Create an IR remote

@a-wal16

Welcome to the forum!

I'm totally new to this technique. I don't know if I'm posting this topic in the right corner. If it's not, please put it in the right one. 

No, you have come to exactly the right place!

If I understand the video correctly, it is possible to create my own IR remote?!? If so, what do I need, can I use an existing IR remote where I can put the codes in, can I use every IR remote to learn the codes from? Or perhaps there's another way to create an IR remote.

You can use any remote you like, you will just have to set up a receiver to get the codes and list them. There are plenty of no-name remotes on the market that you code yourself, or use one that you don't use for your TV or any other stuff you have remotes for. That avoids any code conflict.

This simple sketch will print the IR codes from a remote to the serial monitor, with the right hardware.

Thank for your reply. Unfortunility I can't open your file. I don't recognize the extion, .ino. What is it?

So, I can take any IR remote from, let's say Ali, and put the "codes" on it from other IR remotes? Is the remote strong enough, to control things from a few meters?

Posted by: @a-wal16

Thank for your reply. Unfortunility I can't open your file. I don't recognize the extion, .ino. What is it?

It's a code file for an Arduino.   To see it you can right-click on it and choose "open in new tab", and you should be able to read the code there.

Although, if you aren't familiar with programming an Arduino it isn't likely to make any sense to you.

Do you have an Arduino?  And an Arduino IDE?  If so, you should be able to open the .ino file in the Arudino IDE.

Posted by: @a-wal16

I now use a remote I can control these things, but this remote is often defect. Can someone help me with this?

In what way is your current remote often defective?  

Who manufactured the remote controlled doors and elevator you seem to be saying you already control?

Posted by: @robo-pi

Do you have an Arduino?  And an Arduino IDE?  If so, you should be able to open the .ino file in the Arudino IDE.

No, I haven't an Arduino or Raspberry Pi. First I want to know if its possible what I want, before buying these things.

Posted by: @case

In what way is your current remote often defective?  Who manufactured the remote controlled doors and elevator you seem to be saying you already control?

It's hard for me to explain that in English. I can give you a link of the remote I use now, but it's written in dutch. The website: https://www.qvn.nl/nl/1/omgevingsbediening/bedienen/producten/control-prog.aspx
A document: https://www.qvn.nl/Documents/files/000026.pdf

@a-wal16

It sounds like you already have what you need except it's not dependable product?

The Arduino code that @pugwash posted is for reading the codes sent by an IR remote control.  But it sounds like what you need is a programmable remote control sending unit, just perhaps a better product than the one you currently  have.

Posted by: @robo-pi

@a-wal16

It sounds like you already have what you need except it's not dependable product?

The Arduino code that @pugwash posted is for reading the codes sent by an IR remote control.  But it sounds like what you need is a programmable remote control sending unit, just perhaps a better product than the one you currently  have.

Yes, the one I use now, is often defect. It would be just cool, if I can create my own remote, with just a few functions in it. It would be nice if I can say, look I created my own remote ?

Is this possible?

An interesting project, indeed ... and you definitely found the right place. You won't find a shortage of people eager to help.

You wrote that you're completely new to all of this, so you'll have to start off with the basics and build up your competency until you're capable of tackling the ultimate objective. It will be an iterative process where you add a little at a time until you reach your objective.

Perhaps your path to learning and success would look like this:

1) Get the electronics and misc. equipment you need to get started:

2) Get your workstation setup with the tools you need to do some programming and be able to upload your sketch (program) to your micro-controller. Most everyone starts with the infamous "blink" sketch.  https://www.arduino.cc/en/Guide/HomePage

3) Next, work to duplicate the project that you linked to in your opening message to learn some of the basics of IR control, how to wire your micro-controller, program it, test your setup etc.

4) Once you have an IR receiver prototype, take the IR remotes you have and point them at the Arduno to discover what codes your remotes are producing. This is key to figuring out (later) what code the Arduino will send to your devices to get them to do what you want. 

5) Create a IR transmitter prototype to use your micro controller to get your devices to do something for you. Expand on your prototype with a button array or touch screen to turn it into a functional IR transmitter prototype.

6) If this is more than a learning project, take your prototype to the next step and package it up for practical everyday use.  

Hope this helps.

Regards

Sure it is possible to build your own infrared remote controller if first you teach yourself basic electronics.

http://www.righto.com/2009/08/multi-protocol-infrared-remote-library.html
https://arduinoplusplus.wordpress.com/2015/11/22/large-button-remote-control-part-1-design-and-prototyping/

Posted by: @a-wal16

No, I haven't an Arduino or Raspberry Pi. First I want to know if its possible what I want, before buying these things.

As you saw in the video, you liked to, that the Arduino can be either a IR transmitter or receiver.

One important question, however, is if you're actually using an IR remote or not. About 4 min 30 sec into that video, there's a technique you can use to verify that you are working with IR and not something else, like RF or Ultrasonic. You also want to make sure the buttons you're using are actually producing IR (the remote control may be defective).

@a-wal16

So, I can take any IR remote from, let's say Ali, and put the "codes" on it from other IR remotes? Is the remote strong enough, to control things from a few meters?

I obviously misunderstood what you were trying to do. When I said that you could program a no-name/universal remote, I meant that with certain button combinations you could load the code sets from different manufacturers e.g. Philips, NEC, Sony etc. but you can't program your own codes into these devices.

What you could do with an Arduino, an IR receiver and transmitter, is to translate the codes from a remote to your own codes. This has been covered on youTube by Andreas Spiess in the following video.

But as @dxj mentions, you have to start in the Arduino world to make LEDs blink, before attempting more advanced projects.

EDIT:

And as far as signal strength is concerned, IR requires "line of sight" to work and is also governed by the "Inverse Square" law, which states "that if you double the distance between transmitter and receiver, the signal strength drops to one quarter the original strength". Therefore at some point, the signal will become too weak, but this should not be a problem at a few meters.

Posted by: @pugwash

And as far as signal strength is concerned, IR requires "line of sight" to work and is also governed by the "Inverse Square" law, which states "that if you double the distance between transmitter and receiver, the signal strength drops to one quarter the original strength". Therefore at some point, the signal will become too weak, but this should not be a problem at a few meters.

The IR Remote I use now, I don't have to point it at the door, to get it open. I can point it to my tv, in the orther corner of my room, to open the door as well. Thats what I meant about strength of the signal, when I create a remote by myself.

@a-wal16

The IR Remote I use now, I don't have to point it at the door, to get it open. I can point it to my tv, in the other corner of my room, to open the door as well. That's what I meant about strength of the signal, when I create a remote by myself.

Infrared light behaves like visible light, it can be reflected by other objects, walls etc. I can stand in the hall and point my TV remote at the open door to my living room and turn the TV on and off without being able to see the actual TV set (no line of sight).