Echo Skill Beta

[brownstein]

Do you need to be on beta firmware for the Alexa integration to work? I signed up for the alexa beta app but am wondering if it won't work properly because I do not have beta firmware installed on my veralite.

[BOFH]

You do need to install the latest Alexa compatible beta on your controller for this to work. I suggest to heed the warnings not to install this on a production controller as it is a beta. I installed it on my QA Edge and Plus and will play with it this weekend to see if I can have Alexa run scenes on those that will actually switch lighst etc off/on on my production controllers.

[cw-kid]

Hi

So can you send TTS commands from Vera to Alexa to have it speak them out ? Like you can with the Sonos / Squeezebox plug-ins.

For example when you run a scene in Vera have Alexa speak out a TTS command for voice confirmation etc.

Thanks

[mnaz]

This link has been helpful

http://support.getvera.com/customer/en/portal/articles/2648086

[otakup0pe]

You do need to install the latest Alexa compatible beta on your controller for this to work. I suggest to heed the warnings not to install this on a production controller as it is a beta. I installed it on my QA Edge and Plus and will play with it this weekend to see if I can have Alexa run scenes on those that will actually switch lighst etc off/on on my production controllers.

Really? Our vera hasn't even prompted for new firmware yet.

I also want to give a shout out to the vera crew themselves. Other than some transient 5xx errors during the initial signup, this has worked surprisingly well. I hope this signals higher quality kit going forward... Also super happy this is officially supported.

What's the plan for scene support? Y'all told me on twitter that it was being "deployed to update to portal" yesterday but I'm not sure what that means or how I can trigger scenes.

[otakup0pe]

Hi

So can you send TTS commands from Vera to Alexa to have it speak them out ? Like you can with the Sonos / Squeezebox plug-ins.

For example when you run a scene in Vera have Alexa speak out a TTS command for voice confirmation etc.

Thanks

I do not believe this is currently supported by the Echo device itself.

[guest20975]

I'm also in UK and had no luck with the Alexa skills. As a beta tester I've reported this to support, but all they can suggest is what is in the above item. I had already done this several times forgetting all my devices and groups and doing a discover devices again. No Vera devices, but at least I get Hue lights, Nest thermostat and Tad air on controller to play with. I've given up with Vera Alex skill for the moment!!!!

[tinker3433]

HI, 
Vera, please consider removing the room identifier entirely, or allowing us to edit the name to be used before it is pushed to Alexa. It is redundant since most people already have the devices named by room since duplication of device names is not allowed. Having to say the room and then the specific name which includes the room is way too cumbersome. My Alexa has not learned to not require saying the room twice.

[packman]

I have an Aeotec Siren that does not show up in the checkbox list where you enable skills. Any reason why? It does show up in the list of discovered devices. When I ask Alexa to turn on siren she keeps responding "I found several devices matching that name which one did you want? Probably because I couldn't select it as a skill to enable.

[BOFH]

Really? Our vera hasn't even prompted for new firmware yet.

I also want to give a shout out to the vera crew themselves. Other than some transient 5xx errors during the initial signup, this has worked surprisingly well. I hope this signals higher quality kit going forward... Also super happy this is officially supported.

What's the plan for scene support? Y'all told me on twitter that it was being "deployed to update to portal" yesterday but I'm not sure what that means or how I can trigger scenes.

It won't prompt for this new firmware as it is a beta version. It can be found here:

http://support.getvera.com/customer/en/portal/articles/2645453

[mnaz]

This provides some information also.

http://support.getvera.com/customer/en/portal/articles/2648086

[patrickspc]

Updating the Firmware fixed me. 

Advanced: (in Vera)
URL for custom Vera firmware: (enter URL from the following link for your model)

http://support.getvera.com/customer/en/portal/articles/2645453   

[Jodelo]

Hi there
I have signed up for the beta.
I got an email with the link
I was able to upgrade my firmware on my vera edge
in the screen that says "Enable Alexa for the following devices" i checked all my devices green
I went to the portal and enabled the skill and i can see vera connected home in the alexa app.
When I try and discover devices it still does not show devices?

behind the Vera smarter home control skill only 1/2 of the five stars is yellow, i dont know if that has something to do with it
Furthermore i dont have any lambda funtions or oauth or AWS set up, like it said on the other thread before. dont know if i need that or if it should wordk without all that programming .


can anyone help me ?
i don't know how to proceed

[Jodelo]

in addition to my previous post

I'm also on the http://alexa.amazon.co.uk/spa/index.html?#smart-home

i'm not living in the US
could that have something to do with it ?

[TonyW]

in addition to my previous post

I'm also on the http://alexa.amazon.co.uk/spa/index.html?#smart-home

i'm not living in the US
could that have something to do with it ?

There does seem to be a problem in the UK where the skill does not discover any vera devices.  I have that problem in the UK and there is another person posting with the same experience.  I have raised it via the beta feedback email, and it may help if you could do the same.