Super TV-B-Gone

pH7_jp1 · Post by **pH7_jp1** » Tue May 31, 2011 6:52 am

I stumbled across this while investigating something completely unrelated to remotes: http://makeprojects.com/Project/Super-T ... -Kit/637/1 It is a build-from-a-kit project that claims to toggle the power on any TV in IR range. They have programmed the toggle power command for hundreds of brands that all fire at the press of the single button. Used to have fun at your local BB or multi-screen restaurant.

At the same site, there is another project to build the project into a baseball cap for more stealthy operations.

Post by **vickyg2003** » Tue May 31, 2011 10:27 am

IRScope, the IRWidget software, originally had (well still has) TV-B-Gone save settings. The widget was originally a do-it-yourself project too.

Post by **The Robman** » Tue May 31, 2011 11:34 am

vickyg2003 wrote:IRScope, the IRWidget software, originally had (well still has) TV-B-Gone save settings.

What do you mean?

Post by **vickyg2003** » Tue May 31, 2011 4:21 pm

The Robman wrote:
vickyg2003 wrote:IRScope, the IRWidget software, originally had (well still has) TV-B-Gone save settings.
What do you mean?

Kevin's IRScope software originally was used for the IRWidget and the TV-B-Gone. When Graham took over IRScope development this became more of JP1 tool but he left the old single signal TV-B-Gone save formats.
If you go to the Advanced Menu and Uncheck the Hide Save Panel, you can see the TV-B-Gone format. There is also an Audio Format, but I don't know the history on the Audio.

Post by **The Robman** » Tue May 31, 2011 7:19 pm

What does the TV-B-Gone actually do? Does it just send 100s of TV power signals sequentially? As most TVs don't have discrete power codes, wouldn't it end up turning on a lot of TVs too?

Post by **vickyg2003** » Wed Jun 01, 2011 6:06 am

Yes I suppose it would, but I imagine, as the name implies, this is for people annoyed by TV's being on. A single button remote might have a lot of appeal.

Tommy Tyler · Post by **Tommy Tyler** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 7:10 pm

Rob wrote:What does the TV-B-Gone actually do? Does it just send 100s of TV power signals sequentially?

Ah Ha! If you owned a Widget you wouldn't have to ask. I don't actually have a TV-B-Gone but I have several of the look-alikes sold by Deal Extreme HERE for less than $3. They work by transmitting groups of three commands, each a different protocol. To program it you hold down the MUTE button. The unit repeats the same three mute commands for two or three seconds, then stops transmitting for two or three seconds. If you are still holding the MUTE button down beyond that point it goes into search mode, transmitting new groups of commands of different protocols as it goes through its protocol repertoire. When one of those groups includes a command that triggers your TV you release the button. The unit then backs up to the next-to-last group of three commands transmitted (presumably to compensate for your reaction time) and those become the new group of three protocols transmitted each time you press any button. You never know whether it is the first, second, or third command in the group that works your TV, and you don't care. A group never includes two very similar protocols, and also there's an assumption that there is only one brand of TV within range. Transmitting in groups of three protocols is a compromise that speeds up the search process without slowing down normal usage.

Post by **The Robman** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 11:01 am

Tommy Tyler wrote:Ah Ha! If you owned a Widget you wouldn't have to ask.

But I *do* own a widget, I just don't own a TV-B-Gone device, or any of its clones, so there!