I just got an Amazon Echo, and I started reading some old forum threads. However, some info may be old/outdated given that the Smart Home Skill just went live this July.
I have some questions about the Smart Home Skill:
1. Should I use the new Smart Home Skill instead of the HomeSeer Home Automation Skill? I really like the fact that the Smart Home Skill doesn't require having to say "Tell HomeSeer to..." Are there any pros/cons of using one or the other? Or should I install both?
2. Any future changes planned for Smart Home Skill and HomeSeer Home Automation Skill that would make it better to use one or the other?
3. Any tips on naming devices? I have 100+ devices and I want to get more info before renaming all my devices...
Currently, I use my HS3 location names for Floor and Room. My Device Names also have the room name. For example:
Floor: Downstairs
Room: Kitchen
Device Name: Kitchen Ceiling Lights
Years ago, there was a GUI that didn't show room names so I have to include the room name with the device name. Aside: I plan to also use the HomeKit/HomeBridge integration, which makes initial importing of device names easier if they were unique. However, with 100+ devices, it's nearly impossible to have unique and easy to remember device names unless you preface each device names with the room that the device is in (which makes the device's full name repetitive like "Downstairs Kitchen Kitchen Ceiling Lights". (Aside: I have an iPhone and iWatch, and would like to use those since I always have an iPhone and iWatch with me, so it's nice if I'm remote or far away from my Echo).
Anyway, does anyone have any tips on how to name devices? I was thinking of removing the room name from the device name (so above example would be named "Ceiling Lights" instead of "Kitchen Ceiling Lights").
I have rooms where each room has many controllable lights. For example: Kitchen Ceiling Lights, Kitchen Chandelier, Kitchen Counter Lights, Kitchen Shelf Light, etc. Is there a naming convention to use if I wanted to tell Alexa to turn off all the lights in the Kitchen with one voice command? For example: Alexa, turn off all kitchen lights? (Would this then turn off the Kitchen Ceiling Lights, Kitchen Counter Lights, Kitchen Chandelier, etc.)?
4. I don't have a MyHS account. I use a DDNS service to reach HomeSeer when I'm not home. Do I need a MyHS account in order to use the Smart Home Skill and/or HomeSeer Home Automation Skill?
5. If I need a MyHS account, do I need a second one for my wife (I assume not for the purposes of using Alexa, but maybe for using HS3Touch)?
6. Any other tips/tricks/techniques on naming devices and using Alexa not already discussed in the stickies?
I have some questions about the Smart Home Skill:
1. Should I use the new Smart Home Skill instead of the HomeSeer Home Automation Skill? I really like the fact that the Smart Home Skill doesn't require having to say "Tell HomeSeer to..." Are there any pros/cons of using one or the other? Or should I install both?
2. Any future changes planned for Smart Home Skill and HomeSeer Home Automation Skill that would make it better to use one or the other?
3. Any tips on naming devices? I have 100+ devices and I want to get more info before renaming all my devices...
Currently, I use my HS3 location names for Floor and Room. My Device Names also have the room name. For example:
Floor: Downstairs
Room: Kitchen
Device Name: Kitchen Ceiling Lights
Years ago, there was a GUI that didn't show room names so I have to include the room name with the device name. Aside: I plan to also use the HomeKit/HomeBridge integration, which makes initial importing of device names easier if they were unique. However, with 100+ devices, it's nearly impossible to have unique and easy to remember device names unless you preface each device names with the room that the device is in (which makes the device's full name repetitive like "Downstairs Kitchen Kitchen Ceiling Lights". (Aside: I have an iPhone and iWatch, and would like to use those since I always have an iPhone and iWatch with me, so it's nice if I'm remote or far away from my Echo).
Anyway, does anyone have any tips on how to name devices? I was thinking of removing the room name from the device name (so above example would be named "Ceiling Lights" instead of "Kitchen Ceiling Lights").
I have rooms where each room has many controllable lights. For example: Kitchen Ceiling Lights, Kitchen Chandelier, Kitchen Counter Lights, Kitchen Shelf Light, etc. Is there a naming convention to use if I wanted to tell Alexa to turn off all the lights in the Kitchen with one voice command? For example: Alexa, turn off all kitchen lights? (Would this then turn off the Kitchen Ceiling Lights, Kitchen Counter Lights, Kitchen Chandelier, etc.)?
4. I don't have a MyHS account. I use a DDNS service to reach HomeSeer when I'm not home. Do I need a MyHS account in order to use the Smart Home Skill and/or HomeSeer Home Automation Skill?
5. If I need a MyHS account, do I need a second one for my wife (I assume not for the purposes of using Alexa, but maybe for using HS3Touch)?
6. Any other tips/tricks/techniques on naming devices and using Alexa not already discussed in the stickies?