Echo and HS2
- Thread starter RAM
- Start date
Desert_AIP
Senior Member
I just set up mine with HS3 for RPi.
I don't know how different they are.
You can edit the names of the devices in HomeSeer in the "Voice Command" box to give them easier to use voice names.
e.g. "Downstairs" instead of "Downstairs Thermostat Root Device".
You need a My HomeSeer account, Free through their website, links in to your HomeSeer.
Go into the Alexa app, search for HomeSeer and enable the skill. There are two, one uses the internal Echo API, the other uses the pass through method.
You can use both together, so no harm in enabling both.
A popup will come up asking for the My HomeSeer login, and then link the accounts.
Then simply tell her, "Alexa, discover my devices." And she'll import all of the listed devices in HomeSeer.
The Alexa app will show the list of devices in the Smart Home area.
If you want to rename a device, delete it from the Alexa list. Rename it and rediscover devices and she'll update.
If you don't delete it first she will have both the old name and new name listed, with the old one showing "offline" since it doesn't exist anymore.
You have to delete devices through the webpage interface through the Amazon page. You can't do it in the app.
The verbiage for the API is more natural.
e.g., "Alexa, turn on the Living Room Light".
The other skill can do more, but the verbiage is a bit more convoluted.
e.g., "Alexa, tell HomeSeer to turn on the Living Room Light.
Her responses are different too. With the API she simply answers "OK".
IIRC, the other skill replies, "OK, I will turn on the Living Room Light." Or something similarly verbose.
So far I've been able to do everything I wanted to just using the API.
I can control all of my OmniPro UPB and Zigbee lights (and soon ZWave), my thermostats, flags, outputs and virtual devices in HomeSeer I use for things like turning on the TV or changing channels (through the DirecTV plugin).
Quite a full suite of options so far.
I can't do UPB scenes through the Omni plugin. I need to use the SpudUPB plugin. For that I need another PIM.
I don't know how different they are.
You can edit the names of the devices in HomeSeer in the "Voice Command" box to give them easier to use voice names.
e.g. "Downstairs" instead of "Downstairs Thermostat Root Device".
You need a My HomeSeer account, Free through their website, links in to your HomeSeer.
Go into the Alexa app, search for HomeSeer and enable the skill. There are two, one uses the internal Echo API, the other uses the pass through method.
You can use both together, so no harm in enabling both.
A popup will come up asking for the My HomeSeer login, and then link the accounts.
Then simply tell her, "Alexa, discover my devices." And she'll import all of the listed devices in HomeSeer.
The Alexa app will show the list of devices in the Smart Home area.
If you want to rename a device, delete it from the Alexa list. Rename it and rediscover devices and she'll update.
If you don't delete it first she will have both the old name and new name listed, with the old one showing "offline" since it doesn't exist anymore.
You have to delete devices through the webpage interface through the Amazon page. You can't do it in the app.
The verbiage for the API is more natural.
e.g., "Alexa, turn on the Living Room Light".
The other skill can do more, but the verbiage is a bit more convoluted.
e.g., "Alexa, tell HomeSeer to turn on the Living Room Light.
Her responses are different too. With the API she simply answers "OK".
IIRC, the other skill replies, "OK, I will turn on the Living Room Light." Or something similarly verbose.
So far I've been able to do everything I wanted to just using the API.
I can control all of my OmniPro UPB and Zigbee lights (and soon ZWave), my thermostats, flags, outputs and virtual devices in HomeSeer I use for things like turning on the TV or changing channels (through the DirecTV plugin).
Quite a full suite of options so far.
I can't do UPB scenes through the Omni plugin. I need to use the SpudUPB plugin. For that I need another PIM.
Desert_AIP
Senior Member
Cross posted from the Omni thread:
Played with the API extensively, the Homeseer/Alexa lexicon is very extensive.
These commands work perfectly.
Lighting loads:
Turn "Light Name" On/Off (snap)
Turn "Light Name" On at XX percent (this also works if light is already on to make it go to a new set point)
Dim "Light Name" to XX percent (works on a light that is currently on)
Bright(end) "Light Name" to XX percent (works on a light that is currently on or off)
Dim/lower/decrease "Light Name" (appears to lower current light level ~25% increments [haven't verified with a status check])
Bright(en)/raise/increase "Light Name" (raises current light level ~25% increment) (will work on a load that is off)
When referring to lighting loads they word "light(s)" does not need to be in the Voice Command description box in HomeSeer, and does not need to be used. But if it is used it will not create confusions, Alexa appears to ignore it if it is not part of the "Light Name".
So with a device named Living Room;
"Alexa, turn on living room.", "Alexa, turn on living room lights.", "Alexa, turn on the living room light.", "Alexa, turn on the living room lights." all produce the same result.
Thermostats:
Set "Tstat Name" to XX degrees (if in heat mode will set heating setpoint, if in cool mode will set cooling setpoint, if in auto mode sets both setpoints with the designated value in the middle.
For example in auto mode - "Set Downstairs to 68 degrees." Sets lower setpoint to 66 degrees and upper setpoint to 70.
Increase/decrease "Tstat Name" (by) XX degrees.
Played with the API extensively, the Homeseer/Alexa lexicon is very extensive.
These commands work perfectly.
Lighting loads:
Turn "Light Name" On/Off (snap)
Turn "Light Name" On at XX percent (this also works if light is already on to make it go to a new set point)
Dim "Light Name" to XX percent (works on a light that is currently on)
Bright(end) "Light Name" to XX percent (works on a light that is currently on or off)
Dim/lower/decrease "Light Name" (appears to lower current light level ~25% increments [haven't verified with a status check])
Bright(en)/raise/increase "Light Name" (raises current light level ~25% increment) (will work on a load that is off)
When referring to lighting loads they word "light(s)" does not need to be in the Voice Command description box in HomeSeer, and does not need to be used. But if it is used it will not create confusions, Alexa appears to ignore it if it is not part of the "Light Name".
So with a device named Living Room;
"Alexa, turn on living room.", "Alexa, turn on living room lights.", "Alexa, turn on the living room light.", "Alexa, turn on the living room lights." all produce the same result.
Thermostats:
Set "Tstat Name" to XX degrees (if in heat mode will set heating setpoint, if in cool mode will set cooling setpoint, if in auto mode sets both setpoints with the designated value in the middle.
For example in auto mode - "Set Downstairs to 68 degrees." Sets lower setpoint to 66 degrees and upper setpoint to 70.
Increase/decrease "Tstat Name" (by) XX degrees.
Desert_AIP
Senior Member
Wouldn't hurt to try.
pete_c
Guru
The integrated to Homeseer 3 Amazon echo stuff will not work in Homeseer 2.
If you are in to tinkering with your Homeseer 2 stuff you can try this...redoing some stuff to work with HS2.
Thrag's Alexa(Echo) Skill and HA Bridge Autoconfigurator
If you are in to tinkering with your Homeseer 2 stuff you can try this...redoing some stuff to work with HS2.
Thrag's Alexa(Echo) Skill and HA Bridge Autoconfigurator
RAM
Active Member
I got this to work!!!
I started with the Ha-bridge software. Then I set up the on & off url sections to point to an ASP page I created. I pass the house & device code to the ASP so I just need to have two ASP pages, one for off and one for on. Yesterday I was able to get setpoint control of my X10 RCS thermostat with Alexa.
Next I'm going to get a Logitech Harmony Hub working with Alexa to control my TV/entertainment stuff.
Also my 6 year old dsgrandson loves interacting with Alexa.
I started with the Ha-bridge software. Then I set up the on & off url sections to point to an ASP page I created. I pass the house & device code to the ASP so I just need to have two ASP pages, one for off and one for on. Yesterday I was able to get setpoint control of my X10 RCS thermostat with Alexa.
Next I'm going to get a Logitech Harmony Hub working with Alexa to control my TV/entertainment stuff.
Also my 6 year old dsgrandson loves interacting with Alexa.
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