however I can say that it didn't work AT ALL for me. It found all 33 of my devices. When I checked the app I saw that alexa was correctly hearing my commands. Every time I gave a command she couldn't find my device. I tried about 20 times. Kitchen light, kitchen lights, kitchen lightswitch, bar lights, game room light, dining room lights, etc etc etc. Alexa couldn't find anything. Frustrating and disappointing. If she can't understand the word light or lights then that is just F-ing ridiculous. Junky

As of yesterday afternoon the skill has been released. http://forum.universal-devices.com/topic/17082-interface-with-amazon-echo/?p=157836 It's very flawed though. Junky

Barry. I really appreciate your very thorough explanation. I actually understand what's going on a lot better now. It sounds to me that using the emulator is going to be the better option because we would not have to ask Alexa to ask a worker to do the job. I just wish that I wouldn't have to leave a PC or a Raspberry Pi running all the time to accomplish this. Thank you again I really appreciate it. Junky

Guys. Would any of you mind posting a video (or a link) of how your set up works with the Echo and the ISY? I'm specifically curious about the commands you (and others) are having to use to control insteon lights without any current native support. This huge thread is pretty confusing. I'm looking for the most simple solution so that the family can easily control lights with Alexa. Thanks in advance. Junky

Michel. Still no approval from Amazon? Have they said anything? Thanks Junky

The only way that will work is if you are running the dumbed down icrap products. Mobilinc has completely ignored the whole other side of the market. Those of us smarter people who run android based products have been ignored by mobilinc. No Elk integration, no IP camera integration, no geofencing, no android based watches, etc, etc... There are some workarounds using tasker but it's just not the same as the sleek looking ios mobilinc hd interface. Mobilinc sucks. YES, I'm bitter. I am very excited about this idea. I love the "coolness" factor of the house talking back to me in a conversation style. Junky

Any update on this today (Monday)? I really want isy control and I would prefer not to run the ha emulator on a PC or a pi all the time. Please update!! Rant time... On another note, I'm amazed at how horrible the Echo is with basic questions. It's really REALLY bad. It can't even do the most basic Internet search on a topic. I can't believe how much better "ok google" does with questions. Last night my kids and I were asking random questions about science, animals, the earth, etc. I would say that 70% of the time Alexa couldn't help us AT ALL but my Samsung Galaxy phone could. Ridiculous. Amazon has REALLY dropped the ball! Junky

I bought one today at my local Home Depot. They have the same $150 deal. No shipping I'm anxiously awaiting the ability to control my ISY. And I really hope I won't have to call it izzy! Junky