Home Assistant + Alexa for FREE (Using Node RED)

[@charleskelly8228]

Very clear tutorial! Big up Ben! Let’s hope he never gets bored of it

[@sull324]

Thanks,that saved me lot of time after messing with emulated hue or that damn alexa skill dev panel. work flawlessly

[@SmartHomeTheory]

Awesome! Glad to hear it. I’m still using this method myself and it has been rock solid.

[@cowdog360]

Is there a way to use this same node-red add-on to send alerts/messages to your alexa devices?

[@neillanders8292]

So, do you put the actual brightness percentage in place of "payload" or somewhere else?

[@roystervi]

hi can one use the same setup to send a message to alexa example, send "hello world" to a single dot or to all dots. ??

[@cnkosm6536]

Thanks again! I gave up using the emulated hue method because Alexa set all devices at full brightness. Also state (on/off) didn't work and needed to refresh many times. But with node red is working flawlessly! Do you know how to activate scenes using this method? For example I have created a scene called "white light" that turns a smart bulb in white color at a certain temp/brightness level. Could I say "White light On" to Alexa and activate this scene? I'm asking because the color and temp properties are only available in US and UK as per the documentation. I live in Greece so I'm looking for a workaround, if possible...

[@SmartHomeTheory]

No problem! Scenes are all done within the Alexa app so you should be able to create and trigger your scenes all within the app. That’s how I have mine set up and it works great. 👍

[@cnkosm6536]

@@SmartHomeTheory Thank you for your reply. I know about routines within Alexa app but the problem is that color/temp is not created by the Node Red (only brightness). SetColorRequest ---> {"hs_color": [{{payload.hue}}, 100] } is not working. Documentation says that color/temp is only available in US and UK. That's why I'm looking for a workaround...

[@SmartHomeTheory]

My apologies, I responded to you before my coffee and got scenes/routines mixed up. I’m out at the moment but when I get home I’ll look into this for you and see what I can find.

[@cnkosm6536]

@@SmartHomeTheory Looking forward, thank you so much!

[@SmartHomeTheory]

​ @cnkosm6536 So I checked the documention and I see what you're referring to about UK/US only. However, it says "SetColorRequest" and "SetColorTemperatureRequest" are both US-only, and yet mine works for both of these values despite being a UK model. Check your switch node has exactly "SetColorRequest" without quotes, and the rule is "==". Then for your call service node, make sure the service is set to "turn_on", the data field is set to JSON, and the data field value is set to "{ "hs_color": [{{payload.hue}}, 100] }". Also check you're linking the correct switch output to this node. If that doesn't work, go back into your call service node and change he Domain to "scene", then you can select from your scenes in the Service dropdown. Like you said, that should provide a workaround to this problem.

[@francoiss.8433]

Works very well. Thanks a lot !

[@SmartHomeTheory]

You're welcome!

[@DrewLegend64]

I read through the documentation but i can not get locks to work. Any help or advice?

[@davidbc7049]

Hi, great video. I got a problem qhen using additional commands. Everytime I invoke Alexa i get :"I seems that "device x" is not responding" but the order is executed. Can you help me? Thanks

[@euzon]

Prezentare foarte frumoasa. Am reusit sa fac exact cum ai prezentat tu si acum pot controla cu Alexa, prizele mele zigbee. Imi era frica ca comenzile ar fi avut intarziere dar spre surprinderea mea comanda soseste instantaneu la priza. Un salut din Romania si multe multumiri.

[@SmartHomeTheory]

You are very welcome!

[@vicarbel6202]

Hi, I am looking to connect HA to Alexa, but the other way around. Instead of controlling my HA devices from the Alexa App, I like to control and automate Alexa with my HA. I am talking about the gazillion of devices which don't integrate locally with HA but connect via a proprietary cloud and are controllable with Alexa. So for these devices I like to get and modify their state with HA. Is this possible?

[@_evN_08]

Me too have you found a solution?

[@DGmechanics]

Hi, I have Alexa, but I prefer Assist as a voice assistant, it's my native language. Do you know how I can access Assist using Alexa's microphone?

[@intituber6224]

I can’t be done but nabo casa (the home assistant foundation) create an Alexa like assist device

[@Meveller]

Great Video!

[@SmartHomeTheory]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@sneffetsd]

Hey, it's not working on my zigbee devices.

[@KenRosman]

What if "Call Service" is not coming up? When I look for call service I only get "action". Thanks

[@ultraodd]

Same question here...

[@ultraodd]

Hi! I found the solution! Your home assistant nodes look like they haven’t been updated. Choose manage palette, installed nodes, search home assistant, bottom right corner there should be an update button. You may have to push it more than once to get all the updates. Then restart nodered, upgrade the home assistant nodes, will appear next to the deploy button, then deploy.

[@ultraodd]

Unfortunatelly, it didn't help, still no call service :(

[@GriffinsAdventures]

@@ultraodd Same also, nothing seems to fix

[@jlansman]

"Call Service" has been renamed to "action" ===> "To make things clearer, we are now changing the terminology around service calls in Home Assistant from “services” to “actions” everywhere."

[@Huttersvuur]

Installing spyware in your home does sound daunting.

[@SmartHomeTheory]

My life isn’t interesting enough to waste the resources on

[@Huttersvuur]

Arguing that you don't care about the right to privacy because you have nothing to hide is no different than saying you don't care about free speech because you have nothing to say.

[@SmartHomeTheory]

I understand your point but it’s not quite the same. We can choose not to use Alexa (or similar) on an individual level. The same can’t be said for free speech. The difference is choice. On a more serious note, it’s not that I don’t value privacy or that I have nothing to hide, it’s just that the tradeoff feels worth it to me, personally. I can also see how for some people it isn’t worth it and I completely respect that. I think I’ll do a video on this topic because it’s a fascinating one.

[@Huttersvuur]

I'd love to see more privacy oriented Smart Home options 👍 @@SmartHomeTheory

[@robbarrett8318]

I have to agree this is a huge risk… I really don’t like nabu kasas pricing. I’d be happy to pay a one off but yet another subscription is terrible… almost as bad as having random 3rd party server connected to my home lan.