The product Roomskills Smartcontrol Hue - advanced control for your Philips Hue system
Hello and nice to see you.
You probably have just installed one of our Alexa Skills or found us on the Internet. Here is the right place to find out, how to use Alexa voice control or Alexa Routines to control your Hue devices or how to use WiFi buttons, NFC tags or QR codes to control your devices in a convenient way.
Philips Hue lights are great with all the possibilities, but what is needed as well is an easy ways to control the devices. At least I prefer to just use my voice or a button to adjust the brightness instead of getting my phone, open the right app and change the brightness - and this is where Roomskills kicks in. You can setup Roomskills to control your devices by simple voice commands, by using WiFi Buttons, QR Codes, NFC Tags and fixed URLs.
Setup
In order to use the various ways to control your devices with Roomskills you have to setup your Hue system in Roomskills and activate the right Alexa skill. Most of the necessary information can be found right where you need it in the Roomskills setup, if you want to know a little bit more, have some questions, want to see a list of the possible voice commands or just want to have an overview what needs to be done have a look at the description below.
Have fun setting it up.
Philips Hue setup overview
-
The 4 steps to setup Smartcontrol Hue
The setup of Smartcontrol Hue is done in 4 easy steps.
- Registration in Roomskills
- Activation of the Roomskills Service 'Philips HUE'
- Setup of the devices
- Activation of the Alexa skill 'Roomskills Voicecontrol' or 'Roomskills Smarthome devices'
Smartcontrol Hue Setup
-
Roomskills Access
In order to use Roomskills you need an active Roomskills user. With the installation and connection of any of our Alexa skills Roomskills Voicecontrol or Musiccontrol a user is automatically set up in Roomskills. If you have not activated a Roomskills skill there are 2 ways to register with the Roomskills service. You can use our registration process by using a valid email address or you can login using the Amazon Login service using your Amazon account to login into Roomskills.
- The easiest way to register and log into Roomskills is by using the 'Amazon Login' button on the login page (to the login page).
- An alternative way to register and log into Roomsskills is by registering your email address and define a password to login. First you use our registration page (to the registration form). After the registration you have to confirm your given email address by clicking on a link send to you from us by email. After the link has been clicked you can log into Roomskills using the email address and password defined in the registration process.
-
Activate the Roomskills service 'Philips HUE'
You activate the service in Roomskills by clicking on the 'Services' area in Roomskills in the menu on the left. Then you select the service type 'AVM Fritzbox' in the drop down menu and click on the '+' button.
In the upcoming dialogue you give the service a name and click on 'Connect Philips Hue Account' to save the service and be forwarded to Philips Hue. In the upcoming dialogie on the Philips web site you have to confirm, that you can can control your Philips Hue devices via Roomskills. You can disable the Roomskills access on the Philips web site at any time.
-
Setup of the devices
Next you have to setup the devices in the according rooms in Roomskills. For this first we create the devices in the "Devices" section of Roomskills. First we click on 'Devices' on the menu on the left to get to the devices area. Then we select the room, in which we want to create the device in the drop down menu on the top.
Then we start the creation of the thermostats, thermometers or switches by clicking on the '+' button on the top right. In the upcoming dialogue we give the device a name and select 'thermostat', 'thermometer' or 'switch' as type.
Now we select the created 'AVM Fritzbox' service. After we have selected the service, we can choose the device from a selection of all suitable devices currently configured in your AVM Fritzbox. We repeat this for all devices we want to set up in Roomskills.
-
Different possibilities with the different packages "Free", "Basic", "Advanced" or "Pro" - which package to choose?
Depending on the use cases different packages are required.
- A complete control of the devices via Alexa using our Alexa skill Roomskills Voicecontrol requires the package "Pro".
- If you only want to use NFC tags like our Roomskills Tags or QR codes to control the devices using the tags or codes in combination with your Smartphone or if you just want to turn the devices on or off via Alexa voice commands you can do this with our package "Free".
- To control the devices with a physical button or a fixed URL you should at least activate the package "Basic".
- If you want to control the devices within the Alexa app or within Alexa Routines the required package depends on the number of devices controled by Alexa. The maximum number of parallel devices in Roomskills is
- package Free: 2 devices,
- package Basic: 5 devices,
- package Advanced: 8 devices,
- package Pro: 200 devices.
Setup of Alexa
-
The Alexa skill 'Roomskills Voicecontrol'
Roomskills Voicecontrol is the skill to control all functions of the Roomskills devices. You find a full overview of the possible voice commands below. First we have to find the skill in the Alexa App by using the search function under 'Skills and Games'. By clicking on 'Activate to use' we activate the skill.
Next you have to link the skill to your Roomskills service. This is done entering the Amazon account data. It is important to use the Amazon Account with the same email address as used in Roomskills.
After the account linking process is done, you can start using the voice commands described in the next section to control your devices.
Have fun.
-
The Alexa skill 'Roomskills Smarthome Devices'
Roomskills Smarthome Devices
Roomskills Smarthome Devices provides the Roomskills devices as native Smarthome Alexa in the Alexa App. Unfortunately not all functions are available due to the limitations of the Alexa Smarthome API, especially the control of the music players is a little bit limited, but using the devices within Alexa routines can be used in many ways.
To activate the skill search in the Alexa app for the skill "Roomskills Smarthome Devices" and activate it.
In addition you have to setup which devices are available in the Alexa app. This is done in the menu area 'Alexa' and the number of possible devices depends on your package:
- Package Free: 2 devices
- Package Basic: 5 devices
- Package Advanced: 8 devices
- Package Pro: 200 devices
In the menu area are 'Alexa' you define which devices are available in Alexa.
The possible voice commands (skill Voicecontrol)
-
General use of voice commands in Roomskills
Define a standard room and control other rooms
Each Alexa device can be configured to control a defined room. If there is no standard room defined the skill asks you to give the standard room by just saying the name of the standard room.
If you want to change the standard romm this can be done by saying the following voice sommand:
Alexa, tell home control the standard room is <room name>
After this command has been activated the standard room has changed to the new room.
With the command
Alexa, tell home control delete the standard room
the standard room can be deleted as well.
If you want to control a device in another room stan the standard room you can do so by adding a reference to the room to the voice command. With the command
Alexa, tell home control play music in the living room
music starts playing in the living room. You can use the following references to address devices in the respective rooms
- ... in the office
- ... in the living room
- ... in the kitchen
- ... in the family room
- ... in the bed room
- ... on the balcony
- ... in the bathroom
- ... in the extension
- ... in the garage
- ... in the hobby room
- ... in the library
- ... in my home
- ... in the nursery
- ... on the patio
-
Using voice commands to control your light
Turn a specific light on and off
The possible commands to turn a specific light on or off are
Alexa, tell home control turn <device> on
an alternative command is
- Alexa, tell home control turn <device> (light/lights/lamp) on
The possible commands to turn a specific light off are
Alexa, tell home control turn <device> off
an alternative command is
- Alexa, tell home control turn <device> (light/lights/lamp) off
Turn a specific light brighter or darker
The possible commands to turn a specific light brighter or darker are
Alexa, tell home control turn <device> brigher
alternative commands are
- Alexa, tell home control turn <device> (light/lights/lamp) brighter
- Alexa, tell home control turn <device> up
- Alexa, tell home control turn <device> (light/lights/lamp) up
The possible commands to turn a specific light darker are
Alexa, tell home control turn <device> darker
alternative commands are
- Alexa, tell home control turn <device> (light/lights/lamp) darker
- Alexa, tell home control turn <device> down
- Alexa, tell home control turn <device> (light/lights/lamp) down
This change can also be done multiple times at once by adding the term '<number> times' like
Alexa, tell home control turn <device> <number> times brighter
or
Alexa, tell home control turn <device> <number> times darker
Set the brightness level of a specific light
The possible commands to set the brightness level of a specific light are
Alexa, tell home control set <device> to <level>
alternative commands are
- Alexa, tell home control set <device> (light/lights/lamp) to <level>
- Alexa, tell home control set <device> to <level> percent
- Alexa, tell home control set <device> (light/lights/lamp) to <level> percent
Change the light setting of all the lights in the room at once
You can also use all these commands at once to change the light setting of all lights in the room by using the word 'room' as device name. For example the command
Alexa, tell home control turn room light off
turns all the lights in the room off at once.
-
Using voice commands to control your switch
Turn a switch on and off
The possible commands to turn a switch on or off are
Alexa, tell home control turn <device> on
The possible commands to turn a specific light off are
Alexa, tell home control turn <device> off
Change all the switches in the room at once
You can also use these commands to change the setting of all switches in the room by using the word 'room' as device name. For example the command
Alexa, tell home control turn room off
turns all the switches in the room off at once.
-
Using voice commands to control your blinds
Open and close the blinds
The possible commands to open the blinds are
Alexa, tell home control open the blinds
alternative commands are
- Alexa, tell home control blinds up
- Alexa, tell home control open blinds
The possible commands to close the blinds are
Alexa, tell home control close the blinds
alternative commands are
- Alexa, tell home control blinds down
- Alexa, tell home control close blinds
Set the blinds to a certain state
The possible commands to set the blinds to a certain state are
Alexa, tell home control set blinds to <value>
an alternative commands is
- Alexa, tell home control set blinds to <value> percent
-
Using voice commands to control your heating/cooling thermostats
Set the target temperature of you heating cooling thermostat
The possible commands to set the target temperature of you heating cooling thermostat are
Alexa, tell home control set the temperature to <temperature>
alternative commands are
- Alexa, tell home control temperature <temperature>
- Alexa, tell home control heating <temperature>
- Alexa, tell home control cooling <temperature>
- Alexa, tell home control set the heating to <temperature>
- Alexa, tell home control set the cooling to <temperature>
Get the target temperature of you heating cooling thermostat
The possible commands to get the target temperature of you heating cooling thermostat are
Alexa, ask home control what is the target temperature?
alternative commands are
- Alexa, ask home control what is the aimed temperature?
- Alexa, ask home control what is the heating setting?
- Alexa, ask home control what is the cooling setting?
- Alexa, ask home control what is the heating temperature?
- Alexa, ask home control what is the cooling temperature?
-
Using voice commands to get the value of your temperature sensors
Get the current temperature of your room
The possible commands to get get the current temperature of your room
Alexa, ask home control what is the temperature?
alternative commands are
- Alexa, ask home control how cold is it?
- Alexa, ask home control how warm is it?
- Alexa, ask home control how hot is it?
- Alexa, ask home control temperature?
-
Using voice commands to control your music
Turn the music on and off
The possible commands to turn the music on or off are
Alexa, tell home control start music
alternative commands are
- Alexa, tell home control play music
- Alexa, tell home control play
- Alexa, tell home control music
- Alexa, tell home control start
The possible commands to turn the music off are
Alexa, tell home control stop music
alternative commands are
- Alexa, tell home control end the music
- Alexa, tell home control stop
- Alexa, tell home control music stop
Set the volume
The possible commands to raise the volume are
Alexa, tell home control volume up
an alternative command is
- Alexa, tell home control turn the volume up
The possible commands to reduce the volume are
Alexa, tell home control volume down
an alternative command is
- Alexa, tell home control turn the volume down
The possible commands to set the volume to a certain value are
Alexa, tell home control set the volume to <value>
alternative commands are
- Alexa, tell home control set the volume level to <value> ein
- Alexa, tell home control volume level to <value>
- Alexa, tell home control volume level <value>
- Alexa, tell home control volume <value>
The volume can be raised multiple times by using one voice command. the possible commands are
Alexa, tell home control volume <amount> times up
an alternative command is
- Alexa, tell home control turn the volume <amount> times up
or reducing the volume multiple times is possible as well, of course
Alexa, tell home control volume <amount> times down
a alternative command is
- Alexa, tell home control turn the volume <amount> times down
Control your play list
The possible commands to jump to the next title in your playlist are
Alexa, tell home control next
alternative commands are
- Alexa, tell home control next title
- Alexa, tell home control Lied next song
- Alexa, tell home control forward
The possible commands to jump to the previous title in your playlist are
Alexa, tell home control previous
alternative commands are
- Alexa, tell home control previous title
- Alexa, tell home control previous song
- Alexa, tell home control backward
The possible commands to get the length of the current playlist are
Alexa, ask home control how long is the playlist
alternative commands are
- Alexa, ask home control how long
- Alexa, ask home control how many titles
- Alexa, ask home control how many
The possible commands to get the current position in the current playlist are
Alexa, ask home control which position in the playlist is currently playing
alternative commands are
- Alexa, ask home control where am i
- Alexa, ask home control position
- Alexa, ask home control which position
- Alexa, ask home control which number
The possible commands to jump to a specific position in the current playlist are
Alexa, tell home control go to position <title number>
alternative commands are
- Alexa, tell home control number <title number>
- Alexa, tell home control position <title number>
- Alexa, tell home control go to <title number>
- Alexa, tell home control go to position <title number>
- Alexa, tell home control play number <title number>
- Alexa, tell home control play title number <title number>
- Alexa, tell home control play song number <title number>
- Alexa, tell home control play position number <title number>
- Alexa, tell home control play position <title number>
- Alexa, tell home control jump to position <title number>
- Alexa, tell home control jump to <title number>
Get the information what is currently playing
The possible commands to ask Alexa what the current title is are
Alexa, ask home control which song is this
alternative commands are
- Alexa, ask home control which song
- Alexa, ask home control which title
Play a specific title
The possible commands to play a specific title by giving the title and artist are
Alexa, tell home control play the title <title> (by/from/by the singer/by the band/by the group) <artist/band>
alternative commands are
- Alexa, tell home control Alexa, tell home control play the song <title> (by/from/by the singer/by the band/by the group) <artist/band>
- Alexa, tell home control Alexa, tell home control song <title> (by/from/by the singer/by the band/by the group) <artist/band>
- Alexa, tell home control Alexa, tell home control title <title> (by/from/by the singer/by the band/by the group) <artist/band>
The possible commands to play a specific title by giving the title name
Alexa, tell home control play the song <title>
alternative commands are
- Alexa, tell music song <title>
- Alexa, tell home control play the title <title>
- Alexa, tell home control title <title>
The possible commands to play an album by a specific artist/group are
Alexa, tell home control play the album <album name> (by/from/by the singer/by the group <artist/group>
an alternative command is
- Alexa, tell home control play the album <album name> (by/from/by the singer/by the group <artist/group>
The possible commands to play an album with a specific name are
Alexa, tell home control play the album <album name>
or
Alexa, tell home control album <album name>
The possible commands play song by a specific artist or bandAlexa, tell home control play music (by/from/by the singer/by the band/by the group) <artist/band>
or
- Alexa, tell home control play something (by/from/by the singer/by the band/by the group) <artist/band>
Play favorites
The possible commands to play a favorite are
Alexa, tell home control play <favorite name>
alternative commands are
- Alexa, tell home control play the favorite <favorite name>
- Alexa, tell home control favorite <favorite name>
Group the players to play together
The possible commands to group players of different rooms are
Alexa, tell home control play music from <room name>
alternative commands are
- Alexa, tell home control follow <room name>
- Alexa, tell home control play music from <room name>
- Alexa, tell home control play the music from the <room name>
- Alexa, tell home control play <room name>
to end the grouping of the players use the commands
Alexa, tell home control end music synchronisation
alternative commands are
- Alexa, tell home control do not follow
- Alexa, tell home control sync off
- Alexa, tell home control synchronisation off
- Alexa, tell home control music synchronisation off
Transfer music between rooms
To transfer the current playlist and playing position from one room to another use the following commands
Alexa, tell home control transfer the music from <room name>
alternative commands are
- Alexa, tell home control transfer the music from the <room name>
- Alexa, tell home control transfer <room name>
- Alexa, tell home control catch <room name>
- Alexa, tell home control catch music from <room name>
Control functions using QR Codes (QR-Connect)
-
Activate QR-Code control for a function or a favorite
You can activate a direct call to activate a function in the details of each function of the devices or in the details of a defined music favorite. You find the details page of the function or the music favorite by clicking on the icon next to the function or the music favorite (the icon with the pencil or touch symbol).
In order to use the given link once the function is activated, each browser that should be able to use the link has to be enabled. To enable the device you have to login once into Roomskills using your account or you have to open an activation link once. The activation link in the area "Connect".
By clicking on the button "Activate" in the details page you activate the function.
An overview of all activated functions can be found in the area "Connect".
- Use QR-Connect to control functions
After a function or a favorite has been set active you find the link which calls this function in the area "Connect". The link can be copied to the clipboard for later use by clicking on the button next to the link. In addition there is a button which will open the QR code code for this function (pages). With a click on this button you get a QR Code picture of this link, which can be printed and put to a place where it can be used to open the link on a smartphone using the smartphone camera.
Control functions using a fixed https URL (App-Connect)
-
Overview
There are only 2 steps necessary to control a function via a fixed URL.
- Activate the URL for the function that should be executed by calling a fixed URL
- Use the URL
-
Activate the access (direct URL access)
In order to control a function by calling a URL you have to activate the URL control for the function or the music favorite that should be controled. This is done on the details page of the function or the favorite. You get to the details page by clicking on the icon next to the function or favorite (the icon shows a pencil or a touch symbol).
To activate the function you click on the lower area of the page on the button "Activate" next to the text "Direct URL access ...".
- Use the direct access URL
After activating the function a unique link is created which can be used to execute the function or start the music favorite. You can copy the URL into the clipboard by clicking on the button next to the link. In addition you find an additional button (pages). By clicking on this button a QR code specific for this function or favorite is created, which can be printed and put to a place where it can be used to open the URL on a smartphone using the smartphone camera.
The created URL can be used to call the function anywhere where a URL can be called. For example on Smartwatch apps, or NFC tags like our stylish Roomskills Tags To the Roomskills Tags.
FAQ
-
I say a voice command and nothing happens
The most likely reason is, that the voice command was not correct, so please check our list of the valid voice commmands here on this page.
-
I say a voice command and the skill answers '... coming right away', but nothing else happens
The most probable reason is, that the link to play the music is not set correctly. Please check the setup in Roomskills Local Connect. One possible reason is, that the computer running Roomskills Local Connect has now a different IP address assigned by your internet router.
-
I say a voice command and the skill answers 'There has been a problem with the answer of the skill'
This means the skill encountred a problem, when processing the request. Please check the connection of the skill with Roomskills Local Connect on the Roomskills website by clicking on the button "check connection" in the service details.
-
I say a voice command and the skill answers 'The skill didn't answer in the required time'
This means the skill needed more time to answer your request than is necessary by the skill. Please check your local systems like the music server if they are running as expected. One possible reasons might be, that the music server is still indexing your music library. In this canse please wait until the indexing is finished and try again.
-
All that didn't answer my question!
Please check the general FAQ on our website under "FAQ" or please contact us directly via our contact form and we will try to help.
- Use the direct access URL
- Use QR-Connect to control functions
Um unsere Webseite für Sie optimal zu gestalten und den Service bereit stellen zu können, verwenden wir Cookies und Speichern ihre Daten. Durch die weitere Nutzung der Webseite stimmen Sie der Verwendung von Cookies zu. Weitere Informationen zu Cookies und der Speicherung von Daten erhalten Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklärung.