Increasing the range of my Universal Remote

[John Kimble]

I am interested in increasing the distance that the IR in my universal remote can reach. I have done a little bit of reading on the subject and I see that remotes tend to use a signal somewhere in the 32KHz to 40KHz range.

I don't think anything above 40KHz would work because the T.V. probably wouldn't accept the signal so I am wondering how I would go about increasing the distance my 32KHz signal can go.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

 

[Jerry G.]

The frequency of the IR carrier of your remote has to be accurate for your
set. This also applies to the data codes that it sends on the carrier.

The way to increase a TV remote would be to have the IR LED become more
intense, or get a remote extender. I think Radio Shack and many of the HiFi
stores sell a range extender for IR remotes.

Modifying the remote may not be very easy, or practical. Messing inside will
also increase the chance of doing some damage to it, and rendering it not
usable. If the IR LED was changed to a stronger one, the drive circuits in
the remote would have to be able to drive it. There is also the problem of
selecting a higher output compatible IR LED to begin with.

--

Greetings,

Jerry Greenberg GLG Technologies GLG
=========================================
WebPage http://www.zoom-one.com
Electronics http://www.zoom-one.com/electron.htm
=========================================


"John Kimble" <JohnKimble@fastcable.com> wrote in message
news:%wavb.25717$kL2.21668@fe3.columbus.rr.com...
I am interested in increasing the distance that the IR in my universal
remote can reach. I have done a little bit of reading on the subject and I
see that remotes tend to use a signal somewhere in the 32KHz to 40KHz range.

I don't think anything above 40KHz would work because the T.V. probably
wouldn't accept the signal so I am wondering how I would go about increasing
the distance my 32KHz signal can go.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

 

[Gary Tait]

On Thu, 20 Nov 2003 21:40:11 GMT, "John Kimble"
<JohnKimble@fastcable.com> wrote:

I am interested in increasing the distance that the IR in my universal remote can reach. I have done a little bit of reading on the subject and I see that remotes tend to use a signal somewhere in the 32KHz to 40KHz range.

I don't think anything above 40KHz would work because the T.V. probably wouldn't accept the signal so I am wondering how I would go about increasing the distance my 32KHz signal can go.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

How far does it work now, how far more do you need it?

 

[Chaos Master]

In an arcane spellbook written by the priests, labeled 'Posts of
sci.electronics.misc' I found a message from John
Kimble[JohnKimble@fastcable.com]:

John,

I am interested in increasing the distance that the
IR in my universal remote can reach.
I have done a little bit of reading on the subject
and I see that remotes tend to use a signal
somewhere in the 32KHz to 40KHz range.

I don't think anything above
40KHz would work because the T.V. probably wouldn't accept
the signal so I am wondering how I would go about
increasing the distance my 32KHz signal can go.

Any ideas?

Please check your line breaks.

There are IR range extender. Probably <insert your favorite shop' name here>
carry them.
--
'You receive a scroll of signature. It says:'
Chaos MasterŽ - Posting from Porto Alegre - Brazil.
E-mail address is valid. But remove the SPAMTRAP to reply.

 

[Mjolinor]

"John Kimble" <JohnKimble@fastcable.com> wrote in message
news:%wavb.25717$kL2.21668@fe3.columbus.rr.com...

I am interested in increasing the distance that the IR in my universal
remote can reach. I have done a little bit of reading on the subject and I

see that remotes tend to use a signal somewhere in the 32KHz to 40KHz range.

I don't think anything above 40KHz would work because the T.V. probably
wouldn't accept the signal so I am wondering how I would go about increasing

the distance my 32KHz signal can go.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

If you intend to modify the drive circuitry and IR LED then your "added"
circuit needs to be good for 100kHz if it is a newish universal remote as
most modern satellite / cable boxes use IRDA in order to support a wireless
keyboard. The same applies if you buy a radio remote extender.

If it isn't that expensive a remote then just reduce the series resistor
that controls the current through the LED. I have never seen a remote that
doesn't use a very straightforward drive circuit for the LED, i.e. a single
bipolar transistor with the base driven from some chip and the collector
having a series resistor and LED driven straght from the battery. I have
seen them where there is no resistor and they rely on the internal
resistance of the battery to limit the current but I don't think that any of
the universals worth using do it this way.

 

[chibitul]

In article <%wavb.25717$kL2.21668@fe3.columbus.rr.com>,
"John Kimble" <JohnKimble@fastcable.com> wrote:

I am interested in increasing the distance that the IR in my universal remote
can reach. I have done a little bit of reading on the subject and I see that
remotes tend to use a signal somewhere in the 32KHz to 40KHz range.

I don't think anything above 40KHz would work because the T.V. probably
wouldn't accept the signal so I am wondering how I would go about increasing
the distance my 32KHz signal can go.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

most suggest boosting the power of the remote, and this is definitely
the better solution, but I wanted to metion increasing the sensitivity
of the IR Receivers. If you have only 1 or 2 devices, and they're out of
warranty, and you have enough courage, and time, and so on, you could do
it. On the other hand, I knew it was a stupid idea... forget it!

 

[Andre]

chibitul <ch1b1tul@eudoramail.com> wrote in message news:<ch1b1tul-E3EA27.19583421112003@newsclstr01.news.prodigy.com>...

In article <%wavb.25717$kL2.21668@fe3.columbus.rr.com>,
"John Kimble" <JohnKimble@fastcable.com> wrote:

I am interested in increasing the distance that the IR in my universal remote
can reach. I have done a little bit of reading on the subject and I see that
remotes tend to use a signal somewhere in the 32KHz to 40KHz range.

I don't think anything above 40KHz would work because the T.V. probably
wouldn't accept the signal so I am wondering how I would go about increasing
the distance my 32KHz signal can go.

One idea - replace the output drive transistor with something capable
of handling several amps. I'd go for one of the ZETEX series (1053A,
689B) as these seem to have the best Ic max and lowest saturation
voltage.

You can also bootstrap several transistors being driven from the
original driver circuit, with LED for each transistor and separate
base resistors. Replace the LED(s) with a resistor and connect the low
end of the resistor to your drive transistors.

IR LEDs are about 1.0V each - so you can drive maybe two on each
transistor, in series. Be sure to add appropriate series resistors to
prevent LED toasting.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

most suggest boosting the power of the remote, and this is definitely
the better solution, but I wanted to metion increasing the sensitivity
of the IR Receivers. If you have only 1 or 2 devices, and they're out of
warranty, and you have enough courage, and time, and so on, you could do
it. On the other hand, I knew it was a stupid idea... forget it!

 

[Ivo Foldyna]

"John Kimble" <JohnKimble@fastcable.com> wrote in message news:<%wavb.25717$kL2.21668@fe3.columbus.rr.com>...

I am interested in increasing the distance that the IR in my universal remote can reach. I have done a little bit of reading on the subject and I see that remotes tend to use a signal somewhere in the 32KHz to 40KHz range.

I don't think anything above 40KHz would work because the T.V. probably wouldn't accept the signal so I am wondering how I would go about increasing the distance my 32KHz signal can go.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

I have done this several years ago by simple conversion of IR to RF
and back to IR. It worked great .... specially in my case where I
wanted to control devices behind a closed door of my TV cabinet. Nice
thing about the device is that it is a "translator" thus completely IR
"code" independent.

 

[Ivo Foldyna]

testing_h@yahoo.com (Andre) wrote in message news:<2c2cf14c.0311220623.d8914c@posting.google.com>...

chibitul <ch1b1tul@eudoramail.com> wrote in message news:<ch1b1tul-E3EA27.19583421112003@newsclstr01.news.prodigy.com>...
In article <%wavb.25717$kL2.21668@fe3.columbus.rr.com>,
"John Kimble" <JohnKimble@fastcable.com> wrote:

I am interested in increasing the distance that the IR in my universal remote
can reach. I have done a little bit of reading on the subject and I see that
remotes tend to use a signal somewhere in the 32KHz to 40KHz range.

I don't think anything above 40KHz would work because the T.V. probably
wouldn't accept the signal so I am wondering how I would go about increasing
the distance my 32KHz signal can go.

One idea - replace the output drive transistor with something capable
of handling several amps. I'd go for one of the ZETEX series (1053A,
689B) as these seem to have the best Ic max and lowest saturation
voltage.

You can also bootstrap several transistors being driven from the
original driver circuit, with LED for each transistor and separate
base resistors. Replace the LED(s) with a resistor and connect the low
end of the resistor to your drive transistors.

IR LEDs are about 1.0V each - so you can drive maybe two on each
transistor, in series. Be sure to add appropriate series resistors to
prevent LED toasting.


Any ideas?

Thanks.

most suggest boosting the power of the remote, and this is definitely
the better solution, but I wanted to metion increasing the sensitivity
of the IR Receivers. If you have only 1 or 2 devices, and they're out of
warranty, and you have enough courage, and time, and so on, you could do
it. On the other hand, I knew it was a stupid idea... forget it!

I have done this several years ago by simple conversion of IR to RF
and back to IR. It worked great .... specially in my case where I
wanted to control devices behind a closed door of my TV cabinet. Nice
thing about the device is that it is a "translator" thus completely IR
"code" independent.