# SmartThings Multipurpose Sensor + Alexa Routines problem?

**URL:** <https://community.smartthings.com/t/smartthings-multipurpose-sensor-alexa-routines-problem/186996>\
**Category:** Devices & Integrations\
**Created:** [February 17, 2020, 4:42pm UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/smartthings-multipurpose-sensor-alexa-routines-problem/186996 "2020-02-17T16:42:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BaRoN30s](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/smartthings/user_avatar/community.smartthings.com/baron30s/32/113444_2.png) [@BaRoN30s](https://community.smartthings.com/u/BaRoN30s)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2020, 4:42pm UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/smartthings-multipurpose-sensor-alexa-routines-problem/186996/1 "2020-02-17T16:42:24Z")

</div>

Hi, I have just purchased the Smarthings Hub + Multipurpose Sensor to alert me when my front door is open or when someone is knocking on the door with the vibration sensor.

Following the instructions I coupled up the sensor within the smarthings app to the hub without any problems at all, I then went into my Alexa app on my phone & added new device & it picked up the sensor fine. when i open & close my door it shows in the Alexa app as open & closed, So everything seems to work fine. BUT this is where it goes wrong, I have setup a new routine for when the sesor is open to announce to all my alexas in my home that front door is open, but it does not work. I can play the routine in the alexa app and it works fine, it announces to all my alexas in my home. but when i open the door i get nothing. even though in the smartthings app & alexa app on my phone its picking up the sensor as open…

i have setup quite a few routines without any problems until now.  
can anyone please help.?  
thanks in advance.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ThomMcLean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/41988e/32.png) [@ThomMcLean](https://community.smartthings.com/u/ThomMcLean)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 4:45am UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/smartthings-multipurpose-sensor-alexa-routines-problem/186996/2 "2020-02-18T04:45:29Z")

</div>

I am using a similar setup with several multipurpose sensors and Alexa.

My Alexa routine is setup as follows:

When: Living Room Door opens \<-- Living Room Door is my sensor name

Suppress for 10 mins \<-- This keeps the routine from running again if I’m entering/exiting several times

Alexa WILL: Announce “Front Door Open”

It’s pretty simple and runs flawlessly. This is purely anecdotal, but I feel like sometimes routines that rely on sensors that ONLY do one thing don’t always fire consistently. My routine does two things: Suppress for 10 mins AND make the announcement

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BaRoN30s](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/smartthings/user_avatar/community.smartthings.com/baron30s/32/113444_2.png) [@BaRoN30s](https://community.smartthings.com/u/BaRoN30s)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 9:52pm UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/smartthings-multipurpose-sensor-alexa-routines-problem/186996/3 "2020-02-18T21:52:30Z")

</div>

I’ve finally got it to work how i wanted it to do BUT, I’ve had to make a virtual switch within my SmartThings hub for this to work.

so my multipurpose door sensor (when open) now triggers the (virtual switch) to open. I’ve then setup a routine in Alexa app \> when virtual switch - open \>\> announce - Front porch door is now open.

its the only way i could get it to work. surly i didn’t expect to have to do this & to be honest wonder how other people go on with setting this up as it wasn’t easy & im usualy quite good with tech stuff.

this is the link i used to get it to work, please advise if there is an easier way around this because if for some reason i ever have to reset my Hub im guessing i will have to re do it all over again…

thanks

> **[How To Make Any Alexa Enabled Device Work With SmartThings](https://thesmartcave.com/smartthings-with-any-alexa-device/)**
>
> UPDATED 12/13/2019: Please read the comments section. For some currently unknown reason this tutorial seems to work for some people but not for others. If you have any insight into why, we’d love to hear from you. Many smart home products are...

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ThomMcLean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/41988e/32.png) [@ThomMcLean](https://community.smartthings.com/u/ThomMcLean)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2020, 11:02pm UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/smartthings-multipurpose-sensor-alexa-routines-problem/186996/4 "2020-02-20T23:02:27Z")

</div>

Thanks for the link!

Currently my sensors are working without the need for a virtual switch, BUT… it’s always good to know how to do it this way and it’s a method that can be used – as the article states – with any Alexa enabled device.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [February 21, 2020, 12:54am UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/smartthings-multipurpose-sensor-alexa-routines-problem/186996/5 "2020-02-21T00:54:53Z")

</div>

There is an FAQ in this forum on the same topic:

[FAQ: Can I trigger an Echo Action without Speaking to It?](https://community.smartthings.com/t/faq-can-i-trigger-an-echo-action-without-speaking-to-it/117918)