Besides a remote control you also need a capture device to read the data from the remote. Former versions focussed on home-brew capture hardware connected to the serial or parallel port. Descriptions how to build such hardware can be found here. Current versions of LIRC also support a broad range of other hardware. As a starter, you can use the kernel built-in support for many USB dongles and similar. Besides this LIRC supports basically any conceivable way to capture your data including serial devices, parallel ports, sound input etc. You can see the complete list in the left pane.
However, in some cases universal remotes don't match up with older hardware. This is especially true if you have a remote that works via WiFi and hardware that relies on infrared communication. In these situations, you'll often find a little piece of gear called an IR blaster included with your TV (especially higher end TVs).
How to build a USB IR blaster
An infrared blaster (IR sounds better and less techy) is a gadget that accepts some sort of input from your remote and "blasts" it via infrared to the IR-compatible device you're trying to control. One common example is with some smart remotes, like the Logitech Harmony Elite.
This brings us to an additional benefit of using an IR blaster: It can extend the range of your remote, and it can overcome obstacles. Since this device is pumping out a stronger signal than your TV or cable box, you can sit at a comfortable distance away from your electronics and still change the channel, plus the signal will go through certain walls. Cable box blocked by a stack of Blu-rays? Not a problem.
As we detailed above, the most common are universal remotes like the Logitech Harmony series. IR blasters are also found with devices like the Slingbox M2, which use them to control your TV from anywhere you have an internet connection. This is how you're able to change the channel while streaming your live TV from anywhere.
An infrared blaster (IR blaster) is a device that relays commands from a remote control to one or more devices that require infra-red remote control. For instance, it may also allow radio-frequency-based (RF) remotes (including those using Bluetooth) to control infra-red-based components. It may also allow one device to control another: A recording device, such as a DVR or VCR, might change the channel on an external tuner (such as a cable box or satellite television receiver). This way, the receiving device can automatically be set to the correct channel before the recording process starts. An IR blaster can be used to implement remote control of components from a mobile phone, tablet, or computer.
The blaster itself is a combination of a receiving unit (which takes remote commands via wire or RF) and one or more infra-red-light emitters that relay those commands to the devices to be controlled. Often the receiver is a small unit that sits on or near those devices, which offers one or more jacks into which small IR emitter modules are plugged. Those emitters are then placed so that they can shine infra-red light on the IR sensors of the devices, either directly or bounced off a surface such as a cabinet door.
The output of an IR blaster (like that of any infra-red remote) is invisible to the human eye because its wavelength is beyond the range of visible light. The signal does not affect the human body and has no side effects for long exposure.[1]
IR blasters are deployed to control infra-red-only devices from a remote control that wouldn't normally be able to do so, either because it is out of the line of sight or because it does not communicate with infra-red signals. An IR blaster can be used to control devices such as television sets, DVD players, DVRs, air conditioners, or almost any IR-controlled appliance. One common use of an IR blaster is to control components that are secured in an equipment closet or another room.
Today, many new devices use RF-based remote control or control over HDMI via Consumer Electronics Control (CEC). Over time, RF blasters will likely find the most use controlling older, "legacy" equipment.[2]
The Redmi Note 11S 5G measures 163.6x75.8x8.8mm and weighs 195g. As with oh, so many aspects of its design and build, this is just about the standard for dimensions and weight for the class. Once you've accepted the implications of handling a 6.6-inch handset, this one should be no different - an extra hand helps in certain situations but is by no means required for a phone call or the bulk of your scrolling.
Jim in NJ sent us this IR blaster idea: Jim has several IP cameras throughout his house and a linux DVR machine near his TV. The linux machine is configured to montior the IP cameras using linux motion software. When motion is detected he configured the PC to output the desired camera full screen and send an IR command to the TV to display the PC video input in PiP. This same idea can be extended to other applications like baby monitors using sound detection as the input instead of motion. The system could also be implemented with insteon instead of a dedicated PC. Thanks Jim!
We have solutions to control any set top box or other infrared equipment behind closed doors. It is possible to hide your catv, verizon fios, or satellite box in a cabinet or closet and still use your remote control for as little as $13. If you need help selecting the best solution for your application please e-mail mike@irblaster.info.
We found Albert Huitsing's page on how to make a homebrew IR receiver and transmitter using an FTDI MM232R prototype module and thought we had to give it a try ourselves. We were thinking this little module would be the perfect thing to interface our motorola style IR receivers and Tivo Style IR Transmitters to the USB port. To do this, all we would need to do is modify Albert's design to include the necessary 1/8" (3.5mm) jacks.We decided to run this test by making a small board. This way, we figured we could make up a couple for only a bit more money and share the results with others. The board is pictures above with our 1/8" plug IR receiver cables plugged into it and it works great (notice the improved styling on the IR Receiver head as well). Albert also has a patch on his website to allow for transmitting, but we haven't tried that yet. We did put an option to install another 1/8" jack on the back side for connection to our tivo style ir blaster. We'll post here when we get around to testing transmitters. We did notice a couple items when testing the receiver so far that should be noted:(1) In the lirc daemons/hw_ftdi.c we had to change the sample rate from 16 to 32. It seems our FTDI chips sample at double the rate as the ones Albert tested. We didn't see a spec in the datasheet showing the correct sample rate. We also had to compensate for the doubling of sample rate by halving the baud rate from 4800 to 2400.(2) On computers with only a USB 1.1 port, mode2 worked, but irw did not. On all computers we tested with USB 2.0 ports both mode2 and irw worked as expected. Click Here for Ordering Information
I just found this instructable article by Josh on how to build your own cheap multi functional camera controller. The basic idea is to use an SLR camera with an infrared (IR) controlled shutter along with a microcontroller. Josh wrote some software for the microcontroller to choose shutter trigger options via a simple push button menu and then fire off the camera at the appropriate time. The infrared output is via an IR led. Personally, I would have used one of our tivo style ir blasters with 1/8" plug.This also got me thinking of a great use for our RS232 IR Blaster and RS232 IR receiver. Using lirc or winlirc and a PC the same exact controller can be built to control your camera. Yes, you'll need to have the PC near the camera, but this may not be a problem for some of the shots Josh had intended to take with this rig. I also thing a PC based design can be made much faster and cheaper assuming the PC is already available.Remember: If you make a unique setup like this using our parts and send us the details you can qualify for our food for your thoughts promotion.
We have a limited number of the light up RS232 IR Blasters back in stock. These are just like the regular RS232 blasters, but they have a clear head that lights up with both visible and infrared light on transmission. This makes setting up your system even easier!
I'm using this post as temporary storage of some ideas for insteon projects. Later, I'll create additional details of how to actually implement each idea. I would love to hear any ideas that irblaster.info users have as well to add to this list:Install a new light switch in that pefect location even when you can't get a wire there.
Midnight Snack Button - add a button next to your bed to create a 10% light dim path from your bed to the refrigerator for a mid night snack
Guest Bathroom Mode - re-program off as a 10% dim so the bathroom light functions as a night light. Your guests can always find their way at night
Garage Door Monitor - have a keypad light control the garage door and also indicate the status of the door.
Turn off lights when nobody is around - interface to a motion sensor to make sure only occupied rooms are lit.
Control your drapes from an insteon keypad
Control your gas fireplace from an insteon keypad
Theme Park Usage - have a keypad button execute a macro that starts the show
Keypad Linc for access control
We have had several customers ask us how to control a large number of identical infrared targets. The most common application seems to be set top box developers who want to test hundreds of boxes all closely stacked in the same room. We have also seen demand for this type of system in hotel/bar applications with a large number of TV decoder boxes feeding a single media server. The solution we typically recommend for these applications is the ocelot controller coupled with 16 zone IR expansion modules. Once connected, each ir blaster can be individually controlled by sending a command using the CPUXA protocol via rs232 from a PC.More details on these items can be found on our special order page. Please contact mike at irblaster dot info with your specific needs and we can put together a great package deal for you. 2ff7e9595c
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