 Notice. New forum software under development. It's going to miss a few functions and look a bit ugly for a while, but I'm working on it full time now as the old forum was too unstable. Couple days, all good. If you notice any issues, please contact me. |
Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : Wireless 'Appliance' Controllers (433 MHz)
| Author | Message | ||||
| Andrew_G Guru  Joined: 18/10/2016 Location: AustraliaPosts: 917 |
G'day folks, We have a new home and today yet another appliance was installed with a 433MHz wireless controller. They have become the IR "Pollutant of the Lounge". The number of black or white button-boxes littering the house is without bounds . . . The dog has already destroyed two TV remotes - easily replaced. But some of the more specialised ones are a little more expensive. The latest says it is in the "433.05 - 434.79MHz" range. I assume that each has their own comms protocol etc, but: Is there any sensible way to combine some to reduce the number of controllers? Cheers, Andrew |
||||
Mixtel90 Guru Joined: 05/10/2019 Location: United KingdomPosts: 9327 |
In a word, no. Not unless they are all standardised from one manufacturer. The 433MHz band is a free-for-all (Region 3 for Australia) so every manufacturer does more or less what they want, providing they comply with the LIPD regs. Unfortunately they re not the primary user, that's Radiolocation, with Amateur Radio and LIPD being secondary users and they must not interfere with it. Mick Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini |
||||
Volhout Guru Joined: 05/03/2018 Location: NetherlandsPosts: 6248 |
Remote controls..... There are "learning" remotes for IR. One of these is the Logitech Harmony. You can teach it your remote controls, and after that you can operate all IR equipment with one remote. A lot is pre-programmed, somtimes you just need to learn it the SELECT button, and it analyzes and mimicks the IR protocol. Few more keys and it probably know the remote. I have no idea about 433MHz remote controls. If there is a similar product for that. Volhout Our solution was (in the end) to get rid of most of the remote controls, and get your ass up from the couch, and operate the front panel controls of the equipment (if the equipment has them). Only TV channel changing is still a remote control, driven mainly from evasion of commercials. Edited 2026-11-06 22:10 by Volhout PicomiteVGA PETSCII ROBOTS |
||||
TassyJim Guru Joined: 07/08/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 6636 |
Andrew, Most TV and similar devices are InfraRed. You probably can combine them with a Harmony as Volhout suggested. That is OK for volume and channel changes but it gets difficult to remember what key does what when you are doing more involved things. Garage doors and gates etc will be RF. Anything that is outside or going to be controlled from another room. Usually 433.92MHz You could use a basic receiver module to learn the codes provided the device doesn't use encoding. I have suitable modules to spare if you want to try that method. I hope any external devices do use secure comms. The other way is to purchase spare remotes for everything and use a 'mite to "press the buttons". I do that with my bore pump. My gate controller is on the gunna-do list for the same treatment so I don't have to stand at just the right place to activate the gate. Teach Monty to chew your slippers instead. (that worked for my Monty) Jim VK7JH MMedit |
||||
| Andrew_G Guru Joined: 18/10/2016 Location: AustraliaPosts: 917 |
Thanks Mick, Volhout and Jim. I feared as much. The latest one is for an external roller blind, 3m above ground. There is no access for power so it has solar charged battery. A legit use for RF. Most new appliance have an app for a phone too - although I hate them. I don't think my TV has buttons . . . I have to get my exercise pouring beverages. Jim - how does the Mite "press" buttons? Have you broken into the remotes and just do a close to earth or 3.3 as required? Cheers, Andrew |
||||
| mozzie Guru Joined: 15/06/2020 Location: AustraliaPosts: 505 |
G'day, This is an ongoing problem, considering the short lifespan of most devices these days, seemingly irrespective of price, hardwiring becomes practically pointless. Back in the past many hours wasted trying to reverse engineer the protocol and devise a universal remote seemed worthwhile, maybe AI can help? AliExpress and Amazon are showing a range of cheap multi button "universal" 433mhz learning remotes (some with a reported range of >3000m  ) for the price it might be worth trying a couple to see how they go.Regards, Lyle. |
||||
| TassyJim Guru Joined: 07/08/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 6636 |
relay, reed switch, 4016IC as required. For the gate remote, I am considering doing it properly and linking the V+ and ground between the 'mite and the module so I can use a simple control of the IC. For your blind, adding your own RF link in parallel to the official one might be doable. Only two channels needed. Jim VK7JH MMedit |
||||
phil99 Guru Joined: 11/02/2018 Location: AustraliaPosts: 3428 |
I guess a parallel link could be IR instead. An IR receiver and PicoMite or MM2 at the blind end programmed to receive 2 seldom used buttons on the TV (or other appliance) remote perhaps. MMBasic has inbuilt decoding for Sony and NEC. Various other protocols have links to code on FotS. |
||||
| okwatts Regular Member  Joined: 27/09/2022 Location: CanadaPosts: 93 |
A possible way to see if this is RF is to get a cheap RTL-SDR dongle and run some SDR software like RTL_433. There are many devices decoded already. I can pick out many weather station types plus other devices. |
||||
| Andrew_G Guru Joined: 18/10/2016 Location: AustraliaPosts: 917 |
G'day, This opens up a whole 'bag of opportunities'/'can of worms' - and maybe some 'pipe dreams' too. I obviously have to do a lot more research but this is leading me to think of a modest form of home automation (or at least sharing of info between devices). I'd be keen to do any 'integration' via MMBasic if it is possible. I'd like to hear of any Shedites' experience and any good sources of information. Is this a good place to start? Cheers, Andrew |
||||
| TassyJim Guru Joined: 07/08/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 6636 |
Start by having a look at https://grid-connect.com.au/ It is called Tuya smart home in other place. Arlec and others supply switches etc to talk to the grid-connect system. Available from the big green shed. Controlling that with a picomite as the master would be useful. Jim VK7JH MMedit |
||||
| Andrew_G Guru Joined: 18/10/2016 Location: AustraliaPosts: 917 |
Thanks Jim, Andrew |
||||
| Andrew_G Guru Joined: 18/10/2016 Location: AustraliaPosts: 917 |
Duplicate Edited 2026-11-08 09:34 by Andrew_G |
||||
bigmik Guru Joined: 20/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2984 |
G’day blokes, Shielas, @Andrew, Do you remember the keyboard macro device you programmed for me using a 4”TFT and a PicoMip? You could, as someone suggested buy spare remotes (it sounds like you have a couple of chewed ones you might be able to salvage the PCBs from) and strip out the PCBs, house these all in a large enough case with a PC3 to drive the various buttons. This case can be hidden anywhere in range so doesn’t need to be an ugly box to upset Mrs G. The PC3 could receive data either through the WiFi or BT or even via a HC12 then you have a small box (say what we used for UtilMite) and write code to send commands to the PC3 which on-sends them to the relevant remote control. You can start with a Home Screen to select the device you want that brings up a page of options for each device. You can of course make as many as you need and leave them in convenient locations around the house. Or mounted on a wall somewhere (heaven forbid that you would be allowed to mount things on the wall) That is the way I would approach things and it would be non invasive for each controlled device and of course not interfere with the original controllers.. Regards, Mick (The Big one) . Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<< |
||||
 Print this page |
 |
The Back Shed's forum code is written, and hosted, in Australia. | © JAQ Software 2026 |
