# Amazon Echo devices to control the Roon server with voice commands **URL:** \ **Category:** Feature Suggestions\ **Created:** [July 12, 2020, 6:44pm UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/amazon-echo-devices-to-control-the-roon-server-with-voice-commands/114608 "2020-07-12T18:44:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ronald\_Lyster](https://community.roonlabs.com/letter_avatar/ronald_lyster/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@Ronald\_Lyster](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Ronald_Lyster)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2020, 9:46pm UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/amazon-echo-devices-to-control-the-roon-server-with-voice-commands/114608/21 "2020-07-20T21:46:51Z")
> [@Steve\_Horne](#): > > Kodi Should I have used the Flirc program to encode it with the Kodi profile? ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Horne](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/steve_horne/32/62342_2.png) [@Steve\_Horne](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Steve_Horne)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2020, 10:29pm UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/amazon-echo-devices-to-control-the-roon-server-with-voice-commands/114608/22 "2020-07-20T22:29:30Z")
That’s the device type I used. I think you would need to create actions in Harmony and then tell Alexa to do that action. As far as volume control, I don’t think ropieee can control that, not sure ---
**Author:** ![Ronald\_Lyster](https://community.roonlabs.com/letter_avatar/ronald_lyster/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@Ronald\_Lyster](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Ronald_Lyster)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2020, 12:05am UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/amazon-echo-devices-to-control-the-roon-server-with-voice-commands/114608/23 "2020-07-21T00:05:47Z")
I thought somebody here said that Flirc automatically “knew” the harmony configuration. I’ll try putting that profile on the dongle. ---
**Author:** ![Ronald\_Lyster](https://community.roonlabs.com/letter_avatar/ronald_lyster/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@Ronald\_Lyster](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Ronald_Lyster)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2020, 12:08am UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/amazon-echo-devices-to-control-the-roon-server-with-voice-commands/114608/24 "2020-07-21T00:08:17Z")
[Larry\_Post](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Larry_Post), I’ve gotten all the hardware installed. What do I tell Alexa to do? I have the Harmony skill enabled. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Post](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/larry_post/32/89714_2.png) [@Larry\_Post](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Larry_Post)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2020, 12:13am UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/amazon-echo-devices-to-control-the-roon-server-with-voice-commands/114608/25 "2020-07-21T00:13:56Z")
First you have to find out what Alexa names your activities- I like to add aliases that I like such as ‘stereo’ or ‘2 channel’ I presume you have deep harmony working with the remote already, if not, you must get this working first Then play with Alexa ---
**Author:** ![Ronald\_Lyster](https://community.roonlabs.com/letter_avatar/ronald_lyster/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@Ronald\_Lyster](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Ronald_Lyster)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2020, 3:27am UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/amazon-echo-devices-to-control-the-roon-server-with-voice-commands/114608/26 "2020-07-21T03:27:39Z")
I have no remote - just the hub. I do not need a remote - just want to be able to have voice commands to Roon. ---
**Author:** ![Ronald\_Lyster](https://community.roonlabs.com/letter_avatar/ronald_lyster/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@Ronald\_Lyster](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Ronald_Lyster)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2020, 6:25pm UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/amazon-echo-devices-to-control-the-roon-server-with-voice-commands/114608/27 "2020-07-23T18:25:47Z")
Has anyone reading this actually used the Deep Harmony extension, a Harmony Hub, and a FLIRC as a way to obtain some control over Roon using Alexa voice commands? In other words, is there anyone who can give me some assurance that once I’ve learned all my lessons and done everything I’m supposed to do that I will actually be able to use Alexa voice commands to control some aspect of Roon? If so, what voice commands will be available for this purpose? Do I actually need the Harmony Hub hardware at all? I’ll never use a physical Harmony remote control- just want to have the ability to use voice commands with Alexa. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Horne](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/steve_horne/32/62342_2.png) [@Steve\_Horne](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Steve_Horne)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2020, 6:20pm UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/amazon-echo-devices-to-control-the-roon-server-with-voice-commands/114608/28 "2020-07-24T18:20:21Z")
Sorry to hear you’re still having problems- I’ll point out the Logitech page for this again: [https://support.myharmony.com/en-us/harmony-experience-with-amazon-alexa](https://support.myharmony.com/en-us/harmony-experience-with-amazon-alexa) Did you create an activity to do the function you are interested in? (Step 3 in those instructions) Basically, you need to be able to use the Harmony app to do whatever it is you want. Then you can get Alexa to start that particular activity. When you create the activity, you can specify a start sequence. You should probably have the start sequence contain the device (Flirc) and execute the appropriate command. For example, under the Flirc device, there is a long list of functions that can be executed. ---
**Author:** ![Ronald\_Lyster](https://community.roonlabs.com/letter_avatar/ronald_lyster/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@Ronald\_Lyster](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Ronald_Lyster)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2020, 6:54pm UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/amazon-echo-devices-to-control-the-roon-server-with-voice-commands/114608/29 "2020-07-24T18:54:36Z")
It is enabled and linked. What activity do I create? I’m NOT looking to play Roon over my Alexa devices. I only want Alexa to control my stereo (which uses Roon). I’m sending back the FLIRC and the Harmony Hub. They really do nothing at all (since I have no Harmony remote, and I don’t intend to get one). ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Horne](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/steve_horne/32/62342_2.png) [@Steve\_Horne](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Steve_Horne)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2020, 7:05pm UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/amazon-echo-devices-to-control-the-roon-server-with-voice-commands/114608/30 "2020-07-24T19:05:21Z")
I’m sorry if I led you down a path that didn’t work out for you, but I know I am happy with my setup and it works great. I don’t have an Alexa device, so I can’t help you with how to set it up, but basically you have to have the activity defined in the Harmony app on your mobile device before you can integrate with Alexa. You could create any activity you care to, you can call it “fly to the moon”, the important thing is that it has the device startup actions to send the correct command to the Flirc. Then once that is working, which you can test from your mobile device, you can do the Alexa integration. The Harmony app will do the Alexa bit for you, I believe, so you could just say “fly to the moon” and it would pause/play your Roon. ---
**Author:** ![Ronald\_Lyster](https://community.roonlabs.com/letter_avatar/ronald_lyster/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@Ronald\_Lyster](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Ronald_Lyster)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2020, 7:27pm UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/amazon-echo-devices-to-control-the-roon-server-with-voice-commands/114608/31 "2020-07-24T19:27:56Z")
That’s OK, Steve. I don’t think this is going to work. Needing to talk into my phone isn’t what I had in mind either. The Harmony App won’t start without the Harmony. Too bad there isn’t some very cheap and otherwise useless piece of hardware that can fool the Harmony app into thinking there’s really a remote there… ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Horne](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/steve_horne/32/62342_2.png) [@Steve\_Horne](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Steve_Horne)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2020, 7:41pm UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/amazon-echo-devices-to-control-the-roon-server-with-voice-commands/114608/32 "2020-07-24T19:41:33Z")
Just to clarify, when I said “The Harmony app will do the Alexa bit for you”, I didn’t mean that you had to talk into your phone. I meant that the Harmony app will do the Alexa _setup_. After that, Alexa will know what to do on the Harmony hub based on what you say. I agree, there should be a simpler way to do this sort of thing, it does require quite a few moving parts… ---
**Author:** ![Ronald\_Lyster](https://community.roonlabs.com/letter_avatar/ronald_lyster/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@Ronald\_Lyster](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Ronald_Lyster)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2020, 6:16am UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/amazon-echo-devices-to-control-the-roon-server-with-voice-commands/114608/33 "2020-07-25T06:16:57Z")
Seems to me someone could develop a Roon extension to do this. I wish I had the knowledge and expertise to do it myself. I’m giving up. I think I will, however, set up a “Roon extension server” with a Raspberry Pi with Diet Pi. Then, if some wizard does develop an extension, I will be in a position to take advantage of it quickly. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Post](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/larry_post/32/89714_2.png) [@Larry\_Post](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Larry_Post)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2020, 1:49pm UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/amazon-echo-devices-to-control-the-roon-server-with-voice-commands/114608/34 "2020-07-25T13:49:39Z")
Have you read through the Deep Harmony setup instructions? > [@Roon Extension: Deep Harmony - rich feature set for Logitech Harmony](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/roon-extension-deep-harmony-rich-feature-set-for-logitech-harmony/47769): > > This is now updated to V2. Please see posts at and [Obsolete] Hi all, this is the first (beta) of an extension I have been working on for a while for Logitech Harmony. It is currently provided as docker image for Linux that has been tested on a QNAP TS-251+ NAS under container station. Current main Features: Volume step up/down from within Roon controller UI Select/standby activity from within Roon controller UI Transport control of Roon from your Harmony Remote control: Play P… ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Post](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/larry_post/32/89714_2.png) [@Larry\_Post](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Larry_Post)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2020, 2:46pm UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/amazon-echo-devices-to-control-the-roon-server-with-voice-commands/114608/35 "2020-07-25T14:46:05Z")
Yep, I’ve been using it for 2 years to control Roon. I don’t use a FLIRC in the setup though. Only the Deep Harmony extension and Harmony Hub and Alexa devices. It will take some reading and understanding on your part to make all these pieces work together. In the post above I linked to the Deep Harmony thread. Adam and others there are most helpful if you put in the effort to learn and try to make it work yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Ronald\_Lyster](https://community.roonlabs.com/letter_avatar/ronald_lyster/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@Ronald\_Lyster](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Ronald_Lyster)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2020, 4:10pm UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/amazon-echo-devices-to-control-the-roon-server-with-voice-commands/114608/36 "2020-07-25T16:10:10Z")
What is the purpose of the Harmony Hub? Remember, I have no desire to use a physical remote control - just voice commands. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Post](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/larry_post/32/89714_2.png) [@Larry\_Post](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Larry_Post)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2020, 4:41pm UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/amazon-echo-devices-to-control-the-roon-server-with-voice-commands/114608/37 "2020-07-25T16:41:55Z")
The Hub provides a network path for Roon, Harmony and Alexa to communicate with each other. Deep Harmony connects Roon to Harmony and Harmony and Alexa already work together. ---
**Author:** ![Ronald\_Lyster](https://community.roonlabs.com/letter_avatar/ronald_lyster/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@Ronald\_Lyster](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Ronald_Lyster)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2020, 5:31pm UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/amazon-echo-devices-to-control-the-roon-server-with-voice-commands/114608/38 "2020-07-25T17:31:42Z")
So the hub can be placed in a closet someplace? What connects it to the network? ---
**Author:** ![seagull](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/seagull/32/48296_2.png) [@seagull](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/seagull)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 5:16am UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/amazon-echo-devices-to-control-the-roon-server-with-voice-commands/114608/39 "2020-07-26T05:16:00Z")
Wi-Fi (10 chars) ---
**Author:** ![Ronald\_Lyster](https://community.roonlabs.com/letter_avatar/ronald_lyster/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@Ronald\_Lyster](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Ronald_Lyster)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 7:46am UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/amazon-echo-devices-to-control-the-roon-server-with-voice-commands/114608/40 "2020-07-26T07:46:02Z")
So there is absolutely no need to have the hub anywhere near any equipment, nor to use the FLIRC to make a connection with any particular equipment - it just needs to be connected with wifi? I assume that connection is made through the Harmony app? That app wasn’t “seeing” the hub, so I’m not sure how to tell the hub which network to use or the password. I keep thinking… **Couldn’t all this be done with software (no hub)?** I, for one, would gladly pay a reasonable price for such a product. Meanwhile, on the “Roon Extension Server” (separate Raspberry Pi with DietPi) front, I’ve posted this: [HowTo: Install extensions on Windows in three easy steps](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/howto-install-extensions-on-windows-in-three-easy-steps/29783) [Previous page](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/amazon-echo-devices-to-control-the-roon-server-with-voice-commands/114608.md?page=1) [Next page](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/amazon-echo-devices-to-control-the-roon-server-with-voice-commands/114608.md?page=3)