Using the remote control interface

[DParker]

Hi all.  Long-time listener, first time caller....and all that...

Does anyone know...or has anyone attempted to figure out...how to pair a device OTHER than the remote control with the Echo's bluetooth interface devoted to that functionality (assuming it's reasonably possible, sans any weird proprietary protocol stuff)?  The use cases for this ability are many and potentially very handy, and I'm surprised that I'm not seeing any talk about it here.  I have seen some discussion about it from about a year ago elsewhere, but nothing beyond some brief speculation about the possibility, and then nothing for about a year or so.

Thanks.  I'll take my answer off the air. 

[stusviews]

What do you want to pair? I paired my iPhone to Echo.

[DParker]

What do you want to pair? I paired my iPhone to Echo.

I want to pair a device that sends speech audio to the Echo for recognition and processing by Alexa (for instance, using the "Simon says" functionality to get Alexa to play voice announcements, or issuing queries to the Alexa service).  That requires the Bluetooth interface used by the Echo remote.  What you're using is the other Bluetooth interface that Echo uses to receive audio for playing on its internal speaker.  Those are two very different things.

[kejones]

I like where you're going.
Assuming you don't need the remote, why not just hack the remote itself?
Can Echo pair with more than one remote?

[DParker]

I like where you're going.

Thanks.  I could accomplish voice announcements via the other BT interface and just push them as though they were music streams, but what I really want is for the announcements to come out in Alexa's voice.  The ability to also issue commands this way is a bonus.

Assuming you don't need the remote, why not just hack the remote itself?

That's the easier, though messy way...and one already tried by a couple of other people.  But what I'd like to do is not have to cannibalize the remote, and just do it all using a nice, neat little package like an Arduino or Raspberry Pi (most likely the Pi).

Can Echo pair with more than one remote?

No.  At least, only one remote pairing is supported by the app settings.

[stusviews]

Actually, echo can pair with one controller and at least one responding device.

[DParker]

Actually, echo can pair with one controller and at least one responding device.

Yeah...that's what I said.

[draistrick]

Any updates on this?  I too am interested in sending voice commands to a paired echo without having a remote...