Inconsistent Performance with Alexa Devices
Inconsistent Performance with Alexa Devices
I have several HS103s smart plugs as well as several Kasa smart switches and they all work instantaneously via the Kasa app.
However, if I operate them using Alexa voice commands, the results are inconsistent.
Sometimes the voice command will work instantly exactly as it should.
Sometimes the voice command will work instantly even though Alexa reports, "Device is unresponsive. Check its network connection".
Sometimes after a voice command, Alexa will report, "Device is unresponsive. Check its network connection" but if I wait for 30 seconds or so the device will eventually respond.
All devices, BTW, are connected to a Deco X60 mesh system and all devices have a strong, solid wifi signal (thanks to the Deco X60).
Any idea why I am seeing such inconsistent behaviour?
Thanks,
Lloyd
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The router provided by my ISP is a Hitron CODA-4589.
I was never happy with its anaemic Wi-Fi coverage so I had to add a couple of Wi-Fi extenders.
That improved coverage somewhat but still not great.
So, about six weeks ago, I turned off the Hitron's Wi-Fi radios and connected one of its LAN ports to a TP-Link Deco X60 AX3000 Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi System.
Now every corner of my house and even outside on the deck has a solid, fast Wi-Fi.
Awesome system. Really impressed.
..Lloyd
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Dr_Mono wrote
@Noell One more observation. If I don't open the Alexa app for many hours/days, I get an alert with a list of Kasa devices that "went offline." However, this does not match at all the router's log - all of these devices have been very much connected to the internet. And as I mentioned in an earlier posting, everything seems to work fine. Perhaps Alexa is registering the timeouts as "offline"?
I can't recall ever seeing a list of devices in the Alexa app that "went offline".
The messages I see very frequently in the Alexa app are "Device is unresponsive" and "Something went wrong".
Even when I see those messages, I can still control the device manually in the Alexa app or manually in the Kasa app without any problems.
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Definitely a strange observation for sure. as I would assume that the devices are always connected in the cloud; to support cloud automations and Smart Actions. I wonder if the communication method that the Alexa devices were using to communicate with the devices changed since it had been awhile. Like if at some point the devices shifted to local control and when reopening the app, they change their communication method?
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Who knows?
Hopefully someone can figure this out.
To that end, other than a couple of us end users surmising what may be wrong, is anyone at TP-Link/Kasa listening? Is anyone working on a solution?
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I now think it is a problem with the Alexa interface to whatever brand.
And here's why I think that - I have a friend using Gosund Smart plugs and he is having exactly the same problem - often slow responses with Alexa voice commands.
I borrowed one of his Gosund devices and set it up alongside my Kasa devices.
They behave exactly the same - instant response using their respective apps but often a delayed response with Aexa voice commands with Alex reporting "device is unresponsive" whether Alexa operated the device instantly or whether Aexa operated the device after a period of time.
I get the feeling no one is trying to fix this.
I wonder if a post on some Alexa forum or other might be a better way to go.
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I am pretty sure that Amazon is aware of the situation, as we have brought it to their attention. All I know is that over the next few months there is going to be a heavy shift in Smart Home Device control towards a local level as a result of the Matter protocol. Amazon may simply be waiting or developing the new technology to replace the system that causes the issues now.
From what I can tell, the implementation of the matter protocol will allow the Alexa Units and Speakers to communicate directly with the device on the network, rather than communicating with the cloud. Hopefully, with all these coming changes, the issue will be resolved.
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Thanks, Riley.
I read with great interest the link you sent earlier re the Matter Protocol'
It does indeed seem the right way to go to solve this this slow response issue.
Hopefully it will be implemented sooner rather than later.
Best regards,
Lloyd
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