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Echo with harmony hub

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1camray

Echo with harmony hub
« on: March 04, 2017, 11:30:49 am »
I have been able to set up so Alexa, through harmony hub, will turn on TV, turn on DVR, and bring up the listing guide. After that, Alexa does not respond to commands like page up and down, channel up, channel back, exit guide, etc.

Also, the activities on the hub are called "watch TV" and "guide". Alexa will not do anything if I say those to commands, but works with "turn on TV".

I am a "near quadriplegic" and have just about lost all ability to operate a regular remote or smartphone to use with the hub. I need to get as many commands As possible set up with the echo.

Thanks in advance for the help
« Last Edit: March 04, 2017, 12:43:12 pm by 1camray »

avservice

Re: Echo with harmony hub
« Reply #1 on: March 10, 2017, 05:59:13 am »
It turns out that there are 2 different Skills that are needed to get the Harmony to do all that you want.
It looks like you have just the Blue on installed through the Smart Home tab in Alexa?
There is a Red one too and it is not installed through Smart Home but as a regular Skill instead for some reason and this one should provide the other features that you need.

Once installed you invoke it by saying"Alexa tell Harmony"and then a command and the phrasing is oddly a little different for channel up and down and calling favorites?

But it does seem to work......usually.
Some will just not run while others will and I think if you go into the Harmony app and Sync and then go into the Alexa App and review the actions in your Smart Home tab you should see your favorites listed there oddly but recognizable too and then you will be able to call them?

Hope this makes some sense,it does work if you stick with it.

Re: Echo with harmony hub
« Reply #2 on: March 12, 2017, 11:45:33 am »
I set my aunt's A/V System up with the Harmony hub and as posted by avservice, you HAVE TO have both harmony apps.

Once you find and install those apps (I had a hard time getting both to show up on my iPhone at first), and both working (I downloaded one, then the other, and the first one was replaced by the second one somehow... keep trying), it works as advertised...

I have given my Aunt everything I know how to do, but would love to know what commands to use to operate the guide on her cable box. Can you help me out with that please? I tried all kinds of commands and none would do the deed for us. I think they're using ATT Uverse for a cable/internet provider if that helps.

We are also working on an "Alarm" or "Alert" for her to call my uncle from the other room, without having to yell as it's difficult enough to just breathe and maintain a normal day sometimes. So we're working on HUE lighting in a lamp for her to be able to control with the Dot, to alert him to come quickly. He has hearing issues to add to the problems... not bad, but in order for him to watch TV on the Den TV, he has the volume too high for others to converse in the same room... he won't hear her well with that, so adding the HUE light and bridge seems pretty reasonable to allow for him to go back to watching TV in a different room, since he doesn't dig cooking shows and HGTV as much as she does...LOL

If you have read any of my other stuff, My Aunt is a full Quadriplegic and can only use hear head and neck to control her scooter chair... very cool she can get around on her own with a few limitations... I'm just trying to help them get as much independence for each of them as possible. As he says... When he brushes HIS teeth... he brushes two sets of teeth (Both have their natural chicklets too)... Every time he eats, he feeds two... etc... I have a lot of respect for him and his love for My Aunt. It is definitely a full time position to live at home as they do, with her condition.
2 Echo Dots 2nd gen
2 echo dots gen 3 (no clock) -2 Echo Dot 3rd gen with Clock
1 echo dot Gen 4 with clock
1 Echo Spot
4 10" Fire Tablets
1 15' Echo show
23 Hue Lights 1 Hue bridge - 1 Amazon Smart plug outlet
One Ring Doorbell Pro
4 cell phones with Alexa app installed!
You should see My Apple Device List!