I always seem to have to tell Alexa repeatedly to "Shut off outside lights" or "Goodnight"

I know its because of line noise or something of the sort but its random and I've never been able to find a pattern.

Can I just have the program trigger the scene "Shut off outside lights", double check the scene, and correct it?

Yes, a scene is a scene, whether it's triggered by Alexa, a program, or even in admin console.

Back in the portal, where you changed having an Alexa spoken call a scene instead of a switch, you can change it from calling a scene to calling a program,

Having said that, it's unclear, from a diagnostic point of view, how that will affect the problem other than trying it.

On the one hand, I had your described kind of problem with the alexa in my ecobee thermostat over a year ago. I used it for a year where it worked great, and then it was a combination of problems: Either said "hmmm I can't do that" (or something like that)... or act like it did it, and nothing happened. The voice isn't that important to me so I just shut it off.

If you follow the kind of procedure @IndyMike suggested in your last post; go to Tools/Diagnotics/Event Viewer and set it to level 3. Repeat the steps that are causing the problem and post

1. The steps you took

2. The output from the event viewer at the same time

As I recall, later Insteon devices support the scene devices having repeat option so you might look into that. Not certain how it applies when eISY is the one issuing the scene command.

23 minutes ago, paulbates said:

On the one hand, I had your described kind of problem with the alexa in my ecobee thermostat over a year ago. I used it for a year where it worked great, and then it was a combination of problems: Either said "hmmm I can't do that" (or something like that)... or act like it did it, and nothing happened.

This is exactly what happens

23 minutes ago, paulbates said:

If you follow the kind of procedure @IndyMike suggested in your last post; go to Tools/Diagnotics/Event Viewer and set it to level 3. Repeat the steps that are causing the problem and post

1. The steps you took

2. The output from the event viewer at the same time

When I'm done shovelling I'll try this and upload the Event Viewer level 3 log

Thank you for the fast reply.

Another possibility is if you now have Alexa+, which is known to have issues with automation.

I do have Alexa+ but these issues were around before they released it

But good to know. I'm non plussed over the 'upgrade'

I have a routine tied to the spoken word "relax," which worked fine for several years. After getting an early version of Alexa+, it would intermitently interpret "Alexa, relax" as a general intent-based request to help me chill out. It would play soft music, offer to adjust the thermostat, etc. Occasionally, the routine would run and set the lighting scene as it always had. But sometimes, it tried to be a wellness guru.

I tried a number of things, but none helped. Then I asked ChatGPT for a solution, and it suggested I just tell Alexa what I expect to happen when I say 'relax.'

I said something like, "Alexa, when I say relax, do not offer to help, just run the routine named relax." Alexa replied like, "Okay, from now on, if you ask me to relax, I'll play the routine named relax."

It actually worked, and I haven't had any trouble for at least 6 months.

Trying to avoid making a snide comment is difficult. I really dislike the Alexa+ and turned it off as soon as it was forced update on my devices. Aside from the voice being unpleasing the constant follow up being enabled was not appreciated. The fact that I still had to go into the app and find where to turn off follow up made the entire forced "upgrade" even less likable.