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How to control your TV with your phone if it doesn't have a built-in IR blaster

posted by Daniel P. / Apr 23, 2014, 8:15 AM

How to control your TV with your phone if it doesn't have a built-in IR blaster

After being forgotten for a long time, the infrared sensor is seeing somewhat of a resurgence in mobile phones, with a bunch of handsets now coming with their own IR blasters, letting you easily control your TV, set-top box, home stereo, or even AC unit, from the comfort of your phone.

Those come with adjacent apps that have tons of TV makes and models preinstalled already, so there is a chance you can start annoying your sister by lowering the volume of that Bieber song right after you unpack your new handset. Some of those, like the apps on Samsung or LG phones, even let you manage more exotic gear, like your air conditioner, for example. What about phones or tablets that don't come from the factory with infrared sensors in them, though? Here are a few of your options:

How to control your TV, AC or home stereo with your phone if you don't have an IR blaster

The Irdroid gizmo has a Wi-fi version, too.

Logitech Harmony Smart Control ($129.99)

L5 Universal Remote Control for the iPhonea and iPad ($40)

Griffin Beacon Universal Remote Control for iPod touch, iPhone and iPad

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How to control your TV, AC or home stereo with your phone if you don't have an IR blaster

The Irdroid project comes to the rescue for those who want to add an IR blaster to their phone on the very cheap. Irdroid is a tiny contraption that plugs into your Android device's audio jack, and emits... you guessed it... infrared signal. The device might look a bit unwieldy, powered by one AAA battery, but at $15 we wouldn't complain too much. Irdroid comes with its own Android app, which is an open-source port of the LIRC (Linux Infrared Remote Control) platform, and has hundreds of Samsung, LG, Motorola, Sony, Panasonic, Philips and other remotes preset already. The gizmo has an extended line-of-sight range of 30 feet (about 10 meters), too.

Options

15 Comments

1. TheNeighbor

Posts: 370; Member since: Nov 15, 2013

Pretty much enjoying the benefits of having the Note 3 to remote the airconditioning, TV and projector where I live and work. They are useful.

posted on Apr 23, 2014, 8:30 AM 4

6. SuperAndroidEvo

Posts: 4888; Member since: Apr 15, 2011

Yes sir... +1

posted on Apr 23, 2014, 9:04 AM 0

2. ThePython

Posts: 902; Member since: May 08, 2013

How about using a TV remote?

posted on Apr 23, 2014, 8:33 AM 4

8. sarb009

Posts: 322; Member since: Jun 15, 2011

How about using just one remote (phone) instead of using various remotes for TV, ac, setup box etc etc ?

posted on Apr 23, 2014, 9:15 AM 1

10. Sauce unregistered

I'd rather use the actual remote my 80 inch T.V. came with. More options. Simpler. Less annoying. Physical buttons.

posted on Apr 23, 2014, 10:49 AM 4

12. jroc74

Posts: 6023; Member since: Dec 30, 2010

Yea...with physical buttons...I can use most of the remote without looking at it. Cant really do that with a touch screen.

posted on Apr 23, 2014, 11:37 AM 4

13. ThePython

@sarb009 you got your answer.

posted on Apr 23, 2014, 1:04 PM 1

11. Omarc07

Posts: 574; Member since: Nov 12, 2012

Same here I prefer using the remote.

posted on Apr 23, 2014, 10:51 AM 3

3. shuaibhere

Posts: 1986; Member since: Jul 07, 2012

Just buy a compact remote for $5....

posted on Apr 23, 2014, 8:39 AM 1

4. shuaibhere

"so there is a chance you can start annoying your sister by lowering the volume of that Bieber song" Best part of article...lol...

posted on Apr 23, 2014, 8:39 AM 2

5. bachir8k

Posts: 153; Member since: Feb 25, 2013

How to control your TV with your phone if it doesn't have a built-in IR blaster? mmm, buy a new phone with IR blaster...

posted on Apr 23, 2014, 8:41 AM 0

7. tasior

Posts: 265; Member since: Nov 04, 2012

That's why I like Sony. They don't particularly boast about it, but their TVs can be operated by any Android device, with their app. They communicate via wifi...

posted on Apr 23, 2014, 9:11 AM 1

15. Scott93274

Posts: 6025; Member since: Aug 06, 2013

I'm not particularly a big fan of Sony, but you would think that all modern TVs would be able to do this already.

posted on Apr 23, 2014, 4:42 PM 1

9. walnuttt

Posts: 153; Member since: Apr 11, 2014

jeez, I'd rather buy a phone that has built in IR Blaster than using these paid devices that will cost you extra dollars and on the other hand it is annoying using those. Just my opinion.