Most people have that drawer. The one stuffed with old remotes, half of them for devices thrown out years ago. It’s stupid. Yet here everyone sits, juggling three remotes just to watch Netflix.
Enter the $11 solution that nobody asked for but everyone needs: a smart IR hub that turns prehistoric TVs into voice-controlled entertainment centers.
Eleven bucks transforms your prehistoric TV into something Alexa actually understands—no more remote juggling required.
This tiny plastic puck claims to support over 50,000 infrared devices. TVs, air conditioners, fans, cable boxes—if it beeps when buttons get pressed, this thing probably controls it. Compatible with both Smart Life and Tuya apps, giving users their pick of control interfaces.
Still using the same 38KHz infrared signals remotes have relied on since the Reagan administration. Nothing revolutionary there. Setup supposedly takes about 30 seconds through an app. Plug it in via USB or pop in some batteries, scan existing remotes, done. Whether it’s actually that simple? Your mileage may vary.
The hub shoots infrared signals 360 degrees around the room, reaching roughly 26 feet. Should cover most living rooms unless someone lives in a mansion, in which case they probably aren’t buying $11 gadgets.
Once it connects to Wi-Fi, things get interesting. Control everything through your phone from anywhere. Forgot to turn off the AC before that weekend trip to your in-laws? Fixed. Want the TV warming up while you’re stuck in traffic on I-95? Done.
Voice control might actually change everything. Tell Alexa to turn on the TV, and it happens. Usually. Ask Google to lower the AC temperature, no problem.
Siri works too, though Apple HomeKit support appears to get wonky depending on the model—classic Apple. The hub plays nice with IFTTT for automation nerds who want their ceiling fan kicking on when the temperature hits 75 degrees. Because manually flipping a switch is apparently too much work now.
Some models include Ethernet ports for people who distrust Wi-Fi (fair enough), plus Zigbee 3.0 for expanded device compatibility. A few even cram in built-in speakers for doorbell alerts and alarms. Why not squeeze more features into something smaller than a hockey puck? The pricier Aqara version supports up to 128 Zigbee devices, though at $66.99 it’s hardly in the same budget league.
Battery-powered versions supposedly run for three years on regular AAs. USB-powered ones run forever, assuming your power stays on and nobody trips over the cord.
The whole setup weighs about as much as a smartphone. Eleven bucks, and it potentially transforms dumb appliances into smart home citizens. Unlike more sophisticated systems, these basic IR hubs lack multi-factor authentication, making them potentially vulnerable to security breaches.
That said, whether the drawer of remotes actually retires depends on how well this thing recognizes your specific 2008 Samsung TV that you refuse to replace.
