# Confusion - Modes vs Routines with Devices **URL:** \ **Category:** SmartApps & Automations\ **Created:** [September 26, 2016, 2:56pm UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/confusion-modes-vs-routines-with-devices/58463 "2016-09-26T14:56:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 16
**Author:** ![JDRoberts](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/smartthings/user_avatar/community.smartthings.com/jdroberts/32/56577_2.png) [@JDRoberts](https://community.smartthings.com/u/JDRoberts)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 10:52pm UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/confusion-modes-vs-routines-with-devices/58463/16 "2016-10-01T22:52:37Z")
> [@hbr](#): > > Thanks JDRoberts for your quick response. I will look into the virtual switch thing,but as of right now I don’t know what one is. I have been looking at this from the standpoint of a non technical person or single mom who wants a simple, reliable no-fuss security system. I can understand that Arlo being a new device to ST we might have to play around with it, but in the past I couldn’t get it to work with ST motion detectors either. If you remember the app someone created a while back called “I’ve Got Mail” or something similar, that is what I am trying to recreate using motion sensors instead of open/closed sensors. I have not used his app so I don’t know if it triggers an intrusion alert or not. I don’t think anything is allowed to trigger an intrusion alert except the alert set up through smart home monitor. But you could have a single motion sensor going off trigger both a smart home monitor and a virtual switch coming on. It’s just you to have to set it up in two separate places. I know that’s extra work, it’s just the way things are for right now. As far as how to set up a virtual switch, there’s a step-by-step for that in the echo FAQ I mentioned. I think it’s pretty self-explanatory, but you can ask any questions about that in that thread: > [@\[DEPRECATED\] 2015 Voice Assistant Run Routine FAQ--see 2017 FAQ instead](https://community.smartthings.com/t/faq-using-echo-to-change-a-mode-or-run-a-routine/21123): > > On October 1, 2016, Amazon added the ability to turn on a " routine" from Alexa. If you want to use that method, see the official support article. [https://support.smartthings.com/hc/en-us/articles/210204906-Amazon-Alexa-SmartThings-Routines](https://support.smartthings.com/hc/en-us/articles/210204906-Amazon-Alexa-SmartThings-Routines) Note that the official method will not allow you to use echo to run any routine that includes a lock or a Smart Home Monitor armed state change or another device class that Alexa does not know. The method described below in this FAQ will, but it does require that you create a virtual switch. Although at present echo can only request that smartthings turn devices on, off or dim, by using a virtual switch, you can tell echo to turn that switch on or off, and then have all kinds of things happen in smartthings. For example, if you want to have echo tu… I understand exactly what you’re saying about the complexity. When it works as intended, SmartThings is my absolute favorite home automation system. But while it is very powerful and flexible, it is neither intuitive nor “discoverable” (discoverability means that if you just poke around in the app you’ll find all the important features). I do have a technical background, but I had to quit work a few years back when I became quadriparetic. I now use a wheelchair and have limited hand function so I have to pay other people to do pretty much anything on the system, even change the batteries in a sensor. So I do very much understand the desire for a “set and forget” system. But at least we have this community and there are many people here who are always willing to help you figure out how to get the system to do something. That’s a big plus. 🕶 --- _[View the full topic](https://community.smartthings.com/t/confusion-modes-vs-routines-with-devices/58463)._