Because I am a Techie and a Reviewer, I have a mish-mash of
Smart Devices from different manufacturers. The downside to this is
having at least a half-dozen different apps on my phone, with each manufacturer
providing its own app. I have to keep all of these apps to re-configure
my devices, as needed, despite the fact I have control integrated through
Alexa. The cheaper the plug, the worse the app, and the generic plugs
tend to require more background data than the name brands. In other words, the
generic Smart Devices tend to be bandwidth hogs, which is a definite negative
if your network is already strained. They also seem to have more connectivity
issues, especially when it comes to remote control, (i.e. controlling from an
outside Wi-Fi network.) When I finally find a generic plug and control
app that I can recommend, this blog's readers will be the first to hear.
In other words, if your network is already struggling, and you don't like
tinkering, you may want to stick to the more reliable brands. There could be
several reasons when Alexa notresponding or Alexa is not working.
Hue Bulbs, and other Smart Devices using the ZigBee protocol,
act as their own repeaters. This means they carry signals to each other,
rather than relying solely on your router to deliver them. Thus, they do
not place the same drag on your network as individual Smart Outlets. They may
be a better choice for Wi-Fi dead spots, so long as they are in proximity of
another bulb that the signal reaches. They may be a better choice than
hub-less Smart Bulbs from your Smart Plug manufacturer for already congested
networks. It may also be a reason to consider an Echo Plus for your next Alexa device, sometimes our device
did not catch the echo so our echo doesnot respond. as it acts as the Hub for Hue Bulbs and other Smart
Devices. If you do not already own a hub, it is an economical way to
integrate its functions into your Alexa-powered Smart Home.
Likewise,
if your mobile device is already overloaded with apps, and you don't have an
old phone or tablet you've dedicated to Smart Home control, you may want to
pick a brand or two and stick with them. Just about EVERY Smart Device
Manufacturer requires its own app for initial set-up, and you need to keep them
in order for the device to operate correctly. Remote control is much more
difficult when you have to open 10 different apps to do what you
want.
But when you get down to it, it really doesn't matter if you
have devices from 20 different manufacturers or just a few. The best
thing about Alexa is that she can integrate devices from a slew of different
manufacturers into scenes and groups, for easy, single word control. Apps
like Yonami and IFTTT can also help. If someone buys you a TP-Link Bulb,
there's no reason to say "We're a WeMo family!" or "We're a Hue
Household!" So long as the device has the features and functions you
need, and its Alexa-compatible, it doesn't matter who makes it.
The Alexa ecosystem ties together devices from a plethora of different
manufacturers to make control a breeze, be it via voice command or the Alexa
app.
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