Any Alexa Users on this forum?

@glenbarrington I have several glass breaks and 5 Alexa devices in the house.  Until Alexa can get my routine questions right, not prepared to use my echos for what you suggest.  BTW, shutting off Sidwalk as soon as it goes live.

We use several Echo devices. While I've not turned on Alexa Guard, I can't imagine it's much different than setting up any other routine...basically just follow the "wizard" so to speak.

How well it actually works to sense glass break it's hard to say but more layers are probably better than less. Turning on lights and sending you a text or whatever seems fairly harmless to try/see how it plays out.

We have quite a few Hue lights and a couple Harmony hub remote control systems. Use voice to turn on TV, change volume, channels, or turn on individual lights, rooms, or zones, or "all lights" which turns on all hue lights in the house, garage, and even four outdoor floodlights. As well, some Amazon and Wemo remote switches, Alexa...turn on Christmas tree, etc.

Even though I don't typically groove on WiFi security cams, have a few non-SS WiFi cameras connected through. "Alexa...show Back Door" and up comes the camera live feed on the Echo Show.

SimpliSafe and Alexa SmartHome Integration and Automation

There seems to be have been an awful lot of inconclusive debate over the years regarding how do you get your Simplisafe system to do some smart home Alexa things when the intruder alarm triggers – i.e. turn on lights / further warn and encourage the intruder to leave now / immediately etc. It is well documented that SimpliSafe have a disappointing integration into Alexa / SmartHome that is limited to pretty much just arming the system, possibly throwing a Smart Lock, and giving a system status only. All not worth Tuppence! (SimpliSafe please up your game here!).

Well, I think that I may have found a simple, elegant, effective, and free solution regarding Alexa Integration:

1, Set Alexa to listen for an alarm sound – The first stage SimpliSafe entry warning beep beep beep will trigger Alexa into action. (N.B. If the first stage entry beep beep does not trigger Alexa, because she can’t hear it, the second stage full blown alarm sounder will certainly trigger Alexa into action if you have set her to listen for an alarm sound!).

2, Set a Routine in Alexa for her to follow a set of instructions when she hears the alarm entry warning beeps sounding. i.e. Turn on Lights X Y Z, have her read a script such as ‘Intruder Detected – Police Called – ETA 1 minute’, plus any other actions / warnings / promises / threats etc as you see fit / and such as she can do so very well indeed.

So here it is: [Simply set this into Alexa via the Alexa Mobile App: More…. / Routines…. / Beeping Appliance Detected…. / Alexa Will…. /  ‘and set your chosen action routines for Alexa to follow i.e. “Lights On” / Say “Your Message” / Release the Dogs etc’.

The endlessly creative and effective world of Alexa engaging with your intruder is now accessed, unlocked and open to you.

I’ve set the above routine onto my Alexa at home, and it works an absolute treat. So, when I arrive home and open the front door, the entry beeps start and I set the SimpliSafe system to off with the PIN – All as per usual, but now, in another galaxy, far far away, in the lounge, Alexa has heard the warning beeps and is set to activate an Alexa Routine. This is what Alexa is set to do for me: All of the Smart lights in my house come on (which is always a nice welcome home for me!), and she loudly reads my scripted message back to me – I know that I can simply ignore this because I’m not an intruder and I know what’s going on, (but if I was an intruder, I would certainly have the wits scared out of me by all the unexpected surprises of the lights coming on, hearing a warning message read, plus  other creative encouragements, etc. The intruder’s game is now rumbled, and it’s time to go immediately).

There it is! Effective, Elegant, Simple, and Free!

N.B. I was very tempted to keep this solution to myself because forewarning is disarming etc, but only Alexa and I know that it absolutely won’t go very well at all for any intruder in my house. N.B. Issac Asimov’s Laws must always be respected.