Alexa

[Pondrew]

Pondrew,is there anything you don't have an opinion on to increase your post count

I have a lot to say, but if I'm pis*ing people off I'll back off.

[TitanTim]

Smartlife / Tuya went down the other day if you have their plugs or bulbs.

Thanks for that, yes it's the Smartlife plugs although one of them is working but the rest aren't responding through Alexa, no idea why. I've deleted and added the plugs to Alexa and renabled the skills but still no joy. Its not likeing my Ring and Neos cameras at the moment either Just says they're not responding.

Tim.

I had some like that but I unplugged them for a minute and plugged them back in and then they started working again with Alexa.

Thanks again Stevo, why didn't I think of that switched all the plugs off and back on again and working again with Alexa

Sometimes it's the simplest of things

Tim.

[sars]

Pondrew,is there anything you don't have an opinion on to increase your post count

I have a lot to say, but if I'm pis*ing people off I'll back off.

No don’t change, you’re fine as you are, though a bath once in a while……..

As for Alexa, I just don’t get it yet, though if I could say, hey Alexa I’m short of milk and flour, then 10 minutes later someone’s knocking at the door with milk and flour……that’s useful…..not I’m too lazy to get off my arse and turn on a light…..

Sorry Tim didn’t mean you per se

[pvr]

I like it, playing the music I want, opening the garage doors when I have my hands full, seeing who is at the gate and open it that way without remotes. Tell the destination to the satnav (non flimper spec only ), Turn the heating on when walking in the office, use one command to set of a series of events.

But then, automation is my line of work

[TitanTim]

Pondrew,is there anything you don't have an opinion on to increase your post count

I have a lot to say, but if I'm pis*ing people off I'll back off.

No don’t change, you’re fine as you are, though a bath once in a while……..

As for Alexa, I just don’t get it yet, though if I could say, hey Alexa I’m short of milk and flour, then 10 minutes later someone’s knocking at the door with milk and flour……that’s useful…..not I’m too lazy to get off my arse and turn on a light…..

Sorry Tim didn’t mean you per se

No worries, I just find the remote plugs controlled by Alexa useful as some always seem to be behind furniture an dstuff and just much more convienient, same goes for the washing machine which has a hidden power point so use a remote plug for that. I'm just really wary of having electrical stuff switched off but still powered on at the socket or having things left on stand-by as a neighbour had a TV go up in flames in the middle of the night, completely gutted the kitchen and smoke damaged the rest of the house, I guess made me a little paranoid

Tim.

[ronk]

I didn't bother with Alexa - I went down the Google route. I use Google as my search engine so thought the Google speaker was a logical approach. I don't bother with the control of lights etc but it will turn my TV off - I will stick with the button tho.

The downside of it really is its "Hey Siri" on the iPhone and "Hey Google"b to the speaker - Its akin to getting the Granddaughters names mixed up!

[Nanu]

I like it, playing the music I want, opening the garage doors when I have my hands full, seeing who is at the gate and open it that way without remotes. Tell the destination to the satnav (non flimper spec only ), Turn the heating on when walking in the office, use one command to set of a series of events.

But then, automation is my line of work

Doesn't a thing called a wife do that?

[Pondrew]

As for Alexa, I just don’t get it yet, though if I could say, hey Alexa I’m short of milk and flour, then 10 minutes later someone’s knocking at the door with milk and flour……that’s useful…..not I’m too lazy to get off my arse and turn on a light…..

Totally agree. A lot of this stuff lately is 'technology for technololgy's sake'. Why the hell would you spend £500 on a wi-fi home heating control and an app on your phone? A perfectly good central heating programmer costs about £50. I have NEVER felt the need to adjust my heating in my house when I'm not in. How would I know if it's too cold or hot? App controlled smart cookers; WTF use are they?

Sorry I have too many opinions and must learn to not impose my will on others; ignore that last rant

[ronk]

If I'm out then the house can stay cool - its well insulated so its not going to freeze in a few hours and if I go away for a few days, the timer is set and the thermostat is on 15°c Why bother with Hive ?

[Stevo1987]

Pondrew,is there anything you don't have an opinion on to increase your post count

I have a lot to say, but if I'm pis*ing people off I'll back off. :

No don’t change, you’re fine as you are, though a bath once in a while……..

As for Alexa, I just don’t get it yet, though if I could say, hey Alexa I’m short of milk and flour, then 10 minutes later someone’s knocking at the door with milk and flour……that’s useful…..not I’m too lazy to get off my arse and turn on a light…..

Sorry Tim didn’t mean you per se

Handy if one is disabled.

[Stevo1987]

If I'm out then the house can stay cool - its well insulated so its not going to freeze in a few hours and if I go away for a few days, the timer is set and the thermostat is on 15°c Why bother with Hive ?

Why bother with a Z4 when a Ford Fiesta gets one from A to B? It is whatever floats yer boat. I got Hive because I wanted to change the position of my thermostat from halfway up the stairs. So, I looked at wireless stuff and Hive had a deal on so I got that. So far it has worked well. Later on on I paired it up with Alexa which also works well.

[Scubaregs]

Flip side, why have a timer which puts on your heating when you are out, but the day is mild and not needed? My app control system was free as part of an energy plan, I do 12 hour shifts and decide when the heating needs to go on for me being home.

[pvr]

As for Alexa, I just don’t get it yet, though if I could say, hey Alexa I’m short of milk and flour, then 10 minutes later someone’s knocking at the door with milk and flour……that’s useful…..not I’m too lazy to get off my arse and turn on a light…..

Totally agree. A lot of this stuff lately is 'technology for technololgy's sake'. Why the hell would you spend £500 on a wi-fi home heating control and an app on your phone? A perfectly good central heating programmer costs about £50. I have NEVER felt the need to adjust my heating in my house when I'm not in. How would I know if it's too cold or hot? App controlled smart cookers; WTF use are they?

Sorry I have too many opinions and must learn to not impose my will on others; ignore that last rant

Ah, I can understand that with a Hive system which works like that, but with the Honeywell system I control each radiator. So depending on the time of the day, different radiators go on and off. After installing it, it saved about £800 a year by not just having a central thermostat

[Stevo1987]

As for Alexa, I just don’t get it yet, though if I could say, hey Alexa I’m short of milk and flour, then 10 minutes later someone’s knocking at the door with milk and flour……that’s useful…..not I’m too lazy to get off my arse and turn on a light…..

Totally agree. A lot of this stuff lately is 'technology for technololgy's sake'. Why the hell would you spend £500 on a wi-fi home heating control and an app on your phone? A perfectly good central heating programmer costs about £50. I have NEVER felt the need to adjust my heating in my house when I'm not in. How would I know if it's too cold or hot? App controlled smart cookers; WTF use are they?

Sorry I have too many opinions and must learn to not impose my will on others; ignore that last rant

I think I paid just over £100 for my hive set up.

[Stevo1987]

As for Alexa, I just don’t get it yet, though if I could say, hey Alexa I’m short of milk and flour, then 10 minutes later someone’s knocking at the door with milk and flour……that’s useful…..not I’m too lazy to get off my arse and turn on a light…..

Totally agree. A lot of this stuff lately is 'technology for technololgy's sake'. Why the hell would you spend £500 on a wi-fi home heating control and an app on your phone? A perfectly good central heating programmer costs about £50. I have NEVER felt the need to adjust my heating in my house when I'm not in. How would I know if it's too cold or hot? App controlled smart cookers; WTF use are they?

Sorry I have too many opinions and must learn to not impose my will on others; ignore that last rant

Ah, I can understand that with a Hive system which works like that, but with the Honeywell system I control each radiator. So depending on the time of the day, different radiators go on and off. After installing it, it saved about £800 a year by not just having a central thermostat

Hive sell rad valves as well so you can do the same.