Setting up smart home question

[iOnTech]

I just had a customer who i have helped before with networking his house call me. He lives in another state and has 2 smart plugs for a couple lamps and an echo and echo dot. (i have never helped him with the alexa devices or the smart plugs).
The owner wants another 4 floor lamps controlled by smart plugs. He also wants another 6 ceiling lights controlled by smart switches in the wall.
I have never done anything to do with smart homes yet, so i had to study a little.

the customer wants to use groups to control multiple devices at once and possibly put lights on a schedule. Also wants to control all this from his alexa phone app or by voice using the echo or dot.

scheduling lights i dont think will be a problem because it seems you do that thru the manufacturers app.
and saves it internally in the smart device.

my problem is i dont know how this setting up alexa app is gonna work.
the plan is to get everything installed and working before he gets here from out of state.
so after everything is installed.

can i use MY phone, use alexa app to add these new smart devices to his amazon account, then use MY phone to make groups using alexa app.
and then somehow transfer this setup (with groups of lights configured in alexa app etc) so he can use it on THE CUSTOMERS phone WITHOUT having to setup groups on his device again ?

hoping the alexa app syncs with amazon servers and transfers this setup automatically to HIS phone.


thanks for any help.

 

[Markverhyden]

A quick search seems to indicate you cannot transfer setting between accounts. So you'd have to setup his account on your smart phone. Once changes are made, they'll show up in the cloud so will show up anywhere else the app account is signed in.

 

[HCHTech]

I, for one, would not want to support this. These IOT gadgets are still firmly targeted at the 'tinkerers', IMO. Great for those folks who won't have any trouble tinkering with the configuration frequently until they arrive at a workable solution, or until they grow tired of it. Not so great for folks who have to hire the setup & support.

 

[Porthos]

You have to do it on their phone and on the network in the actual location it will reside.

 

[Markverhyden]

You have to do it on their phone and on the network in the actual location it will reside.

Ok. But that then begs the question. John/Jane Doe <insert smart device catastrophe with no backup> to their device. So they have to pinhole reset everything? To set it up on a new phone?

 

[Porthos]

To set it up on a new phone?

I believe a new phone/reset will just need the app redownloaded and signed back in. Remember each brand of smart plug uses a different app to control it.
Mine use THIS.
I would have to use the app to control the timer if I wanted. I just tell Alexa "turn on workshop light" because I named that plug workshop light.

Timer Function: Use the app to set on/off time, set a schedule for your home appliances any time of a day. Through Timer function, schedule the smart outlet to automatically turn your electronic devices on or off, always coming back to a bright and warm home. Smart control your home appliances, reduce energy use, and save the electric bill and have a more convenient life.

It will be a lot to figure out.

 

[timeshifter]

And one day it will all break when he falls for a home Internet deal from AT&T and they rip out his modem and WiFi equipment and put their crap in.

 

[urcomputech]

You can in fact use your phone to setup Alexa compatible devices in somebody else's house, provided you are logged into their Amazon account with the Alexa app on your phone. They will not need to reconfigure anything. I have many Alexa devices at home and my wife has the app on her phone as well as I, they work the same, while I have setup everything for us.
Hope that helps.

 

[Porthos]

provided you are logged into their Amazon account with the Alexa app on your phone.

I would not want that liability. Yea I know the user can change the password but still.

 

[Diggs]

I would not want that liability. Yea I know the user can change the password but still.

I would think the liability is minor compared to corporate network work and maintenance. Miss-configured router/firewall/gateway and someone owns their company data. Hmmm...... That's a much bigger liability I would think but hardly gets a mention here.

 

[phaZed]

I use a Raspberry Pi running Hass.io/Home Assistant - It takes care of all my smart home devices and brands... and I run it all in-house.
https://www.home-assistant.io/
https://www.home-assistant.io/blog/2017/07/25/introducing-hassio/

 

[urcomputech]

I would not want that liability. Yea I know the user can change the password but still.

As the IT person, I always have access to tremendous amount of personal info, it's part of our jobs. My clients trust me as long as they understand I needed the information/credentials to get the job done. And yes, I always advise them to change their password after I no longer need it. That's never been an issue with any of my clients. Once you're done with the setup and tested, and verified that your client tests it, you can then delete the app and have your client reset password for their and your protection. I would ask in writing so you have a record.