Due to a lack of alternatives, I have started to write my own Alexa Skill that allows me to remotely control the TV, or more precisely the receiver. To do this, you need a Linux receiver with Openwebif, as Openwebif provides an API that I use. In my case, a Vu+ Solo2 receiver with VTI image is used. With the skill, you can turn the TV on and off and silence it. Of course, I am planning further functions, but I would like to pass the skill on to interested testers at this early stage in order to achieve a good quality from the start.
Why a new skill?
There is already the possibility to control Openwebif via habridge and the like. So why an extra skill? Anyone who has already tried to set up the habridge with the corresponding functions knows what an enormous effort it is. This skill makes this configuration superfluous. Also, no Raspberry Pi or similar is required.
Only a few lines for own skill
I wrote the skill in Javascript and have it hosted by Amazon in the Lambda environment. Thanks to the Amazon Alexa SDK, the skill consists of only a few lines of code. I wrote a large part of the implementation in the form of a website in PHP. There you can log in via Amazon OAuth2 and then have to enter your connection data to the Linux Receiver.
If you now use the skill, Alexa knows which user is logged in thanks to OAuth2 and passes this information on to the website together with the desired action. The website reads out the user, searches for the connection data to their Linux receiver in the database and then sends a corresponding command to the Openwebif interface.
Actually a very manageable effort. However, the whole thing is a bit challenging because you only have limited debugging possibilities. The website also does a bit more than just call up the interface. On the one hand, the page checks that it was really only called from the skill, and on the other hand, the website must ensure in close interaction with Amazon (OAuth2) that a current user is always logged in - the user does not notice this (unless an error occurs ;)).
It's time to test
I have been using the skill for a few days now.
Hello,
I have a VU+ duo and would like to test the skill.
A short instruction would be nice.
Many greetings
Klaus K.
Hello Matthias,
sounds really interesting, what are your experiences so far? I tried to solve the whole thing via HTTP binding, but it's very time-consuming. Can you post a tutorial on how you made your skill?
Thanks
Hi
what is the current status here ?
version ?
the entries are already very old
mfg
Hello all,
now a few years later, I would advise against the solution above. There are certainly good skills available now, and I hardly use my Vu+ receiver any more, so I don't pursue this application any further.