Trying to get an external "IR Blaster" to work.

[Android Central Question]

I have a cheap Motorola e5 Cruise which does not have a built-in IR Blaster, so I purchased one that plugs into the headphone jack, but it doesn't work.

After a hour of trying different "IR Blaster" apps and nothing working. I tried the trick of using another camera to see if the IR was even working (for those who don't know, you can check to see if an IR remote works by viewing the bulb through a digital camera.) One app even said "No Blaster detected" (though it could have only been looking for a built-in one.)

The blaster is plugged in all the way till it clicked in place (that was the first thing I checked.) I tried a couple of apps and set them to transmit any random remote, but clicking buttons still didn't light the bulb.

Might there be an Android (8.0) setting to turn on the headphone jack to power the Blaster that I've overlooked? The Blaster is brand new so it shouldn't be broken. Or maybe my cheap-*** phone just can't use an external Blaster?

Any ideas appreciated. TIA.

 

[mustang7757]

As far as I know , if it doesn't come with IR blaster it most likely won't work even trying your methods ..but we can see if any members know anything different.

I'll leave a Link to register so you can communicate here as a guest account you can only post questions but can't reply.
https://forums.androidcentral.com/showthread.php?t=409154

 

[Mugsy323]

As far as I know , if it doesn't come with IR blaster it most likely won't work even trying your methods ..but we can see if any members know anything different.

I'll leave a Link to register so you can communicate here as a guest account you can only post questions but can't reply.
https://forums.androidcentral.com/showthread.php?t=409154

Thanks. I'm registered but forgot to login before posting.

I don't understand what good it would do to sell IR Adapters that plug into the audio jack if the only phones that can use them already have IR support built-in?

There must be something I'm missing to make the adapter work.

 

[mustang7757]

Thanks. I'm registered but forgot to login before posting.

I don't understand what good it would do to sell IR Adapters that plug into the audio jack if the only phones that can use them already have IR support built-in?

There must be something I'm missing to make the adapter work.

Hi, not sure i heard last year a member wanted to try it out on a Note 9 but I don't know if it worked or they did it.

 

[blackhawkhot]

If you have a digital camera many can capture a faint glow from a light IR led to test it. Most have a slight amount of sensitivity in that bandwidth.
I know my Canon 20D can.
XDA developers might have an answer if Google search pulls nothing. May be impossible to use without root or at all...

 

[MoreDef]

Every since I had one on the Note 4, I felt like it was an underrated capability. I was looking to bring that ability back for my other phones, but it looks like all those plug-in IR blasters only work with iOS and not Android devices.

 

[Mugsy323]

If you have a digital camera many can capture a faint glow from a light IR led to test it. Most have a slight amount of sensitivity in that bandwidth.
I know my Canon 20D can.
XDA developers might have an answer if Google search pulls nothing. May be impossible to use without root or at all...

I suggest you re-read my original post.

 

[Mugsy323]

Every since I had one on the Note 4, I felt like it was an underrated capability. I was looking to bring that ability back for my other phones, but it looks like all those plug-in IR blasters only work with iOS and not Android devices.

There are quite a few "IR Blaster" apps for Android. One, "irplus WAVE" includes a "3.5mm Audio" button that takes you to a website instructing you on how to build your own.

Yet for some reason, it doesn't detect the one I bought. It is possible the adapter I got is bad, but unlikely.

 

[mustang7757]

Whats the one you bought , like to look it up ?

 

[Mugsy323]

I got it on eBay. "No name" Chinese import. (Price is now more than twice what I paid.)

 

[mustang7757]

I got it on eBay. "No name" Chinese import. (Price is now more than twice what I paid.)

Gotta be more careful where you buy this kind of things especially ebay , they could be scams

 

[Mooncatt]

Re: Trying to get an external "IR Blaster" to work.

N.E.W.

Never
Ever
Worked

Never rule out the item you just bought as being defective from the start. That said, I've only seen complaints about these devices here. Even if the device isn't defective, Android just seems to have the extreme aversion to having extra functions these days.