Amazon Echo Plugin Now Available

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rscott posted this 11 April 2016

As announced in our Google group last week, the Amazon Echo plugin is now available. We would like a community driven beta test just so we can work out the kinks, add new phrases and refine the current speech UI.

During the beta, we'll give you a half off coupon toward the purchsae of the plugin when you leave a review for either our Android or iOS app. To receive your coupon, email us at support@axialcontrol.com with a link to your review.

Be sure to provide feedback here on the forums about your plugin experience. In the coming weeks, we'll use this information to enhance and improve the plugin.

Thanks everyone!

 

 

 

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joey10e posted this 11 April 2016

Not sure where to post testing updates. But here is my experience so far. I have added the Incontrol skill to Alexa, I tried to ask for the account to link and get the code but Alexa does not seem to recognize that. I am able to control only one light in my setup all the rest do not seem to work. Let me know if I am doing anything incorrect so I can test further.

rscott posted this 11 April 2016

Not sure where to post testing updates. But here is my experience so far. I have added the Incontrol skill to Alexa, I tried to ask for the account to link and get the code but Alexa does not seem to recognize that. I am able to control only one light in my setup all the rest do not seem to work. Let me know if I am doing anything incorrect so I can test further.

You should open your Alexa app on your phone then find the InControl skill. It should have an option to "link" the account. 

By the way, is there still somewhere that talks about the link code? I thought I had removed those instructions (as they are out-dated), but I must have missed a spot.

joey10e posted this 12 April 2016

Okay that's what I did, but yes on the Alexa app for the install instructions of the Incontrol skill.

ccstewartjr@yahoo.com posted this 29 April 2016

I just started using it today.  My biggest problem is it's recognition.  "Garage Car Door" is heard as "Garage Door" (which does not exist yet).  "Outside Outlet" is heard as "Side Door" (which does not exist).  I did manage to lock a Front Door Lock but It was on the umpteenth try and I really don't remember what I said.  I have not gotten the scene "Lock Down" to work yet either.

It seems to be trying tho.

Is there a list of phrases somewhere?

rscott posted this 29 April 2016

I just started using it today.  My biggest problem is it's recognition.  "Garage Car Door" is heard as "Garage Door" (which does not exist yet).  "Outside Outlet" is heard as "Side Door" (which does not exist).  I did manage to lock a Front Door Lock but It was on the umpteenth try and I really don't remember what I said.  I have not gotten the scene "Lock Down" to work yet either.

It seems to be trying tho.

Is there a list of phrases somewhere?

 

It's supposed to be open ended, meaning any phrase would "in theory" work. I suspect what you are running into is that Amazon is trying to match what you say to words we'd commonly hear - it could be that "Garage Car Door" isn't a phrase that's very common. I know, shot in the dark! :)  I do have the option of adding "hints" which might help - if you send me a list of your device names, I'll update the hint text and see if that helps Alexa out any.

ccstewartjr@yahoo.com posted this 29 April 2016

I think I've narrowed down the problem.  Alexa doesn't like a lot of words.  Looks like she is triggering on certain words or trying to find equivelence of the spoken phrase in two words in respect to the device name.  I'll play with it some more.  I don't know how many hints you can give it so it might be wise to save them to expand capability rather than customize for a single case.  Besides, I'm having fun. :)

ccstewartjr@yahoo.com posted this 29 April 2016

OK, I'm satisfied that it is one or two words.  Master, Bedroom Lights, and Door were all recognized but only groups of any two were recognized.  It recognized Outlet and Laundry but said they weren't in my profile.  Any one have an idea what and where this profile is?

rscott posted this 29 April 2016

OK, I'm satisfied that it is one or two words.  Master, BedroomLights, and Door were all recognized but only groups of any two were recognized.  It recognized Outlet and Laundry but said they weren't in my profile.  Any one have an idea what and where this profile is?

Hmm, I'm not sure what this "profile" is - can you tell me exactly what Alexa said in reference to it? In fact, how about you provide the full conversation and I'll try to replicate it on my end (include what you said and what she replies back with).

stbluesrul posted this 06 May 2016

This plugin looks really cool, but before I buy it, I see on the plugin page that you need to say:

-Alexa, ask InControl to turn on the bedroom lights.

Is it possible to just say:

-Alexa, turn on the bedroom lights.

rscott posted this 06 May 2016

Unfortunately no. 

That said, don't despair! Amazon just recently released a new "package" for developers that lets us tie into that level of integration. It requires that we move our servers over to Amazon though before we can take advantage of it and we are in the process of doing just that. Once we are there, anyone who owns the current plugin will be able to use the "more integrated" version as well. 

stbluesrul posted this 06 May 2016

Sweet!  Looking forward to that.  Do you have a time frame?

ccstewartjr@yahoo.com posted this 05 July 2016

I figured out what Alexa means when she could not find a "Device or Group" in my profile.  I get the same result if I don't say "InControl" as when it seems to misunderstand me.  I hope this goes away soon with the closer intergration.

tnamey posted this 16 September 2016

Any news on the full integration?  Itching to get this running!!  

nelis249 posted this 19 October 2016

I have not looked deep into the Alexa API other than skills. It would be interesting if it were possible for Axial to emulate a hardware appliance on the network. Skills require wake up words, e.g. Alex tell 'someskill' go do something. Where as physical appliances do not have this requirement. I have a Belkin Weemo outlet with the name CoolFan. I just say: Alexa CoolFan on (or off). With this there is no 'wake up' word for the device, it's just the device name itself. If Axial were to interface to the device side of things, then perhaps the integration could be pushed to devices themselves through Axial versus the wake up word. Again I have not looked into this API and unsure if it's even possible from a software perspective. It might require some type of Amazon hardware license agreement, or something other than just skill integration.

jonfrance posted this 26 October 2016

I just got this to integrate with.  I came on here to ask the same question here, which I see has been asked before.

Any news on the timeline for this?  I presume that this means the skill will be part of the "Smart Home" area rather than separate skill when this is done.

 

raingedockter@gmail.com posted this 17 February 2017

Any update on the timeline for this?

rscott posted this 17 February 2017

The new skill has been in review with Amazon since early January. It's a little unusual for it to be in review this long, so I've tried to contact them a few times and have had no response. I guess all I can do is keep waiting.

klimekt posted this 03 March 2017

What is the right phrase to control the thermostat via Alexa? If I say "Ask InControl to set thermostat to 65 degrees" it responds "I asked inControl to set thermostat to highest value possible", if I ask to "set thermostat to 65" it responds "set thermostat to 65 percent". Neither seems to work correctly. A list of available commands would be very helpful.  

rscott posted this 06 March 2017

Hey everyone, here's some good news - the new skill named "Axial Control" is available that uses the built-in Alexa home skills. To use it, find the skill on your Echo, link it to your account then allow it to discover your devices. Phrases are similar, but without the "Ask inControl":

  • Alexa, turn on the kitchen light
  • Alexa, turn off the office 
  • Alexa, set the office to 50 percent

Using this "native" skill does have some drawbacks; you aren't able to execute scenes or do any of the other things like set timers, etc.

For now, everyone's account has been given access to the Alexa plugin. Enjoy the free trial of the skill while we work out any bugs and kinks. After the trial, it will work for anyone who has purchased and enabled the Alexa plugin for their axialcontrol.com account.

Currently this is only available in the USA. We've got the same skill pending review for the UK.

 

klimekt posted this 06 March 2017

This works great! Way easier to say the commands. The only device missing from the discovery is my thermostat, is this by design?

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