FauxmoESP not working with Alexa

[cretcheu]

I have an 8266 microcontroller and I am using the fauxmoESP library that emulate the Phillip hue hub and I am trying to have Alexa control a tv lift by wiring the switches to transistors and have Alexa raise, lower or stop the lift. I have been able get Alexa to discover the devices but I can get it to receive commands from Alexa. The Alexa app says the devices are non-responsive. I have tried fauxmoESP 3.3 and 3.4 with the same result. I have tried 2 different 8266 boards. I have read of users having problems with device detection but no mention of this problem. The actual product name is Maker focus d1 mini compatible with nodemcu Arduino.
Any help you can provide will be appreciated, thanks,

[sofakanten]

In the context of controlling physical devices via Alexa using FauxmoESP library, it's critical to remember that this library emulates Belkin WeMo devices, not the Philips Hue. If Alexa is looking for a Philips Hue device, it may not work with the emulation provided by FauxmoESP.

Here are some possible things you could try to debug your issue:

1. Update your libraries and firmware: Ensure that you're using the latest version of the FauxmoESP library, as well as the latest firmware for your ESP8266 board. Issues with non-responsiveness can sometimes be related to bugs or incompatibilities that have been fixed in newer versions.
2. Check your power supply: The ESP8266 can be sensitive to inadequate power supplies. Make sure that the power supply you're using can provide enough current for both the ESP8266 and the TV lift.
3. Investigate the network: Ensure that your ESP8266 is maintaining a stable connection to your Wi-Fi network, and that it's on the same network as your Alexa device. Network issues can often be the cause of devices appearing non-responsive.
4. Examine your code: The issue could be in the code that you're using to respond to Alexa's commands. You could try using a minimal example sketch with the FauxmoESP library to see if that works, and then gradually add your own code back in to see where the problem arises.
5. Debug: Use the Serial Monitor to debug your device. Make sure to add enough print statements in your code to understand what's happening. Look out for any error messages or disconnections.
6. Reset Alexa: Sometimes, the Alexa device may have difficulties connecting to the emulated devices. Try forgetting all devices on Alexa and rediscover again.

Remember, the ESP8266 needs to remain connected to the network and should not go into deep sleep, as it needs to respond to network packets to make this work.

Lastly, you could consider using an alternative library like Espalexa, which emulates a Philips Hue hub and is specifically designed for the ESP8266.

Remember that while these libraries can often be made to work, they are using unofficial methods to emulate commercial hardware and as such can be a little tricky to get working perfectly.

[cretcheu]

Thank you for the quick reply. Here is a copy of the text from VintLabs/faumonESP GitHub stating that it is now using Phillip hue and not Belkin. I believe that is confirmed by the discovered devices description: Royal Phillips electronics smart device
“ Since version 3.0.0 the library uses a different approach and emulates Philips Hue lights instead of Belkin. This allows for a simpler code and also support for numeric values (you can now say "Alexa, set light to 50")”
I do believe the problem is with fauxmoESP but don’t know how to debug it. I’ve used version 3.3 and 3.4.
I m using the serial monitor and I can see the code stays in the loop waiting for a state change.
I have performed the 6 recommended steps you recommended.
The device consistently discovers the 3 devices but Alexa lists them as unavailable/not responding. Is there any way to capture what Alexa is sending as a response to commands,
Thanks again. I will try Espalexa.