The remote for [Dillan Stock]’s TV broke, so he built a remote. Not just as a replacement but as something new. For some of us, there was a glorious time in the early 2000s when a smart remote was needed and there were options you could buy off the shelf. Just one handy button next to the screen had a macro programmed that would turn on the receiver, DVD player, and TV, and then configure it with the right inputs. However, the march of technological convenience has continued and nowadays soundbars turn on just in time and the TV auto switches the input. Many devices are (for better or worse) connected to WiFi, allowing all sorts of automation.
[Dillan] was lucky enough that his devices were connected to his home assistant setup. So this remote is an ESP32 running ESPHome. These automations could be triggered by your phone or via voice assistant. What is more interesting is watching [Dillan] go through the design process. Deciding what buttons there should be, where they should be placed, and how the case would snap together takes real effort. The design uses all through-hole components except for the ESP32 which is a module.
This isn’t the first thing [Dillan] has made with an ESP32, as he previously revamped a non-standard smart lamp with the versatile dev board. The 3d printable files for the remote are free available. Video after the break.
I was a big fan of the all-in-one you could buy dirt cheap from Radio Shack or Walmart. Even the ‘blue peanut” from Tivo was one of theirs. There were blank pads on the PCB and a 6-pin programming header that would accept a 1KB (SPI?) chip and some free community written software for custom macros and even custom protocols and signals.
They were amazing, but since have gone away.
This project is a missed opportunity to add a chording or joystick/d-pad based text input imho.
JP1. The community and the files and tools are still available. Remotes can be found on ebay.
I have some stashed Radioshack UEIC/One-for-All JP1 compatible remotes, particularly fond of the 15-1995 7 in One model with the RF -> IR Repeater Hub.
JP1 is great, and enables really handy low level control, and extraordinary feature adds to the stock remote, yet still cant hold a candle to what the Harmony can do.
Harmony solved this problem ages ago. Why do they have to kill good things?
My Harmony(s) still work the same way it always has, and the RF -> IR repeating WiFi Hubs integrate into Homebridge (and surely other software like Home Assistant) just fine. In my mind, there isnt a comparable replacement to migrate to. Cool project, but this aint it either.
There is another project called Omote might be worth a look
This! I still have a working Harmony set-up and I love it, but who knows how long it’s going to continue working? And I have not seen anything that can do as much to replace it with, it makes me sad.
This looks interesting, though a little bit complicated: https://github.com/eengnr/openharmonie
I envy those who have mastered HA. I got as far as making a single simple node / flow before the plugin was changed and I slid back to the bottom of the learning curve. Something like this using esphome seems like a good excuse to give HA another try.
I frankly dread software updates these days. The developers at HA have the bad habit of introducing breaking changes all of the time. I find that extremely frustrating, when in most cases that could be avoided with just some simple foresight.
If anything breaks, I just wait for the next update, and more times than not, it fixes itself.
I wish that they make a parallel “Stable-Stable” release with just the fixes from the previous release and no partially working new features. I don’t mind waiting two or three months for a new feature if avoids me wasting time fixing something they have broken.
ESPhome is just as bad, so once a device works, I stop all updates to it.
Completely agree. HA really needs to work on stability and resilience. Stuff like lights shouldn’t break because of an update or the SBC running out of storage space. Also, it should update itself automatically out of the box, on all versions, including the container one. Right now HA requires way too much babying and maintenance. Fine if you’re a tinkerer, but ultimately most people just want something that just works, a set it and forget it deal. After 6 years using it, I’m regularly tempted to just rip it all out and go back to a non-smart setup, as those require absolutely zero maintenance.
I don’t much like the “remote” form factor any more. All TVs I use are connected to some sort of computer anyway and the main use case is streaming, so almost all viewing experiences start by typing into a search bar. Typing without a proper keyboard sucks, so instead of a teensy little remote I use a wireless keyboard. Works a treat, everybody knows how to use one and the best part is, due to its size it doesn’t get lost as easily.
Helps to keep the setup simple, i.e. scrap the whole mess of different input devices, just use one computer for everything. Keeping it simple helps so much especially making the whole thing accessible. Most users already struggle with selecting the proper input source so having only one goes a long way.
As for the TV, I keep it dumb and disconnected. There’s only a socket actuator to switch it on and off. Everything else gets done by the computer. Very straightforward easy to use and still infinitely versatile setup.
I agree with your point on the form factor. A KBM setup definitely makes more sense for a TV hooked up to some sort of HTPC, but right now if you want to use a keyboard to turn on/off multiple devices and switch between them, you’re in for quite the weekend project. Same for controlling volume. Most keyboards have volume controls, but those are hardwired to the OS’s volume, which will be ignored by your receiver if you’re doing the right thing and bitstreaming audio.
Android streaming boxes are supposed to support voice dictation with the remote. This works great on my older boxes but seems more spotty on newer ones.
There is only one smart remote. It’s called TV-B-Gone.
Hear Hear!
Or rather don’t. Because it’s off. And stays off. See?
Can’t see, the screen’s off!
I had a Harmony for years but have recently moved to a Sofabaton as it does more.