New SmartThings Alexa skill (2020)

[mwav3 (Tim)]

@JDRoberts

The following problems can occur with either virtual devices or physical sensors. The DTH that you are using does not matter.

1. it might be that the device status will update in both the smartthings app and the Alexa app, but the routine will never trigger.
2. it might be that the device status will update in both the smartthings app and the Alexa app, but the routine will process with a delay, sometimes a very prolonged delay.
3. it might be that the device status will update in the smartthings app but not the Alexa app.
4. it might be that it will be broken for a while, then it will start working again, and then it will break again. Whether you do anything or not.
5. The routine may run multiple times, either whether with a delay or without. This is particularly noticeable with announcements.
6. Separately, and for a different reason, EchoSpeaks no longer works. If you have been using that, see the author’s thread for discussion of alternatives.

I’m sorry, not to vent, but the fact that Alexa integration and this skill is still not working properly, after multiple weeks, is just completely unacceptable. I’ve understood all the other issues with the migration, need to only run platform/app for stability, updating orphaned DTH’s, what happened with Echo speaks. All of those things, while extremely frustrating, have reasonable and understandable explanations. But this Alexa integration, this has no justification to drag on for this long, and it needs to be fixed, NOW. The skill ratings continue to decline, we’re up to a 77% one star rating now. I highly encourage anyone using this skill to leave an appropriate rating on Amazon. I’d be happy to update mine once it is working properly.