Here are two solutions (plus detailed “how to” instructions).
The basic version uses an Amazon Echo Show with Ring doorbell, so that when the doorbell rings, your loved one can ask Alexa to view the camera.
The second solution offers a personalized audible waning to check the screen below, before opening the door. It does this by triggering an “Alexa Routine.”
Echo Show Plus Ring Doorbell.
1. The basic version uses an Amazon Echo Show with Ring doorbell — so that when the doorbell rings, your loved one can say to the Echo Show.
“Alexa, show the doorbell camera”
2. A second solution offers a spoken message to caution your loved one with a personalized message reminding them “to look at the screen” before opening the door.
3. There is also an advanced solution that will flash a light and pause what is playing on the TV.
Here is a YouTube Video Showing the Doorbell Solutions
Of the available Ring Video doorbells, the “peephole” version is the easiest to install. However, you may prefer the wired or battery-operated version
Install the apps
Install the Alexa app from Google Playstore or Apple Appstore
Create an Account and log in
Install the Ring app from Google Playstore or Apple Appstore
Create an Account and log in
Ring doorbell you have selected from the instructions
In the Alexa app, add the Ring Skill
Click on the 3 bars in the upper left
Click on Skills & Games
Search for Ring & click on it
Click on “Enable to Use”
Enter your Ring Account information and Sign In
Enter the two-factor code you received via email
Click Authorize
Click Close
Click Discover
Click Cameras to see if your doorbell camera shows up
Note- you will not be able to view a camera in the mobile app.
Ask your Echo Show to display the camera
“Alexa, show XXX camera”
Add a Personalized Message
The second solution offers a personalized audible waning to check the screen below, before opening the door. It does this by triggering an “Alexa Routine.”
Push the doorbell and check to see that the video appears on the Echo Show as well and the personalized text with an audio message
Advanced Solution: Add a Flashing Light
While it is easy to add a light to the Alexa routine described above to make turn the light on, there is no easy way to make it flash. However, some smart lights support a “flash” mode if activated through a cloud service called IFTTT. This will involve creating an IFTTT account as well as LIFX account for the smart light
Install the bulb in the location where you would like it to be a flashing indicator of the doorbell being pushed
Install the LIFX app from the Google Playstore
Create an account and log in
Add the smart light per the on-screen instructions
Create an IFTTT account and login
Create a new Applet to flash the light
Trigged by your Ring doorbell
Sets Lifx bulb to flash
Display on the Fire TV Cube
The final step in the advanced solution is adding a display of the doorbell video on the Fire TV Cube.
In this setup we are using two devices, a Fire TV Cube to show the doorbell camera, and an Echo Dot to relay the Alexa spoken command to the Fire TV. This is required because, as of this writing, there is no way for the Fire TV Cube to show the Ring Doorbell camera automatically. This assumes you already have setup the Ring Doorbell.
No setup is necessary on the Fire TV Cube, other than to place an Echo Dot near it so that it can hear the command. You may later want to change the wake word on the Fire TV Cube and Echo Dot to something other than “Alexa” if you have multiple other devices.
Setup on the Echo Dot
Creating an Alexa Routine to speak the “show doorbell command”
Tap Alexa
Tap the upper left 3 bars and tap Routines
Tap the “+” in the upper right
Tap “When this happens”
Tap “Smart Home”
Tap “the name of your doorbell”
Tap “Doorbell” Note, you can also setup a separate Routine to show the camera on Motion
Tap Save
Tap “Add Action”
Tap “Alexa says”
Tap “Customized”
Enter this text
Alexa, Show the name of your doorbell
Note: the “,,” is required for a delay.
Note: You won’t be able to enable the microphone to speak to the person at the dor
Optional:
If you’d like a more customized greeting such as “Mary, check the camera before opening the door” you can add that text an in “Alexa speaks” action BEFORE the action “Alexa,, Show the name of your doorbell
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Retired Intel Engineer wanting to share DIY technology tips for the children of parents wanting to remain living independently. I like posting ideas and answering technical questions. If a product or software has an issue making it hard for seniors to use, I try to offer workarounds and also try to contact the manufacturer for solutions. I write a column for this website in the Innovation- Homebrew Solutions & Ideas section
