So I've got this remote I'd like to control with my Arduino and I'd like to be able to use the buttons with the Arduino but I'm not sure how to accomplish this. Anyone got any ideas? I tried using a transistor but honestly I'm probably not using it right.. Thanks guys.
Sometimes a transistor can replace a switch, but you've got to know how the circuit works.
If you want to replace a switch in an unknown circuit, use a relay. A relay is an electrically-activated, electrically-isolated switch.
What you have is a remote control transmitter unit with a few buttons and a LED (or at least that is what it looks like).
Do you want to replace this device with something controlled by an Arduino so the Arduino duplicats the signals sent by the device in the picture, or do you want to build something with the Arduino that is capable of receiving signals from your remote device, and performing some action.
Both are, of course, possible.
If you want the Arduino to 'push' those buttons, throw an optocoupler on each button.
If you want the Arduino to mimic the remote and send the same codes it is sending, you need a 433MHz receiver to read its codes and a transmitter to then send those codes.
INTP:
If you want the Arduino to 'push' those buttons, throw an optocoupler on each button.If you want the Arduino to mimic the remote and send the same codes it is sending, you need a 433MHz receiver to read its codes and a transmitter to then send those codes.
Thanks, that looks promising!