How to control your phone like it’s 1984

Modern television remotes have been in use since the 1980s, so why aren't they used on more devices? Let's find out.
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Parts:
Seeed Studio XAIO Boards - amzn.to/3NWVGAz
IR Sensor - www.adafruit.com/product/157
Links:
CircuitPython IR Remote Tutorial - learn.adafruit.com/ir-sensor/...
CircuitPython HID Tutorial - learn.adafruit.com/custom-hid...
Stock footage, photos, and music are all licensed through MotionArray.com

[@TealTechie]

Thanks for making me look good while shopping for a $10 ir receiver!😂

[@shokdj1]

Just look around for an old broken tv and take it out of there

[@poisonouspotato1]

Yes, that was the best compliment I received in years

[@andrew.nicholson]

To me, the thing that stands out about the Zenith Space Command is that it doesn’t need batteries. Instead, when you push a button, a spring loaded mallet strikes a metal rod. Each of the rods vibrated at a different frequency, activating a different function on the TV. KZbinr Monta Elkins made a video in 2017 where he used A Zenith Space Command remote and an Arduino to control an Alexa!

[@thebillpepper]

Channels like yours are the only reason I did not abandon youtube yet :) Thanks, your videos are awesome!

[@abetoday]

Thanks for the kind words! I'm glad you enjoy :)

[@BozarthPrime]

Long time 3D print instructor and lab manager here: The gaps in the print on the top layer could be a few things. It looks like an under extrusion issue but based on the rest of the part that feels unlikely. If anything there are some over extrusion artifacts on those prints. So where I would suggest starting is seeing what your extrusion width is set to and seeing if the slicer is just over estimating the reality of what the extrusion width actually is and not making enough passes on top layers in small sections like that. Another possibility is that it is under extrusion from over extrusion other places and if you just turn down the extrusion multiplier a hair all the artifacts will go away.

[@abetoday]

Hmm okay thanks, I’ll check some of those settings!!

[@teddy_ursidae]

Could be some Pressure Advance tuning too, if you find your E steps are calibrated correctly already

[@Jaaxfo]

They also look like what happens on older (not even that old) slicers when a wall's width was not a direct multiple of the nozzle's width, while also not being wide enough for it to switch into the regular top-fill mode. Cura added a feature that is enabled by default within the last year or so that allows it to vary the extrusion rate dynamically to deal with these types of problems. If you do use Cura, and you're up-to date, check the "Minimum Wall Line Width" setting

[@BozarthPrime]

It could very well be that. I watched the rest of the video and saw that it looks like it is a Flashforge printer and that uses their own slicer since they use x3g complied gcode for most of their printers. Could just be the slicer doing strange things.

[@jackgamer6307]

To me it seems like a wall generator issue. Other walls look fine, seemingly only the oddly shaped walls have the problem. Possibly switching to a newer wall generation engine could solve it

[@StefCoders]

I love this! I am probably going to make this w/ the ESP32-C2.

[@Skeldoor]

Ahhh dude your projects are always so neat, you proper inspire me to get tinkering. Also really rate your video editing, I've noticed it's gotten a lot better and smoother, just wanna say gj mate

[@vanessasalazar5885]

Big fan of the history of remotes section! Good job bud

[@kittenmagician7416]

Super fun and entertaining video! I love seeing the technical aspects of the projects you make. The jokes and edits made me laugh multiple times too lol. Love stuff like this!

[@abetoday]

Thanks for the kind words, glad you enjoyed!!

[@TIME_bud]

This is extremely cool, keep up the good work! 🙂

[@rustkitty]

T9 refers to the predictive text entry that lets you enter words using one key press per letter and matching it against a dictionary. I guess it's based on stuff like 555 phone numbers. You implemented multi-touch entry using a variant of the E.161 keypad layout (variant, because in the standard ABC starts at number 2 and number 1 is blank/space). So for example in true T9 you type 223 to immediately get ABE, while in multi-touch you type 2 22 33. Very cool, regardless.

[@abetoday]

Interesting! I did not know T9 was actually a branded technology, I thought it was just a colloquial used to refer to any input done via a 9-digit keypad. Thanks for the info!

[@JoelRivera3]

You earned a subscriber. Love the history lesson on remote controls. Great video.

[@abetoday]

Thanks Joel glad you enjoyed!!

[@developersteve1658]

Man, you're underrated. Very enjoyable and educational! Thank you!

[@abetoday]

Thanks for the kind words!! Appreciate you watching!

[@elliotmarks06]

Cool project! I love your video style too!

[@Leonard-nb7jk]

Your editing is great

[@abetoday]

Thank you!!

[@Rextaro]

“Can I use your phone?” “Wait Let me find my remote”

[@Dumy-Secondary]

Reinventing things is always good.

[@sleppy_9105]

Thanks from Italy for putting an italian remote in the thumbnail

[@Bread-qz3ht]

hey man! love your stuff!

[@abetoday]

Thanks! Love what you do for sandwiches.

[@StaticallyIncorrect]

@@abetodayno way you ratiod him

[@lawrenceadefeso7483]

Great video !

[@fastfourier666]

I really like your style of video, thanks! If you have no use for the other GPIO pins, you can just power the phototransistor from them rather than using the board's dedicated 3V3/GND. That way you don't have to do the leg crossover.

[@rasmus555]

Cool stuff! My brain does hurt a bit though, from the T9 matching ABC to 1 instead of 2 and so on…

[@Crushonius]

this would be awesome if you could use the selfie cam to intercept the ir signal i mean the camera can see the infrared led blinking so it might be possible now that would be an amazing project

[@RealTal.]

WE GONNA PARTY LIKE ITS 1984!

[@TricksterZorua]

😬

[@F41nt13]

The 3 thumbs up would scare other people but all the magic happening on this channel prepared me well

[@danisla]

Awesome video, the history of remotes was hilarious. 😆

[@amrkoptan4041]

so underrated channel, osum content !!! also why ur keyboard has no symbols 😮

[@TaxiYoshi64]

just like 1984

[@Viken43]

Wow this would make a great wireless keypad, app launcher via an old ir remote 😊

[@offthew4ll]

you're so underrated!

[@GottZ]

this is a decent project

[@qupufu]

Hey abe, thanks for being cool. I love your content 😎

[@abetoday]

Thank you for watching and saying nice things!

[@kristinestaff8236]

You are amazing

[@rustkitty]

Turn the jar upside down and slap the bottom. Or jam the flat of a knife under the lid and wiggle it a bit. Either way will let the pressure equalize so it's easy to open the jar.

[@cheyennerae5403]

I don't have a 3D printer myself but I have friends who do and they usually go with an ironing layer on the top if the last layer keeps splitting on the prototypes

[@hyperturbotechnomike]

I built a similar thing a while ago for a HTPC setup i had in the bedroom.

[@annybodykila]

Very nice. I think id also add a mouse mode.

[@bazrazin1]

a little while ago my tab touch stopped working due crack in digitizer glass, replaced the glass but touch would not work always so used the OTG mouse to use the tab, this idea would been helpful there also & in devices who have a cracked digitizer.

[@Micro_Repairs]

You can open that jar of sauerkraut easily by wedging and levering a spoon under the lid, it breaks the vacuum. No force required.

[@toolzshed]

Whoa that's cool

[@notSoAverageGuineaPigEnjoyer]

This is a very good title.

[@RealTal.]

Orson Wells quesiton mark?

[@lachlanlau]

1:14 these remotes are usually highly sought after by vintage electronics so please use your own remotes if possible. Most collectible Hifi components are sold without remotes so they are rare.

[@amarosmanovik7502]

This is so dumb, i absolutely love it!

[@qwertykeyboard5901]

2:00 Jingles keys. Television channel changes.

[@Alien_Bob]

I humbly demand to know the kitty's name

[@abetoday]

The long haired fellow is Chonky! He has a step-brother named Phil as well, who is also grey but a short hair.

[@Hipcatjack]

I had that remote as a child!

[@abetoday]

Do you perhaps know what device specifically it was for? I tried searching but could not figure it out

[@paulwright8378]

My granny had a remote with 1 big button ,it used no batteries an used like a dynamo to generate power to wireless send a single

[@krisclem8290]

Does the flirc even work on mobile devices?

[@edman1357]

Hey man, or anyone in the comments, I think I might have an idea to use a microcontroller in a project for my house, but would need some help on how to start. My "basement," which is actually a converted old coal shoot, floods when we have significant rainfall. We have a skimmer pump, but it doesn't kick on until there is significant flooding or I manually tie up the bobber to keep it pumping. Lowering the bobber isn't an option. I worry about water getting into my water heater and furnace, but I can't keep the pump on all the time or it will burnout. I was wondering if it would be possible to rig something up where I could control whether the pump is on or not with my phone? My wireless internet does reach the basement. And it would have to be a mechanical solution because, as far as I know, there's no way to interface with the pump. Essentially, I would just have something that would push up on the arm when I wanted the pump on, and disengage when I wanted it off. I'm brainstorming, but I thought this would be a good place to see if anyone had suggestions or places to go to buy parts for this. Thanks for taking the time to read this!

[@projectsbydietherdave]

LOVE THE VIDEOS BROTHER!

[@abetoday]

Thanks for watching! And good luck, just try to make cool stuff you’ll either succeed as a creator or learn and get smarter anyway!

[@lilsprugga]

Is a mill stone ( you know the thing you put around your neck and it weighs you down as you try to get on with life ) a wheel? Just because it is round, doesn't mean it's a wheel.

[@MARCOSHAK100]

My dude FLEXING his editing and scene transition OMG daddy chill

[@moi5219]

Loooove it. As a woman, I would love to bestow my jar opening knowledge upon your beautiful fiancé. Get a spoon. Tap around the edge of the jar. Now take the flat edge of the end of the spoon and run it between the lid and screw seam until it’s just about tight. Twist like a key. It should pop open the seal and now be easy peasy to open! It does take a few tries to get this down right. But I do have pickle breath as I type this. So that’s probably worth something! Wish you both the best! And anyone else reading this!

[@thor9000]

nice

[@cheddar500]

Haha, yes, why use an off the shelf component when you could do a fun project for us all instead? Great vid!

[@abetoday]

Thank's ched!

[@AntoniNowak69]

literally 1984

[@RealOscarMay]

Is that a sky tv remote in the thumbnail

[@paulwright8378]

Wheres the video where you go camping with that thing

[@kdog6850]

Question what is the code please?

[@key099able]

11:10 Fellow Delicious in dungeon watcher I see.

[@DocXango]

The first wheels were pottery wheels so putting them on a cart was literally reinventing the wheel

[@vornamenachname762]

Nice Cat❤

[@Pacificbell]

You said controll your phone like 1984 witch would mean you use your phone with a rotary dial

[@3lfd3wd]

Just to be 'that guy' but the LCIII used Apple Desktop Bus (ADB), their own standard. Not sure about the tech behind it though.

[@abetoday]

Good correction!

[@3lfd3wd]

@@abetoday Loving your videos though, might get me to try something like this myself one day!

[@isle_of_violets]

do you have a patreon?

[@abetoday]

Not yet! But I appreciate the energy. Please let me know if you have specific things you'd like to see in a Patreon for the channel. I only want to do it if I have enough extra content + ideas to make it worth it for people!

[@tnaplastic2182]

Next: Use the Camera for it?! ;)

[@Jaegerwald]

epik

[@Alexey_UP]

Молодец, что открыл банку!

[@PlaceHolder20]

I feel like I was click baited by the title. Good video tho

[@nathanadhitya]

dunno man, that cover looks kinda sus

[@muellerhans]

Now add 433 MHz

[@qwertykeyboard5901]

1:20 Because it's delightfully cheap.

[@joshthehammerheadshark7350]

10:08

[@pixlydev]

noice

[@BillyBob-ie9ww]

How about making it bluetooth then you wouldn't even have to plug it into the device it's controlling.

[@abetoday]

Good idea, maybe version two!

[@DBinCardiff]

Great little demo but absolute crap “short” format doesn’t have easy reference or links. Thanks for sharing but hoping the shorts format dies soon.

[@seanvogel8067]

Zeeeenith

[@n00bs4evaYT]

Sell them pls 😂

[@awesomeferret]

Please be careful with saying "our eyes can't see infrared". Yes, that's effectively true, but it can't be completely true if I can see a faint flashing on any IR remote in a completely dark room. Yes, it's just a flash in the diode (I have to stare directly at it, which is probably bad for my eyes somehow) and therefore very weak, but it's there. Maybe IR transmitters transmit a bit outside the infrared spectrum? If they don't, then you've included a myth in your video, because light from IR remotes simply IS visible to the human eye (you just have to put a lot more effort into seeing it than holding up a smartphone camera). I'm guessing you saw that myth and never thought of testing it yourself? Older remotes show it better, but even with newer ones like my Fire TV remote, I can see the very faint flash. It's a bit scary how common myths like this are, even though it's absurdly easy to debunk (turn out the lights, and look directly into the LED while pushing a button on the remote).

[@Incommensurabilities]

Good point. Perhaps he should have said humans usually don't see IR except in exceptional circumstances

[@abetoday]

This is an interesting comment! The technical definition of the infrared spectrum does allow a little wiggle room that supports what you're saying. There isn't a super firm "infrared starts at X wavelength", generally we say it's between 700nm and 1mm which bumps up right against visible light, which we generally define as ending at 700nm (however this is also not exactly consistent either as it's really a drop off in sensitivity not a hard line) so there are a few scenarios where things in that 700nm spectrum may be visible. However, most TV remotes use light ~900nm which should, to my understanding, be way outside of what's visible except in special scenarios. So if I had to make a bet I'd say some TV remotes are cheap and emit light in a much broader range than we'd expected, which is probably why it comes into the visible spectrum. So I wouldn't call infrared not being visible a myth, if we use the common definition, that is infrared is red light beyond the visible wavelength of red then the definition of the term itself enforces it's invisibility. Like all things though the truth is shades of grey (or red, hah) and I totally believe you can see something from your remote, but whether or not it constitutes truly infrared light is likely a matter of semantics.

[@awesomeferret]

@@abetoday fair enough. Thank you for going above and beyond with your thoughtful comment.

[@awesomeferret]

For what it's worth, I can also see the filaments in vaccum fluorescent displays (another part of the tech that's supposedly invisible). If you hold a camera up to a VFD, you can see the filament lines (I may be calling them the wrong thing here). Well, one night I happened to notice them extremely faintly on my tape deck, and that was how I realized that "standby mode" on 90s Pioneer audio equipment is Inappropriately accurate. This means it actually IS in a true standby mode and never completely shuts down, and never turns off the VFD, thus wearing it out even if you never use it. Maybe my eyes can see sightly outside of the normal spectrum on one end? Unlike the TV remote thing, the VFD thing was noticed out of the corner of my eye and was much more visible than IR from a TV remote, yet I've seen KZbin videos that claim that the filament glow is completely invisible in a VFD.

[@TheNateKtv]

what do vegetarians use sauerkraut for; meatless brats is a sin.

[@mosttoasty]

I mix it into my salads, gotta get that good gut bacteria u know

[@mosttoasty]

but also we did have beyond brats this week so

[@TheNateKtv]

@@mosttoasty gut wurst as they say

[@technerd5637]

Bud, it's Zenith, not Zennith. I'm assuming you were born after Zenith stopped being a TV powerhouse, but you're not British enough to arbitrarily mispronounce things. That being said, I love this overengineering for problems that don't exist!

[@SadKris]

literally 1984