$3.50 DIY TV-B-Gone Micro

I previously made a slideshow on my DIY TV-B-Gone, and many people requested I make an Instructable. So, the first in a series of DIY TV-B-Gone clones, is the TV-B-Gone Micro!

Technically, because TV-B-Gone is a brand name, this is a "TV-B-Gone clone."

The TV-B-Gone is a neat little device that can turn almost any TV on or off. It uses a microcontroller hooked up to IR LEDs to output a library of on/off codes. Adafruit sells a kit, and has the code as well as the schematic on their website.

Here's a micro clone of the TV-B-Gone that runs on a coin cell battery, is slightly bigger than a quarter, and costs about $3.50 (compared to $20) to make!

Step 1 Materials and Tools

Here is a list of what you will need.

Materials:

• Attiny85v microcontroller - $1.82
• CR2032 battery holder - $0.62
• 8MHz resonator - $0.50
• Wide-angle IR LED - $0.20
• Narrow-bean IR LED - $0.18
• NPN transistor - $0.10
• 150 ohm resistor - $0.05
• 22uf capacitor - $0.02
• Small pushbutton - $0.27 (note: this is slightly different than the one I used)

All of these prices are if you buy only one of each part. If you buy in bulk, like I did, it will actually have a cheaper unit price. For me the total was less than $3.50, for you maybe more if you only buy one of each part.

You will also need some 2032 batteries to power it. DON'T FORGET!

Tools:

• AVR programmer (I used a USBtinyISP, a good, cheap programmer made from a kit)
• Computer with internet access; I predict you are using one right now :-)
• Soldering iron with solder
• Helping hands tools, very helpful

Now let's get started!

Comments

[soccer1223335]

Hi Gibson, could you take pictures when your finished with yours? I just ordered the 1.2 chip and want to make sure everythings going to be connected to the right spots on the chip. I have a difficult time reading the schematics...

[Gibson_SG_95]

Yeah, im going to post some pics of it when its all done. Im no schematic expert either, but im going to pick it apart and figure it out. But yeah, id be glad to help.

[soccer1223335]

Alright like i just need the schematics turned into words like solder pin x to x. Or pictures of it when your done so i can find out what to soldier parts to :P thanks for the help.

[Gibson_SG_95]

Yeah i'll do my best. The pre programmed chip just got here now from adafruit, and the other parts should be arriving tomorrow.

[soccer1223335]

i just got all my parts. I got the pre programmed chip and all the other parts. Still no clue how to read it though.. let me know how you do!

[acerpeng229]

what type of pnp transistor did you use??

[acerpeng229]

what pnp transistor to use

[acerpeng229]

can i used the preprogrammed 1.2
attiny from adafruit??

[Polarize]

Thanks dark sponge! I just finished mine and it works great :) I made it with the v1.2 so I was doubting it would work. However I would like to comment I think there is a mistake in the schematic, it may of been my error however. Its just my IR leds were permanently on, even when the system was off. I moved the wire to the capacitor and transistor and it worked fine.

Anyway thanks again, SHP next :)

[degenstamm]

hey douse this still work on all tvs or is it out dated

[dark sponge]

It should still work because many new TVs use the same codes as older ones. I haven't had any problems with it.

[degen S.]

thanks

[blinkyblinky]

Is there a way to use Arduino code?

I have an Arduino to ATtiny programmer...do you think that would work?

[dark sponge]

I think you can use the Arduino as a programmer to send this code to the ATtiny chip. You could also try to write your own code in arduino, but I would recommend just using the premade stuff.

[blinkyblinky]

Yeah, you can. Can you program the original code in through it though?

[vov35]

Very elegant dead bug design. I liek.

[dark sponge]

Thank you! I like to think of making circuits without boards as a form of art. It looks cool, saves space, and saves money!

[batman96]

Hi Dark Sponge, You seem to know the most about tv b gones. I build electronic stuff, but I use discrete components, and have yet to use any micro controllers. I wanted a Tv B Gone, but wanted to build my own, I think I asked you about using a universal remote as one a couple of years ago. So here is what I did. I found the Tv B Gone data as a wav file on the net. I loaded it onto my mp3 player only to find that it can't play wav files. I converted it to mp3 and then heard some nice fax machine sounds. I made a Infa Red plug for my mp3 player out of a mono jack and two leds one facing each direction, (I found how to wire it in a article about using a Iphone as a universal remote). So the Idea is that I bring my mp3 player when I am going to be in waiting rooms and such, so when i want to shut off a tv I just plug that in instead of headphones. But my mp3 player doesn't have enough power to light them, If I run it though a small amp taken from a set of old computer speakers it works fine and shuts off all of my tvs, but that is to big to take with me. I already tried turning up the audio file on the computer, it is louder, but still doesn't light them. I know it works, obviously the I phone puts out enough power to work, the IR leds I am using are the dark ones, although I tried the ones out of a ball mouse too. Are there any that have a lower voltage? Thanks, Batman96

[dark sponge]

In that situation I would advise just building a simple amplifier with a transistor that would plug into the mp3 player and be powered by a separate battery. I don't know why it doesn't already light them, it should have enough power. But If it works with the computer amp, a smaller pocket amp should work too. You could maybe even get it to run off of a coin cell. Good luck!

[coralfire]

at which point does the v1.2 differ from the original steps? im new to electronics and am making an ir remote sonic screwdriver. I need as much help as possible.

[dark sponge]

The 1.2 assembly would be very similar to the original one and in the same order, but the components would be positioned differently because they are connected differently. I don't have assembly instructions for it, but if you follow the schematic and make the wires go where they're supposed to it would work in any position.

[SeriousTyro]

It was mentioned in the guide that resonator was optional. What does the resonator do in this circuit or regards to the ATtiny85?
Thanks,
Tyro

[dark sponge]

The resonator provides the timing for the microcontroller CPU cycles. In this circuit if pulses at 8 MHz, for 8 million CPU cycles per second. Other info is in step 2.

[Eax5]

Hey really cool instructable.

I ran into a problem with programming the attiny. I do not have programmer you used. Is it possible to program it with arduino? and set the fuse somehow?

Do you know if that is possible?

Because in the arduino program there is an option for Attiny

Thank you

[dark sponge]

If you use a different programmer, just replace the -c usbtiny part of the command with whatever the code is for your programmer. I know you can program using an Arduino, but I have never done so myself. It should be possible, you you just have to Google it a couple different ways. Sorry for the late reply, good luck!

[theugleymonkey]

Is there any way to program or add some type of circuit that would allow it to automatically turn on at specific times like every 2 hours.

[facilitator476]

If you replaced the pushbutton switch with something resembling a light-switch and added a timer to the coding it should work. Though most calculations in code are done in milliseconds so have fun doing the math.

[XOIIO]

Hopefully I can find the time and parts to squeeze one on these in my sonic screwdriver prop, then I can jizz my pants as I turn tv's off XD

[Scarabiv]

I can only find resonators with 15pF load capacitance. Am I right in guessing this will work in much the same way?

[dark sponge]

Those should work fine, as long as they are resonators with 3 leads instead of crystals with only 2.

[ashahabuddin]

wait does that mean an 8 mhz crystal wouldnt work? I bought an 8mhz crystal (the hc49us) as my local electronics store didnt have any resonators for some reason.Would it still work?

[dark sponge]

A crystal has two leads, as opposed to a resonator that has three (one is ground). You can use your crystal, but you will need to add capacitors of a certain value (should say in the datasheet) linking each of its leads to ground.

[ashahabuddin]

so if its 16pf load capacitance, what value do i need for the capacitor? So with the capacitor I link both of its leads to the ground pin on the attiny? sorry for the noob questions though.. great tutorial btw

[dark sponge]

A picture would probably explain it better than I could. Go to http://www.societyofrobots.com/microcontroller_xtal.shtml and look at the schematic under "Wiring the Circuit." And yes, the load capacitance is what the value should be. Good luck!

[trebory6]

A few things if you don't mind:

What exactly would it take to be able change the channel using a similar design while retaining relative size? Not asking for a tutorial, just a direction to turn to. Haha

Also, why do you need both a Narrow-Beam IR emitter and a Wide-Angle. Is this to get both Distance and Coverage?

And third, Sorry if this is a stupid question, but do you think the IR emitters would work when put through translucent blue plastic?


Trying to mod a toy Sonic Screwdriver from Doctor Who to be able to control TVs and such.

By the way, Thank you SO much for this Instructable, it was EXACTLY what I was looking for!

[dark sponge]

In order to make it change channels, you would have to gather up a database of channel changing codes for every TV and put them in a microcontroller code. Or, if you want to take the much more reasonable path, buy something like this (http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/electronic/9a06/) and solder wires as extensions of the LEDs on it.

Yep, the wide is for coverage and the narrow is for distance.

Actually, I have no idea. My initial guess would be that it wouldn't because the plastic might only let blue light through. Just experiment with it, it might work but with a shorter range.

Sorry for the late reply, and good luck!

[ashahabuddin]

I am actually trying to do the same thing with my sonic screwdriver. Please do share with me your results once you finish :)

[vocaxil]

which npn transistor do you use?

[dark sponge]

The materials list is a link you can click to bring you to a Mouser part.

http://www.mouser.com/Search/ProductDetail.aspx?R=PN2222ABUvirtualkey51210000virtualkey512-PN2222ABU

[pac-man]

Hi so does it actually work because I would like to build one if it does.Nice instructable by the way =).