Enable Alexa Guard via Virtual Contact

#1

1) Give a description of the problem
Enable Alexa Guard using WebCoRE

2) What is the expected behaviour?
Using a virtual contact sensor (motion, or switch), enable Alexa Guard.

3) What is happening/not happening?
Alexa doesn’t seem to notice when a contact is opened/closed via WebCoRE or ST app.

4) Post a Green Snapshot of the pistonimage

Alexa_v_Contact
Alexa_v_Contact.jpg305×595 29.6 KB

I have an Alexa Routine set up for when the contact opens to turn on Guard, when it closed to disable Guard.

Any help would be appreciated. Is this even possible?

Do I need to disable ST and reenable it in the Alexa App?

#2

Have you made this contact available to Alexa through the ST app and has Alexa found it?

#3

I haven’t incorporated any virtual devices with Alexa, but can’t think of any reason why it shouldn’t work.

FWIW, I only glanced at your piston, but It appears to me that your IF/THEN/ELSE logic is flawed. I’m on the run, but perhaps @WCmore or someone can jump in here.

#4

This actually started working. I’m not sure what made it start…

I’m not sure you can turn off guard though…

#5

I don’t believe the ELSE or ‘close contact’ portion of your piston is ever going to execute. Currently, the only trigger for your piston is ‘Routine executes Alexa Guard,’ and when that routine is executed your IF will be true and the contact will open.

‘Location is Away’ is a condition, not a trigger, and won’t cause the piston to execute. You could change that to ‘Location Changes to Away,’ which would cause the piston to reevalute every time your location mode changes. If your location mode changes to Away, the IF will evaluate as true and open the contact. If your location mode changes to something else other than Away, the IF will evaluate as false and the contact would close.

Two minor suggestions: (a) Avoid using the Else If construct. It was originally a part of CoRE, but It’s not needed in webCoRE as it allows for multiple IF/THEN statements, which are generally easier to follow. And (b) when posting a green snapshot, post the complete snapshot. There is important information in the header and the left hand column that can help us diagnose issues.

#6

Noted!

Thanks- I’ll change it to if location changes to away.

There is no way to disable Alexa Guard, making this only 1/2 the battle.

In the Alexa app, there is no automation option that says to disable it…

I may go the route of the dual Echoes…

#7

My thoughts on Alexa Guard?

The only feature that appeals to me is:

<quote>
When you set Guard to Away mode, if an Echo device detects the sound of smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, or glass breaking, Alexa can send you Smart Alerts, via notifications to your phone
</quote>

All the other “features” of Alexa Guard are (much) better if programmed here in webCoRE.

#8

True, and that’s a bit of an oddity. For now, what I’ve done is have my Sonos speakers say “Alexa, I’m home” when I arrive (based on presence). I have an Echo Dot in the kitchen that hears that announcement and turns guard off. However, I should note that I use Alexa Guard for smoke, CO and glass exclusively, and turn it on via a routine that also runs a piston activating my security system … which runs exclusively thru webCoRE. I would never want a simple “Alexa, I’m home” turning off my alarms.

#9

Those are words of wisdom, @bthrock!!

For those who are security conscious, a voice request should never be allowed to disarm our security…

Edit:

Well, I shouldn’t say never… There will come a day when voice recognition is reliable for home users…

#10

What security systems are you using that integrate directly with SmartThings?

I basically use it to automate lights and listen for glass… That’s all it really does for me.

#11

I have not messed with Alexa Guard yet, but I am curious about:

“Drop In on your Echo remotely to investigate what’s happening”

I wonder if this can be used as a poor-man’s baby monitor??

#12

Basic question. How do you configure Alexa Guard to be enabled by a virtual switch?

#13

In the IDE, you can go to devices to create a new one. Set the device type to a virtual open/close sensor. Then set a routine in the Alexa app that when the contact opens to turn on guard.

I ended up doing this in a better way. I use the Alexa Speaks app in SmartThings.

You can set it to turn on Alexa Guard when your SmartThings goes into away mode, or based on other criteria.

Check it out.