3.0.5.3 promoted to main updater so mentions of BETA below are no longer needed - 7/24/2016
HS3.0.0.258 (or newer)
http://homeseer.com/amazon-echo-integration.html
I have uploaded a new version 3.0.5.3 (see the updater BETA section at bottom) which includes several changes that help this plugin better support the Amazon Echo and voice control. This requires the latest HS3.0.0.258 (or newer) and most of the changes are around HS3 virtual device creation. Existing devices are not automatically upgraded so as to avoid disrupting installations that do not care about Amazon Echo and wish to keep using their already defined devices. Many of the settings to the HS3 virtual devices can be done manually with your current devices without going through the upgrade so carefully consider if you wish to test this latest version. NOTE! Recreating devices will affect defined events so you may want to start with the manual changes below before considering a plugin upgrade.
Please NOTE, this is not an Amazon Echo support forum. This is mainly for specifics around this plugins upgrade path and issues you may encounter. There are other dedicated Amazon Echo forums for general items about Skill and API use.
If you prefer not to upgrade and instead remain on the current public release, then some of the adjustments that can be made to your existing HS3 Thermostat and HVAC devices after you complete an HS3 upgrade to 3.0.0.258 (or newer) are:
* Click into each device and verify Voice Control is checked
* Click into Heat and Cool Setpoint devices, Status Graphics tab, change "Status-Control" to "both" then set Control Type to "Drop List" and Control Use correctly as Heat Setpoint or Cool Setpoint
* Click into Mode devices and set the Control Use to "Thermostat Heat" (or Cool, Auto, etc.) <- this may not "stick" but isn't an issue with this plugin
* Suggest carefully picking the Floor, Room and Name combination so a unique path to each thermostat and HVAC device is made. Duplicate paths will likely fail when voice recognition is attempted coming in from the Echo.
* Suggest simplifying the device names to single words. This plugin is now using: Program, Mode, Fan, Cooling, Heating, Temperature, External, Humidity, Maintenance and the only two-word option "Pause Program" These were chosen to avoid conflicts with the command options like Cool, Heat and Hold. They were also chosen to better improve the voice recognition results (e.g. Temperature worked better than just Temp)
This can now be found in the Updater at the bottom with BETA UPDATES. This works the same as the regular updater but you are pulling down a newer BETA version of the plugin.
Once this is installed you initially may not see much difference as it won't recreate devices that already exist. You can experiment by deleting an HS3 device and stop/starting the plugin to have it recreate it. If you delete the parent device (Thermostat Program or HVAC Mode) then all devices for that thermostat/HVAC will be deleted and need recreated via a stop/start of the plugin (or delete/add on the Config page). Again note, deleting devices affects events that may have those devices used in them.
Note that all new HS3.0.0.258 (or newer) virtual devices created will already have Voice Control checkbox checked. The plugin now issues a startup info message for devices that appear to not have this checkbox set.
You can now use the PLUG-INS->Insteon Thermostat->Insteon Thermostat Config->Thermostats/HVAC pages to adjust the Floor or Room for ALL the devices associated to a given thermostat/HVAC. Be sure to click SAVE when done.
You can now use the PLUG-INS->Insteon Thermostat->Insteon Thermostat Config->Programs page to set a different value for "None" so that you can use voice control to turn a program back off. "None" wasn't working for me as it always came in from the Echo as "nine" I change mine to "Off" now and it works well.
Please reply back here if you encounter issues
Thanks
Nathan
HS3.0.0.258 (or newer)
http://homeseer.com/amazon-echo-integration.html
I have uploaded a new version 3.0.5.3 (see the updater BETA section at bottom) which includes several changes that help this plugin better support the Amazon Echo and voice control. This requires the latest HS3.0.0.258 (or newer) and most of the changes are around HS3 virtual device creation. Existing devices are not automatically upgraded so as to avoid disrupting installations that do not care about Amazon Echo and wish to keep using their already defined devices. Many of the settings to the HS3 virtual devices can be done manually with your current devices without going through the upgrade so carefully consider if you wish to test this latest version. NOTE! Recreating devices will affect defined events so you may want to start with the manual changes below before considering a plugin upgrade.
Please NOTE, this is not an Amazon Echo support forum. This is mainly for specifics around this plugins upgrade path and issues you may encounter. There are other dedicated Amazon Echo forums for general items about Skill and API use.
If you prefer not to upgrade and instead remain on the current public release, then some of the adjustments that can be made to your existing HS3 Thermostat and HVAC devices after you complete an HS3 upgrade to 3.0.0.258 (or newer) are:
* Click into each device and verify Voice Control is checked
* Click into Heat and Cool Setpoint devices, Status Graphics tab, change "Status-Control" to "both" then set Control Type to "Drop List" and Control Use correctly as Heat Setpoint or Cool Setpoint
* Click into Mode devices and set the Control Use to "Thermostat Heat" (or Cool, Auto, etc.) <- this may not "stick" but isn't an issue with this plugin
* Suggest carefully picking the Floor, Room and Name combination so a unique path to each thermostat and HVAC device is made. Duplicate paths will likely fail when voice recognition is attempted coming in from the Echo.
* Suggest simplifying the device names to single words. This plugin is now using: Program, Mode, Fan, Cooling, Heating, Temperature, External, Humidity, Maintenance and the only two-word option "Pause Program" These were chosen to avoid conflicts with the command options like Cool, Heat and Hold. They were also chosen to better improve the voice recognition results (e.g. Temperature worked better than just Temp)
This can now be found in the Updater at the bottom with BETA UPDATES. This works the same as the regular updater but you are pulling down a newer BETA version of the plugin.
Once this is installed you initially may not see much difference as it won't recreate devices that already exist. You can experiment by deleting an HS3 device and stop/starting the plugin to have it recreate it. If you delete the parent device (Thermostat Program or HVAC Mode) then all devices for that thermostat/HVAC will be deleted and need recreated via a stop/start of the plugin (or delete/add on the Config page). Again note, deleting devices affects events that may have those devices used in them.
Note that all new HS3.0.0.258 (or newer) virtual devices created will already have Voice Control checkbox checked. The plugin now issues a startup info message for devices that appear to not have this checkbox set.
You can now use the PLUG-INS->Insteon Thermostat->Insteon Thermostat Config->Thermostats/HVAC pages to adjust the Floor or Room for ALL the devices associated to a given thermostat/HVAC. Be sure to click SAVE when done.
You can now use the PLUG-INS->Insteon Thermostat->Insteon Thermostat Config->Programs page to set a different value for "None" so that you can use voice control to turn a program back off. "None" wasn't working for me as it always came in from the Echo as "nine" I change mine to "Off" now and it works well.
Please reply back here if you encounter issues
Thanks
Nathan
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