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9 Common Amazon Echo Problems and how to fix them quickly:

 

The Amazon Echo speaker range is hugely popular, with many houses having multiple speakers now. Although our experiences with the Alexa-enabled devices have been pain-free thus far, here are some of the Amazon Echo problems you may experience, complete with suggestions for how to resolve them.



1-The Wi-fi Connection Is Inconsistent or non-existent

Echo’s connectivity status is indicated by the power LED on the bottom rear of the device, with white meaning good and orange denoting no Wi-Fi connectivity.

If you’re experiencing intermittent connectivity or non-existent Wi-Fi connectivity with your Amazon Echo, here’s what to try.

First, follow the usual drill: reboot your router and turn your Echo off and on again.

If that doesn’t help and everything else on the network is working well, you might want to think about repositioning your Echo away from devices that may be interfering with the signal.

You can also reduce the congestion on your Wi-Fi network by removing unused devices from the network.

If you have a dual-band modem, you may effectively have two networks set up. Try switching the device from the 2.4GHz frequency to the 5GHz frequency or vice-versa. 5GHz promises less interference, better speeds and a more stable connection and it is often less congested.

Alternatively, 2.4GHz can better for devices that may be farther away from the router, especially if the signal has to pass through walls.

Move your Echo to higher ground, like a bookshelf, to avoid signal interference.

Related: Amazon Echo Dot review •  Amazon Echo Clock review

2-Alexa Wont Connect to other Device: One of Alexa’s myriad of talents is her ability to act as a voice-controlled smart home hub for a wide range of devices from manufacturers like Philips, SmartThings, Honeywell, Wink and Insteon. However, discovery and connection isn’t always smooth sailing.

Firstly, make sure your device is actually compatible with the Echo. It may need a bridge like the SmartThings or Wink hub. The list of compatible devices can be found here.

 

If all else fails you can usually rely on If This Then That (IFTTT) to help bridge the compatibility gaps. There’s even an official Alexa IFTTT channel.

The next step, of course, is to follow the set-up instructions for the smart home device before asking Alexa to discover it. You may need to download a companion app and go through the motions.

Related: Best Alexa skills


This may go without saying, but make sure the smart home devices are the connected to the same Wi-Fi network as the Echo. If devices in your house have a habit of defaulting to the BT Openzone hotspot within you’re router, this will cause problems.

Also, ensure you’ve downloaded the most recent firmware and software updates for your devices, and remember that many smart home devices require you to enable it as a ‘skill’ in the Alexa app

Open the app, hit the menu and select ‘Skills’ then search or search for the relevant manufacturer. Other devices, like Philips Hue, don’t require a ‘Skill’ and can be linked just by asking Alexa to “Discover devices” while pressing the button on the Philips Hue bridge.

The Alexa app enables you to link smart home devices in a Group. This way you can use voice controls to control multiple devices with a single command, such as “turn off bedroom lights.”

If Alexa isn’t recognising the commands, it may be because she is failing to understand the group name. Change it to something easily discernible and speak it clearly.

Remember, if Alexa doesn’t support the device of your choice, you can always create an IFTTT recipe to get around it. Here are some of the best IFTTT recipes.

 

3-Alexa Doesn’t understand Me

“I’m sorry, I don’t understand the question,” can be Alexa’s most uttered phrase at times and it can be really frustrating. Alexa’s voice recognition naturally improves as it gets to know you, but there are ways to avoid repeating yourself.

Start by using the voice training tool. Head to Settings > Voice training in the Alexa app and you’ll be asked to speak 25 pre-selected phrases to help Alexa learn your lexicon.

Next, check what Alexa actually heard. The Alexa app keeps a note of all of your requests, so you can see exactly what she heard. Go to the app’s Settings and hit History. Here you can identify common misheard words and perhaps express them more clearly.

 

 

 

 

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