So I have integrated voice commands through Alexa/Echo into my AV system including the Hopper. So I can say, Alexa, turn on mute and the TV mutes, or Alexa turn channel thirteen on (or Alexa turn NBC on) and it changes the hopper to channel 13. Or, Alexa turn on pause or turn on resume (play) and the hopper pauses and resumes on voice command. But I have some questions/oddities that you might be able to help with.
The set up - Global Cache wi2ir (the person who set up the ad hoc networking on that devices -- needed for initial set up -- deserves a special place in purgatory), Homeseer Zee 2, Homeseer Echo API skill and Homeseer Global Cache plugin. Each channel/ command is set up as a virtual devices, which is discoverable in Echo's home automation skill. So when I say Alexa turn channel thirteen on - it switches on the virtual device, which triggers an event that send the ir command over to the hopper to change the channel. The virtual resets to off. Everything works great. I have alternate names in Alexa so I can say either channel thirteen or nbc . One trivial annoyance is that the virtual device needs to have the number spelled out in Homeseer - channel thirteen not channel 13. I discovered I only watch 16 channels live on a regular basis. Lots more I record from, but only watch 16 live.
So here are issues/questions:
So I can control my antenna, turn it to position x then send a command over to the hopper to tune in a specific channel and then record, I can then tell the hopper to stop recording when the program is over and return the antenna to a "neutral" position. However, my channels come in from 2 different directions, and I can not figure out how to scan, save then scan in a different direction without the channels in the first scan disappearing. Suggestions?
Annoyance, virtual devices send a change status that invokes an event. Mute is a toggle. There is no feedback between the TV and the state of the virtual device since it does not directly control the TV. So if I say turn on mute - it will send the mute toggle to the TV - mute it if there is sound, unmute it if it is muted. I would like more natural speech and say turn off mute. But that will not work because it ts a toggle. I can also create an alternate word in Alexa (which I have - sound) and say Alexa turn on the sound. It works, but any suggestions on virtual devices for those of you who program home automation systems?
Major annoyance, The sun hits my IR blaster between 4 and 7. I have tried to reposition it, but it is in the perfect blast position for all the devices. I will be installing emitters, so that is a cheap alternative - they are around $4.
This was a major achievement for me. My entire house is either automated to use voice control. When I get to the door, homeseer recognizes my phone and unlocks my door, my lights come on automatically depending on the darkness of the room. I tell my bedroom light to turn off at night and it turns off all the lights in the house, locks the doors and puts power strips into night mood. Being able to have a hands-off experience with the AV system brings me 1 step closer to Star trek computer automation.
The set up - Global Cache wi2ir (the person who set up the ad hoc networking on that devices -- needed for initial set up -- deserves a special place in purgatory), Homeseer Zee 2, Homeseer Echo API skill and Homeseer Global Cache plugin. Each channel/ command is set up as a virtual devices, which is discoverable in Echo's home automation skill. So when I say Alexa turn channel thirteen on - it switches on the virtual device, which triggers an event that send the ir command over to the hopper to change the channel. The virtual resets to off. Everything works great. I have alternate names in Alexa so I can say either channel thirteen or nbc . One trivial annoyance is that the virtual device needs to have the number spelled out in Homeseer - channel thirteen not channel 13. I discovered I only watch 16 channels live on a regular basis. Lots more I record from, but only watch 16 live.
So here are issues/questions:
So I can control my antenna, turn it to position x then send a command over to the hopper to tune in a specific channel and then record, I can then tell the hopper to stop recording when the program is over and return the antenna to a "neutral" position. However, my channels come in from 2 different directions, and I can not figure out how to scan, save then scan in a different direction without the channels in the first scan disappearing. Suggestions?
Annoyance, virtual devices send a change status that invokes an event. Mute is a toggle. There is no feedback between the TV and the state of the virtual device since it does not directly control the TV. So if I say turn on mute - it will send the mute toggle to the TV - mute it if there is sound, unmute it if it is muted. I would like more natural speech and say turn off mute. But that will not work because it ts a toggle. I can also create an alternate word in Alexa (which I have - sound) and say Alexa turn on the sound. It works, but any suggestions on virtual devices for those of you who program home automation systems?
Major annoyance, The sun hits my IR blaster between 4 and 7. I have tried to reposition it, but it is in the perfect blast position for all the devices. I will be installing emitters, so that is a cheap alternative - they are around $4.
This was a major achievement for me. My entire house is either automated to use voice control. When I get to the door, homeseer recognizes my phone and unlocks my door, my lights come on automatically depending on the darkness of the room. I tell my bedroom light to turn off at night and it turns off all the lights in the house, locks the doors and puts power strips into night mood. Being able to have a hands-off experience with the AV system brings me 1 step closer to Star trek computer automation.
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