Why IR remotes for most devices.

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Why IR remotes for most devices.

JaseNZ

2576 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1489

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#189426 29-Dec-2015 16:11

Just had to do a round of batteries in some of our remotes and I got to thinking why is it that most new devices including stereos and tv's still use IR remotes.
Would it not be possible to them to use Bluetooth so you don't have to be pointing the remote directly at the device.

It would make things a lot easier.

Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding : Ice cream man , Ice cream man

mattwnz

20515 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4795

#1458580 29-Dec-2015 16:25

IR is cheap and reliable. Bluetooth I presume has a licensing fee to start with. Also pairing issues.

tehgerbil

1110 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 884

ID Verified

Subscriber

#1458592 29-Dec-2015 16:53

Issues with potential Bluetooth remotes:
Pairing issues.
Battery issues.

Only recently has Bluetooth come to resemble any sort of portable low power communication technology, and not really designed to be always on. As a result you'd have to turn on your remote devices or the battery would be drained in a matter of weeks, if not days.

Then you have pairing issues, I mean if not paired from factory, can you imagine your grandparents pairing the remote to the tv? Plus even with just a simple Bluetooth headset I have to re-pair it every now and again.

I appreciate the sentiment though op.

Jaxson

8172 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1332

Trusted

#1458618 29-Dec-2015 17:10

Agree on where it should go. Not sure Bluetooth is the solution necessarily though, as wifi is often present as well - which I'd prefer.

On the flipside, what's with the likes of Sony PS3/4 NOT including IR also.

mudguard

2327 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1250

#1458646 29-Dec-2015 18:12

The number of times I get into a rental car and spend ten minutes pairing my bloody phone to it. Usually the most common issue is the number of paired phones list is full (I get it, it's a rental). But it's the menu layout that seems insane. It will tell me that it cannot pair as there isn't a free space. But often the option to delete paired devices is nowhere near the pairing menu. So you've got to find it. Not so much of a problem now as I tend to get the same kind of rental cars, but at the start it was extremely painful.
NB. I'm in a rental car about 8 working days a month.

Dunnersfella

4100 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 887

#1458647 29-Dec-2015 18:14

I know your pain - I'm in rentals a lot and it's now habit to instantly delete all the Bluetooth devices queued up on the car stereo.
That and find a place to dock my phone and plug in the USB cable...

mudguard

2327 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1250

#1458649 29-Dec-2015 18:17

I take my Samsung windscreen dock with me... It also means I have disgusting/amusing bluetooth names for my work phone so I'll know if I've had that particular rental car before!

HP

Shop now for HP laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

robjg63

4161 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1425

Subscriber

#1458675 29-Dec-2015 18:32

The Bluetooth remote on the Amazon fire TV is really good. I still find I end up pointing it at the device even though I obviously don't need to.
I have had some really good appliances with IR remotes though. It's usually the cheap and nasty ones with poor distance and narrow beam angles that drive you crazy.

The AFTV remote does use batteries quicker than IR remotes.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

Dunnersfella

4100 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 887

#1458679 29-Dec-2015 18:33

I take a Belkin aircon clip-on thingee... it's average, but without it, navigating via Google maps can be painful.
It's funny how my travelling kit is getting more and more refined... but that's another story.

richms

29098 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10208

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1458683 29-Dec-2015 18:40

Worst is my LG TV, has a nice bluetooth air mousey remote. That still uses IR to turn the TV on and off. And the sensor is at the bottom of the screen so usually blocked from couch height by something which is why the bluetooth is good.

Richard rich.ms