Frequently asked Questions
What is Alexagate?
Think of Alexagate as a little hat that sits on top of your home Amazon Echo and jams the Echo’s microphone. Amazon Echo units ordinarily record and save all audio that they hear in your house, effectively wiretapping your home 24/7. Alexagate prevents this from happening.
How does Alexagate work?
Alexagate prevents your Echo from hearing you. Clap three times, or tap the Alexagate three times, and it toggles off so that you can talk to your Echo like normal. Claps three times again, and you’re once more assured of privacy.
Alexagate uses pulsed ultrasound to jam the Echo’s microphone. What’s even better: Ultrasound is beyond the range of adult human hearing, so you won’t even be able to tell it’s happening!
Which Echo models are compatible with Alexagate?
Echo Dot 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Gen
Echo Plus 2nd Gen
Echo 1st, and 3rd Gen
Or, since who knows what generation is what, all the little Echo Dots, and all the newer tall ones with rounded edges.
Can my Echo play music while Alexagate is on it?
Yes! Alexagate isn’t a physical muffler—it doesn’t interfere with the Echo’s speakers at all. We do recommend simply turning off your Alexagate via the power button if you’re planning to listen to music for a long period of time.
My claps aren’t registering. What do I do?
You can do two things for more reliable clap triggering. First, you can adjust your Alexagate’s sensitivity between three different settings to optimize for louder or softer claps. Second, you will come to learn what claps work best - everyone’s hands are a little different. Sharp, nonresonant claps tend to work best (and louder isn’t always better!). If you’re a strong snapper, snapping your fingers also works very well.
Does Alexagate really block everything?
It is possible to shout through Alexagate’s blocking, but we could only do it from about six inches away, yelling until our throats were hoarse. Believe us when we say that the blocking is good.
I love surveillance and I’m in thrall to Daddy Bezos. Should I buy this product?
...no?