Homemade Roku Remote Uses Roku External Control API & HUZZAH ESP8266
This is a rad project – with thorough explanation and accompanying Github repo – by Nicolas Chourrout over on Medium.com that builds a homemade Roku remote around the HUZZAH ESP8266 breakout (and micro-lipo charger) along with some other tech, including our 4×4 matrix keypad (with remapped and stickered keys) for intentionally bulkifying the remote compared to the slender and sleek stock remote most Roku customers are accustomed to.
The Roku TV is perfect for watching Netflix but I don’t like the remote. Although the little box is small and easy to use, the infrared range is pretty bad. I almost always reach out for the iOS app instead.
The Roku External Control API offers a super simple way to control a Roku device from the local network.
For instance, once you find out the local IP address of your Roku, you can turn it on and control the volume from your terminal.
This means we can build our own remote using an Arduino enabled WiFi board. No more IR issues.
This seems simple enough, let’s a build a proof of concept.
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Now there’s a worthwhile project. I’ve had this stock ABS box with 20key membrane keyboard forever. So many possibilities for this.