(Part 2) Best products from r/alexa

There is a running joke in my house about when does today become tomorrow. I made this Skill so Alexa could get in on the fun. Seems like you could use it too. Haha.

https://skills-store.amazon.com/deeplink/dp/B07BBMCDT6?deviceType=app&share&refSuffix=ss_copy

Lol ah I'm definitely out of my league here... this is what I am looking at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HH3WXFF/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_BgHACb3D9EBWN.

I am hoping go find it for 5 switches I stead of just 3. I'd like to be able to just say Alexa turn on the living room lights or something to that effect.

These are 2 for $25 on Amazon. They work pretty good for me.

Smart WiFi Light Bulb, LED RGB... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DLSNNDS?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Here's what I just ordered! Haven't put them in yet but plan to do so this weekend. No hub required and has excellent reviews! They are only single pole though which is exactly what I needed. Also requires a neutral wire which you may not have if you live in a really old house.

TP-Link Smart Wi-Fi Light Switch, No Hub Required, Single Pole, Control Your Fixtures From Anywhere (HS200), Works with Amazon Alexa Kit (2-Pack) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N4AODB3/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_ZZjMugTBYFm4V

I've installed these and the light and motion sensor portion of it is just regular pass through wiring. There's no way for them to add that functionality to older models.

Your best bet is to disconnect the light sensor and install something like one of these.

Then, if you want to add motion sensing in addition to being able to control it via Alexa, you'll need something like this.

Just a heads up. I use this wall mount for several rooms including bathroom and it works awesome.

Matone Outlet Wall Mount Hanger Stand for 2nd Generation & Mi AI, A Space-Saving Solution for Your Smart Home Speakers Without Messy Wires or Screws - Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078H7VY19/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_szK2CbET39T4M

> but I don't know if it works with other Echos,

According to their Amazon page, it does not. That's a deal-breaker, since I already have 2 echos and 2 dots hooked up to larger sound systems. I'd love to have a portable device to take out on my patio, but it has to pair with the multi-room system I already have.

"Alexa, play W Z I D on TuneIn" just worked perfectly for me first try. Also, I found an Alexa skill specifically for this station (although 2 people think it sucks).

https://www.amazon.com/Saga-Communications-95-7-WZID/dp/B072KHYGJZ

I have used it with GGMM E5 Wireless Smart Speaker with Amazon Alexa, it is very good.
https://www.amazon.com/GGMM-Wireless-Bluetooth-Featuring-Collecting/dp/B01M9FYRQ7/ref=sr_1_11?m=A3JL9SOBLRVXYC&s=merchant-items&ie=UTF8&qid=1487407976

Yes. Here is a link to the v2 dot.

Echo Dot (2nd Generation) - Smart speaker with Alexa - Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DFKC2SO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_kGj6BbRMJQM1V


There is also the v3 dot which is a little more expensive but has significantly better audio.

Have you ever considered using a good battery backup and surge suppressor like an APC? APC has different sizes available as well.

https://www.amazon.com/APC-Battery-Protector-Charging-BE600M1/dp/B01FWAZEIU

It’s working this morning! I received an official email from Amazon’s PR agency about Apple Music on Alexa in Australia and it’s working at long last!

The app still showed no Apple Music icon in then settings, but the press release had a link to the skill which I then enabled:

https://www.amazon.com.au/Apple-Inc-Music/dp/B07LCQ5JT7

It will presumably be in the Skills section of the Alexa app too

Happy Apple Music listening on your Alexa devices!

It's called Still Waters - to activate it, go to https://www.amazon.com/VRCation-Still-Waters/dp/B079S6MVK9/, click on the "Enable" button, and tell your Echo "Alexa, open Still Waters."
Luckily, my skill doesn't start out with any advertisements :)

>If the Echo Link / Link Amp connects to the Echo Input via Bluetooth, what makes it any different to a normal DAC/Amp that has Bluetooth?

If the Link/Amp supports Bluetooth then none. The Link amp appears to be aimed at making "Dum-Speakers" into a "Smart Output" for Alexa - I assume connecting any DAC/Amp with Bluetooth built-in directly to an Echo device, then setting said Bluetooth as the preferred speaker, has the same end-result as using the Link Amp. As many reviews are comparing it to Sonos products.

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>I was hoping the Echo Link could communicate with the Echo Input via the WiFi/Ethernet network.

From reading Amazon's Page it looks like the Link & Link Amp work over WiFi, so I assume you could control it over the network using an Echo device elsewhere in the building.

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A few important notes I picked up from it's reviews:

>* (User paired Echo Dot to their Echo Link): The Dot will converse with you, but the MUSIC will come from the Link. Unfortunately it doesn’t seem to work with skills, so I can’t listen to one of my favorite music streaming skills, The Jazz Groove, to my nice speakers.
>
>* (User wanted music at a set time each day): Unfortunately the link cannot be used as an output device on routines.
>
>* (User wanted to use the Amp for Multi-Room): You have to use an iPhone or Android device to setup the echo link as a multi room device. Setting up via a computer on the Alexa portal is a no-go.

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From the 20-30 minutes of reading I've done, it should work for you as intended - Just setup both the Input & LinkAmp as normal via your phone, then create a room & set the Alexa Device as the Alexa Input with the Amp as the preferred speaker - If it follows the above Echo dot example, the Input won't be able to communicate problems to you (As it would try to respond via the 3.5mm speaker which you're not connecting)

Micca has some powered speakers for $109
Micca PB42X Powered Bookshelf Speakers With 4-Inch Carbon Fiber Woofer and Silk Dome Tweeter (Pair) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NXAEPDC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_AFLACbATJXA7G

A bit over your budget but should give you better sound than one of those bt speakers.

Or if you have an echo, you could add the echo subwoofer and fill out the low end. This will be perceived as louder and better sounding.

"Normal" depends on what outlet you buy. My outlets put out 4.0a total. Phones usually take 1.0a. Tablets usually take 2.1a.

TOPGREENER TU2154 4.0 Amp Smart High Speed USB Wall Charger Outlet, 15A TR Receptacle Free Screwless Wall Plate, White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IAZIU5Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_7GiSybK0SDJPM

Thanks for the input. Like this switch and this outlet?

A smart plug maybe?
It would turn TV on and off nothing more.

https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Smart-Plug-works-Alexa/dp/B01MZEEFNX/ref=sxts_cfh_saw?creativeASIN=B01MZEEFNX&ingress=search&keywords=smart+plug&pd_rd_i=B01MZEEFNX&pd_rd_r=06eaea95-958e-429b-b73c-fd19ad9892ef&pd_rd_w=wXe2M&pd_rd_wg=sYfpS&pf_rd_p=93d649fd-8e6b-49af-99cc-dbf32eed2597&pf_rd_r=93RNQFDNRKS6F8VJF979&qid=1572665215&sprefix=smart+&widget_name=cfh_saw

CompliBot Daily Compliment ftw.

Sorry for the late reply. Here's the one I used. I think it requires that your home is wired with a neutral wire. There are probably some out there that don't require that if you don't have neutral.

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https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0731PPJYD/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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E: The best bet is to find areas where you want the light to go on no matter what AND that the switch is in a place where it won't switch on when you don't want it to. For example, I have one in my garage, in my laundry room, in a weird hall where the switch is on the other side of the room from where I normally walk in and on a single light in my kitchen (this is so only one light goes on in the kitchen goes on in case I'm up in the middle of the night and need just enough light to move around or enough light to find the other switches), and in a couple of closets. They have adjustable sensitivity and an adjustable timer, so in some cases, I have it really sensitive and others not-so-sensitive. And, for instance, in my laundry room, I have it so it turns off after one minute of not detecting motion, so I never have to touch the laundry room switch and it turns on when I walk in and off one minute after I walk out with an arm full of clothes.

Might want to. $25. $125 would be insane.

Amazon Smart Plug, works with Alexa https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MZEEFNX/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fGlPBb181MXVN

this https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EZV35QU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1