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Default Amazon, TV remotes and DIY

Actually, as this is a DIY forum, perhaps one should attempt
to tackle a homebrew device to replace all the remote controllers,
TV, Freeview PVR, Freesat PVR and Tosh VHS/DVD PVR in one control box?

Assuming one could get hold of all the IR protocols.


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On 03/07/2019 16:44, Gareth's was W7 now W10 Downstairs Computer wrote:
Actually, as this is a DIY forum, perhaps one should attempt
to tackle a homebrew device to replace all the remote controllers,
TV, Freeview PVR, Freesat PVR and Tosh VHS/DVD PVR in one control box?

Assuming one could get hold of all the IR protocols.




https://www.instructables.com/id/Uni...rduino-Remote/

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On 03/07/2019 16:55, dennis@home wrote:
On 03/07/2019 16:44, Gareth's was W7 now W10 Downstairs Computer wrote:
Actually, as this is a DIY forum, perhaps one should attempt
to tackle a homebrew device to replace all the remote controllers,
TV, Freeview PVR, Freesat PVR and Tosh VHS/DVD PVR in one control box?

Assuming one could get hold of all the IR protocols.




https://www.instructables.com/id/Uni...rduino-Remote/


https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B073J45K1D

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On 03/07/2019 16:44, Gareth's was W7 now W10 Downstairs Computer wrote:
Actually, as this is a DIY forum, perhaps one should attempt
to tackle a homebrew device to replace all the remote controllers,
TV, Freeview PVR, Freesat PVR and Tosh VHS/DVD PVR in one control box?

Assuming one could get hold of all the IR protocols.


It is possible but you have to train the unusual protocols in and live
with the buttons not saying the same on them as on the real controller.
Quite a few generic ones will do a vast range of kit a few have a learn
a new controller mode if you can be bothered setting it up.

I never found one that would work the VH Karaoke machine. Fortunately a
few years later it turned up in the bottom of a box of bunting.

It can be very confusing though as many modern Toshiba and Panasonic
sets are badged and no longer respond to Toshiba/Panasonic controllers!

https://www.engadget.com/2015/01/30/...ferent-compan/

https://www.avforums.com/threads/how...estel.2019864/

--
Regards,
Martin Brown
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"dennis@home" wrote in message
...
On 03/07/2019 16:44, Gareth's was W7 now W10 Downstairs Computer wrote:
Actually, as this is a DIY forum, perhaps one should attempt
to tackle a homebrew device to replace all the remote controllers,
TV, Freeview PVR, Freesat PVR and Tosh VHS/DVD PVR in one control box?

Assuming one could get hold of all the IR protocols.




https://www.instructables.com/id/Uni...rduino-Remote/


Doesnt do a damned thing about the fundamental
problem with all remotes, having the same labels
on the buttons as were on the original remote.

Even say a smartphone which has the IR capability
built in so the app can have correctly labelled buttons
on the screen isnt really viable either because none
of the screens are big enough to get all the buttons
on it which are big enough to tap on with a touch
screen. It isnt viable to have them the same size
as on the original remote because they can't be a
closely spaced and still be useable on a touch screen.




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"dennis@home" wrote in message
...
On 03/07/2019 16:55, dennis@home wrote:
On 03/07/2019 16:44, Gareth's was W7 now W10 Downstairs Computer wrote:
Actually, as this is a DIY forum, perhaps one should attempt
to tackle a homebrew device to replace all the remote controllers,
TV, Freeview PVR, Freesat PVR and Tosh VHS/DVD PVR in one control box?

Assuming one could get hold of all the IR protocols.




https://www.instructables.com/id/Uni...rduino-Remote/


https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B073J45K1D


Am I the only one that finds that the amazon descriptions
are much worse than you usually get with ebay.

This one doesnt have a very clear description of exactly what
it does, let alone even show you what the labelling of the
buttons is like when you are using the replacement remote.

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On Wed, 3 Jul 2019 16:44:28 +0100, Gareth's was W7 now W10 Downstairs
Computer wrote:

Actually, as this is a DIY forum, perhaps one should attempt
to tackle a homebrew device to replace all the remote controllers,
TV, Freeview PVR, Freesat PVR and Tosh VHS/DVD PVR in one control box?

My Logitech universal remote controls the TV, PVR, DVD and hifi, with
scope for more. (DIY insofar as it needs connecting to the Logitech
website to be configured and for mapping buttons.)
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On 03/07/2019 20:56, Peter Johnson wrote:
On Wed, 3 Jul 2019 16:44:28 +0100, Gareth's was W7 now W10 Downstairs
Computer wrote:

Actually, as this is a DIY forum, perhaps one should attempt
to tackle a homebrew device to replace all the remote controllers,
TV, Freeview PVR, Freesat PVR and Tosh VHS/DVD PVR in one control box?

My Logitech universal remote controls the TV, PVR, DVD and hifi, with
scope for more. (DIY insofar as it needs connecting to the Logitech
website to be configured and for mapping buttons.)


Sounds interesting

What model number?


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Default Lonely Psychopathic Senile Ozzie Troll Alert!

On Thu, 4 Jul 2019 05:31:36 +1000, cantankerous trolling geezer Rodent
Speed, the auto-contradicting senile sociopath, blabbered, again:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B073J45K1D


Am I the only one that finds that the amazon descriptions


I know for sure that I'm not the only one who considers you a quarrelsome,
pathological, auto-contradicting, senile pest, senile Rodent!

--
Sqwertz to Rot Speed:
"This is just a hunch, but I'm betting you're kinda an argumentative
asshole.
MID:
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Default Lonely Psychopathic Senile Ozzie Troll Alert!

On Thu, 4 Jul 2019 05:27:37 +1000, cantankerous trolling geezer Rodent
Speed, the auto-contradicting senile sociopath, blabbered, again:


https://www.instructables.com/id/Uni...rduino-Remote/


Doesn¢t do a damned thing about the fundamental
problem with all remotes, having the same labels
on the buttons as were on the original remote.


A remote to shut YOU off would be the thing, senile Ozzietroll!

--
Richard addressing Rot Speed:
"**** you're thick/pathetic excuse for a troll."
MID:


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On 03/07/2019 20:56, Peter Johnson wrote:
On Wed, 3 Jul 2019 16:44:28 +0100, Gareth's was W7 now W10 Downstairs
Computer wrote:

Actually, as this is a DIY forum, perhaps one should attempt
to tackle a homebrew device to replace all the remote controllers,
TV, Freeview PVR, Freesat PVR and Tosh VHS/DVD PVR in one control box?

My Logitech universal remote controls the TV, PVR, DVD and hifi, with
scope for more. (DIY insofar as it needs connecting to the Logitech
website to be configured and for mapping buttons.)


They don't mention it now (in fact I don't know if they even offer it
now), but there is also a stand-alone set up program. I've not used it
for some time now, but at the time, there were some things that it did
that you could not do on the website and vice-versa. They have probably
improved the website by now though.

SteveW
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On 03/07/2019 21:10, Gareth's was W7 now W10 Downstairs Computer wrote:
On 03/07/2019 20:56, Peter Johnson wrote:
On Wed, 3 Jul 2019 16:44:28 +0100, Gareth's was W7 now W10 Downstairs
Computer wrote:

Actually, as this is a DIY forum, perhaps one should attempt
to tackle a homebrew device to replace all the remote controllers,
TV, Freeview PVR, Freesat PVR and Tosh VHS/DVD PVR in one control box?

My Logitech universal remote controls the TV, PVR, DVD and hifi, with
scope for more. (DIY insofar as it needs connecting to the Logitech
website to be configured and for mapping buttons.)


Sounds interesting

What model number?


The Harmony 650 does 5 devices I think. The 665 does 10.

The 650 is discontinued, but widely available. The 665 costs little more.

At the more expensive end is the Harmony Elite which I think uses your
wifi and comes with a hub for siting near your devices and can connect
to Alexa.

I have the older 600 and it is beginning to give up now, but was used
for many years and does still work.

It has become less important for me, because CEC has taken over the job
of turning the TV on and off with the boxes and selecting the right
input and now we only normally use one box plus the Blue-ray player, so
two remotes is no real hardship. The 600 has been relegated to operating
the hi-fi separates for some time.

SteveW
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Default Amazon, TV remotes and DIY

That is a nightmare, and also it seems some use radio not IR.
One issue I'd imagine is making a home made one small enough and with
buttons that will last.
I often wonder if there may not be an angle for makers to go back to
putting controls on their devices and the selling point is that it would
make you fitter, having to get up and go to the device every time you need
to change something. Of course the opposite is the way its going with
control using voice becoming a more obvious way of doing stuff.
Brian

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"Gareth's was W7 now W10 Downstairs Computer" wrote
in message ...
Actually, as this is a DIY forum, perhaps one should attempt
to tackle a homebrew device to replace all the remote controllers,
TV, Freeview PVR, Freesat PVR and Tosh VHS/DVD PVR in one control box?

Assuming one could get hold of all the IR protocols.




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"Peter Johnson" wrote in message
news
On Wed, 3 Jul 2019 16:44:28 +0100, Gareth's was W7 now W10 Downstairs
Computer wrote:

Actually, as this is a DIY forum, perhaps one should attempt
to tackle a homebrew device to replace all the remote controllers,
TV, Freeview PVR, Freesat PVR and Tosh VHS/DVD PVR in one control box?

My Logitech universal remote controls the TV, PVR, DVD and hifi, with
scope for more. (DIY insofar as it needs connecting to the Logitech
website to be configured and for mapping buttons.)


There's nothing "clever" about the IR signals that control your TV (or
whatever)

All they are are a binary code transmitted at some specific frequency or
combination of frequencies

Any IR transmitter is going to be capable of morphing the signals required
by any TV (etc)

the hard part here is in creating a user friendly way for the remote to
learn what the codes are (and assigning that code to a specific button)

and that's where these products fail.

tim



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On Wed, 3 Jul 2019 21:10:26 +0100, Gareth's was W7 now W10 Downstairs
Computer wrote:

On 03/07/2019 20:56, Peter Johnson wrote:
On Wed, 3 Jul 2019 16:44:28 +0100, Gareth's was W7 now W10 Downstairs
Computer wrote:

Actually, as this is a DIY forum, perhaps one should attempt
to tackle a homebrew device to replace all the remote controllers,
TV, Freeview PVR, Freesat PVR and Tosh VHS/DVD PVR in one control box?

My Logitech universal remote controls the TV, PVR, DVD and hifi, with
scope for more. (DIY insofar as it needs connecting to the Logitech
website to be configured and for mapping buttons.)


Sounds interesting

What model number?

Mine's an Ultimate One - doesn't look as though it's still available
but they do several:
https://www.logitech.com/en-gb/harmo...versal-remotes
(As do other makers.)


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On Wed, 3 Jul 2019 21:43:01 +0100, Steve Walker
wrote:


They don't mention it now (in fact I don't know if they even offer it
now), but there is also a stand-alone set up program. I've not used it
for some time now, but at the time, there were some things that it did
that you could not do on the website and vice-versa. They have probably
improved the website by now though.


The stand-alone app hasn't been available for several years.
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On 05/07/2019 20:01, Peter Johnson wrote:
On Wed, 3 Jul 2019 21:10:26 +0100, Gareth's was W7 now W10 Downstairs
Computer wrote:

On 03/07/2019 20:56, Peter Johnson wrote:
On Wed, 3 Jul 2019 16:44:28 +0100, Gareth's was W7 now W10 Downstairs
Computer wrote:

Actually, as this is a DIY forum, perhaps one should attempt
to tackle a homebrew device to replace all the remote controllers,
TV, Freeview PVR, Freesat PVR and Tosh VHS/DVD PVR in one control box?

My Logitech universal remote controls the TV, PVR, DVD and hifi, with
scope for more. (DIY insofar as it needs connecting to the Logitech
website to be configured and for mapping buttons.)


Sounds interesting

What model number?

Mine's an Ultimate One - doesn't look as though it's still available
but they do several:
https://www.logitech.com/en-gb/harmo...versal-remotes
(As do other makers.)


Thanks, I previously googled for them but at £200+ I'll stick
with separates.

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On Wed, 3 Jul 2019 17:11:30 +0100
Martin Brown wrote:

live
with the buttons not saying the same on them as on the real
controller.


Implement it on a smartphone or tablet and you can have an image of the
actual controller.

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"Rob Morley" wrote in message
news:20190706220706.0c201733@Mars...
On Wed, 3 Jul 2019 17:11:30 +0100
Martin Brown wrote:

live
with the buttons not saying the same on them as on the real
controller.


Implement it on a smartphone or tablet and you can have an image of the
actual controller.


Trouble is that the buttons on a real control are much
smaller than is viable on a touch screen because on the
touch screen you don't have the raised physical button.

Really needs a full redesign of the buttons and better
labels and to spread the buttons over more than just
the single touch screen to get the best result with all
but the simplest physical remotes.

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On 06/07/2019 22:07, Rob Morley wrote:
On Wed, 3 Jul 2019 17:11:30 +0100
Martin Brown wrote:

live
with the buttons not saying the same on them as on the real
controller.


Implement it on a smartphone or tablet and you can have an image of the
actual controller.


Way back around 2001, we had an HP Ipaq with a GPS receiver sleeve (it
cost around a £900 IIRC. One of the apps on it was a remote control
(Nevo I think), which could be set up for whatever you needed.

I have often thought that it is a great pity that mobile phones dropped
the IR transmitter. There is so much that you could use that for.

SteveW



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On Sun, 7 Jul 2019 07:40:24 +1000, cantankerous trolling geezer Rodent
Speed, the auto-contradicting senile sociopath, blabbered, again:


Trouble is


....that you are an obnoxious trolling senile pest!

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On Sat, 6 Jul 2019 22:40:25 +0100
Steve Walker wrote:

Way back around 2001, we had an HP Ipaq with a GPS receiver sleeve


I have a slightly newer one that has the GPS built in - great little
devices for the time.

(it cost around a £900 IIRC. One of the apps on it was a remote
control (Nevo I think), which could be set up for whatever you needed.

I have often thought that it is a great pity that mobile phones
dropped the IR transmitter. There is so much that you could use that
for.

You can get USB or Bluetooth IR transmitters to use with phones that
don't have IR built in (a few still do, I think).


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On 07/07/2019 09:12, Rob Morley wrote:
On Sat, 6 Jul 2019 22:40:25 +0100
Steve Walker wrote:

Way back around 2001, we had an HP Ipaq with a GPS receiver sleeve


I have a slightly newer one that has the GPS built in - great little
devices for the time.

(it cost around a £900 IIRC. One of the apps on it was a remote
control (Nevo I think), which could be set up for whatever you needed.

I have often thought that it is a great pity that mobile phones
dropped the IR transmitter. There is so much that you could use that
for.

You can get USB or Bluetooth IR transmitters to use with phones that
don't have IR built in (a few still do, I think).


Yes. I've seen them, but the USB ones don't seem a good idea. They'd end
up on the wrong end of most phones, stick out enough to get damaged or
cause damage to the phone if left in and will add wear to the socket as
they have to be taken out for charging the phone each day - my son has
already had two phones fail from the extra stress of using them on the
bus while connected via a cable to a powerbank.

Bluetooth gets around that, but would require them dotted all over the
place (we'd need a eight dotted around for various TVs, hi-fi, sound
systems, etc. and, in two cases, probably two in the same room. Not all
would be easy to position where they would work well. Anyway, I'm not
sure how well a phone would cope with 8 different bluetooth IR devices,
all in range at the same time - and if it can, how you'd avoid operating
two devices of the same make and model in different rooms at the same
time? Can more than one phone be connected to the same bluetooth device
at the same time, as there'd be five phones in the house at once?

The point and shoot ability of a phone with IR at the right end would be
so much simpler. I presume they took them out to save space, as I would
have thought them something that so many people would find useful these
days.

The better option is probably wi-fi to IR devices. Much more likely to
accept multiple phones at once and to be able to direct control for a
specific device to only that IR blaster. I don't know whether that is
the case or not, so I'll have to look into it.

SteveW
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