# Official Alexa Smart Home Skill for openHAB 2 **URL:** \ **Category:** Announcements\ **Tags:** myopenhab, homekit, alexa\ **Created:** [February 21, 2017, 8:41pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/official-alexa-smart-home-skill-for-openhab-2/23533 "2017-02-21T20:41:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 43
**Author:** ![dastrix80](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/dastrix80/32/20582_2.png) [@dastrix80](https://community.openhab.org/u/dastrix80)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2019, 10:08pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/official-alexa-smart-home-skill-for-openhab-2/23533/858 "2019-01-27T22:08:02Z")
I cant seem to find much information on the tagging component of V3, despite it being around for about 1 year. ---
**Author:** ![digitaldan](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/digitaldan/32/114476_2.png) [@digitaldan](https://community.openhab.org/u/digitaldan)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 4:11pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/official-alexa-smart-home-skill-for-openhab-2/23533/859 "2019-01-28T16:11:49Z")
Hi all, sorry for being MIA on this thread. We were just approved in all countries last night with the v2 version of the skill, This is a huge weight off of me and I can now focus on speeding up our v3 version of the skill. I plan on picking up on the work this weekend. Thanks for everyone’s patience! ---
**Author:** ![zolakk](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/zolakk/32/38664_2.png) [@zolakk](https://community.openhab.org/u/zolakk)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 4:41pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/official-alexa-smart-home-skill-for-openhab-2/23533/860 "2019-01-28T16:41:45Z")
> [@dastrix80](#): > > I cant seem to find much information on the tagging component of V3, despite it being around for about 1 year. Did you review the readme.md in the v3 branch? It’s pretty thorough [https://github.com/openhab/openhab-alexa/tree/v3](https://github.com/openhab/openhab-alexa/tree/v3) ---
**Author:** ![dastrix80](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/dastrix80/32/20582_2.png) [@dastrix80](https://community.openhab.org/u/dastrix80)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 7:35pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/official-alexa-smart-home-skill-for-openhab-2/23533/861 "2019-01-28T19:35:59Z")
Sorry no, was using the forum! Thanks ill have a look ---
**Author:** ![Tobi77](https://community.openhab.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/d2c977/32.png) [@Tobi77](https://community.openhab.org/u/Tobi77)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 9:07pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/official-alexa-smart-home-skill-for-openhab-2/23533/862 "2019-01-28T21:07:00Z")
Dear all, could you give me a hint for using thermostates with Alexa? I created a thread here: > [@Thermostat items for voice control (Echo/Alexa and Google Assistant)](https://community.openhab.org/t/thermostat-items-for-voice-control-echo-alexa-and-google-assistant/65912): > > I own the beautiful Spirit thermostat ([ZWave Thing | openHAB](https://www.openhab.org/addons/bindings/zwave/thing.html?manufacturer=eurotronic&file=spirit_0_0.html)) and I would like to set the temperature via Echo/Google Assistant voice commands. I found those recommendations from the Echo binding thread: … and from Homekit binding: What is the relation between the 13 modes the thermostat is able to run (see device page above) and the “homekit:HeatingCoolingMode” setting? And how will I use it? Will the user call these Homekit modes (how?) and I should translate it to the corresponding opera… Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![dastrix80](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/dastrix80/32/20582_2.png) [@dastrix80](https://community.openhab.org/u/dastrix80)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2019, 12:52am UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/official-alexa-smart-home-skill-for-openhab-2/23533/863 "2019-01-29T00:52:50Z")
Hi All, Any Australian users using the V3 skill? Amazon says the V3 skill is only available when you deploy your V3 updated lambda in North Virginia and Ireland. If you’re an Australian user you’ll be using Oregon for it to work correctly. So I guess that counts out Australians? @digitaldan any thoughts? Found some doco on the V3 API with example commands > **[Alexa.PlaybackController Interface 3 | Alexa Skills Kit](https://developer.amazon.com/en-US/docs/alexa/device-apis/alexa-playbackcontroller.html)** > > Implement the Alexa.PlaybackController interface in your Alexa skill so that users can play, stop, and navigate playback for audio or video content. Use the \`Alexa.PlaybackState... Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![dotorg](https://community.openhab.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/7bcc69/32.png) [@dotorg](https://community.openhab.org/u/dotorg)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2019, 2:08pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/official-alexa-smart-home-skill-for-openhab-2/23533/864 "2019-02-01T14:08:50Z")
Wait, am I the only one who was totally confused in here and thought these months-long approval delays _were_ the V3 skill? What was the difference between the previously accepted skill and the one we’d been waiting on? (ie, what differences, if any, should we see as a result of the skill being finally approved?) ---
**Author:** ![Pezzi42](https://community.openhab.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Pezzi42](https://community.openhab.org/u/Pezzi42)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2019, 2:29pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/official-alexa-smart-home-skill-for-openhab-2/23533/865 "2019-02-01T14:29:59Z")
Agreed - what’s V2, whats V3? ---
**Author:** ![dty](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/dty/32/73487_2.png) [@dty](https://community.openhab.org/u/dty)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2019, 9:00pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/official-alexa-smart-home-skill-for-openhab-2/23533/866 "2019-02-01T21:00:52Z")
No, you’re not the only one! ---
**Author:** ![jswim788](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/jswim788/32/36341_2.png) [@jswim788](https://community.openhab.org/u/jswim788)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2019, 9:48pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/official-alexa-smart-home-skill-for-openhab-2/23533/867 "2019-02-01T21:48:07Z")
Scroll down to the “Item Configuration” header on this page: [https://github.com/openhab/openhab-alexa/tree/v3](https://github.com/openhab/openhab-alexa/tree/v3) and you’ll see a little bit of info on V3 versus V2: NEW Alexa Version 3 API syntax (v3) - Version 3 of the Alex Skill API introduces a more rich and complex set of features that required a change in how items are configured by using the new metadata feature introduced in openaHAB 2.3 (Currently only available via nightly build). - Version 2 tags are still supported and are converted internally to V3 metadata I’m sure you’ll find much more information with a Google search. ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Webster](https://community.openhab.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@Mark\_Webster](https://community.openhab.org/u/Mark_Webster)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2019, 10:31pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/official-alexa-smart-home-skill-for-openhab-2/23533/868 "2019-02-01T22:31:20Z")
Is the V3 skill actually available yet without self-hosting the skill? ---
**Author:** ![digitaldan](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/digitaldan/32/114476_2.png) [@digitaldan](https://community.openhab.org/u/digitaldan)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2019, 11:36pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/official-alexa-smart-home-skill-for-openhab-2/23533/869 "2019-02-01T23:36:33Z")
Sorry for the confusion. We were working with Amazon to enable our v2 skill in all countries and languages they support, this took much much longer then expected. They made an exception for us to allow a v2 skill to be submitted so we would not have to wait for v3 to be done before those countries could use our skill. Now that this is done i can merge our v3 codebase into master and that will be our next release once we are ready with it. I will also be looking to enable a “beta” channel so we can get our community members testing the skill early. ---
**Author:** ![Tobi77](https://community.openhab.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/d2c977/32.png) [@Tobi77](https://community.openhab.org/u/Tobi77)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2019, 9:43am UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/official-alexa-smart-home-skill-for-openhab-2/23533/870 "2019-02-02T09:43:56Z")
Dear all, it is weekend, so time for fixing my rules 🙂 Could you give me a hint for using thermostates with Alexa? I created a thread here: > [@Thermostat items for voice control (Echo/Alexa and Google Assistant)](https://community.openhab.org/t/thermostat-items-for-voice-control-echo-alexa-and-google-assistant/65912): > > I own the beautiful Spirit thermostat ([ZWave Thing | openHAB](https://www.openhab.org/addons/bindings/zwave/thing.html?manufacturer=eurotronic&file=spirit_0_0.html)) and I would like to set the temperature via Echo/Google Assistant voice commands. I found those recommendations from the Echo binding thread: … and from Homekit binding: What is the relation between the 13 modes the thermostat is able to run (see device page above) and the “homekit:HeatingCoolingMode” setting? And how will I use it? Will the user call these Homekit modes (how?) and I should translate it to the corresponding opera… Thanks, guys! ---
**Author:** ![Bredmich](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/bredmich/32/30457_2.png) [@Bredmich](https://community.openhab.org/u/Bredmich)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2019, 6:43pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/official-alexa-smart-home-skill-for-openhab-2/23533/871 "2019-02-13T18:43:39Z")
Hi Dan, Could you please have a look at: [[SOLVED] Alexa can´t reach devices exposed and added to the Alexa app](https://community.openhab.org/t/alexa-can-t-reach-devices-exposed-and-added-to-the-alexa-app/67138) I‘m out of ideas and need a hint where to search next. I was able to solve the issue with the help of Gabriele. The items are only allowed to be defined as `Number` and not as `Number:Temperature`. Is this a bug in the skill, exposing or the core? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Tobi77](https://community.openhab.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/d2c977/32.png) [@Tobi77](https://community.openhab.org/u/Tobi77)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2019, 12:53pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/official-alexa-smart-home-skill-for-openhab-2/23533/872 "2019-02-23T12:53:00Z")
What is the voice command to switch the HeatingCoolingMode? ---
**Author:** ![wertzui](https://community.openhab.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/w/ed8c4c/32.png) [@wertzui](https://community.openhab.org/u/wertzui)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 6:02pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/official-alexa-smart-home-skill-for-openhab-2/23533/873 "2019-02-25T18:02:37Z")
Is there an easy way to have alexa turn the same lights on and off by slightly diferent prases? I have defined “Kitchen lighting” and would like to also be able to call it “Kitchen lights” “Kitchen lamp” Light in the kitchen" and so on. What would be the easiest way to accomplish this? ---
**Author:** ![Bredmich](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/bredmich/32/30457_2.png) [@Bredmich](https://community.openhab.org/u/Bredmich)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 7:42pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/official-alexa-smart-home-skill-for-openhab-2/23533/874 "2019-02-25T19:42:38Z")
Create a group in the Alexa app and put the lights and the Echo inside. Then you‘re able to call the item name, the group name or just turn on the lights to the Echo in this room/group. ---
**Author:** ![K-Wood](https://community.openhab.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/e0b2c6/32.png) [@K-Wood](https://community.openhab.org/u/K-Wood)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2019, 6:38pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/official-alexa-smart-home-skill-for-openhab-2/23533/875 "2019-02-28T18:38:43Z")
Hy, Seeing this, i think i wrongly started a new thread.. I hope i may post a link to the thread in here? Or can the admins delete the thread i created? [https://community.openhab.org/t/niko-home-control-2-binding-from-local-to-cloud-from-things-to-items/69034](https://community.openhab.org/t/niko-home-control-2-binding-from-local-to-cloud-from-things-to-items/69034) ---
**Author:** ![Tobi77](https://community.openhab.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/d2c977/32.png) [@Tobi77](https://community.openhab.org/u/Tobi77)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2019, 4:29pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/official-alexa-smart-home-skill-for-openhab-2/23533/876 "2019-03-09T16:29:51Z")
> [@digitaldan](#): > > Second is that the Alexa skill expects the thermostat mode item (“homekit:HeatingCoolingMode”) to conform exactly to the strings “OFF, HEAT, COOL, AUTO, heat-cool” or “0,1,2,3”. Again this is a temporary restriction until a more complete solution is developed. Dear all, how can I switch off the thermostat? The HeatingCoolingMode could be used to switch the thermostat to heating mode (using the chosen set point value) or switch it off. But my Alexa always responds that the device does not support “off” or “automatic”. Can somebody help, maybe even with the right German voice command? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![lblabr](https://community.openhab.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/57b2e6/32.png) [@lblabr](https://community.openhab.org/u/lblabr)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 4:42pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/official-alexa-smart-home-skill-for-openhab-2/23533/877 "2019-03-10T16:42:09Z")
does the openhab skill available in alexa app does already support v3 commands ? i’m interested in: alexa=“InputController.input” [supportedInputs=“HDMI1,TV”] i have the openhab skill installed in my alexa app, are there some more things to do ? thanks in advance Lars [Previous page](https://community.openhab.org/t/official-alexa-smart-home-skill-for-openhab-2/23533.md?page=42) [Next page](https://community.openhab.org/t/official-alexa-smart-home-skill-for-openhab-2/23533.md?page=44)