Can this be done with an Alexa?

[HangryFeminist]

FIL is struggling with returning home to a quiet dark house when he’s been out, particularly now the nights are drawing in. He would like to have the ability to switch on the radio and a light or two remotely.

I’m pretty clued up on smart plugs and bulbs which we have, but he’s not keen on another app and has taken some time to become happy with his Alexa, which he now loves for playing music.

We don’t have an Alexa so I’m not familiar with them, but from looking online controlling a smart bulb shouldn’t be an issue. Can anyone tell me if it’s possible to write a routine to allow him to activate his radio through his Alexa when he leaves a friends/the pub/restaurant?

If we need to resort to putting plugs with timers on a lamp and a DAB radio we will, but he’d like to use the Alexa although he isn’t savvy enough to program it himself. I’m pretty good with tech so happy to give it a go but don’t want to spend time trying if it’s doomed to fail! Google hasn’t been helpful about remotely activating the radio function.

Thanks for any advice, keen to hear of anyone has done this themselves!

I use smart plugs and the Alexa app inside my house but I've never tried to do it from outside so I don't know if you have to be on the same Wi-Fi as the device when you switch something on with the Alexa app. I use my ipad to turn on the lamp next to my bed when I'm walking up the stairs.

But you can set up routines with it.

Yes he can do this and activate stuff to come on at dusk, timed, or via a routine accessed on his phone app

Yes this is my concern, it seems apparent that he could do this from the same WiFi network but less clear if it can be done away from home. Hmm.

Excellent thank you. He doesn’t want timed activation but a routine would work great. Just to check, it can be done from a different WiFi network or over his data plan if he’s out?

Yes you can do it if u have smart plugs. I have a routine set up where my lights come on 20 mins before sunset. I can control the smart plugs remotely from anywhere.

Yes, on my phone via the Alexa app I can do all sorts to freak out my husband - turn lights on, talk to him...

Get the plugs, sync them with Alexa.
Then you can switch them on and off by the Alexa app.

Yes, you can set all kinds of routines or just turn them on 20 minutes before you get home

We shouldn’t need the plugs as we can get a smart bulb for the lights, it’s more being able to switch on Alexa and ask her to play the radio station he wants while he’s on his way home. Sounds like it’s possible though, I just need to write a routine to do it.

Thanks everyone, appreciate the help. Might sit down with it this weekend while we are round there and see what I can come up with!

I know Alexas get a bad rep for "spying" but I love mine. I have routines set on the smart plugs so lights go on and off on a timer and music plays through alexa in the morning. I can also control from my phone no matter what WiFi I'm connected to. The plugs are connected to the app through WiFi so as long as the pugs have WiFi and the app has a wifi/data connection then you can switch them on and off from any where

Excellent this is great to hear! Thank you.

You can deffo use it from another Wi-Fi my Ddad always forgets to turn his radio and hall lamp off and does it from my house.

I have Philips Hue bulbs for this same reason. You can set a routine with Alexa or turn them on via your phone before you get home.

You can also use the Alexa app to play a radio station before you get in.

Yes, you can use use Alexa for both of these things,
You can set it as a routine, or he could go into the app and direct it directly with the voice control.

I had my nans house decked out with smart bulbs and alexas when she wasn’t mobile.
You can even get smart blinds and stuff, bit pricey though.

This is really helpful everyone, thank you so much! I might even get one myself if they are this good…