Web site to control TV and audio like a remote

Projects General Guidance
1

My Dad is staying with me and is struggling to use my various remote controls for the TV etc. because of his poor eyesight.

I asked the folks on Ars Technica for advice and they came up with some programmable remotes that would work very nicely for me, but there are too many small buttons with tiny text on for them to be usable by my Dad.

I plan to build a responsive website on a machine in my local network which will talk to a WiFi enabled microcontroller to emit the IR signal to control the AVR, TV and blu-ray players. Indeed, these days, the web site might well be on the microcontroller, but that's the mark II.

Then Dad can use an iPad to control the system and those of us with better eyesight can use our phones.

I have no problem doing this, but I’m curious about whether anyone here has done anything similar or has a better idea.

2

It can be done, see https://www.myuremote.com/website/ipad-as-universal-remote/#:~:text=MyURemote%20is%20available%20for%20any,iPhone%20and%20iPod%20Touch%20tablet.

3

websearch - "remote controls with big buttons"

one example
Tek Partner Large Button Universal Remote : easy to grip, easy to see (arthritissupplies.com)
"availability unknown" - sorry

Tek Partner Universal BIG Button Light Up Remote Control Untested read | eBay
"People who viewed this item..." shows others.

4

Simple esp8266 webserver to send IR codes.

5

I made a preamp with a built in ESP32 running a web server. So anyone in the house can control it from any device running a web browser. The preamp also has a webpage that allows IR commands to be sent. The preamp is on the same shelves as some devices to be controlled by IR (e.g. TV power on / off). My initial solution of running a set of wired IR Tx LEDs in series and placing one by each IR receiving device was messy. So I made another little box with an ESP32 in it which has a TCP server and can do IR Tx. I can place that box where its IR transmission can be seen by all the devices I want to control. The ESP32 in the preamp talks to the box with the TCP server when it wants to send IR commands.

6

Thanks folks, plenty of things to investigate and ponder :grinning:

7

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