How to check a broken remote control with your camera phone.

We all have remote controls for TV's, DVD's and other electronic devices. Most work on infra-red and send an invisible signal from the remote control to the device to change channels etc. If the remote control stops working, the first thing to do is to change the batteries. Most times, that's all it is.

But what if changing the batteries doesn't work? How do you test it? The first thing to check is that the infra-red signal is actually being sent. Now you can't see this with the naked eye, but the camera in the iPhone and I would suggest most other smartphones has electronics in it's sensor that will pick up that signal visibly by pressing any buttons on the remote while viewing it through the camera.

I've made a little video that explains it easier than words, and it's a good way to see if the remote is not working at all before you take it in for repair. Sometimes, as was the case with mine, it will stick at the on position. In either case, provided your have installed fresh batteries, you'll be able to check the working status of your remote. Thanks to the techs at Clive Anthony's for teaching me this trick.