/ Register

DISH Debuts Hands-Free TV on Hopper DVR with Amazon Alexa

Discussion in 'General DISH™ Discussion' started by James Long, May 22, 2017.

  1. May 22, 2017 #1 of 14
    James Long

    James Long Ready for Uplink! Staff Member Super Moderator

    51,371
    2,387
    Apr 17, 2003
    Michiana
    DISH Debuts Hands-Free TV on Hopper DVR with Amazon Alexa

    * DISH first TV provider to offer direct compatibility with Amazon Alexa
    * Available today on Hopper and Wally set-tops paired with Amazon Echo, Echo Dot or Amazon Tap

    ENGLEWOOD, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- DISH is changing the way that people watch TV with Amazon Alexa. Available today, DISH customers with a Hopper or Wally and an Amazon Echo, Echo Dot or Amazon Tap can watch hands-free TV with Alexa. DISH is the first TV provider to offer direct compatibility with Amazon Alexa.

    "Hopper and Alexa introduce next-level convenience that redefines the way TV fits into our lives," said Niraj Desai, DISH vice president of product management. "Instantly, it's easier to read player stats on your phone while flipping between basketball games; to chop ingredients in the kitchen while rewinding a TV scene you just missed; to snack on popcorn while searching for your favorite film - the list goes on."

    "Customers love the convenience of interacting with their smart homes via Alexa, and now that includes live TV on DISH," said Rob Pulciani, Director Amazon Alexa. "With DISH's skill for Alexa, changing the channel, pausing, rewinding and searching for content will be as simple as asking Alexa via an Echo family device. We think this is a big step forward for the television experience, and that customers will love this new voice functionality on DISH."

    Just ask Alexa for hands-free TV on DISH

    Users with an internet-connected Hopper (any generation) or Wally can ask Alexa to navigate, play, pause, fast-forward, rewind and search content based on channel, title, actor or genre. Universal search functionality works across DISH's live, recorded and on-demand titles as well as Netflix's selection of TV shows and movies. Below are examples of spoken commands.

    "Alexa, change channel to ESPN"
    "Alexa, tune to channel 130"
    "Alexa, go to the History Channel"
    "Alexa, find the Big Bang Theory"
    "Alexa, search for Game of Thrones"
    "Alexa, show me Tom Hanks movies"
    "Alexa, search for comedies"
    "Alexa, play This is Us"
    "Alexa, skip forward"
    "Alexa, rewind 30 seconds"
    "Alexa, pause"
    "Alexa, resume"

    How to set-up Alexa on DISH

    1. Enable DISH TV in the Alexa app: Open the Alexa app on a mobile device and select Music, Video & Books → DISH TV → Enable Skill.

    2. Get receiver code: Turn on internet-connected Hopper or Wally, and go to: Menu → Settings → Amazon Alexa → Get Code. Enter the generated code into the Alexa app and select Activate. Click Done in the confirmation message.

    3. Pair Hopper or Wally with Echo, Echo Dot or Amazon Tap: In the Alexa app, select desired Hopper or Wally receiver from list of discoverable devices. Click Continue. Select Amazon device to be synced with chosen receiver. Click Link Devices.

    For more information about Alexa on DISH's Hopper and Wally, including possible commands and additional set-up instructions, visit http://www.dish.com/AmazonAlexaIntegration .
     
  2. May 22, 2017 #2 of 14
    l'Aucherie

    l'Aucherie Cool Member

    46
    2
    May 8, 2010
    It appears that you have to upgrade the firmware on a Hopper 1 to activate this feature by going to channel 9607 and do an "accessibility" update. You are cautioned that this will include the new user interface which, if I understand correctly from other threads, does not work well with the original Hopper. It would be helpful to hear other people's experience with this upgrade on the Hopper 1 specifically before I commit to the update. I would like to have the Alexa functionality, but not at the expense of poor Hopper performance.
     
  3. May 22, 2017 #3 of 14
    trdrjeff

    trdrjeff Icon

    819
    5
    Dec 3, 2007
    I'm not having any luck enablinging the Dish TV skill in my Alexa app. Just gives a description
     
  4. May 22, 2017 #4 of 14
    trdrjeff

    trdrjeff Icon

    819
    5
    Dec 3, 2007
    Nm, the app wasn't updating, is updated & working now
     
  5. May 22, 2017 #5 of 14
    Blowgun

    Blowgun DHMO User

    1,095
    43
    May 23, 2008
    Western Arc
    People forget or perhaps don't care that the device is spying on them all the time sending data back to the mother ship on the off chance you might want a toilet flushed or whatever the thing is good for.
     
  6. May 22, 2017 #6 of 14
    Nick

    Nick Charter Gold Club Member

    22,055
    270
    Apr 23, 2002
    The...
    You mean Alexa can do that?!?!:praying:
     
  7. May 22, 2017 #7 of 14
    Cholly

    Cholly Old Guys Rule!

    5,053
    72
    Mar 22, 2004
    Indian...
    Alexa remembers what you've told her to do. You have to go to the Alexa app to remove any commands ypu have issued.
     
  8. May 23, 2017 #8 of 14
    GeeWhiz1

    GeeWhiz1 Legend

    127
    1
    Dec 6, 2005
    I already have this functionality with my Harmony Hub. So I don't need it for my Hopper. But if this would work with my Joey, it would make things easier.
     
  9. May 25, 2017 #9 of 14
    Scarpad

    Scarpad Legend

    121
    1
    May 22, 2006
    Got my Dot, it works ok for changing channels and searching but it needs more functionality, it needs to be able to schedule a recording with voice and it need to be able. To play DVR content


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  10. Jun 15, 2017 #10 of 14
    dunkonu23

    dunkonu23 Legend

    221
    1
    Sep 10, 2006
    Michigan....
    I use my echo with my Harmony Home Hub. Works great.
     
  11. Jun 20, 2017 #11 of 14
    DN2014

    DN2014 New Member

    26
    0
    Mar 29, 2014
    Midwest USA
    Can you get the Alexa app on a hopper 2?
     
  12. Jun 20, 2017 #12 of 14
    Blowgun

    Blowgun DHMO User

    1,095
    43
    May 23, 2008
    Western Arc
    Laziness has no boundaries, it's too much work to find them.
     
  13. Jun 21, 2017 #13 of 14
    dmspen

    dmspen Hall Of Fame

    1,856
    84
    Dec 1, 2006
    Los Gatos,...
    Technically there's no Alexa app. Amazon has hardware called Echo, Tap, and Dot that use the Alexa intelligence engine through the internet. Alexa in turn works through your WiFi to control the Hopper. I don't know if it works with the H2 or not.
     
  14. Jun 22, 2017 #14 of 14
    James Long

    James Long Ready for Uplink! Staff Member Super Moderator

    51,371
    2,387
    Apr 17, 2003
    Michiana
    The press release says "an internet-connected Hopper (any generation) or Wally". So it will work with the original Hopper, Hopper w/Sling or Hopper 3 and does not require Wi-Fi.
     

Share This Page

spam firewall

Advertisements