evldave
posted this
06 January 2017
OK, took me some time to figure this out, but here is how you can use IFTTT with your Alexa and Axial Control
Step 1 - set up an IFTTT account
Step 2 - Add the Alexa Service and the Maker service in IFTTT
Step 3 - Set up a static website address for your ISP's IP address they assign to you. I used DynDNS. This will allow the Maker IFTTT Service to know where to make the call to Axial Control (using the API). If you just use the IP address from 'What's my IP' it will change eventually and break your Applet in IFTTT. Many routers will 'link' to DynDNS and automagically update your static weblink to reflect whatever your ISP assigns you.
Step 3.5 - Open up port 1178 on your router
Step 4 - Assuming you haven't made any configuration changes to Axial Control on your server, create a new IFTTT Applet. Start by adding Alexa's 'Say a specific phrase' Trigger. Whatever trigger you use will follow 'Alexa trigger' in your voice command.
Step 5 - For your THAT portion of IFTTT, your action server should be Maker. Select 'Make a web request' and you will have 4 fields to fill out.
URL - "http://<<mynewdnsaddress.dyndns.org>>:1178/zwave/activateScene" - where <<mynewdnsaddress.dyndns.ord>> is replaced with whatever you signed up for with Dyndns as your static web address
Method - PUT
Content Type - application/json
Body - "{ "password": "", "sceneName": "<<scenename>>", "activate": 1 }" - where you replace <<scenename>> with the specific name of the scene in Axial Control. If you have enabled a password in the software under Tools-Options-Server, the put your password in the blank "" after "password" (hopefully that makes sense).
Create your actions and you are done! At this point you should be able to just say 'Alexa trigger NAME' and it will take a few seconds and your scene will activate.
A few benefits to this:
You don't have to rename any of your scenes in Axial to make them more 'voice friendly'
You can use any manner of voice command to initiate a scene. My favorate command is 'Alexa trigger 8675309' :)
A few drawbacks
You have to have a static IP address from your ISP or use a DNS server
It takes a few seconds longer to actually change the scene than using the plugin
You are moving 'outside' your home network for most of the processing/commands, which does pose some security risks
A few more items...
Since you are using the Maker action command, you can use ANY IFTTT trigger to initiate a scene. This means you can easily use text messaging, emails, time of day, etc. You can even have the system blink lights throughout the house if you get a phone call, you can authorize friends to unlock the front door via text, just about anything you want! Any IFTTT trigger works, but there will be a few seconds delay in going through the Maker-IFTTT-Axial process.
Have fun!
