Remotes

[wayner]

Originally Posted by tvmaster2

Any idea if the Logitech Hub that comes with the remote can also be used for additional 'hub' activities, i.e. instead of using a Samsung SmartHub for example? You know, for linking to wall-socket wifi adapters etc.

Increasingly that is the case. A few years ago these devices just worked with IR devices plus Philips Hue lights. Now the latest versions interface to a lot more IoT devices and they have changed the name to SmartControl to indicate that it can control many things in your house.

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by wayner

Increasingly that is the case. A few years ago these devices just worked with IR devices plus Philips Hue lights. Now the latest versions interface to a lot more IoT devices and they have changed the name to SmartControl to indicate that it can control many things in your house.

I can't make the Alexa app communicate with the Harmony skill that's available in the Alexa skill catalogue. It installs the skill, I can sign into my Harmony account, but Alexa - Dot doesn't recognize any commands I tell her.
Any tricks I may have missed?

[NetworkGuy]

After your linked the accounts, did you tell Alexia to "Discover Devices"?

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by NetworkGuy

After your linked the accounts, did you tell Alexia to "Discover Devices"?

I believe so. She also has trouble discovering some WeMo socket switches - it's hit and miss. If all goes well does she say "discovered Harmony skill" or the like?

[wayner]

You should be able to see some stuff for it when you go to the Alexa app on your phone or browse to the Echo web page on your LAN.

[NetworkGuy]

If you go into the app and look under Smart Home, you will see the Harmony activities.

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by NetworkGuy

If you go into the app and look under Smart Home, you will see the Harmony activities.

The iOS Alexa app? I can't go into Smart Home without backing out of Harmony sign-in. Confused.

[NetworkGuy]

Sign into Alexa from your computer. http://alexa.amazon.com/spa/index.html#smart-home I find it easier than using the app when working with skills.

[ccsmoke]

I find that if an app like say hue or idevices have been updated, you may need to launch them specific apps first and make sure the devices don't have errors and then after you link accounts they should show up under discovery.

Naming of devices can also take a little trial and error also. For an example, if you name a kitchen light "kitchen light" and add more lights in your kitchen it can cause some issues with groups. If you say turn on kitchen lights, it sometimes may not hear the s and just turn on a solo light vs all of them. So it would be better to name the light kitchen globe or something unique for when you expand.

[NetworkGuy]

Originally Posted by ccsmoke

I find that if an app like say hue or idevices have been updated, you may need to launch them specific apps first and make sure the devices don't have errors and then after you link accounts they should show up under discovery.

Naming of devices can also take a little trial and error also. For an example, if you name a kitchen light "kitchen light" and add more lights in your kitchen it can cause some issues with groups. If you say turn on kitchen lights, it sometimes may not hear the s and just turn on a solo light vs all of them. So it would be better to name the light kitchen globe or something unique for when you expand.

And then you can create a group named "kitchen lights" that will turn on all of the kitchen lights.

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by NetworkGuy

Sign into Alexa from your computer. http://alexa.amazon.com/spa/index.html#smart-home I find it easier than using the app when working with skills.

do you have BOTH the Blue AND Red Harmony skills installed?

[wayner]

Originally Posted by tvmaster2

do you have BOTH the Blue AND Red Harmony skills installed?

I only see one Harmony app and it is kind of Teal colored.

I have six Harmony Hubs in my house so it would be nice to control them all. I might set up a custom skill that uses some code from the (unofficial) Harmony API to control some basic other features like shutting off or starting the SageTV Activity.

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by wayner

I only see one Harmony app and it is kind of Teal colored.

I have six Harmony Hubs in my house so it would be nice to control them all. I might set up a custom skill that uses some code from the (unofficial) Harmony API to control some basic other features like shutting off or starting the SageTV Activity.

I can get the Alexa iOS app to install the Harmony Skills, and link to my Harmony account. But for some reason, Alexa won't act on any of the commands which are supplied as examples. Not one. Can't figure out where the disconnect is.

[tvmaster2]

A good deal today if anyone's looking:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/logitech...?skuId=4801401

It's been my go-to remote for five years now. Bought a spare at this price

[NetworkGuy]

Originally Posted by tvmaster2

I can get the Alexa iOS app to install the Harmony Skills, and link to my Harmony account. But for some reason, Alexa won't act on any of the commands which are supplied as examples. Not one. Can't figure out where the disconnect is.

Try logging in from a computer browser. http://alexa.amazon.com/spa/index.html#smart-home

Under the "Smart Home" tab, check to make sure that the Harmony skill is connected. (This is also where the disable link is located.)

Scroll down. You should see a list of devices. Do you see devices that are associated with Harmony Activities?

I use "Alexa, turn on SageTV" or "Alexa, watch SageTV" to turn on my system. What are you saying to Alexa?

[tvmaster2]

Thanks - all of that looks exactly right. I may have figured out the problem: we set the Dot up using my wife's Amazon account (or email account, can't be sure), and added my account later. When I asked Alexa to 'change to my account', all the Harmony Smart Home commands started to work.
Can you explain that? What has to match to make everything happy? I just thought the Dot and the Harmony Hub had to be linked to the same in-house network router. Is there more to the equation - apparently there seems to be...

[NetworkGuy]

Originally Posted by tvmaster2

Thanks - all of that looks exactly right. I may have figured out the problem: we set the Dot up using my wife's Amazon account (or email account, can't be sure), and added my account later. When I asked Alexa to 'change to my account', all the Harmony Smart Home commands started to work.
Can you explain that? What has to match to make everything happy? I just thought the Dot and the Harmony Hub had to be linked to the same in-house network router. Is there more to the equation - apparently there seems to be...

Alexa can use only one Harmony account at a time. The skills in each Alexa account can be different. If Alexa is using your wife's account and her account was never linked to the Harmony account, that would explain why it did not work.

An Alexa Account can be linked to only ONE Harmony account. But I think that a Harmony account can be linked to more than one Alexa account. Try linking her Alexa account to the same Harmony account and it should work no matter who's account Alexa is using.

Let me know if it works.

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by NetworkGuy

Alexa can use only one Harmony account at a time. The skills in each Alexa account can be different. If Alexa is using your wife's account and her account was never linked to the Harmony account, that would explain why it did not work.

An Alexa Account can be linked to only ONE Harmony account. But I think that a Harmony account can be linked to more than one Alexa account. Try linking her Alexa account to the same Harmony account and it should work no matter who's account Alexa is using.

Let me know if it works.

And I'd do that by signing into my Harmony account, either from a PC or the iOS app, and add her account from there?

[NetworkGuy]

Originally Posted by tvmaster2

And I'd do that by signing into my Harmony account, either from a PC or the iOS app, and add her account from there?

Sign into her Alexa account, add the Harmony skill and then link it to your Harmony account.

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by NetworkGuy

Sign into her Alexa account, add the Harmony skill and then link it to your Harmony account.

when you say her 'Alexa' account, you mean her Amazon account, correct?