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| Alexa Dot second gen |
I have concluded that some of these newfangled smart sh*t thingies,
I own, kind of sucks! I have no problems with 98% of the electronic gear I own,
but it’s that 2% percent that has me pulling my hair out. So far I have seven Alexa
devices, one Spot, two Alexa Show’s, three, second gen Dot’s and one third gen
Dot. What bugs me, they are, or so it would seem going deaf, or they just act
like they are deaf.
It kind of bugs me that, when watching TV, and someone on a,
particular, show will announce the “wake word”, and my Alexa, in the Kitchen
will wake up. (I changed all but the Kitchen and upstairs bathroom to another
wake word). That is over four meters away from the TV! I have to yell and tell
it to shut the…
On the other hand, I have a second gen Dot, several centimeters
away, next to my couch, as I watch TV. I give it a command and, nothing! I have
to repeat it twice, most times, and she will tell me, she has no idea or can’t
help. I then have to ask Google for an answer. But, I digress…
I have no problems with the lights, the doors and the other
30 or so items I have installed throughout the house, but... I installed a
light switch (relay, hub) in my kitchen 2 years ago. It's now DEAD! In fact,
the bottom load died after 1 year, 1 month 10 days after I purchased it. 40
days past the warranty. I had to rewire the thing to get it to work, then. I
called the company and they told me it was defective, but wouldn’t do anything
about it.
On the other hand, I purchased a couple of light switches a
few months back but couldn't figure out where to put them, considering, I
purchased connected bulbs in 98% of my lights, just because they were on sale,
2 for $30, a steal as far as light switches go, it was an impulsive buy, kind
of thing.
Funny thing, I have electronic gear that, some of them are
over 30 years old and, still work! I am beginning not to trust this new
stuff...electronic smart stuff. Most are WAY too expensive and seem like they
don't last long and most only have ninety day warranties, a few with one year
warranties. Meaning, IMO the manufacturer doesn't trust their stuff.
For instance, I want to open my blinds via Alexa, open in
the mornings and close at night. I have 6 blinds that I would like for this to
happen to. It just happens that, now, the blind motors now cost $150 a piece!
Heck, to buy a motor to open my door wall, that one motor cost $250! That would
seem like, it’s not going to happen in the near future, maybe, and I just might
have to buy them one at a time. I shall see…
Anyway, my Kitchen light works, now...let me test..."Alexa,
turn on the Kitchen Lights." Lights on.
So far so good.
