How to choose a learning remote control?

There is a huge variety of assortment, so the question of choosing a remote control often becomes difficult. There is no point in purchasing a remote control based on the appearance you like.

« Universal remote control» includes enough large number remote controls that are completely different in functionality. Therefore, before making a choice, you should decide for what purpose the remote control is needed.

Often a person is guided by the idea: if universal remote controls are offered, then they should be suitable for everything in the house. This is a misconception.

Universal remote controls are subject to customization. But this does not apply to all equipment and not all functions. So, for example, a universal remote control may not support the “menu” and “program settings” functions for the TV, and without this the control will be incomplete.

That's why, best solution- this is the choice of a model of universal remote controls with a learning function. Learning remote control for TV - modern solution for a modern home.

What types of remote controls are there?

1. With presets. The manufacturer reads signals from original remote controls into its database, then numbers these readings under certain codes. The user enters a code that corresponds to his brand into the remote control and controls the equipment, first with one code, and then with another, etc. There may be an option when the code is not written instead of a specific “home” remote control, but a list of codes for a specific brand is provided.

2. Remote control with settings via a computer. Configuration is carried out using a special software. The bottom line is that the manufacturer’s server contains a large number of settings intended for various devices. You can select these devices in the program and click the “update remote control” button. Then all the information you need will be filled in by the “smart” universal remote control. Moreover, you can check compatibility: this is done on the manufacturer’s website. For example, Logitech is one of the leaders with a fairly extensive base of settings for a wide variety of equipment.

3. Learning remote control remote control. At the same time, for each button of the new remote control, there is the possibility of learning a signal from any button of the “native remote control”. The universal learner remote control is capable of perceiving, remembering, and then reproducing signals from “native” remote controls.

How does the learning process happen?

It is necessary to place the remote controls opposite each other at a distance of approximately 5-10 cm. In this case, depending on the number of devices provided in the “universal” and the number of buttons on each layout, it adds up total number buttons capable of learning.

Attention: if you are the owner of rare brands of devices with initially “non-standard IR signals according to the protocol,” then not every universal remote control will be able to learn from the “native” remote control. Therefore, you need to choose a remote control with a fairly wide range of supported signals.

The remote controls are capable of combining all sorts of configuration options: programmable + trainable or PC-configurable + trainable.

When defined best option Regarding customization, then a choice is made on the number of supported devices, design, color scheme, weight, cost and various additional options, such as the macro function.

Depending on how many categories of equipment a universal remote control can control, it has a name. For example, “3-in-l” is the ability to replace three remote controls at once. It can be video + TV + satellite receiver. If the name is “6-in-l”, then such a remote control “manages” six devices.

How to use the universal remote control?

It's simple. You need to select the program number and adjust the volume. When there is a need to turn on, for example, video, then you will have to use a special switch or button. Thomson equips its devices with switches, and Philips developers have provided a special button that sequentially cycles through device types. Opposite to what the user needs in at the moment icon, a special indicator lights up. It also flashes when buttons are pressed, demonstrating the remote's operation and sending commands. Interestingly, such models often have two or three button fields. Each of the fields is directly related to a separate category of equipment.

Manufacturer selection

It is necessary to look at manufacturers who are professionally involved in the production of remote controls and have extensive code bases, as well as a satisfactory range for training.

One of the recognized leaders, Philips, offers a whole line of convenient remote controls. We invite you to familiarize yourself with two Philips models.

Model Perfect replacement SRP5004/97 universal remote control - certified by Royal Philips Electronics. Setup is very easy and fast thanks to the innovative SimpleSetup function. It only takes 3 steps: 1. Find out the device code and enter it into the remote control memory 2. Turn off the device using the on/off button 3. Check the operation of all buttons. The buttons are backlit. Fully compatible with more than 1200 brands.

The PHILIPS SRU940010 model is not only capable of performing all the functions of old remote controls, but is also much more comfortable to use. Provides 5-in-1 control for audio/video devices. There is a wide database of infrared codes for most devices or brands. The device is equipped with an LCD display and has a backlight. Produces automatic search the specified brand. Learnable: + Touch: + Macro: + .

Voto SRM-403E remote control is a new universal learning remote control. After simple setup, it can control 4 devices: TV, SAT, DVD, Home Theater. Eat
built-in control code base. The search for codes is carried out automatically and manually. Modern technology learning remote control allows you to program any key. The remote control saves settings when replacing batteries.

The Dr.HD universal learning remote control is a convenient and functional device with 2 modes. Only one of them has the ability to program 49 buttons to control various household electronic devices. It has backlit buttons, incredibly easy setup, and is powered by two AAA batteries.

The Euston URC - 888L remote control is called an ultra-universal remote control - 8 in 1. It will replace up to 8 remote controls. More than 1,500 popular models are stored in memory. The remote control is easy to train. Works with almost all brands of equipment. LED - glowing indicator of the selected device.

SunWave SRC-3820 - a remote control with a touch screen, replaces up to 16 original remote controls, can copy up to 48 buttons from one original remote control, copying up to 768 buttons from all original remote controls, editing banks and buttons with assigning custom names to taught banks and buttons, 128 macros - programming macro commands called by pressing one button. There is backlighting of the display and buttons, the ability to add the necessary buttons and remove them, LIGHT sensor of external light; Clock and calendar are provided.

As you can see, there is plenty to choose from! We are glad if you liked today's topic.

Thank you for your attention to our site, if you liked the published information, you can help in the development of the resource by sharing the article via social networks.

There have already been many reviews of universal remote controls. This remote control doesn't really stand out. So I'll be brief. You can take it. A little more detail under the cut.


The purpose of purchasing a universal remote control is to reduce the number of ordinary remote controls from 2 to one. The first donor remote control is from an LG TV. Lots of buttons, lots of functions. In reality, of course, only a small part uses it. But I tried to find a universal remote control where the main functional buttons would coincide as much as possible. The second donor remote control is from an HTPC-based home theater. An ordinary computer remote control.

Let's take a look at the universal remote control itself.

We see support for 3 profiles different devices. Powered by 2 AAA batteries. Quite lightweight, the main buttons are in their place. The plastic is pleasant to the touch. The buttons are also made of good quality smooth rubber, it’s a pleasure to touch them. The buttons are well placed and you won't be able to miss them with your finger.


The first couple of days there was an unpleasant chemical smell coming from the remote control. But over time it faded.

I chose this remote control for 2 reasons:
1. Price. I'm not ready to pay more for such a trivial problem as an extra remote control on the coffee table.
2. Appearance. I liked the color layout of the buttons.

The learning process is simple and straightforward: press and hold one of the blue buttons of the desired profile for a couple of seconds. As soon as the LED lights up, the remote control is ready to record a command from the donor remote control. We press the button on the donor, the LED on the universal remote control begins to blink. This means that you need to press one of the function buttons of the universal remote control on which a new command will be recorded.

A nuance emerged in the learning process. Let's say a simple remote control. It is enough to briefly press the button for the TV to respond to the command. If you also briefly press the button, sending a signal to the universal remote control, the recorded command will not always be correctly recognized by the TV. Using the random method, I came to the conclusion that you need to hold the button on the donor a little longer, then the recorded command will work. But if you “overexpose” it, double triggering may occur. In general, not everything is so smooth. I had to tinker with it before successfully transferring all the buttons from all the remote controls.

A few words about tactile sensations. The remote control is pleasant to the touch, but the buttons are pressed in a non-informative manner. My donor remotes have a distinct “click” when the button is activated. You can feel it with your fingers rather than hear it. But the universal remote control does not provide such tactile feedback. And the buttons are a little hard to press. This is his biggest disadvantage.

Overall verdict. If you have 2-3 remote controls, and there are no additional requirements, then this is a completely suitable device for its price.

PS
I have not checked for compatibility with the air conditioner.
There will be no cats - allergies.

I'm planning to buy +75 Add to favorites I liked the review +45 +83

Universal remote controls allow you to concentrate control over all home theater components in one device. For less than 700 rubles you can already pick up good model. If you need more comfort, you can find a universal all-in-one remote control for about 2,000 rubles.

It’s even more convenient if you do not control each device separately, but by pressing one button you send several commands to different devices at once. These luxury options are available a little more: for 15,000 rubles. Either way, check out our buying tips.

Model Description Price
Seki Slim Available spare remote control: trainable with simple controls. Battery operated. 500 rubles
Seki Easy Plus For the elderly: trainable with extra large buttons and simple controls. Battery operated. 870 rubles
Auvisio PRC-540 Device entry level: Supports up to 4 devices. Programmable via USB connection, runs on batteries. 1500 rubles
One for All Smart Motion Control Comfortable middle class: the remote control supports up to 6 devices, is equipped with a motion sensor and runs on batteries. 2000 rubles
Logitech Harmony 350 Universal: supports up to 8 devices. The buttons are programmable and battery operated. 6000 rubles
Logitech Harmony Touch Luxury all-rounder: supports up to 15 devices, features a color touchscreen display and rechargeable battery. 15,000 rubles

Seki Easy Plus & Slim: Simple, clear and convenient.

Seki remotes: simplified to a minimum

TV remote controls usually have more than 50 buttons of various sizes. Children, pensioners or people with low vision cannot always cope with such devices. In this case, remote control units come to the rescue. Seki.

Model Slim– a simple assistant in changing channels or adjusting the volume: an excellent replacement for another remote control. The model has more buttons, and therefore more functions. EasyPlus, whose large keys are very easy to distinguish. To program, just send a signal from the original remote control to the devices Seki.

Price: about 500-800 rubles.


Remote control with "Motion" function: One for All Smart Control reacts to your movements.

One for All Smart Motion Control: with motion sensor

With universal remote control One for All Smart Control approximately you can control up to 6 devices in your living room. For setup you have three options: quick programming (for equipment from large manufacturers, such as Panasonic, Sony, etc.), search method and code entry.

The highlight of the remote is the function behind the term “Motion”: the remote responds to your movements. For example, when you move the remote control sharply from right to center, the TV channel switches down the list, and from left to center - up. If you tap the side of the remote control twice with your finger, the sound will turn off; do this two more times and the sound will return. Practical!

Price: about 2000 rubles.


Logitech Harmony Touch: up to 15 devices on one remote control.

Logitech Harmony Touch: multiple commands in one

Logitech Harmony Touch can serve up to 15 devices. In addition to the color touch screen, it has such a feature as “action control”. Thanks to this feature, Harmony is able to execute multiple commands with the press of a single button. For example, the “listen to music” function activates the AV receiver and CD player, and the TV switches to the corresponding HDMI input.

The remote also has a backlight, rechargeable battery and USB port, with which it can be connected to a computer. Thus, using the “configuration wizard” Harmony Touch Programmable quickly and easily.

Price: about 15,000 rubles.

Turn on the device you will be controlling. Brand code search is only supported by older TVs, DVD players, VCRs and satellite receivers. It is not supported by stereo systems, digital video recorders, or high-definition televisions (for these devices, use the other method described in this article).

  • The brand code can be found in the documentation for the remote control or on this website.

  • Release both buttons.

    Enter the brand code using the numeric keypad on the remote. Keep the remote control pointed at the device while entering the code.

    • If the code is entered correctly, the power button will blink once and remain lit.
    • If the code is entered incorrectly, the power button will blink four times and then turn off. In this case, repeat the described process. Make sure you are entering the correct brand code and that your device supports it.

  • Press the power button. Each time you press the power button, the next code (from the list of brand codes) is sent to the device. The power button will blink. Continue pressing the Power button until the device turns off. This means you have found the correct code.

    • If you have entered all the brand codes from the list, the Power button will blink four times and then turn off. In this case, use another method described in this article.

  • Press and release the Stop ■ button. This will store the code in the remote and assign it to the button corresponding to the device that is turned on (that is, the button you pressed previously). If you do not click the Stop ■ button, the code will not be saved and you will have to start the process again.

    Test the operation of the remote control by turning on the corresponding device and controlling it using the remote control. If you can't control most of your device's features, try another method described in this article.

    Searching for codes manually

    1. Turn on the device you will be controlling (TV, DVD/Bluray player, stereo system, etc.). The device must support the use of a remote control.

      • The number of functions controlled from the universal remote control depends on the device.

    2. Press and hold the button on the remote control that corresponds to the turned on device. For example, if you are programming a remote control to control a TV, hold down the “TV” button. If there is no button corresponding to the switched on device on the remote control, press the “AUX” button.

      • After a few moments, the power button will light up. Continue holding down the device button on the remote.
      • Keep the remote pointed at the device.

    3. Press and hold the power button while continuing to hold down the device button on the remote. The power button will turn off. Continue holding down both keys for three seconds. The power button will light up again.

      Release both buttons. The power button light should be lit. If this is not the case, repeat the steps described.

    • I have long wanted to have a small remote control for controlling various household appliances. And finally, I got around to it and had enough free time to create my own universal remote control! I tried to make it smaller, more comfortable, more beautiful... in general, look what happened!

    1 Operating principle.

    The universal remote controls available for sale, for the most part, operate on the principle of preset IR commands. That is, a large database of protocols for various remote controls is stored in the remote control’s memory, and to select the desired one, its code is entered (a booklet with codes is included with the remote control). The advantage of this approach is that to configure all the remote keys you need to dial one code. The disadvantage is obvious - the remote control will only be able to work with those household appliances for which it has commands recorded in memory (in case the booklet did not contain the required model household appliances, the manufacturer of the universal remote control recommends trying the closest ones that match the model or even everything in a row).

    I took a different path. In order not to create a huge database of commands from various remote controls, I decided to record IR commands from the original remote control into the microcontroller’s memory and subsequently play them back (a kind of voice recorder for IR commands). It makes no difference to the learning remote control what protocol the original remote control uses, no difference what format and length of the IR command, it records all the information transmitted by the original remote control in raw (RAW) form and reproduces it in the same way.

    Of course, there are limitations, and some remote controls cannot be studied for objective reasons:
    - the learning remote control perceives IR messages from a TSOP operating at a frequency of 36 or 38 kHz (the vast majority of remote controls operate in this range) - this does not make it possible to perceive a message from a remote control that operates on a carrier very different from the TSOP carrier (for example, 30 or 56 kHz );
    - remote control protocols with feedback(for example, like air conditioners), for obvious reasons, cannot be reproduced;
    — non-standard protocols that have a specific structure of the IR command (for example, the command is divided into several messages).

    2 Control panel design.

    The learning remote control is a small box with touch keys. The entire structure is powered by a three-volt 2032 battery. There are 9 touch keys on the case, 6 of them are used to control equipment (remote control keys) and the remaining 3 are for selecting a set of commands (accordingly, you can record and play back up to 3 sets of commands of 6 commands each). There is also a tact button for switching between operating modes. Structurally, the remote control consists of two boards:
    - first - control board - ;
    — the second is the sensor board (you will find its description below in the text).
    Both boards are connected to each other using connectors, forming a one-piece compact structure.

    2 Remote control diagram (universal remote control shield).


    Universal remote control diagram

    The figure shows a diagram of the universal board along with the teachable remote control shield. Various microcontrollers from the ATmega48/88/168 series can be installed on the base board. The components of the circuit are not critical in terms of ratings and allow slight variations. You will probably have to select a quenching resistor for the IR LED. The lower the value of this resistor, the more powerful the remote control signal, but the faster the battery will drain.

    Initially, the remote control was planned to be powered by three AAA batteries, which would be located in the battery compartment attached to the bottom of the remote control, but field tests showed that a small 3-volt 2032 battery is sufficient for satisfactory operation. Of course, the power of the IR signal decreases somewhat, but remains within the limits of comfortable operation. In this regard, the seal of the sensor board was slightly changed, where a place for attaching a 2032 battery was added.

    But you need to take into account that not all TSOPs are capable of operating at a supply voltage of 3V. If your TSOP does not work from 3 volts, or you need a powerful IR signal that can operate over long distances, reflecting from walls and ceilings, then attach a battery compartment for three AAA batteries to the bottom of the remote control (a closed battery compartment will not even spoil the appearance ) and you will get a powerful remote control and long-lasting operation.

    3 Printed circuit board

    How to assemble a control board - Making a printed circuit board for a learning remote control shield can be somewhat difficult due to the relatively thin traces and large polygons of the touch pads. After etching and tinning the board, be sure to check/check all the tracks for breaks and short circuits among themselves.
    Here I leave the layout of the base board and the remote control shield board along with the side walls in one place (for the convenience of making all the boards at once).

    Drawing of the remote control circuit board

    4 Assembly of the structure

    After you are convinced of the integrity of the shield tracks, we solder the components. There is nothing special to solder there, but there are some nuances:
    — SMD indicator LEDs (there are two of them in parallel) need to be soldered sideways so that their glow is visible through the board.

    Initially, it was intended that these LEDs should be directed inside the housing and illuminate the entire plane of the sensors with reflected light, but to save battery life, the current of the LEDs had to be reduced and the backlight became difficult to see.

    By the way, LEDs do not have to be SMD. Can be drilled into convenient location board hole and install a regular LED there, connecting the power to it with wires.

    — Another problematic element for installation is the piezo emitter. The dimensions of the piezo emitter do not allow it to be installed in any specific place (it simply does not fit), so you will have to be creative in its installation. For example, I cut a standard piezo plate with scissors to a convenient size and soldered the plate at the bottom of the remote control.

    If nothing works with the piezo emitter, you can install an LED instead, not forgetting to put a damping resistor in series with it (300 - 1000 Ohms).

    — The sensor board has three side walls, soldered perpendicularly (the fourth end wall is soldered to the universal board). When connecting the universal board and the sensor board, the side walls should not rub or wedge each other. To do this, you need to adjust the boards to each other - you will have to work with a file :).





    5 Microcontroller firmware

    The base board is flashed through a standard ISP-6 programming connector (it is the middle one on the side of the base board).
    - Firmware for ATmega88 universal remote control
    - Fuses of the ATmega88 universal remote control
    Reminder: For Algorithm Builder and UniProf, check the boxes as in the picture.
    For PonyProg, AVR Studio, SinaProg, the checkboxes are checked inversely.
    Read how to program microcontrollers in

    After the microcontroller is flashed and the functionality of the remote control is checked, we begin to work on appearance our device. Since outwardly the path is a rectangular smooth box folded printed circuit boards, decorating will not pose any difficulties. Give the remote control " presentation" Can in different ways, for example, paint it with spray paint and then apply a picture of the keys or print a picture of the front panel on paper and glue it, etc.

    I chose the method described in . Using a color laser printer, I printed out drawings of the front and back panels of the remote control on self-adhesive paper, glued the drawings onto the remote control and covered it with a protective layer (I glued wide tape on top).





    It turns out quite interesting, especially since you can choose the design of the keys in the context of your interests or the intended household appliances for which the remote control is intended.

    Here are some common key design options.

    Drawings of touch panels for the remote control (DOC)

    6 Operation of the teachable remote control

    The remote control is ready, now I’ll tell you how to work with it.

    To start getting acquainted with the operation of the remote control - the controls:


    — hardware (contact) key Set serves for various purposes, but the main ones are the transition between operating modes, putting the remote control to sleep and bringing it out of sleep;
    — indicator Led(in the picture it is a little out of place, but everything flows, everything changes...) serves to indicate various operating modes + sensor backlight;
    - touch keys change programs And level changes have auto-repeat (functions: volume, channel switching, brightness, timbre, ...);
    - touch keys Power And Mute do not have auto-repeat (needed for single actions: turn on-off, open-close, ...);
    — command group selection sensors make active one of three possible sets (6 pieces each) of sensor commands (for example: 1-TV, 2-amplifier, 3-light);
    - there is also a piezo emitter Buzzer (inside the case), it speaks keystrokes and performs a number of other actions.

    Here is the algorithm itself:
    — When you turn on the remote control for the first time (supply power), it will begin the procedure automatic configuration sensors. Before tuning, two long and one short beeps will sound with short pauses. Immediately after a short signal, the sensors will automatically adjust. During automatic setup, the touch pads must be free. — Next, the remote control goes into playback mode of commands from the first group of commands. A long beep will sound, followed immediately by a short beep (the first set of commands). Lights up Led. If you now press the sensors selecting a group of commands then a long beep will sound and, immediately after it, depending on the group number, a number of short ones. The command group switches work the same in all modes.
    — When pressed in playback mode command sensors, a short will be published beep(peak) and issue an IR command.
    — If you don’t touch the remote control for a while, it will go into sleep mode. You can force the remote control into sleep mode by briefly pressing Set. Briefly press Set in sleep mode, the remote control wakes up and it will signal the number of the active group of commands (so as not to point your finger again 😉).
    — If you press and hold for a long time in playback mode Set, the remote control will go into learning mode by emitting two short beeps, and Led will start flashing continuously. When you press any sensor, the LED will go out, a long signal will sound and the remote control will wait for an IR message from the original remote control. If the package is received, a long signal will sound, the remote control will remember the command and return to learning mode. If there is no parcel for a long time, a short signal will sound and the remote control will go into learning mode on its own. Also, waiting for an IR transmission can be canceled by briefly pressing Set. In standby mode for the IR send of the original remote control, you can select other sensors or groups. Actions sensor selectors similar to playback mode.
    — You can return back to playback mode by long-pressing Set(two short beeps will follow) or, after some time of inactivity, the remote control will switch to playback mode.

    7 Problem solving. Debugging the design.

    The device's sensors are the thinnest and most sensitive element of the design. They need careful manufacturing (unwashed flux or dirt on the board can significantly worsen or even make impossible to work sensors) and fine tuning. The program took measures to make the operation of the sensors more reliable:
    — at startup, the program checks the sensor lines for the absence of short circuit. In the case when there is supply voltage on the sensors (the worst case scenario, which can lead to “burnout” of the microcontroller ports), the program will stop its execution and generate an error signal;
    — at startup, the program automatically adjusts the sensitivity for each sensor separately;
    — upon successful initialization of the sensor ports and the first adjustment of the sensitivity of the sensors, the program will write the sensitivity levels for all sensor pads in the EEPROM from the first address (zero address - general sensitivity) in the order:

    EEPROM:
    &01 Up
    &02 Down
    &03 Plus
    &04 Minus
    &05 Power
    &06 Mute
    &07 Sel1
    &08 Sel2
    &09 Sel3
    By reading the sensitivity table from the EEPROM using the programmer, you can indirectly assess the quality of the sensors and diagnose problems with their operation.

    Namely:
    — Normal sensitivity lies within the following values: 20-50 . These values ​​are not absolute, since the sensitivity of the sensors is influenced by many factors:
    — Values ​​close to 0 they say that the touch pad has leaks on the “+ power supply” (there cannot be a short circuit, since the program in this case simply will not start working (an error signal will be continuously generated). The cause of leaks may be a poorly cleaned board, “snot” between tracks, the wrong size (less than 1 megohm), sensor pull-up resistors, poorly etched spaces between tracks on the board.
    — Values ​​close to 255 they talk about leaks to the “ground” (up to a short circuit), or a break in the sensor pad-microcontroller leg circuit, or a break in the sensor pull-up resistor (the one with 1 megohm). The causes of leaks to ground can be: poorly cleaned board; “snot” between tracks; poorly etched spaces between tracks on the board.
    — The sensitivity values ​​of the sensors should be approximately the same. Too large a spread of values, although not a clear indicator of their incorrect operation (sensors are processed and adjusted individually), but indicates that there are some problems.

    In case of unreliable operation of the sensors, at the zero EEPROM address, using the programmer, you can manually set the overall sensitivity of all sensors. In this case, a zero value corresponds to the maximum sensitivity, 19 – the minimum, values ​​greater than 19 will set the default sensitivity – 5.

    EEPROM:
    &00 Sensitivity

    When flashing the remote control, the EEPROM is cleared and all cells (including zero) receive the value 255, which automatically sets the nominal sensitivity.

    8 Shield forArduino

    Since the remote control is assembled on a microcontroller used in boards such as Arduino, Freeduino and the like, it is logical to make a universal remote control shield for them. At the moment, I haven’t created such a shield yet (I haven’t gotten around to it), but if you can do it faster (and test it to see if it works), send me the materials and I’ll be happy to post them in this part of the article. Here, to help, is the basis of the Arduino shield board in Sprint Layout:
    - Arduino shield blank (Sprint Layout)