Apple IR Remote (A1156) to control an iPod Dock
In this example I have used a Wemos D1 Mini and an infrared shield to control an iPod dock from Home Assistant. Comment below if you still use your iPod in 2020!!!
I enjoy listening to Soulection Radio on my iPod as background music while I work.
Each show is two hours, so it’s nice to not think about what songs to play next like on Spotify and also automate things with Home Assistant that don’t have an internet connection, like an iPod.
I’ve added this to the cookbook because the iPod remote codes were getting hard to find and wanted to document this use-case for others to enjoy.
This is the Apple White Remote model A1156 that we are replacing:
Hardware configuration
Hardware is easy! Just solder the shield or wire up a IR transmitter LED using the Wemos D1 mini pins below:
Only four connections are needed:
-
VCC- Power -
GND- Ground -
D3- GPIO for Receiver -
D4- GPIO for Transmitter
Hardware Procurement
I bought the Wemos D1 Mini IR Shield by searching on Aliexpress and eBay for <$4 USD. I couldn’t find any links on Amazon but I’m sure it’s always changing.
Software configuration
We are emulating a 6 button remote so the configuration is simple:
Dumping Other IR Codes
This is only required if you want to add other codes for other remotes.
### This is only needed to dump other remote codes.
remote_receiver:
pin: D4
dump: all
The Configuration
remote_transmitter:
pin: D3
# Infrared remotes use a 50% carrier signal
carrier_duty_percent: 50%
switch:
- platform: template
name: Apple Remote Volume Up Button
turn_on_action:
- remote_transmitter.transmit_nec:
address: 0x77E1
command: 0xD04E
- platform: template
name: Apple Remote Volume Down Button
turn_on_action:
- remote_transmitter.transmit_nec:
address: 0x77E1
command: 0xB04E
- platform: template
name: Apple Remote Previous Button
turn_on_action:
- remote_transmitter.transmit_nec:
address: 0x77E1
command: 0x104E
- platform: template
name: Apple Remote Next Button
turn_on_action:
- remote_transmitter.transmit_nec:
address: 0x77E1
command: 0xE04E
- platform: template
name: Apple Remote Play/Pause Button
turn_on_action:
- remote_transmitter.transmit_nec:
address: 0x77E1
command: 0x2000
- platform: template
name: Apple Remote Menu Button
turn_on_action:
- remote_transmitter.transmit_nec:
address: 0x77E1
command: 0x404E
Fast Forward and Rewind
Fast Forward and Rewind (by holding the Next/Previous buttons on the remote) aren’t available in this configuration yet but maybe someone can add it by adding in a button press duration.
Lovelace Button Card Configuration
PS: the Menu button doesn’t do anything to the iPod when it’s playing music but it might for a Mac or if you were for some reason watching a video off of your iPod. It’s just added here for symmetry but might be useful for others who have an appleTV or old Mac with an IR port.
cards:
- cards:
- action: toggle
color: 'rgb(253,216,53)'
color_off: 'rgb(68,115,158)'
entity: switch.apple_remote_previous_button
icon: 'mdi:skip-previous'
name: Previous
show_state: false
size: 80%
type: 'custom:button-card'
- action: toggle
color: 'rgb(253,216,53)'
color_off: 'rgb(68,115,158)'
entity: switch.apple_remote_play_pause_button
icon: 'mdi:play-pause'
name: Play/Pause
show_state: false
size: 80%
type: 'custom:button-card'
- action: toggle
color: 'rgb(253,216,53)'
color_off: 'rgb(68,115,158)'
entity: switch.apple_remote_next_button
icon: 'mdi:skip-next'
name: Next
show_state: false
size: 80%
type: 'custom:button-card'
type: horizontal-stack
- cards:
- action: toggle
color: 'rgb(253,216,53)'
color_off: 'rgb(68,115,158)'
entity: switch.apple_remote_volume_down_button
icon: 'mdi:minus'
name: Volume Down
show_state: false
size: 80%
type: 'custom:button-card'
- action: toggle
color: 'rgb(253,216,53)'
color_off: 'rgb(68,115,158)'
entity: switch.apple_remote_menu_button
icon: 'mdi:dots-horizontal-circle-outline'
name: Menu
show_state: false
size: 80%
type: 'custom:button-card'
- action: toggle
color: 'rgb(253,216,53)'
color_off: 'rgb(68,115,158)'
entity: switch.apple_remote_volume_up_button
icon: 'mdi:plus'
name: Volume Up
show_state: false
size: 80%
type: 'custom:button-card'
type: horizontal-stack
type: vertical-stack
title: iPod IR Remote
