Wednesday, April 6, 2011

An infrared remote control for the Freebox

One of the shortcomings of the Freebox Revolution is the absence of infrared receiver. Indeed, if the remote that uses radio waves (ZigBee) is an advanced universal remote users often can not use their device. Free and does not seem to solve the problem because the hardware changes necessary. Fortunately, there are some solutions.

The first is to use a wireless keyboard via a USB port, which emulates a remote control or wireless keyboard - found on eBay -. The problem is that keyboards do not offer all the functions, only some commands are mapped to the keyboard. The second, more complicated to implement, but more effective is to build - literally - an infrared receiver.

The installation uses an Arduino kit and Ethernet enclosure and an infrared receiver. The idea is to send commands to the universal remote control unit will then transmit the orders via the network (and Free API) to the Freebox. The solution is not very elegant, but it has the merit function.

Free hope in a future hardware revision, will have the same idea as SFR: integrating an infrared receiver for universal remote ... At the price, count about 60 € for a kit with the Arduino Ethernet.

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