Smartthings+Echo+Harmony Hub = Voice Controlled TV! (2016 version)

[JDRoberts]

I know it’s really annoying.

Other people have reported the issue, but it’s not clear whether it’s the ST or Amazon side. For now, put the device into a new Echo group (using the Amazon app, not ST) and experiment to find a name Alexa will accept.

For me, at least, “Netflix” is not working and putting it in a group named Flix doesn’t work, but putting it in a group named “Flicks” does work. I didn’t change the activity name in harmony, just the group name in Echo.

People are posting more workarounds in the following thread:

Echo Naming Quirks

Please add more as you find them. echo does not do well with device names that include numbers, like "kitchen 1." If you have a device with a name like this, and you don’t want to change it because you like having that name for your smartthings dashboard, then just put the device into an echo group of one and give it a group name that echo does like. Echo does not like the group name “everything.” Some possible alternatives include “house” or “all devices” Echo will always accept “turn on” or “switch on.” Iris has a list of 20 “basic” command formats for switches and thermostats that echo should always accept (although using a rigid command format sort of defeats the purpose of having echo’s natural language skills). But at least you could use these to test a particular prob…