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The Do-It-All Remote?

Posted by Cliff on from the could-this-be? dept.

MisterFig asks: "I, like many of you, have too many remote controls to know what to do with. One for the TV, the VCR, the Receiver, the CD player, the Cable box... you get the drift. I don't mind using them all, but is there an easier way? Sure, there are so called "Universal" remotes. But I find these often provide a very limited set of functionality for usually only a subset of my devices. Each remote has it's own special buttons and features that a Universal remote doesn't know about. So I am stuck keeping all the remotes out. Can one remote do it all? I recently came across an add for the Harman Kardon "Take Control". This is a cool remote control that is software programmable, looks really easy to use and supposedly can be programmed to do everything each of your current remotes do. Could it be? A single remote control that can control everything? It's laid out in such a way that you have activities, like "watch tv", "play a cd" or "watch a video". Clicking on the activity will setup the entertainment center to a predefined state of your choosing. This sounds too good to be true! However, it's about $300. Is it worth it? Has anyone used one of these? Are there any other remotes out there that can control everything? Including all the special buttons/features that each of the individual remotes have? " Can it be? An All-In-One remote that claims it actually WORKS?

5 of 239 comments (clear)

  1. ... by Signal+11 · · Score: 3
    It's called a palm pilot. It has a programmable IR port. All you need to do is make an interface that records the on-off sequence and delay (short or long) and can then repeat it. This is trivial to do even without a CPU.

    I did some experiments a long time ago back with electronics (back when I knew what a 555 IC was... heh), and I took a remote and a IR phototransistor and hooked it to an LED so I could see what it was transmitting. Almost all remotes use a system similar to morse code - that is short and long pulses seperated by a specific interval of dark.

    In principal any device which can record and play back IR signals could be used as a remote. Infact, the industry has a fairly standard set of signals to send to/from your TV - just get a all-in-one remote and look at the guide. Manufacturers document all of this. The problem is with non-standard features like "still frame" in VCRs. Play, record, stop, ff, rewind, those are all standard. Things like accessing the TV's internal "menu" system isn't.

    Hope this helps..



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  2. Re: Palm Pilot by keytoe · · Score: 3

    You don't even have to do anything to make the Palm Pilot work - there's an application called PalmRemote that'll record any IR input and play it back on demand.

    The cool thing about this is that you can have up to 14 different 'remotes' to choose from - and you get to build them the way you want by simply drawing 'buttons' on the screen. Additionally, you can assign 'macros' to buttons that trigger multiple actions. Sadly, it's not free or open source - but $20 is a far cry from $300 (and it doesn't run wince).

    Ever since I saw this, I've been wanting to head down to Circuit City and learn all of the remotes down there and then... head down to the local sports bar and keep hitting the 'all TVs to the cartoon network' button. Muhahaha. The bonus here is that you'd look like you were working :)

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    Culture is more than commerce

  3. Palm IR Port too weak by Fjord · · Score: 4

    I used to run the OmniRemote software by Pacific NeoTek. This tool allows you to record a signal from a device (or a set of signals) and replay them back. So you would point your TV remote at the IR port, hit record on OmniRemote, press "channel up", stop recording and label the "button" you recorded into "Ch+".

    The problem was that the built in IR port was too weak. It couldn't control anything more than 2 feet away. So it was just a cute toy that has no practical value.

    There are hardware add ons that give you a longer range (or an IR port if you don't have one), but I haven't tried them. There is the OmniRemote Module also by NeoTek for $20 (a lot less than the $300 above, even if you have to buy a used Palm), and TaleBeam for $30 (sorry, $29.95). Apparently there is no software for the TaleBeam yet.

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    -no broken link
  4. Oh boy... by jfunk · · Score: 4

    I have the same woes.

    It appears to be impossible to find a good remote.

    Check this site for a ton of info. Beware, big companies give this guy free remotes so don't expect a hell of a lot of journalistic integry anywhere but the user forums.

    For cheap and good, the SL-9000 does look quite nice. I've never tried it though. It has decent punch-through and macro options (most important).

    For high-end, the Philips one looks pretty good but I don't really like those screens because you actually have to look at it to get to a button. I can hit most of the buttons on my five separate remotes (works for now, I'm afraid of the lost functionality of multi-remotes). There is also the fact that you can't fit a hell of a lot of buttons on those screens, you'll probably find yourself scrolling a lot.

    If you like those screens and want something kind of cheap, there is software you can get for a palm but the IR port isn't all that high-powered. I heard somewhere (can't remember where) that there will be a remote control addition to the Visor.

    My advice: a number of high-end home theatre stores will let you bring a remote home to try it out. Do this and don't buy anything fancy unless you need the functionality.

    I have also thought about designing my own remote. Simply use a PIC, a 2-wire EEPROM, a serial port, and a load of buttons and you can program your remote graphically on your PC. A lot of low-level remote info can be found through the LIRC (Linux Infrared Remote Control) project. This way you can get a remote that does pretty much anything you want and you won't have to worry about setting punch-throughs, macros, switching between components, etc. The software would allow you to print a sheet which you can cut up and place under a clear plastic cover on your remote that has the key names on it. Some remotes have little stickers that you can place under the buttons so that would be an option (although not so elegant) as well.

    Yes, I'm very serious about designing my own remote. I have done much thought on it. I want it to be as good or better quality than commercial remotes. If anyone is interested in helping out/discussing it email me and we'll maybe set up a mailing list and web page, etc.

  5. Nerd it up by gad_zuki! · · Score: 3
    Practical? Economical? Bah, I scoff at your IR needs.

    What you need is a PalmPilot + the Omniremote software. They even sell a hardware add on if you don't have IR.

    Goto http://www.pacificneotek.com/

    BTW, this is the gear the guys at the HackFurby project use - http://www.homestead.com/hackfurby/

    And when you perfect your IR floodlamp remote please don't distrub my daily viewings of Manimal and Joni Loves Chachi.