> Hope this works for you. Please post a reply if this works. I have it running with multiple Ring devices.
Thanks @flyfish for your comprehensive reply. I had tried this previously, but it doesn’t work for me. The instrusctions are slightly different on iOS and there isn’t a “Custom” action to trigger unfortunately.
I followed these steps:
Create new routine > Gave it a name > pressed the [+] next to “when this happens”, selected the device, ticked check box for “when motions is detected” … then needed to select an action … but there is no “custom” option.
There is “Alea Says”; Caldendar; Calling; Date&Time; Devid Settings; Email; IFTTT; Messaging; Music; News; Skills; Smart Home; Trraffic; Wait; Weather.
I can customise what Alexa says, so when motion is detected, I can get the Echo to say, “Show door camera” or “Alexa, show door camera” - but it won’t follow it’s own voice instruction.
(It does show the camera if I speak the same words, “Alexa, show door camera”).
I read that someone else has solved this by having a *separate* Amazon echo Dot that can issue the instruction for the Amazon Echo to respond to - but this seems like a crazy option …
That stinks that there is not a Custom Action on IOS, on my Android it is the last one listed, not alphabetically listed.
Good news is that it will probably show up in the next version or 2 of the App, just speculating here, I have no idea…
Hopefully, this functionality does not violate one of Apples <insert whatever> Policies and there is just a delay in testing and getting it out. FWIW, my App version is 2.2.367729.0, was just updated on October 19th. I have no idea when this showed up for Android.
Can get the Echo show to announce … But not to actually display .
So, using the 2 routines as you explained… When motion is detected the Echo show will anounce what I typed in as the command, ( Alexa, Show front door ) … But won`t actually carry out the command automatically. ( still shows homescreen )
It also announces the stop command ( Alexa, stop. ) after 2 mins as I selected.
To get it to actually show …
I have to speak the commands just as before.
I can imagine it working using 2 echo devices, with 1 device announcing the command for the other device to follow, but just can`t understand how 1 device can announce and recieve a command at the same time.
No custom option after selecting add action … I`m on Android, not IOS.
So, Have tried using an Echo dot combined with Echo show.
The Dot being placed next to the show. Set routine so Dot says Alexa, show fron door …when motion triggered.
Dot does do as instructed, BUT, Problem now is how to create a 1 or 2 second space in the announcement after the word alexa and before the show fron door part… to give Echo show chance to wake before hearing the show front door part. if that makes any sense.
As it turns out you can “Share” a Routine. Here are the links to my “Show and Stop” Routines.
You have to click on the link on your phone, select/copy the link and open in the Alexa App.
Show Routine link;
You will need to, Rename the routine, Select the Camera/Ring to detect motion on, Verify the Custom Action “Show” and select the Alex Show device to display on;
You will need to, Rename the routine, Select the Camera/Ring to detect motion on (this should be the same device selected above), Verify the Action “Wait” and time interval and select the Alex Show device to stop displaying on;
Thanks Flyfish for sharing the routine. I didn’t know that was possible - however it doesn’t work for me. When I click the link, the Alexa app launches but immediately shows an error message: this routine is not available.
Does this definitely work on your *Spotlight Cam* (not doorbell) ?
RobDownUK, just checked and the Routine is still availbe to me, I see UK in your name, assuming you are in the UK. I have noticed being out of the USA that I get automatically redirected to the default site for the county that I am in.
I assume this listing is one of those black holes that manufacturers make to keep the punters happy but never do any of the suggestions.
If is something that should be implemented without even being suggested, a security camera that does not display if there is a security breach is hardly a security camera.
All the adverts imply it can do this, I have reported the advert to the ASA.
Navigate to the section to create a routine.(I assume you know how to create a routine).
Click the + and then name the routine.
Click when this happens + and select smart home.
Checkmark the camera you want to use for a trigger.
Select motion as the trigger.
Then select next.
Crate a action
Then select “Alexa says” and enter something like “there’s someone at the front door”. (You must do this to get the echo show to appear as a device that you can select for the video feed to display on)
Select add another action.
Scroll all the way to the bottom of
The actions list. The very last option is custom. Click custom and enter the instructions your normally use vocally with Alexa to show the camera. I used “show the front door”.
Finally select the device (at the very bottom of the page) you want to display the camera on.
Navigate to the section to create a routine.(I assume you know how to create a routine).
Click the + and then name the routine.
Click when this happens + and select smart home.
Checkmark the camera you want to use for a trigger.
Select motion as the trigger.
Then select next.
Crate a action
Then select “Alexa says” and enter something like “there’s someone at the front door”. (You must do this to get the echo show to appear as a device that you can select for the video feed to display on)
Select add another action.
Scroll all the way to the bottom of
The actions list. The very last option is custom. Click custom and enter the instructions your normally use vocally with Alexa to show the camera. I used “show the front door”.
Finally select the device (at the very bottom of the page) you want to display the camera on.
I am sure your routine works however I have the same problem as with the previous review posted.
I don’t have custom on my list in any of my apps, android or iOS. Also your link only opens the Amazon instruction page for shared routines.
Are you in the UK as I have a suspicion that the custom option is only available in the USA.
“The actions list. The very last option is custom. Click custom and enter the instructions your normally use vocally with Alexa to show the camera. I used “show the front door”.”
Yes, Ring & Alexa development teams, please add this useful functionality to the Echo show devices I have two Spotlight Cams & two Echo Show 5’s and I, like others here, assumed that the Show would automatically display live feed when the camera detects motion.
Thanking you in advance for your attention to this request.
@RobDownesUK wrote:
I have a Ring Spotlight Camera (not doorbell) and an Echo Show 5 with latest firmware/updates. I would like the Echo Show to automatically display live view when the camera detects motion.
I assumed this feature existed already as this can be achieved with the ring doorbell but when I posted a “how do I do this?” query, a Community Manager confirmed this is not possible and suggested I register a feature request.
I agree with Bob1234 and share the suspicion that the custom option is only available in the USA (or, at least, it’s not available in UK).
I first thought it might be a discrepancy in capability between Android and iOS but somebody here went to the trouble of proving the Customise option was available in their region on both.
I have latest software and firmware on all devices and the customise option is definitely still not available.
Shame as this would have been a reasonable work around … but it would be even better if manufacturers could expose this feature properly !
Yes if I am right it would be easier if either Amazon or Ring admitted it if it is a country problem. I tried to use a VPN to try and download the USA version but it did not let me, so can’t prove it myself.