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Didgeridrew edited this page Nov 10, 2021 · 45 revisions

Guides

Text to Speech (TTS)

Basic Script Example

(Be aware that using "type: announce" will cause Alexa to make a "ding" sound before speaking, while using "type: tts" will cause Alexa to speak right away)

doorbell:
  sequence:
  - service: media_player.volume_set
    entity_id: media_player.downstairs
    data:
      volume_level: '1.0'
  - service: notify.alexa_media
    data:
      data:
        type: tts
      target: 
        - media_player.downstairs
        - media_player.upstairs
      message: 'Ding-dong. Someone is at the door.'

Basic notification automation

- id: washing_machine_finished
  alias: Washing machine
  trigger:
  - entity_id: sensor.washing_machine
    platform: state
    from: Washing
    to: Not washing
  action:
  - service: notify.alexa_media
    data:
      data:
        type: announce
      target: 
        - media_player.downstairs
        - media_player.upstairs
      message: 'Yo Remco.. The washing machine is finished. Get off the couch.'

Example script using templated message:

remco_home:
  alias: Remco comes home
  sequence:
  - wait_template: '{{ is_state(''sensor.broadlink_s1c_sliding_door'', ''open'') }}'
    timeout: 00:08:00
  - delay: 00:00:12
  - service: notify.alexa_media
    data:
      data:
        type: announce
      target: media_player.downstairs
      message: 'Hello Remco. Welcome home. Cherry is {% if is_state("device_tracker.cherry",
        "home") -%} also at home. {%- else -%} not at home. {%- endif %} The temperature
        inside is {{ states("sensor.broadlink_sensor_temperature") }} degrees. And
        outside it is {{ states("sensor.weather_temperature") }} degrees.'

Last Alexa Sensor

Setting up your own last_alexa sensor is no longer needed for TTS notifications. You can simply set your service to notify.alexa_media_last_called

Example Notification Automation using notify.alexa_media_last_called 

  - alias: "Alexa: Jug is Hot"
    initial_state: 'on'
    trigger:
    - platform: state
      entity_id: switch.kettle_power
      to: "off"
    action:
      - service: notify.alexa_media_last_called
        data:
          message: "Jug Boiled. It's Your turn to make it."
          data:
            type: announce

By using information provided by your Alexa devices, we can create a sensor to know which device was the last one spoken to. First you will need to create a group in your configuration.yaml file containing all your Alexa devices.

group:
  echos:
    name: Echomania
    entities:
      - media_player.this_echo
      - media_player.that_echo
      - media_player.his_echo_show
      - media_player.her_echo_show

You have two options when creating a template sensor in your sensors.yaml

Option 1: This works for most standard use cases.

template:
  - sensor:
      name: "Last Alexa"
      state: >
        {{ expand(states.group.echos) | selectattr('attributes.last_called','eq',True) | map(attribute='entity_id') | first | default }}

Option 2: If you have older echo devices where "last called" is undefined or you are using more than one Amazon account use the following. (When using this method it may be necessary to call the homeassistant.update_entity service on the sensor in your automation before calling the desired alexa function.)

template:
  sensor:
    - name: "Last Alexa Timestamp"
      state: >
        {% for echo in (expand(states.group.echos) | selectattr('attributes.last_called_timestamp') | sort(attribute='attributes.last_called_timestamp', reverse=true)) %}
        {% if loop.first %}
        {{ echo.entity_id }}
        {% endif %}
        {% endfor -%}

Live Sensor Reports

Using the Last Alexa Sensor and Alexa routines to have Alexa provide information about your HA sensors.

Put this in your configuration.yaml. If you have a lights.yaml, put this there.

light:
  - platform: template
    lights:
      alexa_virtual:
        friendly_name: "Alexa Dummy Light"
        turn_on:
        turn_off:
        set_level:

This is the automation

- alias: "Alexa Report"
  trigger:
  - platform: state
    entity_id: light.alexa_virtual
    to: 'on'
  condition:
  action:
  - service: alexa_media.update_last_called  #this will force update the last Alexa attribute used by the sensor
  - delay: 00:00:01  # you may need to increase this value if you dont get the response on the echo you asked the question
  - service: notify.alexa_media_last_called
    data:
      data:
        type: tts
      message: >-
        {% if (states.light.alexa_virtual.attributes.brightness | int / 255 * 100 ) | int  == 1  %}
          Words.  What you want to say {{ states('sensor.name_of_sensor') }} follow on informtion.  For example Degreess
        {% elif (states.light.alexa_virtual.attributes.brightness | int / 255 * 100 ) | int  == 2 %}
          Words.  What you want to say {{ states('sensor.name_of_sensor') }} follow on informtion. For example  miles
        {% elif (states.light.alexa_virtual.attributes.brightness | int / 255 * 100 ) | int  == 3 %}
          Words.  What you want to say {{ states('sensor.name_of_sensor') }} follow on informtion For example minutes
        {% elif (states.light.alexa_virtual.attributes.brightness | int / 255 * 100 ) | int  == 4 %}
          Words.  What you want to say {{ states('sensor.name_of_sensor') }} follow on informtion
        {% elif (states.light.alexa_virtual.attributes.brightness | int / 255 * 100 ) | int  == 5 %}
          Words.  What you want to say {{ states('sensor.name_of_sensor') }} follow on informtion
        {% elif (states.light.alexa_virtual.attributes.brightness | int / 255 * 100 ) | int  == 6 %}
          Words.  What you want to say {{ states('sensor.name_of_sensor') }} follow on informtion
        {% elif (states.light.alexa_virtual.attributes.brightness | int / 255 * 100 ) | int  == 7 %}
          Words.  What you want to say {{ states('sensor.name_of_sensor') }} follow on informtion
        {% elif (states.light.alexa_virtual.attributes.brightness | int / 255 * 100 ) | int  == 9 %}
          Words.  What you want to say {{ states('sensor.name_of_sensor') }} follow on informtion
        {% elif (states.light.alexa_virtual.attributes.brightness | int / 255 * 100 ) | int  == 10 %}
          Words.  What you want to say {{ states('sensor.name_of_sensor') }} follow on informtion
        {% else %}
         {{ states('light.alexa_virtual.attributes.brightness') }}
        {% endif %}
  - service: light.turn_off
    entity_id: light.alexa_virtual

You need to then expose the "light.alexa_virtual" to your alexas. This is the same as exposing any HA device to your alexa's and not directly related to this component. You can do this with emulated_hue, haaska, or the HA cloud.

Once the light is exposed and you can turn it on/off, etc with your voice start the next steps

  1. Use the Alexa app to create a routine
  2. Click + to create a new routine
  3. Click the + next to "when this happens"
  4. Click on Voice and enter what you want to say. For example "Alexa, give me the surf report"
  5. Then click on add action
  6. I recommend you add a step for "Alexa Says" and enter a short phrase "Let me check for you" is good example
  7. Then add another step
  8. Smart Home --> Control Device --> Select your Alexa Dummy Light and then select brightness
  9. Select a value from 1 to 100, the number will correlate to the automation above
  10. Click Save, give it a few minutes, and try it out.

Good uses of this would be to get temp info of a sensor, distance/time to a location using a waze/google sensor, tides, doors open/closed, etc.

Activating Alexa Routines

First make a routine in the Alexa App. Make the invocation, the same phrase you want to use in the media_content_id:. You can let Alexa read your flash briefing, news, traffic, the weather, your next calendar event, random/custom phrases and all other features available in the Alexa App under Routines. With the entity_id , you can set wich echo will carry out the routine.

scripts.yaml

remco_awake:
  alias: Remco woke up
  sequence:
  - data:
      entity_id: media_player.upstairs
      media_content_id: remcowakeup
      media_content_type: routine
    service: media_player.play_media
  - wait_template: '{{ is_state("sensor.broadlink_s1c_living_room_door", "open") }}'
  - data:
      entity_id: media_player.downstairs
      media_content_id: remcodownstairs
      media_content_type: routine
    service: media_player.play_media

Activating Alexa Sequence Commands

Look for available sequences in Sequence commands This is case sensitive, so copy it exactly as it is in the list.

automation.yaml

- id: Remco_welcome_home
  trigger:
  - platform: state
    entity_id: device_tracker.remco
    to: home
  action:
  - wait_template: '{{ is_state("sensor.broadlink_s1c_sliding_door", "open") }}'
  - data:
      entity_id: media_player.downstairs
      media_content_id: Alexa.ImHome.Play
      media_content_type: sequence
    service: media_player.play_media
  condition: []

Room Aware Alexa Routines

If you have an echo in every room you can use the Last Alexa Sensor to turn lights or switches on or off in the room you are currently in.

Alexa Routines

Here are four variations of turn on the lights routines you may like to setup.

  • "turn on the lights"
  • "turn on the light"
  • "turn on lights"
  • "turn on light"

Don't forget to add the "off" Alexa Routines as well. You could setup more routines for on/off, open/close, raise/lower... you get the idea.

Home Assistant Scripts

In your Alexa app match your Alexa Routines to following scripts. (Using homeassistant.turn_on allows you to turn on both light., switch., and group. entities.)

scripts.yaml

# "Alexa, turn on the lights"
alexa_turn_on_the_lights:
  sequence:
    - service: homeassistant.turn_on
      data_template:
        entity_id: >-
          {# Use the name of each Echo to determine which room the command likely came from. #}
          {%- set room = states("sensor.last_alexa")|replace('media_player.','') -%}

          {%- if room == "kitchen" -%}
            group.kitchen_lights
          {%- elif room == "family_room" -%}
            light.family_room
          {%- elif room == "master_bedroom" -%}
            light.bedroom
          {%- elif room == "play_room" -%}
            light.play_room
          {%- endif -%}

# "Alexa, turn off the lights"
alexa_turn_off_the_lights:
  sequence:
    - service: homeassistant.turn_off
      data_template:
        entity_id: >-
          {# Use the name of each Echo to determine which room the command likely came from. #}
          {%- set room = states("sensor.last_alexa")|replace('media_player.','') -%}

          {%- if room == "kitchen" -%}
            group.kitchen_lights
          {%- elif room == "family_room" -%}
            light.family_room
          {%- elif room == "master_bedroom" -%}
            light.bedroom
          {%- elif room == "play_room" -%}
            light.play_room
          {%- endif -%}

Bonus Tip: Do you have an echo in one room which overrides the Echo in another room? This limitation can be circumvented by changing the wake word to something different on one of the Echos (ie. change one to "Computer").

Room Aware Live Sensor Reports

Using the Last Alexa Sensor and Alexa routines, scripts can be extended to get room-specific sensor values using the same trigger phrase throughout the house.

scripts.yaml

# "Alexa, room temperature"

alias: Alexa Room-Aware Temperature
sequence:
  - service: notify.alexa_media
    data:
      target: '{{ states("sensor.last_alexa") }}'
      data:
        type: tts
      message: '{{active_therm}}'
mode: single
variables:
  active_therm: |-
    {% set last = states("sensor.last_alexa") -%}  
    {% set echo_room = dict([
          ('media_player.living_room_dot', ['living room', states("sensor.living_room_temperature")] ),
          ('media_player.basement_dot', ['basement', states("sensor.basement_temperature")] ),
          ('media_player.kitchen_dot', ['kitchen', states("sensor.kitchen_temperature")] )
      ]) %}
      {%- if last in echo_room -%}
        {%- set room = echo_room[last][0] -%}
        {%- set temp = echo_room[last][1] -%}
          The temperature in the {{ room }} is {{temp}} degrees
      {%- else -%}
        The average temperature in the house is {{states("sensor.average_household_temp")}} degrees
      {%- endif %}

Room Aware Scripts Using Areas

The expansion of the Areas integration in Home Assistant 2021.9 allows templates with the same function as Room Aware Alexa Routines and Room Aware Live Sensor Reports but with reduced maintenance needs. When adding new devices the scripts do not need to be updated manually like previous methods. You will only have to add new entities to their respective groups and assign areas to them:

Area Aware Lights

# "Alexa, turn on the lights"
alexa_turn_on_the_lights:
  alias: Alexa Turn On Area Lights
  sequence:
  - service: light.turn_on
    data: {}
    target:
      area_id: '{{my_area}}'
  variables:
    my_area: >-
      {% set ns = namespace(my_lights = []) %}
      {%- set echo_area = area_id(states('sensor.last_alexa')) -%}
      {%- for s in states.light | map(attribute='entity_id') | list -%}
        {%- if area_id(s) == echo_area -%}
          {% set ns.my_lights = ns.my_lights + ['{}'.format(area_id(s)) ] -%}
        {%- endif %}
      {% endfor %}
      {% set active = ns.my_lights| unique | first %}
      {{active}}
  mode: single

# "Alexa, turn off the lights"
alexa_turn_off_the_lights:
  alias: Alexa Turn Off Area Lights
  sequence:
  - service: light.turn_off
    data: {}
    target:
      area_id: '{{my_area}}'
  variables:
    my_area: >-
      {% set ns = namespace(my_lights = []) %}
      {%- set echo_area = area_id(states('sensor.last_alexa')) -%}
      {%- for s in states.light | map(attribute='entity_id') | list -%}
        {%- if area_id(s) == echo_area -%}
          {% set ns.my_lights = ns.my_lights + ['{}'.format(area_id(s)) ] -%}
        {%- endif %}
      {% endfor %}
      {% set active = ns.my_lights| unique | first %}
      {{active}}
  mode: single

Area Aware Live Sensors

scripts.yaml

# "Alexa, room temperature"

alias: Alexa Room-Aware Temperature
sequence:
  - service: notify.alexa_media
    data:
      target: '{{ states("sensor.last_alexa") }}'
      data:
        type: tts
      message: '{{active_therm}}'
mode: single
variables:
  active_therm: |-
    {%- set echo_area = area_name(states('sensor.last_alexa')) %}
    {%- for s in expand('group.indoor_thermometers')|map(attribute = 'entity_id') | list %}
      {% if area_name(s) == echo_area %}
      The temperature in the {{ area_name(s)|lower }} is {{states(s)}} degrees Farenheit
      {% endif %}
    {% endfor %}

Selecting bluetooth speakers for Alexa output

While the components source_list only lists input (bluetooth devices that can stream sound to the Alexa device), you can call the select_source service to connect to any previously paired Bluetooth Speaker. Switching it back to "Local Speaker" disconnects it again.

scripts.yaml

alexa_connect_kitchen_speaker:
  sequence:
    - service: media_player.select_source
      data:
        entity_id: media_player.echo_living_room
        source: "Kitchen Speaker."
alexa_disconnect_kitchen_speaker:
  sequence:
    - service: media_player.select_source
      data:
        entity_id: media_player.echo_living_room
        source: "Local Speaker."

Time remaining announcements for timers

This automation will announce the time remaining on a timer at 5 minute intervals, if the timer is for longer than 5 minutes.

- id: timer_announcement
  alias: Timer Announcement
  trigger:
    - platform: template
      value_template: >
       {%- if states.sensor.kitchen_next_timer.state != "unavailable" -%}
       {%- set sorted_active = states.sensor.kitchen_next_timer.attributes.sorted_active | from_json -%}
       {%- set duration = (sorted_active[0][1].remainingTime / 60000) | round(0) -%}
       {%- set remaining = (((as_timestamp(states.sensor.kitchen_next_timer.state) - as_timestamp(states.sensor.time.last_changed)) / 60) | int) -%}
       {{ duration > 5 and remaining != duration and remaining != 0 and remaining % 5 == 0 }}
       {%- endif -%}
  action:
    - service: notify.alexa_media_kitchen
      data:
        message: >-
          {%- if states.sensor.kitchen_next_timer.state != "unavailable" -%}
          {%- set sorted_active = states.sensor.kitchen_next_timer.attributes.sorted_active | from_json -%}
          {%- set duration = (sorted_active[0][1].remainingTime / 60000) | round(0) -%}
          {%- set remaining = (((as_timestamp(states.sensor.kitchen_next_timer.state) - as_timestamp(now())) / 60) | int) -%}
          You have {{ remaining }} {{ "minutes" if duration > 1 else "minute" }} left on your {{ duration }} minute timer.
          {%- endif -%}
        data:
          type: announce
          method: all

(Replace sensor.kitchen_next_timer and notify.alexa_media_kitchen as required for your setup.)

Note: This may have issues determining the duration of the timer if there are multiple overlapping times. If this is an issue, you may need to remove the duration from the announcement (the time remaining should still work).

Notification when Amazon Login Required

This automation will notify a phone when the alexa_media_player_relogin_required event is fired. This happens when Amazon requires the user to answer a CAPTCHA question. The login form can be access through the Persistent Notification drawer of Home Assistant.

- id: alexa_media_player_authentication_required
  alias: Alexa Media Player Authentication Required
  trigger:
    platform: event
    event_type: alexa_media_relogin_required
  condition: []
  action:
  - service: notify.mobile_app
    data:
      title: Alexa Media Player Integration
      message: 🔑 Authentication Required
      data:
        actions:
        - action: URI
          title: Resolve now!
          uri: /lovelace/home

Note: The notify.mobile_app includes an actionable notification in order to simply open your Lovelace dashboard and quickly access the Persistent Notification drawer. (Reported working on Android)

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