$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

[acerpeng229]

what pnp transistor to use

[dark sponge]

Pretty much any generic PNP transistor will work for version 1.2 unless you find something with a really low gain or low power handling. Just make sure you match up the emitter, base, and collector according to the package and you should be fine.

[acerpeng229]

can it be used in malaysia and all around the world??

Thanks, DARK SPONGE

[kill_them_now]

malaysia eh?nk troll orang ke?hahaha

[dark sponge]

It depends on what models of TVs are common there. You would probably want to install a switch like the one detailed in this forum

http://forums.adafruit.com/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=24377

in order to change between American and European codes. I don't know how well either of these codes would work in Malaysia, it depends on where the TVs there come from and if they are different models. Most likely they are not, but that's just my initial thought.

[IHaveNoBudget]

Hi great work,
i have a very limited knowledge of electronics and i would really appreciate a reply, do you think that, as i have no way of programming a micro-controller i could use this: http://www.adafruit.com/category/20 without changing any of the other steps? this guy used it but his instructions aren't that clear: http://www.instructables.com/id/Sonic-ScrewDriver-TVBG/
do you think you can shed any light?
thanks

[dark sponge]

That Instructable actually used the preprogrammed chip that you gave a link to, and I briefly go over how to use it in Step 20 of this Instructable. I just realized my link is dead, so I'll fix that...

[madbob2]

For the 1.2 version, do we have to use the external resonator?

[dark sponge]

Yes. The 1.2 version comes preprogrammed, so the fuses are already set to be with a resonator. You could change the fuses, but that would defeat the purpose of using the preprogrammed chip instead of programming a blank one.

[XOIIO]

Also, what is the max filke size you can throw on this (or program it to or whatever it is) for tv codes, sorry, I don't know shity baout microcontrollers, this is gonna be my first thing.

[dark sponge]

This microcontroller has 8kb of internal flash memory, so the entire program (including the codes) can be no larger than that.

[IHaveNoBudget]

sorry the adress for the controller i meant was actually this: http://www.adafruit.com/products/75

[TheBookworm]

http://ecetechprojects.com/2011/08/06/arduino-upload-hex-files-to-attiny85-using-your-arduino-and-avrdude/

[TobaTobias]

Hi, great project. Do you think I could program the Attiny with Arudino as ISP on my mac?

[dark sponge]

That should be able to work, but I'm not sure. I know it has been done on a PC but I am not very familiar with ISP programming on macs. You might be able to find instructions on a forum somewhere...

[MrGentlemen]

Hi dark Sponge,

Im from Germany and want to build this too, but i dont have found any ATtiny85V-10PU.
What I have found is an ATTINY 85V-10 SU ( I think this is the SMD version of the controller)

Can I use it instead of the PU-version?

thx

[dark sponge]

Yes, it should work perfectly fine if you can manage to attach the wires for programming and solder it neatly. The suffix ("PU" or "SU") usually just show what type of package it is in, SU being the SMD package of the same chip. You might want to make sure the pins follow the same order on the datasheet for that also.

Another thing you might want to consider is adding a switch to change between US and European TV codes, which might be useful if you use it in Germany.
http://forums.adafruit.com/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=24377

Good luck and have fun!

[MrGentlemen]

thx for the answer.

when I build the circuit with both regions, can i use the circuit from your linked site instead of the circuit from here?

And there are a few questions i have about the circuit from the link:
1. Where did the connections from LSP1 and LSP2 are going to?
2. Where can i find the crystal in the libary of eagle?
3. The GND and VCC connections are in series or parallel?

thanks

[dark sponge]

The circuit in the linked site should work, but I have never tested it. I honestly don't know what LSP1 and LSP2 are for, but in the schematic they are connected to power and ground respectively. I don't know where the crystal is in the eagle library, but you should be able to search for it by name. The connections are in parallel; all of the VCC arrows should connect to the positive end of the battery while all of the GND symbols should connect to the negative end of the battery.

[acerpeng229]

can i used the preprogrammed 1.2
attiny from adafruit??

[dark sponge]

See step 20 if you haven't found it already.

[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 :)

[dark sponge]

Looks great, thanks for posting pics!

[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.