OT? TV Uinversal Remote

[ABLE1]

Hello,

Anyone in here know of a TV Remote Control that has the ability to change
channels per a schedule??

TIA

Les

[Jim Thompson]

On Thu, 16 May 2013 08:31:38 -0400, "ABLE1" <nospa...@nowhere.net>
wrote:

Seems you could make up a microprocessor-based device which could
"learn" your TV codes, then you'd need a way to program schedules and
channels.

Or do it the way us analog guys would do it and devise a device that
presses buttons on a schedule >:-}

With cable TV this is all accomplished with the STB (set-top box).

Which suggests, see if you can't buy a non-cable-provided set-top box
and program it to do the tuning, TV stays set to channel 4, for
instance.

...Jim Thompson
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I love to cook with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food.

[ABLE1]

"Jim Thompson" <To-Email-Use-Th...@On-My-Web-Site.com> wrote in
message news:j76ap8l09b2tp7j7e...@4ax.com...

> On Thu, 16 May 2013 08:31:38 -0400, "ABLE1" <nospa...@nowhere.net>
> wrote:
>
>>Hello,
>>
>>Anyone in here know of a TV Remote Control that has the ability to change
>>channels per a schedule??
>>
>>TIA
>>
>>Les
>>
>
> Seems you could make up a microprocessor-based device which could
> "learn" your TV codes, then you'd need a way to program schedules and
> channels.
>
> Or do it the way us analog guys would do it and devise a device that
> presses buttons on a schedule >:-}
>
> With cable TV this is all accomplished with the STB (set-top box).
>
> Which suggests, see if you can't buy a non-cable-provided set-top box
> and program it to do the tuning, TV stays set to channel 4, for
> instance.
>
> ...Jim Thompson

Analogly thinking I could hire a 7 year old to press the right channel
button on the cable box remote at the appropriate time to match the recorder
schedule. But since that may be against the child labor laws I was thinking
there should be some smart universal remote that could do it with less
hassle. Maybe that would be too much to ask that some company would design
and build a device like that.

Anyhow that is why I asked, just in case someone has already been there,
done that kinda thing.

Les

[Jim Thompson]

On Thu, 16 May 2013 17:10:03 -0400, "ABLE1" <nospa...@nowhere.net>
wrote:

I guess I'm not understanding the problem. If you have a cable box,
isn't it programmable? Mine is. I can program recording various
shows, on a thousand different channels, weeks in advance. Mine even
has a selection, "Record whole series".

[Ian Field]

"ABLE1" <nospa...@nowhere.net> wrote in message
news:Kk4lt.125868$97....@en-nntp-16.dc1.easynews.com...

> Hello,
>
> Anyone in here know of a TV Remote Control that has the ability to change
> channels per a schedule??

In the 90s; one of the TV/VCR manufacturers produced a remote with integral
barcode reader, for a while some printed TV guides had barcodes next to the
program listing.

AFAIK it sank without trace!

[ABLE1]

"Jim Thompson" <To-Email-Use-Th...@On-My-Web-Site.com> wrote in

message news:lrjap8pgdj9q3dvpd...@4ax.com...

Well under that note the following may come be a shock to you. It might be
a good idea that you are seated before you read any further.

There are other parts of the planet where there are people that only have
cable boxes that only change the channels and do not record. Those people
are left with a dilemma in that if they want to record a program to their
HDD or DVD they must first select the proper channel, and un-mute prior to
the recorder being started.

Yes, it is challenging to say the least. Having a universal remote with a
schedule would be a wonderful blessing.

Les

[Jim Thompson]

On Thu, 16 May 2013 18:15:00 -0400, "ABLE1" <nospa...@nowhere.net>

Actually I do remember such days. Back when I did it last, the VCR
could jump channels.

>
>Yes, it is challenging to say the least. Having a universal remote with a
>schedule would be a wonderful blessing.
>
>Les
>

Interesting problem.

Many people have done various hacks to remotes,

Try...

http://www.txsat.net/

http://oreilly.com/digitalmedia/2004/10/28/ipoditunes_hcks.html

http://mods-n-hacks.wonderhowto.com/how-to/hack-together-tv-remote-174699/

There was a group that specialized in such hacks, but I can't find my
way back to it :-(

[ABLE1]

"Jim Thompson" <To-Email-Use-Th...@On-My-Web-Site.com> wrote in

message news:40nap8lhta52vd086...@4ax.com...

Thanks for the links. I looked for such groups as well. But not to be
found.

What would be cool would be a App for my iPhone that I could set up the
program schedule and either DL it to a Remote or if the Remote was Z-Wave
compatible and would receive from my phone thru a GSM signal.

That would be the Wish List!!!

Les

[Jim Thompson]

On Thu, 16 May 2013 20:24:03 -0400, "ABLE1" <nospa...@nowhere.net>

One of those links _did_ use an iPhone to control their TV!

[ABLE1]

I did not see a iPhone hack only a iPod hack.

No matter, I was not looking to try and hack, modify, tear down and rebuild
the process. I was actually just wanting to buy off the shelf, stick in the
batteries, and program. More like a no brainier thingy.

Les

[Michael Black]

It wsa hard to judge. I never even saw one, but yes, the "tv listings
magazine" that came with the local paper had the code. But I can't
remember the name. I think it wsa successful for a while, but then things
came along where information came from the internet. The success of that
remote was because people didn't have to fuss with specifics, they'd scan
the program and the remote would do the work. Once devices came along
that got the listing from the internet, the same ease was there.

I always assumed those remotes took the information, kept track of time,
and then simply sent the needed information to the VCR via IR. TO the
VCR, it appeared like any remote, turning on the VCR at the right time,
telling it to go to such and such a channel and start recording. But the
remote was "smart" and sent the sequence of control codes at the proper
moment. In other words, you weren't programming the VCR, which is what
peoiple wanted to avoid.

Michael

[Jasen Betts]

On 2013-05-16, ABLE1 <nospa...@nowhere.net> wrote:
> Hello,
>
> Anyone in here know of a TV Remote Control that has the ability to change
> channels per a schedule??

LIRC

probably not what you wanted.


--
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--- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: ne...@netfront.net ---

[amdx]

They have been made.
I saw one at a Salvation army store.
I looked it over just as a curiosity.
I don't recall how many times it would would store.
I have no more information, other than
it was not a name brand.
Have some memory that it could have been packaged
with "As seen on TV".
Mikek

[ABLE1]

"Jasen Betts" <ja...@xnet.co.nz> wrote in message
news:kn54aa$nvf$2...@gonzo.reversiblemaps.ath.cx...

> On 2013-05-16, ABLE1 <nospa...@nowhere.net> wrote:
>> Hello,
>>
>> Anyone in here know of a TV Remote Control that has the ability to change
>> channels per a schedule??
>
> LIRC
>
> probably not what you wanted.
>
>

You are correct. Maybe if I was 40 years younger and had nothing else to do
but hack and play with it until I had a breadboard the size of my kitchen
table. And then go through the miniaturization process till it could become
a practical handheld device........................... not.

Thanks,

Les

[Michael Black]

Definitely to the "as seen on tv".

But why can't we remember the name, the thing was everywhere for a while.

Michael

[amdx]

I found the one I saw at the Salvation Army Store.
It's programability seems somewhat limited, but you could buy more than
one! It's called the VCR CoPilot.
http://www.ipmart.com/usa/product/VCR,CoPilot,,1,ea,50020.php?prod=50020

Mikek

[ABLE1]

"amdx" <am...@knology.net> wrote in message
news:71ee2$51964fbd$18d66b6a$8...@KNOLOGY.NET...

That product is rather interesting but it will not do what I would like to
do.

The trick is that this remote contains its own clock and timer. You set the
clock once. Then, when you want to record a show, you do the following:
1) Turn on your VCR, and leave it on.
2) Switch it to the channel on which you want to record.
3) Set the VCRs default recording speed (if you care, and if your VCR allows
this).

Step #2 is the killer. I need it to change the channel at a specific time.

I found it funny that the review was written in 2004.

Thanks for the input.

Les

[Bill Bowden]

Yes, Radio Shack and Memorex used to have one that did 48 key macros.
You can set it on a table, point it at the TV, and it turns things on
an off and selects channels by time and day of the week. It has a LCD
display, but it's a big ugly thing that eats four AA batteries every
couple months. I have a RS modle 15-1901 but I never learned how to
program it. I was too busy changing batteries. I imagine you might
find it on ebay, or something similar.

-Bill

[ABLE1]

"Bill Bowden" <bpe...@bowdenshobbycircuits.info> wrote in message
news:1d7a294a-5a53-495a...@a15g2000pbu.googlegroups.com...

Well thanks, I did actually find two on eBay. Reading the manual leaves
the brain with a lump trying to understand how to set it up. So, I can
follow your comment above on "I never learned how to program it". Need to
think about this one a bit. But for an experiment, $23 is not that bad.

Thanks for the tip.

Les


-Bill

[whit3rd]

On Friday, May 17, 2013 4:55:12 AM UTC-7, amdx wrote:
> On 5/16/2013 7:31 AM, ABLE1 wrote:

> > Anyone in here know of a TV Remote Control that has the ability to change
> > channels per a schedule??

> They have been made.
> I saw one at a Salvation army store.

There were a few such items; I have a VCR Plus+ (from Gemstar Devellopment Corp).
It even had a toll-free phone number, you could hold the remote up to the
phone and get the codes entered by the customer service department.
It had an internal clock, and you could do record-once, or once weekly, or all weekdays.

[Michael Black]

Yes, it wsa VCR Plus that I was thinking of. Oddly enough, I wsa in a
"thrift shop" on Friday, and saw one, actually providing the name I
couldn't remember.

Wikipedia has an entry under that, says the same basic unit was sold under
a variety of names.

I ended up with an SSB CB set for five dollars,
complete with some odd cable out the back so it's been modified. I've
been looking for one of those for almost 20 years, so long I can't quite
remember why I hoped to find it. I don't even have much hope for it, even
if it does work, the SSB filter can't be that great, since a glance at the
schematic shows that the SSB filter is used for AM too, so it can't be
particularly narrow.

Michael

[ABLE1]

"Bill Bowden" <bpe...@bowdenshobbycircuits.info> wrote in message
news:1d7a294a-5a53-495a...@a15g2000pbu.googlegroups.com...

Bill,

Thanks for the tip. I did find one on eBay and bought it. Just $23 bucks.
Upon receipt I found that some buttons did not work. Had to tear it apart
and clean the contact pads and circuit board to get the buttons to work
properly. Had some crud on the button pads that would not allow a button
selection. After that re-assembled and it respond like new.

Yes, it is really clunky to program. But, I worked my way through the
manual. After all that it does do what I wanted.

Again thanks!!

Les