“Im a bit confused on how it knows what lamp to turn on, thermostat etc. I've read many comments that are using multiple devices.My question is, can you only hook up one thing to each Dot? Even w/bluetooth how does that work.”
Answer This Question
1-5 of 5 Answers
There is an app called Amazon Alexa for your smart phone that controls all your Amazon Echos within the one app and it also coincides with the different apps that control the things like lights, thermostat, etc. depending on what works with Amazon Echos and the brand you buy. I have 1 Echo Alexa (bigger version) and 3 Echo Dots and they are all set up by this same app. Bluetooth is also done through the Amazon Alexa app and it is as simple as anything else that you Bluetooth. The Alexa app will walk you through the simple steps. I am a 68-year-old and I think if I can do it...anybody can. I have 4 Echo devices and they are individual from one another, but all controlled through the same app. There is so much information about Amazon Echos on the internet now that if you have a problem you will more than likely find an answer to any question you might have.
Top 250 Contributor
Sorry, there was a problem. Please try again later.You can connect many things to your Dot via the Alexa app. I've tried different devices and settled on Philips Hue for lighting and Samsung Smartthings hub for my other connected home devices. Alexa will only connect devices that are safe to be operated by voice. For example my zigbee wireless lock on the front door cannot be connected.
Sorry, there was a problem. Please try again later.The Echo isn't communicating with the individual bulbs or thermostat via Bluetooth, it is actually connecting to them through wifi connections. That is what allows it to have so many connections (I have ten bulbs and two thermostats and it works just fine with all of them). The bulbs are connected to a central hub, which is what sends out the commands. Also, when you purchase smart devices (I use Philips Hue light bulbs and a Nest thermostat) you assign a name to each one. So when you tell the Echo or the Echo Dot to "turn on the family room lights", it looks for which bulb(s) you have assigned as being in the family room and turns those on. It's very customizable. I have an open kitchen/family room floor plan, so I have one setting for "kitchen lights", one for "family room lights", and then one for "house lights", which turns on/off the kitchen and family room lights at the same time. The same is true for my upstairs or downstairs thermostats.
Sorry, there was a problem. Please try again later.You assign a name to each device or group of devices, i.e. Master bedroom lights, back yard lights, downstairs thermostat, etc. All of the dots will have the list of device names. The closest dot will execute your command, example Alexa, set downstairs thermostat to 70 degrees.
Sorry, there was a problem. Please try again later.For the Philips Hue bulbs, it goes based on how you have it set up. For example, I have Front Room, Living Room, Entry Way all programmed in the Hue app for my iPhone. You just have to say Alexa turn on Front Room light and it will go off.
Sorry, there was a problem. Please try again later.