Remote controller for the elderly

[Mark39]

@Bellissima59 I don't have a Flipper, but can't imagine that it should take that long for it to learn an IR code. I do have a different learning remote, and it takes a matter of seconds for it to learn a code.

Your Sky box doesn't need to be on when you teach the Flipper.

As I understand it, pressing the TV button changes the Flipper to TV mode. If it doesn't operate your TV when it's in TV mode, then most likely it's because you've programmed the wrong code for your TV (unless the Flipper is faulty, of course).

Hopefully @TechyTommy will see your post and reply with their practical knwoledge.

[TechyTommy]

Hi there it's been a while since I programmed my flipper. My Grandmother-in-law passed away a few weeks ago, just short of 105. I believe the process is instant. You point them together and it program each key you want in turn. Maybe you can factory reset the flipper and try again?  I'll recheck my notes and if I think of anything I'll let you know 

[Yorkie954]

Regarding a flipper control. I purchased one for my mum, programming it is fairly simple as you basically key in the channel numbers you want it to store and you just cycle through them using the channel forward backward buttons , eg 101 , 301, 103 etc.  The trick is to set the sky system so it doesn't go into standby but stays on permanently(in settings) so the remote only turns the tv on and off. When you turn on you are not presented with the sky menus, which is where my mum was having problems because you have to press the back button etc on the sky remote which kind of misses the point of a single remote. Hope this helps.

[Bellissima59]

@TechyTommy @Thank you fir your response. I'm sorry to hear your grandmother in law died a few weeks ago. May she rest in peace.

On 02 April 2022 you said you managed to train the Flipper's 'mute' button into Sky Q's 'back' button to remove the menu page and dive back into the channel. I've had no success doing this and wondered whether you'd be able to steer me right? I've tried it for 2.5hrs to no avail. Thank you.

[Bellissima59]

@Yorkie954 Thank you for your response. I'm not sure I understand it.

Yes, channel setting is simple. My issue is teaching a Flipper 'mute' button to become the 'back' button to easily remove the menu page to watch the programme properly. The person I'm trying to help has Sky Q.

[TechyTommy]

Hi, thank you for you messages, she's in a better place. 

basically I did this. I had to try it a few times and factory reset after I confused the remote a few times to but eventually it did work so it is possible. 

After I got the basic preset controller working. ie found a code that seemed to move channels up and down on our sky Q box, volume, etc. and after we had programmed in her favourite channels (namely, uktv gold) I then programmed the mute as follows:

LEARNING

Flipper can copy (“learn”) the IR signals from your existing remote control. Each button is programmed separately. When learning TV signals, use the TV button; when learning STB functions, use the STB button.
Do this procedure in low light, as light can interfere with the IR signal.

1. Place Flipper and your device remote on a table with the front-facing each other;
2. On Flipper, press and hold a TV (or STB) and On/OFF at the same time till light starts to flash. Release;
3. Press and release the key you want to copy, say VOL +; the light turns solid. (Or the mute button in your case)
4. Press and release the same key (say VOL+) on your device remote till light starts flashing; Once blinking, the learning process for that key is done.
5. Keep repeating till all the keys are copied;
6. Press TV to exit.
7. Check the buttons to see if they copied the correct signal. If not, repeat the process as needed until all buttons learn the desired function. It may take a few tries to learn all signals.

Reset to factory settings:

Press and hold ADD until the light turns solid, enter 954.

make sure all batteries are not excessively low. 

as I said before: I programmed the mute on both the TV and STB mode so it would do the same thing in case she accidentally was in one or the other. 

to be honest she often forgot about the back(mute) option and frequently waited until  the option screen timed-out and went full screen on its own. It takes a while 

best of luck. 

[Bellissima59]

@TechyTommy 

I'm glad you feel she's in a better place too, I did not want to presume,

My mum will probs forget about the back button too and wait for the menu page to timeout - it takes 9-10 minutes to do so!

Thank you for your advice.  I shall try the instructions again, along with the reset bit, and see what happens.  I shall share my success or nay with you when I try this.  Mind, Flipper say that SkyQ works on a RF system whilst Flipper works on IF (infra red).

Flipper suggests:

"Another workaround is to modify Flipper so the box stays on all the time: press and hold ADD till solid, then 999.
 
Then turn off any standby or power saving mode in the Sky box.
 
Sounds like we need to update an article, so please let me know which one and we'll make sure to revise."

[Mark39]

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@Bellissima59 wrote:

@TechyTommy 

Mind, Flipper say that SkyQ works on a RF system whilst Flipper works on IF (infra red).

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That's not right. Sky Q relies on both infra red and bluetooth, not RF.

[nigea99]

@Bellissima59 

if you are trying to get the flipper remote to learn from a SKY Q remote then make sure the SKY Q remote is in Infrared mode

You can do this by resetting it completely by pressing & holding 7 & 9 together until the red led above the SKY logo/button flashes 4 times & then do not pair it with the Q box until you have programmed the learning remote

To re-pair afterwards press & hold 1 & 3 together  which pairs in bluetooth mode & for the TV pairing 

(or you could just set the Q remote to infrared mode by pressing 4 & 6 together - this would retain the pairing for the TV unlike the full reset)