maddmaxx ★ Posted November 27, 2018 Share #1 Posted November 27, 2018 Getting an echo dot last year and experimenting was fun. Light control, weather reports, various music was all cool. This year I discovered that having more than one is really much better than just one. First, the price dropped and you can get a gen 2 dot for under $20. They can all be named differently. I chose to name them after the room they were in. They can all control all the lights in my Phillips hue network. They can also control the Amazon smart plugs to turn on/off other things. They are radio's, audio systems for Prime Music, alarm clocks and they can also be intercoms. They can set timers for work in the kitchen. They solve the problem of stairway lights that don't have a switch at each end. Damn it's fun being a geek. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maddmaxx ★ Posted November 27, 2018 Author Share #2 Posted November 27, 2018 Preemptive strike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinneR ★ Posted November 27, 2018 Share #3 Posted November 27, 2018 Did you name one Allegra? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Square Wheels Posted November 27, 2018 Share #4 Posted November 27, 2018 We have a very Googly home. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shotgun Posted November 27, 2018 Share #5 Posted November 27, 2018 Two Echos, two dots, five smart outlets, a smart switch, and another smart switch just came today... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Further Posted November 28, 2018 Share #6 Posted November 28, 2018 I'm fitting piezo igniters to my lanterns, might consider this remote stuff down the road. Further, the high tech redneck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maddmaxx ★ Posted November 28, 2018 Author Share #7 Posted November 28, 2018 57 minutes ago, Further said: I'm fitting piezo igniters to my lanterns, might consider this remote stuff down the road. Further, the high tech redneck I did automation and other things for others most of my career. Now that I'm retired I can play with this stuff for me. The echo dots are cheap (especially the previous generation 2 units on black friday weekend) and they are a pre canned package that one just buys and puts to work. The Raspberry micro computers I'm just getting into are more for my automation plans. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petitepedal ★ Posted November 28, 2018 Share #8 Posted November 28, 2018 I have old fashioned timers on my Christmas Trees.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
groupw Posted November 28, 2018 Share #9 Posted November 28, 2018 We got a Dot last year for Christmas. I played a little with the light and outlet controls, but my router only lets them synch with my phone but not the Dot. I plan to replace my router and maybe use it more after that. It's interesting to see what randomly triggers it. I have read the text and it's pretty innocuous stuff, but still kind of bugs me. It will probably wind up in our bedroom as our alarm clock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrentonMakes Posted November 28, 2018 Share #10 Posted November 28, 2018 18 hours ago, dennis said: Did you name one Allegra? That's certainly one of the funniest things SNL has done in recent years (or maybe longer). O-dessa! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maddmaxx ★ Posted November 28, 2018 Author Share #11 Posted November 28, 2018 The one in the secret lab is named HAL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrentonMakes Posted November 28, 2018 Share #12 Posted November 28, 2018 This thread title made me think you were having an EKG. Why can't I be a geek now that it's fun to be one? Wasn't much fun in the 80s. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BR46 Posted November 28, 2018 Share #13 Posted November 28, 2018 1 minute ago, TrentonMakes said: Why can't I be a geek now that it's fun to be one? Wasn't much fun in the 80s. I've always been a gearhead nerd. Always trying to make things faster. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maddmaxx ★ Posted November 28, 2018 Author Share #14 Posted November 28, 2018 36 minutes ago, TrentonMakes said: This thread title made me think you were having an EKG. Why can't I be a geek now that it's fun to be one? Wasn't much fun in the 80s. Wut? You didn't know any geek girls? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dottleshead ★ Posted November 28, 2018 Share #15 Posted November 28, 2018 I still split firewood. I'm old school. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dottleshead ★ Posted November 28, 2018 Share #16 Posted November 28, 2018 https://www.cnbc.com/video/2018/05/24/is-amazon-alexa-spying-on-you.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maddmaxx ★ Posted November 28, 2018 Author Share #17 Posted November 28, 2018 1 hour ago, Dottles said: https://www.cnbc.com/video/2018/05/24/is-amazon-alexa-spying-on-you.html I hope so. That will mean there's some well deserving person out there about to die from fn boredom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dottleshead ★ Posted November 28, 2018 Share #18 Posted November 28, 2018 2 minutes ago, maddmaxx said: I hope so. That will mean there's some well deserving person out there about to die from fn boredom. I was thinking perhaps an ideal scenario would be if you had an echo drone circling your house? ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onbike1939 Posted November 29, 2018 Share #19 Posted November 29, 2018 I just love mine........it reminds me of all my appointments and for some reason keeps making complimentary remarks about my appearance...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Square Wheels Posted November 29, 2018 Share #20 Posted November 29, 2018 12 hours ago, onbike1939 said: I just love mine........it reminds me of all my appointments and for some reason keeps making complimentary remarks about my appearance...... Sorry to hear you got a defective one. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maddmaxx ★ Posted November 29, 2018 Author Share #21 Posted November 29, 2018 Today I finished the construction (easy stuff, no major soldering of components onto board) of a Raspberry Pi 3 B+. Then I downloaded and installed the operating system from the Raspberry Pi organization in England and got everything up and running. the 3 B+ has 4 usb ports plus onboard wifi and bluetooth and HDMI out. It has more capability than the units we controlled the engine test cells with at P&W. Oh, it's about the size of a standard mouse even installed in it's new house with a fan. Let the learning begin. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ralphie ★ Posted November 30, 2018 Share #22 Posted November 30, 2018 Yay for the Raspberry Pi! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MickinMD ★ Posted November 30, 2018 Share #23 Posted November 30, 2018 I wonder if Alexa understands Ravens QB Lamar Jackson. His accent is so deep-south that even the Black guys from the south on the Ravens are saying they're just beginning to understand what he says. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onbike1939 Posted November 30, 2018 Share #24 Posted November 30, 2018 10 hours ago, Square Wheels said: Sorry to hear you got a defective one. Ooooo.....you are awful! No, but seriously........it works just fine, other than Alexa refusing to answer questions about her underwear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maddmaxx ★ Posted November 30, 2018 Author Share #25 Posted November 30, 2018 Yea! The third echo dot arrived and now it's in the secret lab paired to a bluetooth speaker. Let there be rock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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