Amazon Echo - ISY Step by Step

[KeithL]

REMINDER:  This was written in January of 2016 some versions and links may have changed. If anyone wants to copy and paste and make the corrections  and re-post please feel free to do so.

 

First, assuming a person already has an ISY setup a running with either devices, scenes or programs or a combination of all of them, and an Amazon account, oh yeah, and a Amazon Echo connected to your network. Also to be able to log into your Administrative Console of your ISY. Make sure the computer you are using to do all this has the last version of Java (Version 8 update 71 at the time of this posting) and your ISY Firmware (4.3.26 at the time of this post) is up to date. I done part of this on a computer running Windows 7 pro and part on a computer running Windows 10, it just depended on where I was sitting when I could work on this. I tried some of this from my iphone and had trouble. I would suggest do all this from a computer. You will get some e-mail verifications during this setup. Don’t use your phone. If you use Gmail or something like, log in from your computer to verify as I had issues verifying on my phone. Turn off pop up blockers during this setup. Turn it back on after you complete this.

Open your Administrative Console click on Help and then Purchase Modules. This will take you to a UDI page to purchase modules. You have to purchase the ISY Portal. After the purchase go back to your Administrative Console it may ask you do you want to install new module, you do. If it don’t ask go back to Help then click Manage Modules, it should ask you then to install, install it. After it installs, click back on Help, then About write down your UUID number you will need this later, it will look like 00:01:02:03:04:05 probably with some letters mixed in there somewhere. You can also see your firmware version here. Close Administrative Console.

Now go to https//my.isy.io/index.htm create account and log in. Click ADD ISY and add your ISY information. You should see a yellow dot appear, it is waiting on authorization, log out. Log back into your Administrative Console, click Configuration, click Portals. You should see a request, authorize it. Close Administrative Console. Log back into my.iso.io. Your yellow dot should be green now. In the upper right corner click My Profile. You need to input the information to link your Amazon account. Your email address, if your UUID don't show click the drop down arrow it should be there, you cant type your info where it says Amazon account linked to:. You have to click "Link this profile to an Amazon account" , this will take you to a Sign in page to link to your Amazon account, this is your Amazon login information, click Sign in using our secure server. Logout

Go to alexa.amazon.com, create an account if you haven’t, and log in.  Now on the left, click Skills, up at the top search for ISY Optimized for Smart Home V2, it should come up, click Enable. It may want to search for devices, let it.  Click on Smart Home on the left. If you don’t see ISY under Device Links, click here. You may have to log out then back in, but it should appear.It should take you to your log in page, and then log in using your my.isy.io info. If it just goes straight into a page that says your connected without putting your login info, your not. Read on, you will have to come back and Enable the Skill again. Close that page and back in your alexa.amazon.com page click settings, then Smart Home, under Device Links you should see ISY and it should be connected. On the right it should say Unlink from ISY. Log out.

Now go back to https//my.isy.io/index.htm, log in. Click Select tool dropdown, Connectivity, then Amazon Echo. If you get a ISY skill error. Continue here, if you don’t go to next paragraph. Close all your logins. Log back into alexa.amazon.com, then Skills, search for ISY and disable and log out. Wait about 60 seconds and log back into alexa.amazon.com and Enable the ISY Skill again. You might have to repeat this if you keep getting the Skill error message. Log back into my.isy.io, click Select tool dropdown, Connectivity, then Amazon Echo,

If you don’t get the error, be thankful. You are ready to start adding your items, click device or scene or program whichever you are adding. Click the drop down menu, choose your item, enter the Spoken name, ie: kitchen lights. You can do several or one then test.

Tell your echo to find new devices, “ Alexa find new devices” or whichever name you use. She should report back how many devices she found. You are ready to Rock-N-Roll.

Now you can say , “Alexa turn on (Device/Scene/Program Name).” It should come on. “Alexa turn off (Device/Scene/Program Name).” It should turn off.

I hope this helps. It would be helpful if you use these instructions to post anything I may have missed. I will be glad to make the changes. Even though I enjoyed reading the threads that pertained to this, it was a little, no a whole lot, time consuming.

Thanks to all who made this happen.

Best regards and good luck,
Keith

 

 

If you have this problem:

 

max90034, on 07 Feb 2016 - 1:59 PM, said:

Hi, I need to ask for some help. I am trying to setup ISY portal, etc but it does not work:

1) I purchased and activated ISY portal

2) I created account at https://my.isy.io/index.htm

3) I added ISY 

 

However:

1) the dot next my IST is grey and if I try to select "Amazon Echo" it say ISY is not online

2) If I go in my admin console to Configuration/Portals I see

Portal Integration

Offline ! Nor registered

 

My ver is 4.3.26. I am using Mac OS running ElCapitan

 

What am I doing wrong? If it matters, I have to add  that I have always been using port-forwarding in my router to access ISY and it still work now. Thank you. 

 

Do I need to do anything in my router to make sure that ISY can access internet thorough portal? It seems that my ASY somehow cannot access my.isy.io????

 

You may need to log into the Dashboard and set security settings for TTL 1.2 All (If you haven't downloaded dashboard select appropriate version from link.)

 

Here's the Wiki instructions for Portal installation.

 

 

Jon...

 

Edited November 8, 2017 by KeithL

[stusviews]

Thanks, Keith,

 

You write up will help many

[bshaver]

I have successfully linked my Amazon Echo to my ISY using the portal. i can get devices and scenes to operate properly.. What I cannot get to work properly is programs. I have linked the spoken words to Alexa through the portal and the portal sees the programs. 

 

I have a program that is volume Up and Volume Down.  This sends a command using the network resource to my Mac whole house audio playback system. It works from the ISY by running the test and so I have that working there.

 

Now when I say 'Alexa Home Audio Volume Up' She says back OK, and the program does not execute. 

 

I have even put in the condition 'If Home Audio Amp = On' and in the Then ' Network resource ' volume up'

 

I have put in for the volume down ' If Home Audio Amp = On' and in the run Then ' Network resource ' volume down'

 

All alexa does is say 'Ok' but the program does not execute. Let me re-phrase... the RunThen does not execute. 

 

Am I doing it wrong? Could just a network resource be used by itself? 

[jerlands]

Am I doing it wrong? Could just a network resource be used by itself? 

 

For programs On=Then, Off=Else..  Alexa "program spoken name" On/Off

 

 

Jon...

[madcodger]

KeithL -

 

That is one of the most helpful posts I've read in years on the forum. My Echo arrived on Monday, and is happily set up with Amazon. Work has kept me from setting it up with ISY, but I can hardly wait until the weekend. There is much yelling and hang wringing about the Echo on the forum these days (along with, and mixed in with, some great info). Your post just made it simple, and is appreciated.

[KeithL]

KeithL -

 

That is one of the most helpful posts I've read in years on the forum. My Echo arrived on Monday, and is happily set up with Amazon. Work has kept me from setting it up with ISY, but I can hardly wait until the weekend. There is much yelling and hang wringing about the Echo on the forum these days (along with, and mixed in with, some great info). Your post just made it simple, and is appreciated.

 

 

Madcodger,

 

Thanks,  Please report back when you set up.  I didn't keep a log of this when I set mine up.  So all of this was from memory.  If I missed something please let me know. It should be very close.

 

Thanks again,

Keith

[madcodger]

Up and running in under an hour, start to finish, with some interruptions from people asking questions. Works beautifully. Thank you!

[KeithL]

Up and running in under an hour, start to finish, with some interruptions from people asking questions. Works beautifully. Thank you!

 

That's great.  Thanks for reporting.  Do I need to change/add/take away anything?

 

-Keith

[hart2hart]

Keith, thanks for this guide.  I had been reading and making notes to prepare for setup when I located your step by step.  My Echo was connected and configured with ISY in about 15 minutes.

 

Paul

[KeithL]

Keith, thanks for this guide.  I had been reading and making notes to prepare for setup when I located your step by step.  My Echo was connected and configured with ISY in about 15 minutes.

 

Paul

 

You are welcome Paul.  It took me about 8 hours off and on, that is why I wrote the Step by Step.

 

-Keith

[KeithL]

If the Step by Step needs tweaking someone please tell me and I will adjust it.

 

-Keith

[hart2hart]

Keith,

 

Upon reflection ...

 

I was using a desktop PC which did not have WiFi for direct connect of Echo to configure its WiFi settings. I chose to use iPad app for this step. I may have missed something but this might be worth mentioning.

 

Paul

[madcodger]

That's great. Thanks for reporting. Do I need to change/add/take away anything?

 

-Keith

Other than the tweak hart2hart noted, I think you have it. I admit I sort of read through and then just completed it without following along to closely, but the service you provided is exactly what was needed. Thanks again! Edited January 31, 2016 by madcodger

[Kevin M.]

Keith, thank you very much your step by step worked perfectly for me!

 

Question I have several Insteon thermostats in the house, I wasn't able to get Alexa to control them, anyone have a solution?

[KeithL]

Keith, thank you very much your step by step worked perfectly for me!

 

Question I have several Insteon thermostats in the house, I wasn't able to get Alexa to control them, anyone have a solution?

Thanks for letting me know on the step by step. I myself don't have any Insteon thermostats so I won't be any help there. But I know thermostats are mentioned a lot throughout the forum.

Edited February 2, 2016 by KeithL

[Michel Kohanim]

Hi KeithL,

 

Till v2 version of Echo Connected Home APIs, you need to use the Skill (Alexa, tell izzy ...). For a list of utterances/commands, please checkout:

http://wiki.universal-devices.com/index.php?title=ISY_Portal_Amazon_Echo_Integration#Instructions_for_Alexa_Skill

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[KeithL]

Hi KeithL,

 

Till v2 version of Echo Connected Home APIs, you need to use the Skill (Alexa, tell izzy ...). For a list of utterances/commands, please checkout:

http://wiki.universal-devices.com/index.php?title=ISY_Portal_Amazon_Echo_Integration#Instructions_for_Alexa_Skill

 

With kind regards,

Michel

 

Michel,

 

Was you actually answering Kevin M on the thermostat question?

 

-Keith

Edited February 2, 2016 by KeithL

[Michel Kohanim]

Hi Keith,

 

Yes, sincere apologies.

 

Also, I like the subscription extension idea for those with network resources. Just have to make sure we make an official and fair boundary between those who bought it after ISY Portal became available and those who did before and adjust the extension period accordingly.

 

Thanks so very much for all the feedback.

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[tianlung4028]

Hey Guys.

I'm having some difficulties installing the new ISY portal. I've followed the instructions to the letter but I don't seem to have a "portals" tab in the configuration settings. I've checked out other videos and it has been mentioned that I need to update my firmware and I have uninstalled the Mobilinc connect portal but I am currently running InsteonUD_994 v 4.3.26 and a ui of 4.1.2. Am I missing something? I apologize if I overlooked something obvious.

Thanks,

Edited February 4, 2016 by tianlung4028

[jerlands]

Hey Guys.

I'm having some difficulties installing the new ISY portal. I've followed the instructions to the letter but I don't seem to have a "portals" tab in the configuration settings. I've checked out other videos and it has been mentioned that I need to update my firmware and I have uninstalled the Mobilinc connect portal but I am currently running InsteonUD_994 v 4.3.26 and a ui of 4.1.2. Am I missing something?

Thanks,

 

Your firmware version and UI version always need to be the same.  Clear you Java Cache then load either the java application (preferred) or java applet for 4.3.26.  As a side note.. you may also want to update firmware and UI to 4.4.3 as it will allow you to use network resources (see release notes.)

 

 

Jon...

[tianlung4028]

Your firmware version and UI version always need to be the same.  Clear you Java Cache then load either the java application (preferred) or java applet for 4.3.26.  As a side note.. you may also want to update firmware and UI to 4.4.3 as it will allow you to use network resources (see release notes.)

 

 

Jon...

That was exactly it. Thanks for the help Jon

[max90034]

Hi, I need to ask for some help. I am trying to setup ISY portal, etc but it does not work:

1) I purchased and activated ISY portal

2) I created account at https://my.isy.io/index.htm

3) I added ISY 

 

However:

1) the dot next my IST is grey and if I try to select "Amazon Echo" it say ISY is not online

2) If I go in my admin console to Configuration/Portals I see

Portal Integration

Offline ! Nor registered

 

My ver is 4.3.26. I am using Mac OS running ElCapitan

 

What am I doing wrong? If it matters, I have to add  that I have always been using port-forwarding in my router to access ISY and it still work now. Thank you. 

 

Do I need to do anything in my router to make sure that ISY can access internet thorough portal? It seems that my ASY somehow cannot access my.isy.io????

Edited February 7, 2016 by max90034

[jerlands]

Hi, I need to ask for some help. I am trying to setup ISY portal, etc but it does not work:

1) I purchased and activated ISY portal

2) I created account at https://my.isy.io/index.htm

3) I added ISY 

 

However:

1) the dot next my IST is grey and if I try to select "Amazon Echo" it say ISY is not online

2) If I go in my admin console to Configuration/Portals I see

Portal Integration

Offline ! Nor registered

 

My ver is 4.3.26. I am using Mac OS running ElCapitan

 

What am I doing wrong? If it matters, I have to add  that I have always been using port-forwarding in my router to access ISY and it still work now. Thank you. 

 

Do I need to do anything in my router to make sure that ISY can access internet thorough portal? It seems that my ASY somehow cannot access my.isy.io????

 

You may need to log into the Dashboard and set security settings for TTL 1.2 All (If you haven't downloaded dashboard select appropriate version from link.)

 

Here's the Wiki instructions for Portal installation.

 

 

Jon...

[max90034]

Thanks. It was 1.1. Rebooting it now after change...

[max90034]

Yes! It fixed it. I can see green dot now, etc. Thanks much! (may be this could be added to the instructions on the 1st page to help others...)