I’ve been using the Alexa Media Player integration, and the Last Alexa template sensor, for a long time.
All of a sudden Last Alexa is now showing as unavailable, and I’m not sure why. For reference the template sensor is configured in my configuration.yaml as:
template:
- sensor:
- name: Last Alexa
state: |-
{{ expand(integration_entities('alexa_media') | select('search', 'media_player'))
| selectattr('attributes.last_called', 'eq', True) | map(attribute='entity_id') | first }}
availability: |-
{{ expand(integration_entities('alexa_media') | select('search', 'media_player'))
| selectattr('attributes.last_called','eq',True) | first is defined }}
And if I go to Developer Tools > Template and look at what these evaluate to, there doesn’t seem to be any issues.
Input:
{{ expand(integration_entities('alexa_media') | select('search', 'media_player'))
| selectattr('attributes.last_called', 'eq', True) | map(attribute='entity_id') | first }}
{{ expand(integration_entities('alexa_media') | select('search', 'media_player'))
| selectattr('attributes.last_called','eq',True) | first is defined }}
Output:
media_player.office_speaker
True
Calling alexa_media.update_last_called doesn’t update the value, and there doesn’t seem to be any errors in the logs.
Anyone have any idea why it would the template sensor would suddenly stop working?
I found the same a while back and just replaced the notify action with this instead: notify.alexa_media_last_called
It just notifies on the alexa that was used for the instruction
Thanks! I’d still be interested if anybody knows why the custom template doesn’t work, but I will try this.
I’m getting a lots of these errors with the template, maybe AMP is dropping connection ?
Template variable warning: No first item, sequence was empty. when rendering ‘{{ expand(integration_entities(‘alexa_media’) | select(‘search’, ‘media_player’)) | selectattr(‘attributes.last_called’, ‘eq’, True) | map(attribute=‘entity_id’) | first }}’
I’m not convinced it is a AMP issue… Surely if the template is evaluating correctly in Developer Tools > Template it should also populate the entity correctly?
Check you are on the latest versions of both HA and AMP - I had the same issue after upgrading to HA 2024.8, as did others, and it was fixed by applying the latest update for AMP.
If either the notify.alexa_media_last_called or Last called sensor has been working for you over the last 9 months or so, consider yourself lucky. As I understand it, Amazon changed which actions automatically update the last_called attribute as well as how often new values are posted.
If I use notify.alexa_media_last_called on it’s own, the device that responds seems almost random. Instead I use the following, which mostly works:
Never-mind that’s gone unavailable too now haha. Not sure what is going on.
@Didgeridrew - notify.alexa_media_last_called works, but it’s not very flexible with some more complex automations I believe. Can’t use it with media_player.play_media for example?
The notify action will not replace a media_player action, but the alexa_media.update_last_called action looks like it should update the media player entities so that the correct one is marked as last_called.
Bizarre! Your template works fine in my Dev Tools > Template.
This is my “supercharged” sensor.last_alexa template.
Give it a whirl as it’s basic structure is different than yours.
Correct. The http2push command PUSH_ACTIVITY stopped being issued my Amazon in early June, which is what provided near instant updating of last_called.
I’ve added an async_fire event into media_player.py at the correct point to inform me when the last_called service has actually finished so my scripts/automations can wait for that event and if it occurs, set a variable which controls executing or skipping the TTS commands in the script. I will submit a feature PR when I’m comfortable with it.
I also created this automation to update last_called whenever my Amazon Scenes/HA Scripts are executed:
alias: Alexa - update_last_called_via_scripts
description: >-
Calls the `alexa_media.update_last_called` action whenever Alexa Scenes are
turned on (i.e. when HA scripts are run). The scripts should begin by waiting
for the event `alexa_last_called_updated` to fire before proceeding. If the
event fails to fire, they should avoid using `sensor.last_alexa`.
trigger:
- platform: state
entity_id:
- script.bought_coffee_filters
- script.business_trip_end
- script.business_trip_start
- script.feed_fish
- script.good_morning
- script.good_night
- script.lights
- script.make_coffee
- script.may_is_coming
- script.shower
- script.sleep_mode
to: "on"
condition: []
action:
- parallel:
- wait_for_trigger:
- platform: state
entity_id:
- sensor.last_alexa
from: unavailable
continue_on_timeout: false
timeout:
hours: 0
minutes: 0
seconds: 20
milliseconds: 0
- action: alexa_media.update_last_called
data: {}
- event: alexa_last_called_updated
event_data: {}
- action: input_boolean.turn_off
metadata: {}
data: {}
target:
entity_id: input_boolean.alexa_media_update_last_called_trigger
- action: counter.increment
metadata: {}
data: {}
target:
entity_id:
- counter.alexa_media_update_last_called_service_calls_today
mode: single
trace:
stored_traces: 30
My script.good_night looks like this:
(other scripts still need editing)
Summary
alias: Good Night
sequence:
- wait_for_trigger:
- platform: event
event_type: alexa_media_last_called_event
event_data:
summary: good night
timeout:
hours: 0
minutes: 0
seconds: 30
milliseconds: 0
continue_on_timeout: true
- variables:
alexa_last_called_updated: "{{ wait.remaining > 0 }}"
- parallel:
- if:
- condition: state
entity_id: cover.bedroom_blind
state: open
then:
- data:
entity_id: cover.bedroom_blind
action: cover.close_cover_tilt
- continue_on_error: true
data: {}
target:
entity_id:
- input_boolean.sleep_mode
- input_boolean.daniel_sleeping
action: input_boolean.turn_on
- continue_on_error: true
data:
value: 0
target:
entity_id: input_number.bathroom_delay_off
action: input_number.set_value
- continue_on_error: true
data:
option: Sleeping
target:
entity_id: input_select.sleep_status
action: input_select.select_option
- continue_on_error: true
data: {}
target:
area_id:
- patio
entity_id:
- light.pole_lamp_1
- light.pole_lamp_2
- light.table_lamp_1
- light.table_lamp_2
action: light.turn_off
- continue_on_error: true
target:
entity_id:
- media_player.bedroom_tv
data: {}
action: media_player.turn_off
- repeat:
count: 1
sequence:
- if:
- alias: Test if {{ not wait.trigger }} renders value equal to true
condition: template
value_template: "{{ alexa_last_called_updated }}"
- condition: state
entity_id: input_boolean.coffee_prepared
state: "off"
then:
- continue_on_error: true
data:
text: Did you prepare your coffee?
event_id: actionable_notification_coffee_prepared
alexa_device: "{{ states('sensor.last_alexa') }}"
action: script.activate_alexa_actionable_notification
- if:
- alias: Test if {{ not wait.trigger }} renders value equal to true
condition: template
value_template: "{{ alexa_last_called_updated }}"
- condition: numeric_state
entity_id: sensor.garbage
below: 2
- condition: state
entity_id: input_boolean.garbage_is_out
state: "off"
- condition: or
conditions:
- condition: and
conditions:
- condition: state
entity_id: sensor.garbage
state: "0"
- condition: time
before: "09:00:00"
after: "00:00:00"
- condition: and
conditions:
- condition: state
entity_id: sensor.garbage
state: "1"
- condition: time
after: "12:00:00"
before: "00:00:00"
then:
- continue_on_error: true
data:
text: Did you put the garbage out?
event_id: actionable_notification_garbage_pickup
alexa_device: "{{ states('sensor.last_alexa') }}"
action: script.activate_alexa_actionable_notification
- if:
- alias: Test if {{ not wait.trigger }} renders value equal to true
condition: template
value_template: "{{ alexa_last_called_updated }}"
- condition: numeric_state
entity_id: sensor.recycling
below: 2
- condition: state
entity_id: input_boolean.recycling_is_out
state: "off"
- condition: or
conditions:
- condition: and
conditions:
- condition: state
entity_id: sensor.recycling
state: "0"
- condition: time
before: "09:00:00"
after: "00:00:00"
- condition: and
conditions:
- condition: state
entity_id: sensor.recycling
state: "1"
- condition: time
after: "12:00:00"
before: "00:00:00"
then:
- continue_on_error: true
data:
text: Did you put the recycling out?
event_id: actionable_notification_recycling_pickup
alexa_device: "{{ states('sensor.last_alexa') }}"
action: script.activate_alexa_actionable_notification
- if:
- condition: state
entity_id: lock.patio_door_lock
state: unlocked
then:
- target:
entity_id: lock.patio_door_lock
data: {}
action: lock.lock
- parallel:
- if:
- condition: not
conditions:
- condition: state
entity_id: climate.living_room
attribute: preset_mode
state: eco
alias: Preset of Furnace
alias: If Preset of Furnace is NOT 'eco'
- condition: numeric_state
entity_id: climate.living_room
attribute: temperature
above: 17
alias: Furnace temperature is above 17
then:
- continue_on_error: true
data:
temperature: 17
target:
entity_id: climate.living_room
action: climate.set_temperature
- if:
- alias: Test if {{ alexa_last_called_updated }} is true
condition: template
value_template: "{{ alexa_last_called_updated }}"
then:
- continue_on_error: true
data:
message: Heat is now set to 17
action: script.notify_alexa_media
- if:
- condition: state
entity_id: lock.front_door_lock
state: unlocked
then:
- continue_on_error: true
data: {}
target:
entity_id:
- lock.front_door_lock
action: lock.lock
- if:
- alias: Test if {{ alexa_last_called_updated }} is true
condition: template
value_template: "{{ alexa_last_called_updated }}"
then:
- continue_on_error: true
data:
message: The front door was unlocked but I locked it for you.
action: script.notify_alexa_media
- if:
- condition: state
entity_id: cover.garage_door
state: open
then:
- if:
- condition: state
entity_id: sensor.season
state: summer
then:
- if:
- alias: Test if {{ alexa_last_called_updated }} is true
condition: template
value_template: "{{ alexa_last_called_updated }}"
then:
- continue_on_error: true
data:
message: Hey. Did you know the garage door is open?
milliseconds: 0
action: script.notify_alexa_media
else:
- continue_on_error: true
data:
entity_id: cover.garage_door
action: cover.close_cover
- if:
- alias: Test if {{ alexa_last_called_updated }} is true
condition: template
value_template: "{{ alexa_last_called_updated }}"
then:
- continue_on_error: true
data:
message: I closed the garage door for you
milliseconds: 0
action: script.notify_alexa_media
- if:
- alias: Test if {{ alexa_last_called_updated }} is true
condition: template
value_template: "{{ alexa_last_called_updated }}"
then:
- alias: "Media Player: Say Goodnight"
continue_on_error: true
data:
media_content_id: Alexa.GoodNight.Play
media_content_type: sequence
target:
entity_id: "{{ states('sensor.last_alexa') }}"
action: media_player.play_media
- delay:
hours: 0
minutes: 0
seconds: 5
milliseconds: 0
- data:
sequence:
- action: light.turn_off
continue_on_error: true
data: {}
target:
entity_id:
- light.nightstand_lamps
- light.headboard_indirect
expected_state:
- "off"
action: retry.actions
- if:
- condition: state
entity_id: binary_sensor.bathroom_occupancy
state: "on"
then:
- wait_for_trigger:
- platform: state
entity_id:
- binary_sensor.bathroom_occupancy
to: "off"
timeout:
hours: 0
minutes: 1
seconds: 30
milliseconds: 0
- data: {}
target:
entity_id: light.bathroom_light
action: light.turn_off
mode: single
icon: hass:weather-night
I also had a “Woo Hoo!” moment earlier this evening after studying OpenHAB’s implementation of their version of Alexa Media Player. I think I danced around my office for like 10 minutes!!
I created a new user in HA to be used by my Amazon Alexa Smart Home Skill.
Then I disabled the skill in Alexa and re-enabled it with the new HA user account.
With that in hand, I can now update last_called in HA whenever that Amazon Alexa user account changes any HA entity state that is exposed to it via this automation:
alias: Alexa - Triggered by Smart Home Skill user account
description: >-
Perform action `Alexa Media Player: Update Last Called Sensor` when entity
states are changed by Alexa Smart Home Skill user account
trigger:
- platform: event
event_type: state_changed
context:
user_id: 0df463c1efc4490f900b09b143cae9c4
condition: []
action:
- action: alexa_media.update_last_called
data: {}
mode: single
There was some weirdness, even with your version of the template entity, but backing up the configuration file, removing 90% of it, restarting, restoring it, then restarting again fixed the issue
