Ideas needed: Audio alert for triggered event

[walkman9999]

Hello - 

I am looking for suggestions to create an audio alert when a open/close sensor is triggered. I have a visual alert (a nightlight plugged into an Insteon outlet), but would also like some sort of sound. I've used the "Beep" function for this, but I'm finding that it is too subtle. 

Any suggestions?

TY

[paulbates]

The ones I know about require additional hw/sw

• The yolink hub 2 can make announcements and has an eisy plug-in. Assumes the hub is somewhere you'll hear it
• Michel wrote an audio plug-in. You'll need to look at that section of the forum to see how people add hw to play the sound
• I think Alexa and Google home can do it, but it's been a long time since I've looked

Edited February 18 by paulbates

[JTsao]

Ecolink Z-Wave 700 Chime + Siren, Z-Wave Plus S2 Enabled, with battery backup, Security intruder (ISZW7-ECO)

[walkman9999]

Appreciate the quick responses, few follow-ups:

@paulbates:

42 minutes ago, paulbates said:

I think Alexa and Google home can do it, but it's been a long time since I've looked

This is most appealing of the options, nothing else to buy. I've looked through the forum and at Alexa app and cannot find a Event for any of the Insteon devices even though they are recognized devices within Alexa. Any idea where I can find additional info?

@JTsao:

8 minutes ago, JTsao said:

Ecolink Z-Wave 700 Chime + Siren, Z-Wave Plus S2 Enabled, with battery backup, Security intruder (ISZW7-ECO)

I have the z-wave module on my EISY, but haven't added any devices yet. I assume the EISY programs (If...then...else) controls this device once added? 

Thanks to both of you.

[paulbates]

Take a look at this thread. I believe you could record your own audio and do it, or find a ringtone sound

Jtsao's comment reminded me that insteon has a chime module. I have it linked with a scene to my water leak sensors and sump pump depth alarm, where it's set to the siren sound. But it also has a chime sound that's noticeable but not as severe as the siren sound

Edited February 18 by paulbates

[Techman]

Another audio option is the AUDIO PLAYER plugin along with a wireless bluetooth speaker. This would greatly expand your options. You could create custom mp3 audio files that could be played via the audio player

[markv58]

Hard to find Insteon stuff sometimes, here's a link to the Siren : https://shop.insteon.com/products/insteon-siren I have 2 of the chime modules for notifications, really like them.

[Geddy]

@walkman9999 there's also this old thread that might be helpful to trigger Alexa: (I used it a long time ago, but haven't recently so not sure if it still works since Amazon messed up Alexa/Echo interface so frequently I quit using any triggers/routines with IoX.)

 

[walkman9999]

Working through all the suggestions, thank you.

I have EISY, cannot seem to figure out how to find and install plugins. Sounds basic, but I cannot find the option. Can some one point me>?

[paulbates]

6 minutes ago, walkman9999 said:

cannot seem to figure out how to find and install plugins

Plugins are on polyglot, pg3x.... Use a web browser on your local network that the eisy is on:

http://your eisy's ip address:3000

Or, if you're in iox, there's an option under plugins to open pg3x there

You may want to look at the eisy wiki docs and read up on it before diving in.

Edited February 18 by paulbates

[Techman]

Plugins are also accessible from the eisy top menu

 

Edited February 18 by Techman

[walkman9999]

Seems obvious, got it. 

I have gotten the info I asked for, to keep the thread on point I'll mark solved. Thank you for the suggestions.

[Northwoods Ranger]

Hi Walkman,

 

I'm currently doing the Alexa announce thing for a trip of my driveway monitor. It works reasonable well and doesn't require anything more than a Portal account. If you want help, just reach out...

 

Regards,

Jim

[dbwarner5]

If you are open to Alexa, it is by far the easiest way to accomplish. 

Steps:

1) create a variable in ISY ie: Door open

2) using the portal, link this variable as a Motion detector in Alexa where the value can be 0 or 1

3) In Alexa, create a routine that when the variable becomes a 1, have it speak what you would like. ie The rear door has been opened. When a 0, have it say, the rear door has been closed. 

4) in Isy, create a program that monitors the door sensor and when it opens, change the above variable to a 1, then have it change back when closed. 

Here is an example... I have an Insteon motion sensor that monitors a doggy door. Once the system is "armed" to watch for the dog coming in, a separate program that sees the  motion senso,r triggers the following program.

Dogs Home Alert LD - [ID 004D][Parent 01B1][Not Enabled]

Then
        Repeat Every  3 minutes 
           $TuckerInGarage  = 1
           $TuckerInGarage Init To $TuckerInGarage
           Wait  30 seconds
           $TuckerInGarage  = 0
           $TuckerInGarage Init To $TuckerInGarage
           Wait  30 seconds

 
Tucker in Garage variable is linked to Alexa Routine to speak.

The variable I used for this is $tuckerinGarage.

In the portal it looks like this:

Notice that I make the Spoken gibberish so that Alexa never hears it. 

In Alexa, this is what the routine would like like where you use the "motion Sensor" that you established in the portal as the trigger. 

 

 

 

[walkman9999]

@dbwarner5:

I have the variable created and the program to change it from 0 to 1 when event occurs. I have the mapping created in the ISY portal as a device/motion detector and added a spoken.

 

But...when I go into the Alexa app to create a routine, I do not have "Motion Detector" as an option under "Select an Event". I have a bunch of categories, but none of them include motion detector. Couple screen shots attached. 

Wonder if you have any pointers?

[dbwarner5]

@walkman9999 It's under smart Home.. just look for the device. in my case it's called "TuckerinGarage"

In the portal link, did you specify 1 as motion? 

In Alexa you will be asked "when motion is...  Detected or Not detected."  which is 1 for motion if you set it as that,  and anything else for not. 

Edited February 19 by dbwarner5

[walkman9999]

@dbwarner5:

Got it! For some reason there was a delay in My Alexa "seeing" the new device under Smarthome. But, it works perfectly at this point. TY for the help.

 

[dbwarner5]

@walkman9999 Forgot to remind you to run “discover new devices” in Alexa so it would find it immediately 

Anytime you add something to the portal you need to run it 

 

cheers  glad you got it working  

onto plugins next!! 😀