ESP32 IR Blaster (Transmitter/Receiver) - Long Range

ESPHome
1

I wanted a fully local IR blaster to replace my RM4s for a long time and after fiddling with off-the-shelf solutions and infrared breakout boards I gave up and made this :slight_smile:

Custom ESP32 board, has 9 Infrared Transmitters and 4 Receivers for super long range so I’m struggling to find a place where the signal won’t be picked up by my TV etc right now :smiley:

I plan to swap the wifi antenna for a smaller one but this is all I have right now

I may end up with one or two spare units if anyone in the UK is interested…

top_with_aerial
top_with_aerial1400×1161 111 KB

top_no_aerial
top_no_aerial1500×1454 180 KB

back_screw_mount
back_screw_mount1500×1041 146 KB

side_aerial_socket
side_aerial_socket1500×1175 190 KB

side_esp_vent
side_esp_vent1500×1089 190 KB

side_switch
side_switch1500×1064 154 KB

side_usb
side_usb1500×1116 60.8 KB

board_top
board_back

6 Likes
2

That’s a nice board. Sort of interested and UK based. At the moment I have an old harmony hub that I know is end of days but still need it for a 20 year old amp

2 Likes
3

Thanks :slight_smile:

Send me a DM if you’re interested, I can send you one if you pay for the postage :slight_smile:

1 Like
4

Great project - appreciate you sharing! I’m trying to adapt an ESP32-C6/Matter-based communication to an IR blaster.

Any suggestions for an easy-to-adapt to ESP32/ESPHome IR blaster? I see the Tayu Smart IR Controller mentioned, however, my only source is AliExpress, and that’s going to take a while to arrive to the states.

5

Thanks!

I’m afraid I haven’t got any alternative suggestions otherwise I wouldn’t have made this one…

I think these athom ones are available in the US but I have seen very mixed results with them: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005772315510.html

If there were a few more people interested in my one in the US I could definitely send a small order over to someone to distribute there…

6

Nice project. Could you open source your design?

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I would definitely be interested in a couple of these and I’m in the US. I would be happy to distribute to others if that is helpful.

If you don’t have enough left, or it’s too difficult to coordinate this, then it would be really awesome if you could share your design. But I’m happy to go either way.

Did you come up with a smaller antenna, by the way?

8

I was looking to build something like this myself and I find that you have don’t it and it looks like a fantastic job. Love it. I am UK based so if you do have a board left I’d love one.

Joe

9

You have that nice and cheap solution available too now: XIAO IR Mate, Smart Wi-Fi IR Remote Control Hub for Home Assistant :wink:

10

Did i fall and bump my head or do other people have questions about how the logic works with adding additional IR transmitters somehow increases the range… Adding additional transmitters and aiming them differently can certainly increase the odds of the signal being transmitted being received on the first try but, all your actually doing is adding more IR light around the circumference and just making it more reliable by reducing the need to aim the IR led at the receiver but, that’s quite different than improving its actual range.

There’s really only a few ways to improve range and thats by increasing power/current, reflectors to focus the beam but that also reduces the 360 degree coverage and will require aiming it again and then you can tweak the frequency your pulsing the signal to make a bit more range…