Television Remote Control

[alr]

I am in the process of designing a machine, one of the functions of which, is to switch of the television by emitting an "off" remote control code. I realise that each brand of television has a different code.

Is there a universal "off" code?
Where can I obtain a list of "off" codes?

Tony R

 

[OperaHouse]

No, but you could probably send a dozen different off codes in a row and one of them would work.

 

[MacGyverS2000]

Don't remember the website offhand (try Google), but someone created a handheld device for a couple of bucks that does nothing but change the channel or turn TVs off, regardless of brand. It blasts all of the known codes over a couple of seconds... there was 2-minute article on 60 Minutes, or 20/20, something like that. It really annoys bar owners, etc. as customers can start screwing with their TVs from a distance.


Dan
Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

 

[IRstuff]

While there is no universal "off" code, there are "universal" remotes that contain codes for lots of different TVs. It may be possible that such a remote will have the code for your TV. Your machine could then be reprogrammed for that specific code or programmed for all off them.

TTFN

 

[jraef]

Or get an RF transmitter and receiver, and wire the receiver to a power switch that the TV is plugged in to. Some TVs lose their channel selection memroy on power loss though, so be aware of that.

Just out of curiosity, why do you need a "machine" to turn off a TV?

"Venditori de oleum-vipera non vigere excordis populi"

 

[ScottI2R]

Alr,
I believe the link macgyvers2000 is talking about is

http://www.tvbgone.com

I may get one too, just 4 March madness!!!!

Scott

In a hundred years, it isn't going to matter anyway.

 

[alr]

Thank you all for your help, I may purchase a TV-B-Gone and record the codes. There must be a few, if it takes over a minute to go through them all.

Tony R

 

[Warpspeed]

Another way might be to have your unit "learn" the correct code from the TVs normal remote transmitter.

Just sending dozens of off signals might cause the TV to respond in all sorts of strange ways before it finally turns off. That may be fairly objectionable. It may also interfere with other IR controlled devices in the vicinity.

I am sure a simple microcontroller chip could be programmed to record and repeat on demand a bit sequence code fed into it without too much complication.

 

[richs]

Hi-

A friend of mine passed this link along for some of
the IR codes used in TV remotes. I have not used nor
verified the accuracy of the information, but it might
be of interest:

http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Lakes/3947/TABLE.HTML

Should get you to the site (which I just tried again).
That, along with a simple microcontroller and an IR LED
should be all that you need to generate the OFF signal
for your application if you wish to persue the do it
yourself. Otherwise, the aforementioned controller will
adequately do the job. I have seen reports of them on
the local TV channels and the inventor/promoter of the
device did it as a fun project.


The link above is also useful when doing a TV type
receiver. With a cheap remote, you can control various
functions from the microcontroller.

BTW, I am not affiliated with the link above. Just passed
along from a friend of mine.

Hope that this helps.

Cheers,

Rich S.