# Alexa is sending the same message more than once

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/alexa-is-sending-the-same-message-more-than-once/78522>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [18 May 2023 22:24 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/alexa-is-sending-the-same-message-more-than-once/78522 "2023-05-18T22:24:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 12\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![christianbalz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c4cdca/32.png) [@christianbalz](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/christianbalz)\
**Post date:** [18 May 2023 22:24 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/alexa-is-sending-the-same-message-more-than-once/78522/1 "2023-05-18T22:24:05Z")

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Hello,

I'm using the alexa - home node provided by node-red-contrib-alexa-home-skill. Everything seems to be working, except for the fact that after the voice command, the message is sent more than once.

In the following example, the voice command was triggered only once.

 ![alexa-flow](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/e/8/e8bfcde313b1fd204a9b4ae5be38dd7daf3ce017.png)

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**Author:** ![E1cid](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/e1cid/32/77971_2.png) [@E1cid](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/E1cid)\
**Post date:** [18 May 2023 23:17 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/alexa-is-sending-the-same-message-more-than-once/78522/2 "2023-05-18T23:17:22Z")

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You could add a filter node to only allow the true or false payload to block unless value changes.

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**Author:** ![christianbalz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c4cdca/32.png) [@christianbalz](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/christianbalz)\
**Post date:** [19 May 2023 00:15 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/alexa-is-sending-the-same-message-more-than-once/78522/3 "2023-05-19T00:15:42Z")

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Thank you for feedback

The issue is that as the same message occurs more than once, Alexa is processing and then says “Having trouble understanding right now”

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**Author:** ![Sean-McG](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/sean-mcg/32/54677_2.png) [@Sean-McG](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Sean-McG)\
**Post date:** [19 May 2023 00:28 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/alexa-is-sending-the-same-message-more-than-once/78522/4 "2023-05-19T00:28:01Z")

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> [@christianbalz](#):
>
> “Having trouble understanding right now”

You tend to get this if there is a problem reaching the network, does the echo have a good signal ?

The Alexa node is only passing the messages it received from Amazon, so there is nothing much you can do about that with the node.

What is the command you are sending, I have noticed that with some commands, eg increase temperature, you will also see additional messages requesting other related parameters.  
Presumably this is to update the current state in Alexa apps etc.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![christianbalz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c4cdca/32.png) [@christianbalz](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/christianbalz)\
**Post date:** [19 May 2023 01:42 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/alexa-is-sending-the-same-message-more-than-once/78522/5 "2023-05-19T01:42:05Z")

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I’m not too sure about this, the impression I have is that after sending the message Alexa is waiting for some return message, which for some reason is not arriving.

I’m using simple commands like turning on or off lights.

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**Author:** ![Sean-McG](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/sean-mcg/32/54677_2.png) [@Sean-McG](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Sean-McG)\
**Post date:** [19 May 2023 01:49 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/alexa-is-sending-the-same-message-more-than-once/78522/6 "2023-05-19T01:49:21Z")

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Did you select Auto Acknowledge in the node ?  
If not then you have to send an appropriate response via the response node

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![christianbalz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c4cdca/32.png) [@christianbalz](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/christianbalz)\
**Post date:** [19 May 2023 02:21 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/alexa-is-sending-the-same-message-more-than-once/78522/7 "2023-05-19T02:21:49Z")

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> [@christianbalz](#):
>
> Alexa is processing and then says “Having trouble understanding right now”

I've tested both cases and nothing has changed. It is important to say that through the Amazon Alexa application, clicking on the device, the problem does not appear and only when the command is by voice.

 ![IMG_4283](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/6/f/6ff42801f0befeeacbb5b465c5ed93e56dd95bd8.png)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Sean-McG](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/sean-mcg/32/54677_2.png) [@Sean-McG](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Sean-McG)\
**Post date:** [19 May 2023 02:26 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/alexa-is-sending-the-same-message-more-than-once/78522/8 "2023-05-19T02:26:30Z")

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What are the purple nodes with switch icon ?

Also if not using the response node you **must** select Auto Acknowledge in the node

The Alexa node doesn't care if it was a voice or app request, so it seems like a problem on the Amazon side.

Are you are somehow feeding the msg back to Alexa, so the node reports again ?

Could two echo device be responding at the same time ?

Most likely it sounds like a network issue

> **[How to fix the Alexa “having trouble understanding right now” error](https://www.trustedreviews.com/how-to/how-to-fix-the-alexa-having-trouble-understanding-right-now-error-4219588)**
>
> If your Echo speaker has given up and won't respond to you, you need to follow these steps to fix everything.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![christianbalz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c4cdca/32.png) [@christianbalz](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/christianbalz)\
**Post date:** [19 May 2023 02:41 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/alexa-is-sending-the-same-message-more-than-once/78522/9 "2023-05-19T02:41:04Z")

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> [@Sean-McG](#):
>
> Auto Acknowledge

They are device itself. I'm using the node-red-contrib-ewelink-cube module. However, even without the node and just a debug I get the same problem. The Auto Acknowledge option is selected.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Sean-McG](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/sean-mcg/32/54677_2.png) [@Sean-McG](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Sean-McG)\
**Post date:** [19 May 2023 02:47 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/alexa-is-sending-the-same-message-more-than-once/78522/10 "2023-05-19T02:47:50Z")

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> [@Sean-McG](#):
>
> Are you are somehow feeding the msg back to Alexa, so the node reports again ?

Is ewelink-cube linked with Alexa ?

If so you don't need the Alex node as you alread have voice control via ewelink-cube

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Sean-McG](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/sean-mcg/32/54677_2.png) [@Sean-McG](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Sean-McG)\
**Post date:** [19 May 2023 02:55 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/alexa-is-sending-the-same-message-more-than-once/78522/11 "2023-05-19T02:55:28Z")

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I'm afraid its time to sleep for me 4am 😴

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/1X/d073cd938eafa2e558d7c2cd59003b3ef4963033.png) [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [18 July 2023 02:56 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/alexa-is-sending-the-same-message-more-than-once/78522/12 "2023-07-18T02:56:11Z")

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