Have you ever wondered if the remote control of your projector is compatible with other devices from the same company? This is a common question that makes sense given the nature of remote controls made by modern manufacturers.
Most companies use interchangeable parts which allow multi-device compatibility with their peripherals. Take VANKYO as an example, which is an emerging company that delivers in terms of quality, affordability, and reliability.
In this article, we will answer the question of remote control compatibility, as well as telling you the best way to set up your compatible remote controls. We’ll use VANKYO’s remote control as an example device in our article.
Remote controls have been an integral device of most modern homes, offices, universities, and schools. They are used to control various electronic devices from a distance, with no need to be physically close to the device. Some devices that take advantage of remote controls are:
Projectors have benefited greatly from the integration of remote controls into their peripherals. Remote controls allow a projector user to comfortably and conveniently control their media at a distance, making projectors an essential tool for business and academic presentations.
With the advent of impressive technological diversity in modern times, remote controls have adapted and evolved - usually becoming smaller, smarter, and more compatible with other devices. Let’s have a look at some types of remote controls in today’s market.
Several types of remote controls can be used with modern projectors and electronic devices. The different types of remote controls are mostly unique due to the different types of data transmission methods they use to communicate with their intended device. The main types of remote controls are:
IR stands for InfraRed, a wavelength of light that is invisible to the human eye. Most modern projectors and many other types of electronic devices use IR remote controls. IR remote controls have been around for a while, and they are some of the most reliable remote controls out there.
The VANKYO remote control uses an IR transmitter to send inputs towards the IR receiver on all VANKYO projectors. It has an ergonomic design and is a classic example of a reliable, versatile, and easy to use IR remote control.
Bluetooth remote controls are a relatively new type of remote control that uses Bluetooth technology to send its signals to the desired device. Bluetooth uses slow-moving radio waves similar to those you find with most Wifi compatible devices - around the 2.4 GHz range.
Bluetooth remote controls have the added benefit of allowing further distances between remote control and device. The radio waves that Bluetooth technology uses are also harder to block by physical barriers such as walls, wood, or paper. A downside of Bluetooth remote controls is their battery usage, as Bluetooth technology requires much more electrical power than InfraRed.
If your projector has an operating system, there is a high probability that you’ll be able to use Screen Mirroring to stream your media from any PC, Tablet, Laptop, or Smartphone into your projector. This isn’t a type of remote control, but it’s a very reliable and flexible way to control what you watch in your projector from afar.
Screen Mirroring is pretty self-explanatory, it allows your projector to mirror the screen of a streaming device that is connected to the same network as the projector.
Screen Mirroring works by connecting both your streaming device (e.g. smartphone or tablet) and your projector with the same internet connection. If you are planning to use Screen Mirroring in your home environment, simply connect both devices to your home internet network.
A more contemporary way to achieve remote control compatibility is by using remote control apps. Most modern projectors that have an integrated operating system will have an app store where you can access and download remote control applications.
Remote control apps work by interfacing a smart device (e.g. smartphone or tablet) with your projector. All you have to do is download your desired remote control app on both your smart device and your projector. Remote control apps are a very practical way to transform your Smartphone or Tablet into a remote control, giving you further versatility.
Because of the way most remote controls work (especially IR remote controls) they have become much more compatible between devices made by the same company. Most modern manufacturers of electronic devices usually have several products that use shared peripherals between them. Headphones and their compatibility with almost any smartphone, PC, or tablet are a great example.
The remote control made by VANKYO is an excellent example of a compatible remote control used by the same company. The VANKYO remote control for projectors is compatible with all their products, it even offers an extra button for electronic correction in case you choose to purchase another projector from the same company.
The first step to ensure you create the best setup for your compatible remote controls is to check their compatibility with the manufacturer. This can be achieved through several means, the most common ones are:
The VANKYO remote control web page lists the compatibility of its remote control with all its projector offerings. They also have great customer support that quickly told us the compatibility specifications of their projector remote control.
When using a Bluetooth remote control, screen mirroring, or remote control apps it’s imperative that you update your projector’s software. To update your projector software you must navigate through your projector’s operating system and find the system updates. Some steps you can follow to update your projector’s operating system are:
If you are planning on using your streaming device as a remote control, either through screen mirroring or remote control apps, you’ll need to make sure that your internet connection is stable and working properly. To do this, you can try one of these methods:
You can also test your remote control with a different device and see if it works. This may work with IR remote controls and projectors/devices that have IR receivers within them. Most companies code their IR signals in a specific way, so checking compatibility before testing is a key aspect of successful remote control compatibility.
One of the most common and overlooked issues is that of battery life. Make sure your remote control is either charged or fully powered by working batteries. When the battery life of your remote control is low or unstable, you might experience delayed inputs, lag, or other unwanted bugs with your remote control experience and projector experience.
IR remote controls can sometimes work improperly due to a blocked IR transmitter. The IR transmitter on a remote control is usually located on the top of your remote control, easily distinguished as a piece of glass or plastic that stands out from the build of the remote control. The IR transmitter is usually a light shade of black, grey, or red (i.e. InfraRed).
Clean the IR transmitter of your remote control with soft tissue and some isopropyl alcohol solution. Also, make sure you have a direct line of sight with the IR receiver of your projector, as hard surfaces can block the InfraRed light from reaching the receiver.
Just as the IR transmitter of your remote control, apply the same treatment to the IR receiver of the projector. Some of the most common types of blockages that build upon IR transmitters are:
If your remote control or projector appears to be having issues that go beyond any practical solution, you might consider contacting customer support. Most companies and manufacturers have professional customer support that is able to help you with any concerns regarding your remote control or projector. Always remember to have your valid warranty at hand if your problem requires a replacement of the unit or any of its accessories.
All in all, we learned the importance of knowing the types of remote controls available to you. To answer our initial question, we learned that remote controls tend to be compatible with devices made by the same companies. In terms of how to set up compatible remote controls between projectors, we learned the importance of compatibility checks, projector updates, internet connectivity, and testing.
Remember that if you can’t get your compatible remote controls work, there are a few things you can do to help you resolve the issues. Always check your IR receivers and transmitters, as well as your battery life or charge. If still not work, you can always contact customer support to figure them out.
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