Alexa getting very unreliable in the UK - time to change ?

[mikee123]

What was their response so far, if any? I'm really frustrated.

I feel like they are putting the blame on me. They are saying I am using scripts modifying HS4... All I can think of is some Jon00 scripts, I use, like the one to see the legacy pages. I have disabled that, and surprise surpise I still have the problem.
They also said that I should check every device to see if it is Alexa enabled (all 1230...), and make sure only on/off devices are voice enabled. I only have 65 devices enabled, and all are on/off. Devices still seem to work anyway, I think its just routines.
I will email them back and tell them that the problem has not been resolved

[andyf]

Voice Control of individual devices works 100%, it's when an Alexa Routine uses voice control to turn on a SmartHome Scene that is sporadic at best.
Take the voice control out of the picture, go into the Alexa app, go into Routines, and press the play button on the right side of the routine name. Same problem.

[avpman]

I feel like they are putting the blame on me. They are saying I am using scripts modifying HS4... All I can think of is some Jon00 scripts, I use, like the one to see the legacy pages. I have disabled that, and surprise surpise I still have the problem.
They also said that I should check every device to see if it is Alexa enabled (all 1230...), and make sure only on/off devices are voice enabled. I only have 65 devices enabled, and all are on/off. Devices still seem to work anyway, I think its just routines.
I will email them back and tell them that the problem has not been resolved

Mine have worked nearly flawlessly until they didn't back a few weeks ago. Rupp posted that HS fixed the (same) issue back then. At that time it was working until recently. We're going in a circle.

[mikee123]

I think the only chance we have is if more people report this to HS. Maybe they will then spend some resources to fix it

[amarcuvitz]

I have experienced the same starting in December I think. Frustrated because every thing worked so well prior. Direct Alexa device commands always work perfectly.
Alexa routines that launch events can take 2 or more attempts. They are all heard, activity logged, and gong acknowledged by Alexa, but too often don't seem to make it to HS4 per the log. The only detail I can contribute is that I use HSBuddy and have been suspicious that its excessive background state loading seems correlated to missed Alexa command. I have separate topic open on that.

I TOO HOPE THAT OTHERS WILL MAKE NOISE ABOUT THIS.

[avpman]

I think the only chance we have is if more people report this to HS. Maybe they will then spend some resources to fix it

Indeed. We should be posting all the ticket numbers here to refer to with HS. Mine were: HSCS-18039

[Andy]

Same. IMHO don't think this is a HS problem. Here's what I've experienced:

1. Problems with Wyse Cams too - "Alexa show me.." Response "Front isn't responding" Use phone Wyse Cam App works. Same issues with HS device control.

2. Other General Alexa issues, Time, Weather etc. Response "OK" then nothing. Reset the B**** and she works, network connectivity good.

Other Experience

* Read somewhere limit voice device control to 10 devices. I went through and disabled voice options, relearned devices and noticed a Dramatic Improvement in device voice control!

Final Thought

Also read on Home Automation Design the idea that if you have to bark out Voice Commands is your Home really smart? I've steered our Home in that direction with Occupancy Modes like Home, In Bed, Away. Using HS switches single tap, double taps and motion sensors acting based on current Occupancy Mode.Using cell phone (always in pocket) with HS Buddy completes our control. Most used Voice Command is Goodnight for bedtime. Walk into a room, open a door and something happens!

[amarcuvitz]

Regarding "if you have to bark out Voice Commands is your Home really smart?". We have a recently completed a house that required about 45 separately controlled fixtures. This will not be so unusual for a new medium to large homes going forward. With this many switches/dimmers, its really about scenes as the lights at breakfast are different from what you use at dinner. I was originally intending to use multi-tap to be able to make this useable for normal people. We have tried to make the automation invisible so no wall displays or visible things other than the switches/dimmers. To my great surprise, I quickly noticed that Alexa was becoming the commonly accepted UI in the family. Consequently, I abandoned the multi-tap plan altogether. Family and friends can only guess at the functions of light switches, so memorizing multi-taps is out of the question. Although I resisted Alexa Routines for a long time, its capability for us to define commands that were short and natural to us were key making everyone comfortable. BTW, I found designing short, unambiguous, un-geeky commands and device names is an extremely difficult process.

Using voice, from right where you are, in my opinion, is way faster and simpler than fumbling with an app on your phone or walking to the right switch and trying to multi-tap it. These days, a smattering of devices that you have for non-automation reasons will hear your voice anywhere in a normal house. I admit to being surprised by how well this all works. Its fast, accurate, and you can do it while you're moving with your hands full.

However, Alexa has to work reliably which recently has become a concern. Using voice for many people may be counter-intuitive as it was for me, but I think they will go there in time. This is why I think it is so important for HS community to pressure HS to get their act together on this.

So in my opinion, a really smart home home will have the occupants in control and not a simplistic inflexible program.

[Andy]

345 separately controlled Devices here. Others have posted about Alexa problems in this forum and they have been lost in this forum.

Anyone having this problem please share your experiences with:

1. Problems with Wyse Cams too - "Alexa show me.." Response "Front isn't responding" Use phone Wyse Cam App works. Same issues with HS device control.

2. Other General Alexa issues, Time, Weather etc. Response "OK" then nothing.

3. Try reducing # of devices that have Amazon Alexa Discovery checked. Reduced mine to about 10 and saw huge improvement.

[avpman]

Same. IMHO don't think this is a HS problem. Here's what I've experienced:

1. Problems with Wyse Cams too - "Alexa show me.." Response "Front isn't responding" Use phone Wyse Cam App works. Same issues with HS device control.

2. Other General Alexa issues, Time, Weather etc. Response "OK" then nothing. Reset the B**** and she works, network connectivity good.

Other Experience

* Read somewhere limit voice device control to 10 devices. I went through and disabled voice options, relearned devices and noticed a Dramatic Improvement in device voice control!

Final Thought

Also read on Home Automation Design the idea that if you have to bark out Voice Commands is your Home really smart? I've steered our Home in that direction with Occupancy Modes like Home, In Bed, Away. Using HS switches single tap, double taps and motion sensors acting based on current Occupancy Mode.Using cell phone (always in pocket) with HS Buddy completes our control. Most used Voice Command is Goodnight for bedtime. Walk into a room, open a door and something happens!

HS writes the Alexa Skill. they should have some way of diagnosing problems. They just need to step up, or at least, let us know what's going on. Performing meaningless, repetitive troubleshooting suggestions by support isn't helpful to anyone - especially frustrated customers.

[avpman]

I have experienced the same starting in December I think. Frustrated because every thing worked so well prior. Direct Alexa device commands always work perfectly.
Alexa routines that launch events can take 2 or more attempts. They are all heard, activity logged, and gong acknowledged by Alexa, but too often don't seem to make it to HS4 per the log. The only detail I can contribute is that I use HSBuddy and have been suspicious that its excessive background state loading seems correlated to missed Alexa command. I have separate topic open on that.

I TOO HOPE THAT OTHERS WILL MAKE NOISE ABOUT THIS.

Did you place a trouble ticket with HS? If so, what did they say?

[andyf]

I think Sgt. Shultz is our resident Alexa expert. Back in late January in a similar thread he posted:

When it fails to run, check the log to see if the command was sent down from the server. If it wasn't, I can put a monitor on your activity to try to see where the issue might be coming from.

I think he may have some access we don't.