Alexa 'Routine' for Motion Sensor

[montyj]

Hola to All!

After running through 4 Alexa support techs, they finally convinced me I could not do this, so perhaps someone here has done something similar. Here's the setup:

4 Alexa units - Fire Cube TV, Echo Plus, Echo, Echo Dot
Smartthings V2 Hub with lights, motion sensors, etc.

In the Alexa app, I can "Discover" everything Smartthings sees, and control them with Alexa by voice w/o any problems. This includes Hue lights (via bridge), Z-wave lights, and of course Zigbee devices.

I then tried to setup a "Routine" in the Alexa app to speak a custom voice message with a specific motion sensor was triggered. The sensor is showing in Alexa, and the routine "plays" just fine, but Alexa simply does not get the motion trigger from the sensor through Smartthings.

Alexa support says it cannot be done unless the motion sensor is specifically "Alexa compatible". Well, none of those Z-wave lights and other devices are "Alexa compatible" directly, and they all turn on/off properly anyway using Alexa.

So, looking for a solution/workaround. I looked through IFTTT but cannot find anything that can monitor a Smartthings motion sensor and then have Alexa deliver a custom voice notification message. The routine in Alexa is perfect in what days to work and what time of day even, but it simply cannot see the motion signal.

Any one gone through this before? Certainly open to tips thoughts on other ways to do this!

Thanks!

Montyj

[renegade600]

check the motion sensors app and see if it has any feature you can use or combine.  also maybe combine the motion sensor with a light and get notified when the light comes on.   just going have to think outside the box

[montyj]

check the motion sensors app and see if it has any feature you can use or combine.  also maybe combine the motion sensor with a light and get notified when the light comes on.   just going have to think outside the box

Thanks! I have tried a "virtual switch" in Smartthings app, and even though Alexa recognizes the switch and sees the switch change state, it still won't trigger the routine. I will look into using a real physical device per your suggestion.

I made another call to Alexa support, same results. But this time I got the hint that Alexa has a real issue with motion detectors, even ones supposedly 'compatible'. The customer comments for one of the supposed compatible devices show conflicting info about their working with routines.

But I will keep trying to think out of the box!
 

[Marco]

This an old topic and my response probably won't help the OP at this point. That said I'm leaving this info for others that might end up here through a search....

The motion sensor from Philips (HUE) can be used as a trigger for routines in case you have an Echo Plus or an Echo Show 2nd gen, as both support HUE devices without an specific hub from Philips

[jwlv]

To add on to what Macro said, you can do the same with a Ring alarm motion sensor. I put a Ring motion sensor at my front door.  Whenever someone comes up to the door, my Alexa routine turns on 2 lights near the front door and announces on all of my Echo devices "motion detected at the front door." Then waits 10 minutes and turns off those 2 lights.

[walterbear]

I've a Wemo motion sensor and Hue montion sensor
only Hue motion sensor can act as a trigger in Routine

[Marco]

Just to add another sensor to the list of the ones that can be used as routine's triggers:

Samotech Zigbee Motion Sensor for Echo Plus

It costs way less that Philips Hue and it can be added directly to Alexa (no hub) as long as you have PLUS or Show 2nd edition.

[Drwoodr]

To add on to what Macro said, you can do the same with a Ring alarm motion sensor. I put a Ring motion sensor at my front door.  Whenever someone comes up to the door, my Alexa routine turns on 2 lights near the front door and announces on all of my Echo devices "motion detected at the front door." Then waits 10 minutes and turns off those 2 lights.

I’m trying the same thing with my Ring door contacts, but only see the option to announce from 1 Echo device. How did you get it to announce to a group?

Edit: found my own answer. Instead of selecting “alexa says” for the action, which only lets you select 1 Echo, select “messaging” and you can select multiple echos to make the announcement.