voice control of my TV with arc capable speaker

4 replies
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I’m trying to help my senior with poor eyesight to control her TV (with Bell Fibe service) using voice commands with an ARC capable Sonos speaker. I understand that Alexa or Google voice commands can turn the TV on or off and control the volume output but I’m looking for more control. Channel selection, TV Bell Fibe guide display, input switching, etc. Possible?

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AjTrek1Answer

@Josepaprika

Sonos voice enabled speakers cannot interpret/give commands to change TV channels; nor switch inputs such as HDMI 1 to HDMI 2 etc.

I see you're in Canada. In the US we have Comcast/Xfinity as an internet/TV cable provider (ISP). I have Comcast as my provider for TV sans Internet. Their remotes allow one to speak a channel selection. *

The remotes are backlit and illuminate upon picking them up. They have a voice control button in the center with a blue light and microphone icon. Maybe there is a similar provider in Canada 🤔. However, you’d have to weigh cost vs connivence.

Oh...HDMI switching is not an option. That will (as far I know) always be a manual function.

* I use Google Fiber for internet.

Together Everyone Achieves More = T.E.A.M.

N

nik9669a

Senior Virtuoso

Some of that is a command to the tv rather than the soundbar. The Arc or Arc Ultra simply plays the audio it receives via the HDMI-ARC cable. Volume up/down and mute can be voice-controlled via Sonos Voice control. Channel or input switching is down to the tv.

J

JosepaprikaAuthor

Contributor I

Thanks Nik9669a.

Her Samsung TV does not have a built in microphone so the only way her TV can receive a voice command (without physically pressing a button on a remote…. which she can’t really see), is to connect an ARC capable speaker like some of the Sonos series. These speakers have microphones for two-way communication, not just audio output which enables activation by voice only. That works, at least the on/off/volume functions but what I really want to know (before I purchase) is the extended commands like channel selection and input switching. Maybe I’m not interpreting your reply correctly?

AjTrek1Answer

@Josepaprika

Sonos voice enabled speakers cannot interpret/give commands to change TV channels; nor switch inputs such as HDMI 1 to HDMI 2 etc.

I see you're in Canada. In the US we have Comcast/Xfinity as an internet/TV cable provider (ISP). I have Comcast as my provider for TV sans Internet. Their remotes allow one to speak a channel selection. *

The remotes are backlit and illuminate upon picking them up. They have a voice control button in the center with a blue light and microphone icon. Maybe there is a similar provider in Canada 🤔. However, you’d have to weigh cost vs connivence.

Oh...HDMI switching is not an option. That will (as far I know) always be a manual function.

* I use Google Fiber for internet.

Together Everyone Achieves More = T.E.A.M.

J

JosepaprikaAuthor

Contributor I

Thanks for all the help. The Bell remote does in fact have a microphone activation button button to activate (Google assistant). Unfortunately wet macular degeneration makes that button invisible. I’ve actually adhered a small domed rubber button to the mic button so at least she can feel it (but even that is a bit of a struggle ). If there was a way to “wake up” the Bell remote Google assistant without physically pressing a button in a remote I think that would be all the functionality most seniors and people with disabilities might need. If anybody comes up with a tidy solution let me know.

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