We've all experienced the lost remote scenario. But what about the scenario when you have the remote, but you find the TV's channel or input source has changed, or the TV is turned on, but you didn't do it. Sounds a bit spooky right.
Well in a school, kids are resourceful, and seem to enjoy rising to the challenges placed before them.
On several occasions we found the students watching snow on the TV, or found our TV's menu language changed to Spanish, all of this without using the TV's remote.
Finally one day we caught a student red-handed, using his mobile phone to control the TV. Many smartphones released in 2013 now include an IR Blaster, giving the phone the capability to be used as a universal remote. TVs unfortunately have no defense against this, much to my frustration.
But help is on the way. My next project will be an IR jammer.
You can buy a kit here http://alan-parekh.com/projects/ir-jammer-infrared-remote-control-jammer/ but I'm still looking for a European supplier.
I'll also want to make some modifications to the design as mine would be for a permanent installation. Therefore it could have a 9v mains adapter rather than a 9v battery. It should also be possible to install an IR receiver to act as a switch, so that the jammer would only be activated when someone tries to operate a remote in its vicinity.
I'll need some help with that as my electronics understanding is lacking. I can solder well though thanks to my brother's teaching.
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