Remote Controls: The Magic Trick Explained
Remember Steve Wozniak? Yes, the guy who gave the Apple II to the world! He is also the person who came up with the first programmable universal remote control. Today universal remote controls have become very popular. The reason behind the popularity of programmable universal remote controls is the fact that it allows the user to operate almost all the types of devices that can be controlled by remote controls. A lot of people become awed by the ability of these remote controls and think of it as some device that was sent to us from beings from outer space. On the contrary, they are actually real and not some science fiction device. As the name suggests, this breed of remote controls can be programmed. Every remote control operates on a set of remote control codes. These codes are alphanumeric values which tell the target device what to do.
They are hard-coded in the circuitry of a normal remote control and when the user presses a button the appropriate code is invoked. The code then piggybacks the infrared beam or radio wave to travel to target device. Once the target device gets the carrier signal, it separates the remote control code and cross checks it with its own circuitry to trigger the appropriate action. The programmable remote control is not hard-coded with the remote control codes. Rather it has onboard memory to store the remote control codes. The programmable universal remote controls generally work on a mode based system. In order to operate a particular device, that particular device mode must be selected by pressing the relevant button. The programmable universal remote controls map the remote control codes to the appropriate button and create a device profile. Then the device profile is assigned to the appropriate mode button. Programming can be done using a computer as is the case of most of the Logitech Harmony series hand-held. Just get the remote control codes from internet, hook up the remote control to the PC and a programming software will send the device profile to the remote controls. Some programmable remote controls make the task even simpler and remove the need to use a computer. The user can program the remote control by aligning his stand alone remote control and the universal remote control and pressing the button he wants to program. This programming system requires that you must have the stand alone remote in working condition. It is useless for people who want remote control replacement. Thus, just like computers, the trick behind universal remote controls is programming. While the process of remote control programming is breeze when compared to a computer, it is recommended that if you do not want to take the risk of getting the remote control fried, ask for the help of your neighborhood handy person. |
