Asking Alexa is generally a waste of time... Yes useful for advertised tasks but with a flawed search engine.
Added the google search ( to dot ) which is much better but would prefer a google device.
Kojo_Segu to SavageDonkey
12 Sep 17#2
How were u able to add google search to your dot?
modelman to Kojo_Segu
12 Sep 17#7
It's a fairly involved process to get google on Alexa (allow at least 1-1-5h to complete and test) however if you follow the correct guides.its not beyond anyone's ability. Start by typing in any search engine "alexa ask google skill" and go from there. Plenty of YouTube videos as well.
cjhilton49 to modelman
12 Sep 17#8
This might be of use,but didn't find any You Tube videos alexamods.com/gui…ll/ comments are interesting as well,suppose could buy a Goggle home?
I really like my Echo/Dot devices, but they would be much better with access to Google. I'd certainly be interested in knowing whether anyone has successfully followed the 72 steps required to do this and what they think of the result. I am tempted, but wonder what, if any, negative affect it will have on my devices.
modelman to OB1
13 Sep 17#23
This version is superior from what I've heard but does incur a small annual fee
valleyboy22 to OB1
14 Sep 17#31
This any good and worth it?
Van1973 to valleyboy22
14 Sep 17#32
I installed it yesterday following the instructions on the video - took about an hour I'd say. Well explained and relatively straight forward - doesn't explain how it works, just how to do it!
It works! Don't think I'll use it every day but sure on occasions the google search engine will be a lot better than Alexa's. For a simple example asking a direct question to Alexa - "who won the FA Cup final in xxxx?" returns "Sorry I'm not sure about that" but "Alexa ask google" the same question returns the correct answer in an American accent after about 5 seconds.
Van1973 to cjhilton49
13 Sep 17#13
This guy has done a lot of videos on the use of the Echo/Dot.
cjhilton49 to Van1973
13 Sep 17#20
Cheers for link,looks interesting and may well give it a go.
Van1973 to cjhilton49
13 Sep 17#21
Same here. If I do this I'll also do the Youtube music skill as well. Just need to lock myself in a darkened room for a couple of hours!
Van1973 to Van1973
13 Sep 17#26
Done it - very well explained in the video. Will do the Youtube music one next!
aobriain
12 Sep 17#3
Purchased a few Echo's a few months back. Okay but not brilliant. Then purchased a few Google Home's a few weeks ago. What an improvement in almost all areas. Great when linked to Chromecast and Chromecast audio. Still a few features not quite live in this region (control of Logitech Harmony for one) - and the ability to put a sleep timer on music (though this can be achieved through setting a sleep timer on phone music app and then casting. Defintely sticking with Google Home. Will keep the Echos though (which has Logitech Harmony feature currently). Hard to believe that Echo had a 2 year headstart and imho Google Home has already far surpassed the Echo in nearly all areas.
stuartbaker80 to aobriain
12 Sep 17#5
The Harmony upgrade is live now, it was in the last update.
aobriain to stuartbaker80
12 Sep 17#6
Thanks for the info. Didn't realise it was now live here.
TomLC
12 Sep 17#4
Or Amazon are selling certified refurbished Echos for £119.99??????
valleyboy22
13 Sep 17#9
This worth the £99, because it looks great and always wanted one? Also any extra discount codes like last time it went on offer? Thanks
alexc100 to valleyboy22
13 Sep 17#11
Do people really want a sub-standard speaker they can talk to? I expect this device will be obsolete by next summer, hence the ongoing deals and price reductions.
Nick.Amos to alexc100
13 Sep 17#17
Yeah people do... I think it's excellent. Not only is it a good enough speak for when you want quick music it can connect wirelessly to my better speaker when quality is more important.
plus it controls all my lighting downstairs and the heating both of which IMO are really handy
The extras of telling them time, setting timers, alarms, asking questions etc are all a nice to have too and useful.
Its still early days but as more things around the home become connectedI think EVERY home will have a device like this I the near future
rabbitmoon
13 Sep 17#10
I think its a great deal. I use mine for music (which its great for, e.g. listening to the excellent new Nothing But Thieves album on the day of release) & news headlines. Then, shouting for the time when in the bathroom, weather, occasional facts about things (when was a film released etc). Its just nice to have around.
solid
13 Sep 17#14
The idea of a voice assistant is great, and I have several echos around the house - they get a lot of use with us.
But, it's to be expected that next gen versions will be much better than current models. As with most things, the more you invest, the more useful it'll be.
I just hope that as new models and new features are introduced, the older models are supported, too
RJUK
13 Sep 17#15
Depends what music service you use. We have Prime and I exclusively use Amazon Music. As such, it only makes sense to have an Echo. Otherwise I'd probably have got a Google Home, as their search facility is bound to be better. That said, Amazon are already stepping ahead again with the Echo Show, which will no doubt be arriving here soon and is probably the reason for the price drops.
babylon
13 Sep 17#16
I must say,I was a bit dubious when I bought 2 on Black Friday, Was putting in a new kitchen, So bought one for there and upstairs, I've since put them on the ceiling in the kitchen and at top of the stairs,
Got about 7 £4 Sonoff switches running kitchen lights, The wife also never would listen to music at home,Ever, But she signed up to Amazon music with the student £6 for 6 months deal and puts it on every morning, I thought she would be my biggest opponent to them running lights and all that stuff, But no. And the speaker is not that bad at all.
OB1 to babylon
13 Sep 17#19
I was considering installing a dot on the bathroom ceiling, with the cable going up through to the loft.
callum84 to babylon
13 Sep 17#22
Never thought of putting one on ceiling!
Picked up a pair off flush ceiling speakers and Bluetooth amp. Fitted and wired into lighting circuit. Echo dot connects to it through Bluetooth and worked out about £100.
Have done bedroom so far, want to do living room and kitchen but will be more difficult pulling cables as downstairs. May look into a ceiling mount, now.
johndale1980 to babylon
13 Sep 17#25
Hi really intrigued about your sonoff switches and what they achieve. If you don't mind, can you share the link and the purpose you achieve - planning to do add a bit of tech myself to the kitchen. thx
Van1973 to johndale1980
13 Sep 17#28
I also use sonoff devices. Have a look at this link as it shows their current range - banggood.com/sea…asc
I currently just have 6 inline switches for 5 lights and one fan. They are connected to your wireless network and controlled by an app on a phone - ewelink. Plenty of youtube videos showing how to work. I control 4 of the lights using a timer function and can manual override if necessary. Alexa has a ewelink skill which enables voice control of all the sonoff devices.
I have some of the remote plug sockets on order and am thinking of getting a temperature controlled switch. With the RF bridge it is possible to combine with PIRs to switch devices on/off when a room is occupied!
They would be excellent for a new build or a major refurbishment as all ceiling lights could be installed with this functionality as well as plug sockets.
johndale1980 to Van1973
13 Sep 17#29
Many thanks,
supermqd
13 Sep 17#24
same price at argos and very.co.uk and pc world and john lewis and finally currys
solid
13 Sep 17#27
A question for those of you with Alexa and other iot/WiFi based home automation:
Do you keep these devices on the same WiFi network as your laptop/mobiles/tablets/etc, or do you have them on a separate WiFi network?
At the moment, all my devices are all on the same network, and I'm trying to decide whether it would be safer from hackers, if the home automation devices were on a separate SSID. Any thoughts are welcome
valleyboy22
14 Sep 17#30
what do i need to control my lights etc with this?
M1LFHunter
14 Sep 17#33
I was considering installing these in my house. Then I realised, I have a life.
ZeeshoWeesho to M1LFHunter
14 Sep 17#34
Says the guy with the username MilfHunter!
valleyboy22
15 Sep 17#35
can i ask Alexa for example before i go to work to remind my partner at 8am to put the bins out?
solid to valleyboy22
15 Sep 17#37
Yes.
"Alexa, set a reminder for the bins at 8am"
And for lights:
"Alexa turn on the kitchen lights" (You need additional hardware to make that happen, though)
valleyboy22
15 Sep 17#36
how can i get thinks like lights to turn off etc also?
valleyboy22
18 Sep 17#38
Experience additional hardware is though by the look
![Fresh Breakfast Meat Box (Using code) @ Campbells Meat [Haggis / Lorne Sausage / Bacon / Black Pudding & More]](/images/topics/208684_1.jpg)
![[Xbox One] Q. u. b. e: Director's Cut on Deals with Gold](/images/topics/208716_1.jpg)
Opening post
All comments (38)
Added the google search ( to dot ) which is much better but would prefer a google device.
Start by typing in any search engine "alexa ask google skill" and go from there. Plenty of YouTube videos as well.
alexamods.com/gui…ll/
comments are interesting as well,suppose could buy a Goggle home?
alexamods.com/gui…ll/
It works! Don't think I'll use it every day but sure on occasions the google search engine will be a lot better than Alexa's. For a simple example asking a direct question to Alexa - "who won the FA Cup final in xxxx?" returns "Sorry I'm not sure about that" but "Alexa ask google" the same question returns the correct answer in an American accent after about 5 seconds.
Thanks
plus it controls all my lighting downstairs and the heating both of which IMO are really handy
The extras of telling them time, setting timers, alarms, asking questions etc are all a nice to have too and useful.
Its still early days but as more things around the home become connectedI think EVERY home will have a device like this I the near future
But, it's to be expected that next gen versions will be much better than current models. As with most things, the more you invest, the more useful it'll be.
I just hope that as new models and new features are introduced, the older models are supported, too
And the speaker is not that bad at all.
Picked up a pair off flush ceiling speakers and Bluetooth amp. Fitted and wired into lighting circuit.
Echo dot connects to it through Bluetooth and worked out about £100.
Have done bedroom so far, want to do living room and kitchen but will be more difficult pulling cables as downstairs. May look into a ceiling mount, now.
I currently just have 6 inline switches for 5 lights and one fan. They are connected to your wireless network and controlled by an app on a phone - ewelink. Plenty of youtube videos showing how to work. I control 4 of the lights using a timer function and can manual override if necessary. Alexa has a ewelink skill which enables voice control of all the sonoff devices.
I have some of the remote plug sockets on order and am thinking of getting a temperature controlled switch. With the RF bridge it is possible to combine with PIRs to switch devices on/off when a room is occupied!
They would be excellent for a new build or a major refurbishment as all ceiling lights could be installed with this functionality as well as plug sockets.
Do you keep these devices on the same WiFi network as your laptop/mobiles/tablets/etc, or do you have them on a separate WiFi network?
At the moment, all my devices are all on the same network, and I'm trying to decide whether it would be safer from hackers, if the home automation devices were on a separate SSID. Any thoughts are welcome
"Alexa, set a reminder for the bins at 8am"
And for lights:
"Alexa turn on the kitchen lights" (You need additional hardware to make that happen, though)