scenes not dimming/brightening

[barrygordon]

Portal V3;   UDI Firmware 4.7.3; UI 4.6.2; Echo DOTt(s) 4th generation; Amazon Fire Cube

Although I have been a UDI Portal user for the Amazon Echo since its inception (similarly for the UDI ISY), please treat me as a newbee.  I haven't touched it in many many years and I am 81 years old with a memory to match. Thank you for providing the detailed instructions for the Amazon Echo portal. 

I recently switched all my Echo DOT's to 4th generation units.  I have several ceiling light systems setup as scenes, and one setup as a device.  I can dim/brighten the one setup as a device with no issue. Let me use the Office Lights as an example but all scenes operate (or fail) in the same way. When I attempt to dim/brighten the ones set up as scenes (e.g. "Alexa, Dim the office lights") the response is "Office Lights doesn't support that". If I go to the scene for the office lights using the ISY administrator and bring up the scene I can dim/brighten the office lights.  The fire Cube works the same way as the Dots so I do not believe it is a generation issue.  I am using scenes so I can use keypads in addition to the dimmer switch.  

If I wish to change all of the ceiling light systems to use the device as opposed to a scene What do I have to do in the Portal.

[barrygordon]

I guess my real problem is I am now lazy. I now have it resolved. 

I guess I need to stop being lazy and fend for myself as I used to.

Kudos on the Portal.  It actually is fairly intuitive in its use, and the wiki's are very handy

 

[MrBill]

43 minutes ago, barrygordon said:

UDI Firmware 4.7.3; UI 4.6.2;

Glad you worked out your issue.

Note however that Firmware and UI versions should match.

While there are various ways to run the Admin console the best method is to use The Launcher which will ensure that you start the correct version of the UI...

Follow the instructions here to begin using The Launcher:

 

[barrygordon]

The inability to dim/brighten a scene gives me (i think) a minor issue.  In my home theater there are 4 rows of lights I have a scene called "Theater lights"  I used to (a long time ago) dim all 4 rows by diming the scene. I can no longer do that.  Is there any way to have Alexa dim/brighten all 4 sets of lights with a single command as I did before with a scene that I could brighten/dim

[barrygordon]

I guess I should upgrade to the latest non-beta version (6.8.x).  Should I first install the launcher or do that after the upgrade completes, or will it take care of itself?

[MrBill]

23 minutes ago, barrygordon said:

The inability to dim/brighten a scene gives me (i think) a minor issue.  In my home theater there are 4 rows of lights I have a scene called "Theater lights"  I used to (a long time ago) dim all 4 rows by diming the scene. I can no longer do that.  Is there any way to have Alexa dim/brighten all 4 sets of lights with a single command as I did before with a scene that I could brighten/dim

This is how I dim scene's via Alexa:

 

17 minutes ago, barrygordon said:

I guess I should upgrade to the latest non-beta version (6.8.x).  Should I first install the launcher or do that after the upgrade completes, or will it take care of itself?

I'd do the Launcher First, that way it always starts the admin console with the correct version, both before and after upgrade.

Note: If you have an older Z-wave board, do not upgrade to version 5.3.1, or for that matter any version past version 5.0.16C.  How do you know if you have an older 300 series Z-wave firmware?   Look at the back of your ISY, next to Port A If you see a BLUE LED or round dot then shine the flashlight on your phone at the round dot, is it a BLUE LED?  If YES, the farthest you can upgrade firmware wise is 5.0.16C.   If you wish to move to 5.3.1 you need to upgrade your Z-wave daughter board first, UDI has special pricing based on the age of your ISY.

[DennisC]

3 hours ago, barrygordon said:

I guess I should upgrade to the latest non-beta version (6.8.x).  Should I first install the launcher or do that after the upgrade completes, or will it take care of itself?

If you have a zwave dongle and it is the older 300 series dongle, with the light, the latest by firmware is not supported. The highest version you can upgrade to is v5.0.16c. if you have the 500 series dongle, no light, then you can upgrade all the way to 5.3.1.

If you are staying on v4, then the latest is v4.8.0.

[barrygordon]

I am now running on 4.8.0 with the Launcher.   I am not currently interested in version 5.x.x as version 4.x.x seems to meet all my needs. 

My home is heavily automated with wall mounted iPads in every major room (5 of them), and a Raspberry-Pi acting as a central overseer. Everything is integrated and nowadays I mostly do  all (Lighting, Appliance control, Thermostats) by voice.  I remember how 20 years or so ago I dreamt of doing it via voice. 

My only question (curiousity) is why did the portal stop allowing for scenes to be dimmed/brightened? The workaround is fairly complex and to be honest I don't do the dimming thing very often. The theater stands by itself and the lighting controls use Leviton dimming switches that automatically fade when turned off which is perfect for the theater.

Thanks to all who helped me on this, but I still have the open question why not be able to dim/brighten scenes? It works from the admin panel.

Barry

[barrygordon]

Is there any chance that we can get the ability to dim/brighten a scene via Alexa re-instated?

[DennisC]

3 hours ago, barrygordon said:

Is there any chance that we can get the ability to dim/brighten a scene via Alexa re-instated?

Maybe use @+ name to get UD's attention.

[barrygordon]

DennisC,  I am not sure what you are suggesting I do

[DennisC]

1 hour ago, barrygordon said:

DennisC,  I am not sure what you are suggesting I do

Ask your question again, only this time enter the @ symbol and Michel Kohanim's name. After the first few characters you will see his name pop up from a drop down. Select his name (you must finish off by selecting the name from the list, not typing it. This will act as a notification to UD and they will be drawn to the post.

This way they will be sure to see your question. UD doesn't necessarily read every post.

[bgrubb1]

Barry

Pretty sure there is no current way to say brighten to XX  However, you can say "brighten the kitchen lights or Dim the kitchen lights without the %   Believe it does ~10% each time

...The other Barry

[barrygordon]

bgrubb1,  I understand that.  I just want to be ble to brighten/dim a scene

[bgrubb1]

and that works with a scene called kitchen lights

 

[barrygordon]

bgrubb1,  Interesting.  None of my scenes are able to Dim/brighten.  My researching for this issue discovered a post from whom I think wrote the portal that said scenes will no longer work with Alexia to brighten /dim. 

 

I just installed 4th generation dots, and that was when I first noticed that I could no longer brighten/dim scenes.  The 4th generation dots look like a 4 inch sphere and they are really very good.  I speak in a low voice and the one I am nearest too always picks up the utterance. I have a DOT in every (4) major room of my home plus a fire TV cube in my theater. 

[bgrubb1]

hmmmm

I have a scene called kitchen lights that combines two switches on two separate circuits that I went through this with a while ago. Just walked into the kitchen and confirmed it works for me.

[bgrubb1]

should I said I don't have a 4th gen but have gen 1 through 3 devices and they all work fine

 

[bgrubb1]

secret might be making the Alexa category Light instead of scene

 

[barrygordon]

bgrubb1,  You may be onto it.  I have the category set to light but the entry for my scene is the dimmer switch.  I will try what you have tomorrow, i'm too tired now.