How To Set Up Compatible Remote Controls Between Projectors?

novembre 28, 2020

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 & Projectors

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:

• TVs.
• Projectors.
• Music players.
• DVDs.
• Blu Ray players.
• Garage doors.

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.

Types of Remote Controls

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 remote controls.
• Bluetooth remote controls.
• Screen mirroring remote controls.
• Remote control apps.

1) IR Remote Controls

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.

2) Bluetooth Remote Controls

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.

3) Screen Mirroring

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.

4) Remote Control Apps

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.

Remote Control Compatibility With Projectors

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.

4 Best Way To Set Up Compatible Remote Controls Between Projectors

1) Check compatibility with the manufacturer

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:

• Check the manufacturer’s website.
• Check the product manual.
• Do an online search on your specific remote control.
• Contact customer support from your seller/manufacturer.

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.

2) Update your projector software if using Bluetooth, Screen Mirroring, Remote Control Apps

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:

• Connect your projector to the internet (via WiFi or ethernet cable).
• Find the system updates tab in your projector’s settings.
• Enable auto-update if applicable.

3) Check your internet connection if using Screen Mirroring and Remote Control Apps

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:

• Run an internet stability test using an online tool.
• Run a speed test of your internet connection using an online tool.
• Connect a smart device (e.g. smartphone or tablet) to your network and test if it’s working.
• Check your projector & streaming device wifi settings to make sure they are both connected to the same network.

4) Test the remote control with a different device or projector

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.

What To Do If Your Compatible Remote Control Isn’t Working?

1) Check the battery life of your remote control

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.

2) Check the IR transmitter of your remote control

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.

3) Check the IR receiver of your projector

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:

• Physical blockage from another material (e.g. wood, glass, metal).
• Dust buildup.
• Smears.
• Smudges.

4) Contact customer support

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.

Conclusion

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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