I guess this is the right thread to post a very weird problem with Amazon Echo. I had a 3rd gen Echo unit in my finished basement (a created Mancave [hate that term, but I'll use it here}, where i created a sound room during COVID hibernation in the spring of 2020. From March 17, 2020, had to work form home with my employer of about 19 years. As a Mortgage Loan Officer, I hated it!! I like office inetrplay and also like looking at the "girls" Not in a dirtyb Old Man way , just some cutsie flirting - it's healthy !!. I suffer with Chronic Pain& Stiffness from Spinal arthritis & other arthritic conditions (Hips, SI joints, knees,and eben my Thumbs / fingers). SUX Big Time. Now I'm working exclusively as a Super Clerk on a PC facing a basement wall. You get the drift. In October 2021, I had to file for Long Term Disability - just copuldn't do this anymore with the Chronic pain. As I mentioned in an ealrier post, I resurrected playing drums after 50 Years. Now i created a Sound room in the basment - 2nd Stereo system. The other one in my LR dates back to 1987! [NAD 1300 Preamp, NAD 2600 Amp, a Dual CS5000 TT , Onkyo CD Player, connected to a pair of KEF 104/2 Tower speakers , no SWs, No EQs]. I get OCD occassionally (my wife would say not so occassionally! But it was my wife of 47 years who gifted me for XMAS 2018 a new Cheapo Drum Kit which encouraged me to play again), and it ws OCD that took hold during this process. I ordered a number of Stereo Receivers/Amps via Amazon, use them and if not to my liking , returned it and got another. I did some more research and settled on the Denon DRA-800H as the Linchpin to the new system. FF through 2020-2021, I purchased a "flock"of bookshelf speakers, some were returned as well (Amazon was Great with that). Now I have 1 pair of Elac Debut 6.2s, 1 pair of Elac Debut Reference 6.2s, 1 pair of Fluance Signature Series Book shelf speakers [don't sell these $225 speakers short - checkout the cheapaudioman on YT], and 1 pair of KEF Q350s [they can be a bit disappointing / fatiguing]. Also added a IOTA SA3 /PA3 Stack and a Emotiva A300 Amp [that stak is my Zone B on the Denon]. Lots of Overkill, but when I'm play the 2 systems simulatanously with all 4 speakers engaged, it sounds like a Concert Hall.
I Digressed. Back to Amazon Echo. Suddenly in one day, my 3rd Gen Echo would not play via BT to the Denon or the IOTA stack. The IOTA stack has a terrific BT receiver which connects immediately to the ECHO . The Denon is more Fussy. The Echo would not re-paid to my 3 BT devices I have in the basement { the Denon, the IOTA stack, and a pair of JBL Charge 3 BT speakers}. I called IOTA - they said reboot this and that, no help. Then on line with Amazon Chatting with an agent. Tried every measure : reboot Router, delecte and reisntall Alexa App, Rset the ECHO numerous times. Spoke with at least 2 other agents / reps - no help. They had me return my 3rd Gen which was out of Warranty. Had to buy a new 4th Gen Echo. they eventually granted a big discount for the new one. Plugged it in, set it up, and it did the Same Thing. No BT recognition or pairing, and when I asked Alexa to play Spotify , for instance, it started up, and then saud: "Sorry, That Device is Off Line". After many other emials and calls, it was finally reavealed to me in an email from an Amazon Supervisor that This is a World Wide problem - and appears to be with Android operaing systems. I have only Abdroid phones in the house. Checking the On Libe Amazon Forums revealed that others had the same problem. One psoter said he tried his wifes's apple iPhone and it worked fine. After months of give and go, just as suddenly in May 2021, I tried the Echo again, and Holy Shit it worked! It paired to the BT devices and played fine, and also played vai the Unit itself w/o those dreaded words cited earlier. And then it happened again - but a little differently. The Echo would pair to the BT device, play the commanded music fine, but when i disconnected the BT device or unpaired it, the music did continue to play on the ECHO until I told it to stop, and then commanded to play Spotify (or Tidal, etc), it said: "Sorry, That Device is Off line". More calls to Amazon.... and then they sent the 1st Replacement Echo (4th Gen). That played initially well and as specified until a few weeks went by and suddenly again!. Now on the 2nd replacement Echo - the same thing. Plays well for a few weeks and then it happens again. As of the other day, speaking with a Supervisor on the phone going over the ENTIRE story again, he confirmed with me what I suspected form the start..... There is a problem with the Software in the ECHOs, not the DOTs. I think because it is a sudden event, that it is directly tied to Android (I have a Google Pixel Phone). Android is famaous for doing Behind the scenes upgrades of Security updates. I think that's where the Glitch is. So after a lengthy discussion (the Squeaky Wheel Gets The Oil), I got them to agree to take back this newest ECHO , got a full credit of $109, and then I got a discount on new Echo DOT with Clock (4th Gen). That suffices plenty for me. BTW, I liked the 3rd Gen ECHO better than the 4th Gen - the 3rd Gen is mno longer avaialble. i'm waiting for the new Echo Dot. If it happens to this unit, back it goes and I will move on to a Google Nest. I will add , that I have a older Echo Dot, which i tried in the same location, paired it to the same devices , and it played Fine and it is supposed to?? Interesting stuff this digital stuff.