In this Infared Blaster setup we will utilize the TSOP4838 IR Receiver to record IR remote codes in order to play back the commands using an IR LED and a BC547 transistor. Then utilizing python we can create a script to automate the transmission of commands, i.e. turning on a TV set and changing the input source automatically.

Components Required:

RPI 3 – https://amzn.to/2VA9pQY

4 Amp Power Adapter – https://amzn.to/2CTptWu

16GB micro SD – https://amzn.to/2SFMwd3

Miny Breadboard – https://amzn.to/2Ffviz5

Resistor Assortment – https://amzn.to/2CV8vHa

LED Assortment – https://amzn.to/2RbLOYa

IR LED kit – https://amzn.to/2FgqGcf

Jumper Cable Assortment – https://ebay.to/2VAb9cY

BC547 Transistors – https://amzn.to/2AyGTX3

TSOP4838 IR Recievers – https://amzn.to/2AArIwk

SCHEMATIC:

Install LIRC

sudo apt-get install lirc

Edit /etc/modules file

sudo nano /etc/modules

Add to the bottom of file:

lirc_dev lirc_rpi gpio_in_pin=18 gpio_out_pin=22

Edit /etc/lirc/hardware.conf:

sudo nano /etc/lirc/hardware.conf

Change it to:

LIRCD_ARGS="--uinput" LOAD_MODULES=true DRIVER="default" DEVICE="/dev/lirc0" MODULES="lirc_rpi" LIRCD_CONF="" LIRCMD_CONF=""

Edit the /boot/config.txt file:

sudo nano /boot/config.txt

Add this line:

dtoverlay=lirc-rpi,gpio_in_pin=18,gpio_out_pin=22

Create /etc/modprobe.d/ir-remote.conf file:

sudo nano /etc/modprobe.d/ir-remote.conf

Add this line:

options lirc_rpi gpio_in_pin=18 gpio_out_pin=22

Go ahead and reboot the Pi:

sudo reboot

Time to test IR Reciever:

sudo modprobe lirc_rpi

then

sudo kill $(pidof lircd)

then

mode2 -d /dev/lirc0

At this point you should be able to press buttons on your remote and see output similar to this:

(hit “ctrl + c” to exit)

sudo kill $(pidof lircd)

save output to text file for future reference:

irrecord -d /dev/lirc0 ~/lircd.conf

——MAPPING REMOTE CODES—–

run

sudo kill $(pidof lircd)

then

irrecord -d /dev/lirc0 ~/lircd.conf

*follow prompts to the letter, refer to video for more detailed usage. (instructions can be somewhat confusing on first run-through)

verify /home/pi/lircd.conf created successfully:

cat /home/pi/lircd.conf

(if so continue, if not start over at MAPPING REMOTE CODES section)

copy/overwrite /home/pi/lircd.conf to /etc/lirc/

sudo cp /home/pi/lircd.conf /etc/lirc/lircd.conf

Restart LIRC:

sudo /etc/init.d/lirc restart

Double check to see if keys were recorded:

irsend LIST /home/pi/lircd.conf ""

IMPORTANT

Before issuing commands run this:

sudo lircd --device /dev/lirc0

Test sample command:

irsend SEND_ONCE /home/pi/lircd.conf KEY_POWER

CODE:

#!/usr/bin/env python import os import time #turn on TV and change input source os.system('irsend SEND_ONCE /home/pi/lircd.conf KEY_POWER') time.sleep(12) os.system('irsend SEND_ONCE /home/pi/lircd.conf KEY_AUX') time.sleep(4) os.system('irsend SEND_ONCE /home/pi/lircd.conf KEY_AUX') time.sleep(4) os.system('irsend SEND_ONCE /home/pi/lircd.conf KEY_AUX') time.sleep(4) os.system('irsend SEND_ONCE /home/pi/lircd.conf KEY_OK')

Multiple Devices Update*

In order to control multiple devices such as a TV and sound bar we need to make a few modifications to our setup.

First and foremost we need to create two wiring harnesses so that we can position the IR-LEDS in front of the devices.

Updated SCHEMATIC

Now that the two LEDS are wired up we need to edit the original lircd.conf file and create an new lircd2.conf for the soundbar remote.

Modify the lircd.conf file and change the “brand” and “name” field to something more meaningful such as “TV”.

sudo nano /etc/lirc/lircd.conf

Should look something like this.

Generate new lircd2.conf for soundbar remote.

sudo kill $(pidof lircd)

Then go through the button mapping process once again.

irrecord -d /dev/lirc0 ~/lircd2.conf

Change the “brand” and “name” like the above step to new device name such as “SOUNDBAR”

sudo nano lircd2.conf

With that finished, we need to append the contents of lircd2.conf to lircd.conf.

cat lircd2.conf > /etc/lirc/lircd.conf

Go ahead and reboot.

sudo reboot

We need to verify if the changes were successful, so run these commands.

sudo lircd --device /dev/lirc0

irsend LIST "" ""

You should now see something like this.

Let’s do a little house cleaning and get rid of lircd2.conf.

rm lircd2.conf

Now we can access the TV and SOUNDBAR devices within our python script.

#!/usr/bin/env python import os import time #turn on TV and change input source and then turn on SOUNDBAR os.system('irsend SEND_ONCE TV KEY_POWER') time.sleep(12) os.system('irsend SEND_ONCE TV KEY_AUX') time.sleep(4) os.system('irsend SEND_ONCE TV KEY_AUX') time.sleep(4) os.system('irsend SEND_ONCE TV KEY_AUX') time.sleep(4) os.system('irsend SEND_ONCE TV KEY_OK') time.sleep(1) os.system('irsend SEND_ONCE SOUNDBAR KEY_POWER')