String type and Amazon Alexa

Apps & Services Amazon Alexa
1

Hi,
I’m in the throws of configuring a String item type cabale to integrate with Alexa. Such an item is responsible of controlling the alarm system and, so far, can have only two options: On and Off.
After several attemps, I set the item as follows:

String iAlarm_activation “Alarm_activation” [“Switchable”] {*channel=“openwebnet:bus_aux:mybridge:Alarm_activation:aux”,alexa=“PowerState” [actionMappings=“On=ON,Off=OFF”]}

Alexa won’t see it.

I am aware that for the burgrar alarm system a switch item type semantics is foreseen as per documentation; in my case however, due to the device kind, I am forced to use the String type.

Any idea?

2

For an alarm system, you should be using security attributes.

Group gAlarmSystem "Alarm System" {alexa="SecuritySystem"}
String iAlarm_activation "Alarm_activation (gAlarmSystem) {alexa="ArmState", channel="openwebnet:bus_aux:mybridge:Alarm_activation:aux"}

Alexa, arm alarm system
Alexa, disarm alarm system

What are the states your String type have related to your burglar alarm?

3

ON and OFF,
This week i’ll test the solution you suggest and let you know!
Thanks in advance for your help!

4

If you can’t use a Switch, then you could use a proxy item that you will use for the Alexa integration and update it via rules when your burglar alarm item gets updated.

1 Like
5

I tried the solution you talked about but no way to solve the issue.
Btw, I believe your tip may be useful to solve it in the near future!
So long

6

If you provide more details on how you tried to implement the solution, that would help identify why you couldn’t get it to work.

7

After numerous attempts I finally found a partial solution to the issue. I set the item as:
channel=“openwebnet:bus_aux:mybridge:Alarm_activation:aux”,alexa=“Mode”
The only inconvenience is that vocal commands are not available (I tried the appropriate voice settings but no way so I left the Mode settings only) i.e. solely touch command are accessible via the Alexa App. This is not a problem given that controlling alarm via voice could be dangerous!
Thanks Again