Alexa Sony Android TV

[GlasgowSteve]

Can anyone help... I've had my Sony Android TV for over a year and the Alexa skill NEVER works consistently. I always have to disable then go through all the hassle again and it still doesn't work all the time. I've uninstalled the software and reset my TV and still nothing. I'm appalled at the lack of customer service with Sony. All Sony tech people need to do is read the reviews for the Sony Android TV skill and I'm not the only person with the same problem. I'm so disappointed with Sony and from now on I'm going back to LG. 

[BerkshireBugsy]

I have setup the skill and it works for certain operations it works such as...

Alex turn volume up/down

Alexa mute on/off

Alexa change input

Alexa power off/on

But what I can't get the skill to do is to change the freeview channel number. I thinks it is going to do it but then says something like "I'm sorry Sony android doesnt recognise that command"

My set was bought in 2018 (I probably need to dig out the model numberbut it's a 4k 43 inch android set.

Googling sadly does not proide an answer.

[williamfsmith]

I have a Logitech Harmony remote and hub to which I devoted a lot of time perfecting its functions by altering the order of powering on devices etc. You enter each device and then create "activities" around these devices stipulating which devices are used and what inputs etc required.

I then bought my first Lounge Alexa and enabled its Logitech Harmony "Skill" which allows it to access my online Harmony account thus it has access to all of my "Activities". Each activity is a function like watch Blu-Ray, Turn on Stream, play Xbox etc etc.

It works flawlessly - I can say "Alexa Watch a Blu-Ray" and the AV Receiver will be turned on and the right input selected, the TV will be turned on and the correct input selected. Then finally the Blu-ray player will be turned on.

However, as I never watch normal TV I have never set up a list of "Favourite" TV channels but I suspect it would work well once set up.

I think the OP would find Sony blaming Amazon (Alexa skill) and vice versa.

My advice, if you are serious about Alexa TV control get a Harmony remote which involves an online Harmony account and then enable the Alexa Harmony skill on Alexa.

[BerkshireBugsy]

Interesting reply regarding the logitech harmony approach. I think I used to have one of these when they first came out (Logitech haromny 1000?)  but didn't get on with it. Probably because - from memory - it relied on the devices to be controlled being in a known state and the version 2 wife would always mess this up

Regarding my specific issue - as in the ability to change channels to a specific number I'm wondering if the issue is a country specific one. If you look at the Amazon skill documentation here is the code to change channel

Alexa, change the channel to 200 on the Living Room TV

So I'm not sure how the skill would package Alexa, change the channel to 1 on the Living Room TV" and need to do some testing.

I'm not a fan of IR blaster type solutions but that is my choice. But I completely agree about the battle between sony and amaxon...no chance of getting that sorted in my mind!

[Win_88]

I found this on the Sony website:

https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/televisions-projectors/articles/00197660

https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/televisions-projectors/articles/00197648

[BerkshireBugsy]

Thanks for the response but I can turn th3 tv on and off change inputs,mute
in mute in fact everything apart from changing to a specific TV channels.

[Win_88]

Does Alexa recognize the command properly? Have you tried clearing the app's data from the settings?

[BerkshireBugsy]

Alexa recognises the command properly (good call though) because she
interprets the channel number to the program name at the time. So for
example - if I say "alexa change channel to 1" she may respond with
"changing to pointless on BBC 1" and then she says "sorry unable to
complete operation" or something like that.

All other alexa operations on the TV work correctly.

I'm curious to know what is going on - I may try and do a network trace to
see the communication between alexa and the TV

[Win_88]

How about clearing Alexa's app data from the TV? Did you try that already?

[BerkshireBugsy]

How can I clear the app data on the TV ? By un linking and re linking ?

Ta