The Stock Pot, A local hobbyist has built a smart remote control as a personal solution to a worn-out TV remote. Instead of replacing parts, he decided to create a custom remote from the ground up, and made a full tutorial so others can follow along too.
At the core of the project is an ESP32, a small, budget-friendly microcontroller that's really popular for smart home builds. With it, the maker was able to build a remote that works not just for the TV, but for lights, media apps, and other smart devices through Home Assistant. Basically, it's an all-in-one controller for the all smart applications.
The maker focused on the basics: a navigation pad, media buttons like play, pause, and volume, plus a few customizable shortcut keys. After designing the enclosure using 3D modeling software, he used a 3D printer to test different shapes and layouts until the remote felt comfortable to use. He also included a rechargeable battery and USB-C port for easy charging. The buttons were printed with icons using two-color filament, and the components were placed on a custom circuit board.
The finished remote connects to Home Assistant and can be set up to trigger different actions depending on the button press. For example, it can open apps like Plex or YouTube, adjust lighting, or even play a random movie, all depending on how it's configured.
The full build, including files, diagrams, and code, is available online. For those with a 3D printer and basic tools, it’s a relatively low-cost project, around $20 to $30. While it doesn’t include infrared support for older devices, the remote can be adapted for many modern smart home uses. The maker hopes others might find it useful or even use it as a starting point for their own custom remote designs.
