Google Assistant or Alexa for smart home stuff

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MikeB4

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#312044 11-Mar-2024 09:34

I am currently using the Google ecosystem however, Google Assistant would seem to have suffered a Stroke in the last few months and is struggling.

I am considering alternatives and would like GZs views on what one is better, Google, Alexa or others.

I have connected: cameras, lights, air purifiers, TV, etc. Looking at adding curtains, garage door and if possible house door openers.

What's the views of the fine folk here, Google or Alexa?

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#3205273 11-Mar-2024 09:52

I have both: Google Minis, Google Hub and Amazon Echo Dot (alexis) Gen 5 specifically for the temperature control routines.

Definitely agree Google is going downhill, changing and removing features that just annoys me. But overall I prefer Google assistant. a few reasons I can think of:

Pros for Google:

I can say "turn off everything" and google will - Alexis wont

Overall I find Google home software easier to navigate.

Pros for Alexis:

We use "Our Groceries" for shopping lists and Google no longer supports it but Alexis does

I use the Alexis routines to control fans in the bedroom when it goes over a certain temperature.

Otherwise connecting and supporting all devices is pretty much the same for both.

Doing your best is much more important than being the best.

CokemonZ

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#3205275 11-Mar-2024 10:01

I'm in google, and same as you over the last while it has become unreliable and flaky.

If I was buying new I don't think I would again. Both Google and Alexa have gutted their smart home teams as neither seemed to turn a profit.

I think there may be another couple of years before it shakes itself out and we get a new/evolved ecosystem.

Dingbatt

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#3205313 11-Mar-2024 12:47

The rot set in for me when my Google hubs kept disconnecting from wifi. Quite possibly a router/wifi problem, but they went from working well one day, to frequent disconnects the next. At the moment the hubs are effectively glorified digital clocks as I have set the microphones to mute*. Both displays are within arm’s reach so I use the home control functions occasionally.

As for Alexa, all it seemed to do was bug me about low battery levels on sensors, and did I want to order a new one from Amazon? So the 2 echo minis are currently in the box of unused tech stuff in my garage, along with an original Google Home and 3 GH Minis.

* Sick of get served ads for things we’ve discussed but never searched for……..

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

freitasm

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#3205355 11-Mar-2024 14:41

Bee:

I can say "turn off everything" and google will - Alexis wont

I use Alexa only here and have no problem. If you have your devices connected It Should Just Work (TM).

For example if we say "Alexa, good night" it will follow a routine and turn off the TV in the lounge (Panasonic), the Xbox (Microsoft), lights inside the house (Philips Hue), the driveway lights (Ring Spotlight), the garage lights (Arlec Wi-Fi lights) and the bedroom heather (D-Link Wi-Fi plug). It also turns on the light stands in the lounge at 20% (Hue lights).

If there's movement on the driveway or the front yard ((Ring cameras) it will show the video on the Amazon Echo Show 10. Or if I am watching TV I can ask to show on the TV. And if there's movement on the deck it turns the garage lights on (because they point to the back yard and our dogs go out at night so we need the lights and the switch is inside the garage).

So, yeah. Happy with Alexa.

Also, just managed to get the thermostat sensors connected to Home Assistant via MQTT and to Alexa, so I can say "Alexa, what's the temperature in the bedroom, and it tells me).

MikeB4

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#3205405 11-Mar-2024 14:54

Dingbatt:

The rot set in for me when my Google hubs kept disconnecting from wifi. Quite possibly a router/wifi problem, but they went from working well one day, to frequent disconnects the next. At the moment the hubs are effectively glorified digital clocks as I have set the microphones to mute*. Both displays are within arm’s reach so I use the home control functions occasionally.

As for Alexa, all it seemed to do was bug me about low battery levels on sensors, and did I want to order a new one from Amazon? So the 2 echo minis are currently in the box of unused tech stuff in my garage, along with an original Google Home and 3 GH Minis.

* Sick of get served ads for things we’ve discussed but never searched for……..

With my system the issues are random and sporadic. For example I will ask Google to turn on living room lights, it will respond saying it cannot do that (words to that effect) as the lights are turning on. The geofencing for turning on the camera used to work perfectly but now seldom will it work to turn them om but turning off works fine. The Hub(2nd gen) will reboot for reasons or will decide that it needs to shout responses to me. These are just a few of my favourite things.

Handle9

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#3205448 11-Mar-2024 16:28

I really wouldn’t recommend either Google home or Alexa as the main platform. Using a more robust platform like Home Assistant etc as the main platform with Alexa or Google Home as the voice assistant works far better IME.

MikeB4

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#3205470 11-Mar-2024 17:33

Handle9: I really wouldn’t recommend either Google home or Alexa as the main platform. Using a more robust platform like Home Assistant etc as the main platform with Alexa or Google Home as the voice assistant works far better IME.

You are right. My wife doesn't want me to do a system like Home Assistant as she told me she does not want me stressing over it. So an oof the shelf solution is what she wants.

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MikeB4

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#3205577 12-Mar-2024 12:07

I think my answer is down to availability. Looking around the various resellers of the Google kit the supply and range is very sparse indeed. At Harvey Norman its marked as "final clearance" NL has very little as does JBHIFI. PBTech has a smattering. Even Googles own store has a few cameras and one model of the hub.

The Amazon products are readily available.

ascroft

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#3205984 13-Mar-2024 11:46

Happy with Amazon - works well enough with my basic automations, heat pump, lights, TV. Could do the garage door but will leave that on the app for now.

Also like Apple Music support and ability to play to all devices very easily.

common sense is not very common

MikeB4

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#3206577 15-Mar-2024 11:18

I purchased a couple to Amazon Echo products to give Alexa a whirl namely Echo Show 5 and Echo Smart speaker. Set was a breeze and our lights, purifier, cameras. TV, Sonos etc all added easily. Now to see how it all goes over the next few weeks

TeaLeaf

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#3208468 20-Mar-2024 11:06

MikeB4:

The Amazon products are readily available.

This is a good point.

I had no idea Google had amazon hub like products. My partner finds any such thing intrusive, where Im fascinated by it, so hope to set up my man cave with some home automation.

So I assumed amazon to be the complete choice, but clearly I need to do some research on google products,

freitasm

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#3208512 20-Mar-2024 12:29

I'm expecting the new Amazon Echo Hub any moment here - providing customs clear the review unit.

It's a small, flat display device just for controlling IoT. Can be used as a tablet or attached to the wall.

MikeB4

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#3208623 20-Mar-2024 14:56

@freitasm I am considering getting the Echo Hub. Noel Leemings have stock at $368. It does what the phone App does but the bigger screen appeals.

TeaLeaf

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#3209049 21-Mar-2024 10:33

freitasm:

I'm expecting the new Amazon Echo Hub any moment here - providing customs clear the review unit.

It's a small, flat display device just for controlling IoT. Can be used as a tablet or attached to the wall.

That looks perfect for a focused solution on home automation, control and security.

Can you add pretty much anything, like if you have a bluetooth enabled meter, I assume it would work on this as well as it does on an android phone?

freitasm

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#3209061 21-Mar-2024 10:53

I am not sure. I think it's pretty Alexa-centric. It just landed here and I am setting up now.

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