THERE’S a handy Amazon Fire TV trick that all homeowners should know.
It works using a standalone Fire TV or Fire Stick – plus a second gadget that you might want to consider grabbing.
You can link multiple cameras – and other smart home devices – to your Fire TV[/caption]
You can actually connect your Fire TV to a Ring smart video doorbell.
Ring is also owned by Amazon, and there are several benefits to linking it to your telly.
For a start, you’ll be notified through your TV when someone is at the door.
And you can even view the Ring doorbell camera in picture-in-picture mode, so your TV viewing isn’t interrupted.
If you have an Alexa voice remote, you’ll be able to chat away to your visitors via the smart assistant.
It’s also possible to check up on the camera aat any time through the dedicated Smart Home Dashboard.
Amazon says that the feature works with the following gadgets:
- Echo Show (all generations)
- Fire Tablets (Gen 7 and above)
- Fire TV Cube (1st and 2nd Gen)
- Fire TV Stick 4K
- Fire TV Stick (2nd Gen)
- Fire TV (3rd Gen)
- Fire TV (2nd Gen)
So that means it’s not just Fire TVs – but any Fire device with a screen.
LINK IT!
First, make sure that you’ve got the Alexa app on your smartphone.
You can download the official app from the Apple App Store for iOS on iPhone, or from the Google Play Store on Android.
Amazon says that you might also need to update your phone’s operating system if you haven’t in a while.
Then make sure that you’ve got the latest version of the Ring app installed too.
Now go into the Alexa app and tap More > Skills & Games, then search for Ring.
Some Fire TV models also support a picture-in-picture mode for your Ring video doorbell[/caption]
Tap on the Ring logo, then choose Enable to Use and sign in.
Now tap Enable Skill and Link Accounts – or just Enable Skill if it’s already linked.
Tap on Authorise once you’re loggined in, then go to Close, and then choose Discover Devices.
You can enable Alexa on all of the Ring devices, which should link it to your Amazon TV.
HOW TO TALK TO VISITORS
Once you’re set up, you’ll want to try these commands…
- Alexa, talk to [Ring Doorbell Name].
- Alexa, answer [Ring Doorbell Name].
- Alexa, speak to [Ring Intercom Name].
- Alexa, talk to [Ring Intercom Name].
Picture Credit: Amazon
GET NOTIFIED
Next you’ll want to set up notifications on your Fire TV.
Go back into the Alexa app and choose Devices, then select the video doorbell.
Now tap on the gear icon to go into settings.
You’ll want to turn on Doorbell Press Notifications, and also Motion Announcements.
You can also use Echo Show devices with built-in screens to view your Ring doorbell camera footage[/caption]
You can also ask to see your live video stream at any time.
Just say “Alexa, show [device name]” into the voice remote.
