Remote control a TV from elsewhere?

[megaphone]

My old mum has mild dementia and is struggling with the TV remote, she can switch the TV on and just about change the channel by entering numbers, that's it, can't understand the volume or anything else. Often she gets stuck on something and has to wait for me or the carer to get back on normal TV.

I need to be able to control the TV remotely so if she rings up I can help her online, I also want to be able to play her Netflix and iPlayer stuff.

Any recommendations? TV is a new Panasonic.

I did think of using an old Slingbox I had, this would have worked well, but unfortunately they have stopped the service.

Edited by megaphone on Thursday 18th March 08:20

[strippier]

Connect a PC as the 'media hub' and install TeamViewer to remotely control.

Good luck.

[chrismox]

Are you hoping to be able to control her TV from another property?

I’m not sure of any off-the-shelf solution, but it can be done with some more imaginative gear if you’re happy to do some tinkering. It will take some setting up unless you’re already familiar with software such as Node-RED and the like, but it can be done and will be seamless once in place.

You’d need an internet connection at her property.

You’d then want a raspberry pi and a BlitzWolf BW-RC1 - https://www.blitzwolf.com/BlitzWolfBW-RC1-WiFi-Sma...

The BlitzWolf thingy just sits somewhere near her telly and can send whatever IR commands the raspberry pi tells it to (via WiFi). You can have a simple dashboard that you could access from any browser with buttons to achieve whatever you need.

Happy to expand on that if it sounds like what you’re looking for.

ETA - not sure how you’d get a particular show on Netflix of iPlayer started with that method...

[pmanson]

Logitech Harmony hub and Alexa can do what you want to do.

(I can switch off the TV from the office if I need to)

You can then configure channels on the app if you need to set it to a specific channel

[Fastpedeller]

Reminds me of when our Daughter was in a student house with 5 occupants....... One of the girls would play her tv really loud (with her room door open as well), and the others worked out how to change the channel on her tv using their phones

[Radec]

Think you can do it with the Panasonic TV remote 2 app, if you switch on the TV anytime function.
You can control it from outside the home network.

[generationx]

I have a Panasonic and you can, as mentioned, control some of them remotely on an App. Even from another country, which was mildly amusing for a while...

[megaphone]

Thanks. I'm going to check on the Panasonic remote 2 app, I thought it would only work on the home WiFi network, but if it works outside it may be a solution.

Unfortunately Alexa is not a viable option as she cannot really use Alexa, can't even get the name right!

[bristolracer]

If it is a proper Panasonic and not one of the cheap sets they re badge these days then you will be able to switch off any unused inputs. Input labels in the menu iirc. Also switch off the new channels found message, it goes off every bloody week.
That should cut down on some of problem.
That way the conversation goes
Mum switch on the TV
Mum press the TV button top right
It should then be on freeview

In all honesty do not worry about iplayer and Netflix.
I fit a lot of aerials for the elderly and often find bits of kit installed by well meaning children that are never used, the complexity and the worry of breaking something puts the elderly off.
It also helps to take a picture of their remote to refer to when talking them through a problem

[LaurasOtherHalf]

megaphone said:

Thanks. I'm going to check on the Panasonic remote 2 app, I thought it would only work on the home WiFi network, but if it works outside it may be a solution.

Unfortunately Alexa is not a viable option as she cannot really use Alexa, can't even get the name right!

You don't need Alexa with the Harmony Hub.

[megaphone]

pmanson said:

Logitech Harmony hub and Alexa can do what you want to do.

(I can switch off the TV from the office if I need to)

You can then configure channels on the app if you need to set it to a specific channel

Thanks, on the list. Main issue is feedback for me when I'm out, how can I be sure the TV is doing what I have asked. Alexa for her is not really an option, she struggles to use it, I do have one set-up but she can't remember the name.

[megaphone]

bristolracer said:

If it is a proper Panasonic and not one of the cheap sets they re badge these days then you will be able to switch off any unused inputs. Input labels in the menu iirc. Also switch off the new channels found message, it goes off every bloody week.
That should cut down on some of problem.
That way the conversation goes
Mum switch on the TV
Mum press the TV button top right
It should then be on freeview

In all honesty do not worry about iplayer and Netflix.
I fit a lot of aerials for the elderly and often find bits of kit installed by well meaning children that are never used, the complexity and the worry of breaking something puts the elderly off.
It also helps to take a picture of their remote to refer to when talking them through a problem

Thanks. Yes I have locked the TV down as much as possible. The reason I bought the Panasonic was because the remote was the simplest with big buttons and not too many.

She needs simple stuff to watch these days, she can't follow a series, 'family' and children's films are easy for her to watch, and comedy stuff, nature etc. We can set netflix/iplayer to play a film or comedy series and leave her to it, it has proved quite successful accept she cannot then get back to normal TV at the end. Has to wait until the carer gets there.

[Radec]

megaphone said:

Thanks. I'm going to check on the Panasonic remote 2 app, I thought it would only work on the home WiFi network, but if it works outside it may be a solution.

Unfortunately Alexa is not a viable option as she cannot really use Alexa, can't even get the name right!

Found these instructions that might help, if you go on the how to use tab.

https://av.jpn.support.panasonic.com/support/globa...