Testing Your Remote
Today, instead of the usual download, I have something else you all just have to see! The other day, I received a phone call from one of our readers. We were talking about testing a remote control and he told me about something I’ve never seen before.
So, tell me, have you ever had a remote control you knew just wasn’t working properly? You know, you point it at the TV and press the buttons, but nothing happens. You try new batteries, but you still get no response. So, how do you know if the remote is broken or not? Well, that’s what I’m going to show you today!
In order to test a remote, all you need is a regular digital camera with a screen on the back. Even a cell phone with a built in camera will work. And here’s what you do!
First, turn on the digital camera.
Second, point the remote at the lens of the camera so that you can see the remote on the camera’s digital screen. For a better explanation, take a look at the picture below:
Now, press a button on the remote and look at the camera screen. If the remote is working, you should be able to see a light blinking on the end of the remote. Again, if you see the light, the remote is working properly. Here’s a picture of what you’ll see on the camera’s screen:
How does that work, you ask? Well, remote controls use infrared light to send the signal to your TV, but human eyes cannot see the light. If you look at the end of your remote, you will see absolutely nothing.
On the other hand, digital cameras pick up a lot more light. So, when you point the remote at the camera and press a button, the lens on the camera sees the infrared light and displays it on the camera screen. Cool, huh? Go and give it a try. I promise it works!
~ Gary