Follow-Up: Trying to use Alexa voice assistant to control Xfinity cable box and change channels

This is a follow-up to a previous post I did. Basically, my desire is to be able to use a voice assistant such as Alexa to control my Xfinity cable box. (I have an XR15 remote).

Anyway, I recently purchased a BroadLink RM4 Pro device. In the BroadLink app, I was able to try to get it to “learn” my Xfinity XR15 remote. Now, the below picture is what happens when I say “Alexa, watch channel 1484 on LR cable box.” When I did that, a dialog window came up on the side of my Vizio tv that shows what network (Food Network) is on Channel 1484. BUT, it actually didn’t turn my tv to that channel.

Has anyone had any experience with this? I’m halfway there by getting a dialog box for channel 1484 to come up on the side of my Vizio TV screen when I say “Alexa, watch channel 1484 on LR cable box.”

But how can I use the Alexa voice assistant to actually get it to turn to that channel? Something to say OK, now that you’ve actually pulled up the dialog box for this channel on the side, now turn to the channel.

I really need for Xfinity to make it easier for us to control our cable boxes and be able to do things like change channels with other voice assistants besides the voice feature on the XR15 remote. Give us an Alexa skill and something in Google Assistant to be able to control our cable boxes.

Responses

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user_b02b44

Visitor

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2 Messages

2 years ago

Comcast really needs to address this gap. They tout their voice remote as the answer but other major content providers have enable Amazon, Google and other skills for their services. Comcast is way behind here.

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user_41287d

Visitor

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21 Messages

@user_b02b44 Exactly this. They truly are behind the curveball. I would encourage you to please use the comment form at this link. https://support.xfinity.com/svp-contact-form

Please write to them at the above link about the lack of them offering voice assistance through Google Assistant, Alexa, etc. That’s what I did. And I figure if multiple customers write to them about this, perhaps they will “get” it.

I wrote to them about this already initially. And then I sent them another follow-up with this screen capture. I let them know that DIRECTV has an Alexa skill where their customers can control their set-top cable boxes (do things like change the channel) via Alexa voice control. I let them know this is exactly the direction I would like to see Xfinity go in.

(edited)

2 years ago

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CCChe

Official Employee

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6.9K Messages

We apprecaite you for sharing your feedback, @user_41287d.

I no longer work for Comcast.

I am an Official Xfinity Employee.
Official Employees are from multiple teams within Xfinity: CARE, Product, Leadership.
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2 years ago

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Non-X1 Service

user_41287d

Follow-Up: Trying to use Alexa voice assistant to control Xfinity cable box and change channels

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