Alexa (Echo) Hopper integration

wkomorow

Pub Member / Supporter
Original poster
Jun 7, 2004
756
22
Berkshire, MA
So I have integrated voice commands through Alexa/Echo into my AV system including the Hopper. So I can say, Alexa, turn on mute and the TV mutes, or Alexa turn channel thirteen on (or Alexa turn NBC on) and it changes the hopper to channel 13. Or, Alexa turn on pause or turn on resume (play) and the hopper pauses and resumes on voice command. But I have some questions/oddities that you might be able to help with.

The set up - Global Cache wi2ir (the person who set up the ad hoc networking on that devices -- needed for initial set up -- deserves a special place in purgatory), Homeseer Zee 2, Homeseer Echo API skill and Homeseer Global Cache plugin. Each channel/ command is set up as a virtual devices, which is discoverable in Echo's home automation skill. So when I say Alexa turn channel thirteen on - it switches on the virtual device, which triggers an event that send the ir command over to the hopper to change the channel. The virtual resets to off. Everything works great. I have alternate names in Alexa so I can say either channel thirteen or nbc . One trivial annoyance is that the virtual device needs to have the number spelled out in Homeseer - channel thirteen not channel 13. I discovered I only watch 16 channels live on a regular basis. Lots more I record from, but only watch 16 live.

So here are issues/questions:

So I can control my antenna, turn it to position x then send a command over to the hopper to tune in a specific channel and then record, I can then tell the hopper to stop recording when the program is over and return the antenna to a "neutral" position. However, my channels come in from 2 different directions, and I can not figure out how to scan, save then scan in a different direction without the channels in the first scan disappearing. Suggestions?

Annoyance, virtual devices send a change status that invokes an event. Mute is a toggle. There is no feedback between the TV and the state of the virtual device since it does not directly control the TV. So if I say turn on mute - it will send the mute toggle to the TV - mute it if there is sound, unmute it if it is muted. I would like more natural speech and say turn off mute. But that will not work because it ts a toggle. I can also create an alternate word in Alexa (which I have - sound) and say Alexa turn on the sound. It works, but any suggestions on virtual devices for those of you who program home automation systems?

Major annoyance, The sun hits my IR blaster between 4 and 7. I have tried to reposition it, but it is in the perfect blast position for all the devices. I will be installing emitters, so that is a cheap alternative - they are around $4.

This was a major achievement for me. My entire house is either automated to use voice control. When I get to the door, homeseer recognizes my phone and unlocks my door, my lights come on automatically depending on the darkness of the room. I tell my bedroom light to turn off at night and it turns off all the lights in the house, locks the doors and puts power strips into night mood. Being able to have a hands-off experience with the AV system brings me 1 step closer to Star trek computer automation.
 
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That is really neat! Something I have been wanting to do, but she too busy lately.
 
Let me tell you I am one happy camper. I have wanted hands free voice control of the TV for the longest time. Except for the initial GC network set up (may he who is responsible suffer a thousand mosquito bites), the whole rest of the set up took less than 30 minutes. I am just combining and adapting the great technologies that people have created. Everything is off the shelf. Alexa has been life changing for me and I love home automation projects. Now when my lights go on at 5 AM week mornings, the TV comes on, the Hopper comes on and it tunes to nbc news. When my phone unlocks my door between 5-7 PM, the TV and hopper do the same thing. I am working on DVR functionality next week so I can choose a movie or show and play it without needing a remote. As I said, I am using Homeseer, and its GC Pro plug in. But this can be done with any home automation system and Alexa. The advantage of Homeseer Pro is that it connects to the GC database and downloads the codeset , so you do not need to code or have the remote teach them.

I do have an additional question from you tech savvy people. Has anyone been able to connect the bluetooth output of their Hopper with their Echo? I am having problems using Global Cache to control the volume of my TV (it is a quirk of virtual devices), so I thought I could output the sound through the Echo and tell Alexa louder and softer, but I can not seem to pair the bluetooth output of the Hopper with the echo.

Any help would be appreciated.
 
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It all depends on what you have. I already had an Echo ~$179, and the Hopper ~$250. I had the Zee for a while ~$100. The only 2 things I purchased was the Global Cache ~$110 and the Homeseer GC Pro Plugin normally $39, but I got the Global Cache wftoir from homeseer, so I got the plug-in for $10. So in terms of new purchases just over $100. I need to buy a couple of emitters ~$4 each. So I spent about $120. BUT, I use a remotec zlt -120 to control the mits split duct air conditioner in the living room ~$150. (This converts zwave commands into IR for the air conditioner.) I was going to buy another one for a spare room; however I will be able to program the GC with the AC IR commands and move the 120 from the living room - so I am actually saving money doing this (well that is what I tell myself). Programming the AC codes will be a big deal - not hard but time consuming. The GC database only covers AV stuff.
 
I was thinking more along the lines of Jetsons automation. :D

Rosie may have to be my next project. Though I admit that would be cool.

It is true that with Alexa, voice control home automation is here. This winter I want to work on voice controlled shades and drapes.

I know I am getting off topic with this last thing, but what I really want is the ability to have alexa read the caller ID and be able to answer the phone using Alexa.
 
[QUOTE="I do have an additional question from you tech savvy people. Has anyone been able to connect the bluetooth output of their Hopper with their Echo? I am having problems using Global Cache to control the volume of my TV (it is a quirk of virtual devices), so I thought I could output the sound through the Echo and tell Alexa louder and softer, but I can not seem to pair the bluetooth output of the Hopper with the echo..[/QUOTE]


I did link my Hopper 3 to my TAP which is the basically the same as the Echo. Worked fine as a speaker.
 
[QUOTE="I do have an additional question from you tech savvy people. Has anyone been able to connect the bluetooth output of their Hopper with their Echo? I am having problems using Global Cache to control the volume of my TV (it is a quirk of virtual devices), so I thought I could output the sound through the Echo and tell Alexa louder and softer, but I can not seem to pair the bluetooth output of the Hopper with the echo..


I did link my Hopper 3 to my TAP which is the basically the same as the Echo. Worked fine as a speaker.[/QUOTE]

UGGH - I put the echo into pairing mode and it will not find the hopper. They are about 15 feet from each other but on different floors. Could that be it?
 
I did link my Hopper 3 to my TAP which is the basically the same as the Echo. Worked fine as a speaker.

UGGH - I put the echo into pairing mode and it will not find the hopper. They are about 15 feet from each other but on different floors. Could that be it?[/QUOTE]

Might bring it down to the same floor to link and then try moving it back..
 
I literally placed the echo on top of the hopper and tried to pair - they did not find each other. I tried my other 2 echos - no luck.
 
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