Using Amazon Alexa with your Switch+

Let's get you talking with Alexa. Everything you need to do is found in the ecobee app. First, make sure your Switch+ is registered and online then follow these steps:

1. Select your Switch+ device.

2. Select the slashed microphone icon in the bottom right corner.

3. Select Sign in with Amazon and log in with your Amazon account.

4. Tap Sign in.

5. Say "Alexa, discover devices."

6. Select Done.

Congrats! You have successfully linked Alexa to your ecobee Switch+.

Just say “Alexa” and watch as the light pipe illuminates on your ecobee Switch+. When that happens, Alexa can hear your questions and commands.

When the light pipe is pulsing, that means that Alexa is “thinking” or processing your request.

 

You can enable any skill available through the Alexa App or at alexa.amazon.com. Here’s a quick way to understand the difference between 3rd party Alexa skills, and ecobee Smart Home skills on your Switch+.

3rd Party Alexa skills

These are any skills that you enable through the Alexa App or through alexa.amazon.com that do not control your ecobee. Alexa Voice Service has built-in voice commands ready to use, but additional skills need to be enabled before you can use them. They can range from trivia games to daily news.

For a list of built-in Alexa voice commands that you can use with your ecobee Switch+, click here.

ecobee Smart Home skills

The ecobee Smart Home skills allow you to control your ecobee using Alexa enabled devices such as Amazon Echo, Dot, or Tap. Since ecobee Switch+ comes with built-in Amazon Alexa, you can also give voice commands to your ecobee Switch+ to control all your ecobee devices. You must enable the ecobee skill before you can control your ecobee devices using your voice.

For a list of ecobee voice commands, click here.

To learn how to enable the ecobee skill, select "How do I enable my Switch+ to turn the lights on and off with my voice" above.

You can ask Alexa to play music, podcasts, audiobooks, and more on your ecobee Switch+. When you linked your Amazon.com account to your Switch+, you automatically have access to any music available in your Amazon Music Library and any audiobooks available in your Audible Library. Amazon Prime members can also listen to music playlists and radio stations. ecobee Switch+ currently supports Amazon Music, TuneIn, and iHeartRadio.

NOTE: Currently ecobee Switch+ does not support Spotify or Pandora music streaming services.

To learn how to upload your music collection to your Amazon Music Library, click here. Once you’ve done that, here are some voice commands you can use with Alexa and your ecobee Switch+ to play music and media:

Play music: "Alexa, play some music."

Play specific artist: "Alexa, play music by [artist]."

Music controls: "Alexa, play" or, "Alexa, next."

Restart song: "Alexa, restart."

Play a radio station: "Alexa, play [radio station] on TuneIn."

Play an audiobook: "Alexa, play [title] on Audible," "Alexa, read [title]" or "Alexa, play the book, [title]."

Resume the last played audiobook: "Alexa, resume my book."

Play music through your Sonos speaker: (first enable the Sonos skill on your Alexa App)  "Alexa, play [song/radio/playlist] on [device name] ."

We understand that Switch+ speakers may not match the power of your preferred speaker system. Thankfully, Sonos has an Alexa skill, so you can ask your Switch+ to play your favourite tunes on a high performance speaker system. Simply enable the Sonos skill on your Alexa App, then ask your Switch+ to play a song, playlist, radio station, audio book or podcast on your Sonos speaker.

With ecobee Switch+, you can do so much more than turn your lights on and off with your voice. The list of commands for Alexa is constantly growing, but for now you can try some of these fun and handy cues.

To-do lists and events

Add to your to-do list: "Alexa, add 'go to the grocery store' to my to-do list" or "Alexa, I need to make an appointment with the doctor.

Check calendar event: "Alexa, what's on my calendar for tomorrow?"

Add event to a calendar: "Alexa, add [event] to my calendar for [day] at [time]" or "Alexa, add an event to my calendar."

Create shopping list: "Alexa, add eggs to my shopping list" or "Alexa, I need to buy laundry detergent."

Check your shopping list: "Alexa, what's on my shopping list?"

Time & Date

Set alarm: "Alexa, set an alarm for 7 a.m." or "Alexa, wake me up at 7 in the morning."

Set a timer: "Alexa, set a timer for 15 minutes."

Check timer status: "Alexa, how much time is left on my timer?"

Ask the time: "Alexa, what time is it?"

Ask the date: "Alexa, what's the date?"

Check dates: "Alexa, when is [holiday] this year?"

Music & Media

Play music: "Alexa, play some music."

Play specific artist: "Alexa, play music by [artist]."

Music controls: "Alexa, play" or, "Alexa, next."

Restart song: "Alexa, restart."

Play a radio station: "Alexa, play [radio station]."

Play an audiobook: "Alexa, play [title] on Audible," "Alexa, read [title]" or "Alexa, play the book, [title]."

Resume the last played audiobook: "Alexa, resume my book."

Get ready for the day

Check weather: "Alexa, what's the weather like?" or "Alexa, will it rain today?" or "Alexa, will I need an umbrella today?"

Get the weather forecast: "Alexa, what's the weather going to be like this weekend?”

Check your commute: "Alexa, what's my commute look like?" or "Alexa, what's traffic like?"

Check your appointments: "Alexa, what's on my calendar for today?"

General Knowledge

Get Wikipedia information: "Alexa, Wikipedia [subject]."

Ask a general question: "Alexa, how tall is [person or object's name]?" or "Alexa, how many people live in America?"

Math and Vocabulary

Convert units: "Alexa, how many [units] are in [units]?"

Basic math: "Alexa, what's 9 plus 8?" or, "Alexa, what's 79 times 44?"

Advanced math: "Alexa, 70 factorial."

Definition of a word: "Alexa, what's the definition of [word]?"

Spelling of a word: "Alexa, how do you spell [word]?"

To create a group of devices, you will want to open up the Amazon Alexa app. Select the Devices icon in the bottom right corner. From the Devices page, select the plus icon (+) in the top right corner.

Select Add Group from the plus icon menu.

Choose a name for the Group from the options provided or create a custom name. Select the smart devices, such as the Switch+, you would like to include in this group and select Save once you're done.

You can always edit the group later if you've forgotten any devices or if you would like to remove ones from the group!

When controlling a group say "Alexa turn on / off <group name>". This will control all the devices in your group simultaneously.

How do I unlink my Switch+ from Amazon Alexa?

You can unlink Amazon Alexa from your account using the ecobee  app. Simply click on the microphone icon on your Switch+ homepage and select the option to Unlink Alexa at the bottom of the screen.