Review of Xiaomi smart Wi-Fi remote control for controlling household appliances. What is Xiaomi Mi Remote and how to use it Xiaomi infrared remote control

Mi Remote Is a stock application in the MIUI firmware on Xiaomi smartphones that allows you to control smart appliances in your home using your phone. It is worth noting here that your smartphone must have an infrared port, usually it is on the top edge and is present in models such as Redmi 3/4, Xiaomi Mi5, Redmi note 3/4.

Instructions: how to use Mi Remote

First of all, make sure that your phone has an infrared port, and also turn on the Internet on the device (so more brands of technology will be available). Now go to the folder with system applications and find the blue label with the image of a round white remote - this is the Mi Remote.

Launch this application and click on the "+" icon in the right corner of the screen. Here you will be asked to select the brand of the vehicle you intend to operate. Choose for example Philips, Supra or some other brand. Now you will be asked to select the type of device: TV, air conditioner, DVD player, etc.

An on / off key will appear on the main screen in the application, you need to point your smartphone at the technician and press the button. Press until the device turns on / off, this will mean that you have picked up correct settings... Do the same with the other buttons provided.

That's all, now compatible appliances in your home are fully controlled using your smartphone. Here is such a useful and simple function in MIUI.

Which Xiaomi smartphones have infrared and support Mi Remote

Xiaomi Mi Note 2
Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus
Xiaomi Mi 5 / Pro
Xiaomi Mi Max / Prime
Xiaomi Mi 4S
Xiaomi Mi 4c
Xiaomi Mi 4
Redmi Pro
Redmi Note 4X
Redmi Note 4 (MTK & SD)
Redmi Note 3 (MTK & SD)
Redmi note 2
Redmi 4 / Prime
Redmi 4A
Redmi 3S / Prime / 3X
Redmi 3 / Prime

Questions and answers

Question: Can Mi Remote control all devices in the house?
Answer: It can control most devices using infrared remote control such as TVs, air conditioners, air fans and projectors. If the device is controlled by wireless or remote control Bluetooth, it will not be supported in Mi Remote App.

Question: Can I use Mi Remote App on my phone and where can I download it?
Answer: For every smartphone that supports infrared, you will be able to use the Mi Remote App. Usually Xiaomi phones that have an infrared port will have the Mi Remote app preinstalled. You can download the application directly from the store Google play, the link is given below.

Question: Why can't I control my TV with Mi Remote App?
Answer: First, check if your TV is using an infrared remote control. If this is not the case, then you will not be able to use the app to control your TV. If everything is ok, then carefully select the correct brand of your TV. And also test each key to make sure the Mi Remote works. Make sure you aim your phone directly at your TV's infrared port. Some TVs are slow to respond, so give it some thought while testing the buttons.

Question: Is a persistent internet connection required for the Mi Remote?
Answer: An internet connection is only required when we want to connect to a new device. After saving the device, we can use this application offline.

Question: Do I need to enter account Mi Account to use the Mi Remote App?
Answer: You don't need to create / login to a Xiaomi account to use the Mi Remote app, it's completely free (no registrations and SMS).

Question: Why does my phone keep looking for a Wi-Fi device?
Answer: Most likely, your phone does not have an IrDA port. Mi Remote Remote App supports control over Mi Box, Mi TV and others Android devices or Smart TV over Wi-Fi.

Question: Why can't I use it on Mi TV 3?
Answer: Mi TV 3 does not have an infrared remote control. But you can connect the same wifi connection as Mi TV 3, and when you turn on Mi TV 3, Mi Remote App will automatically detect and connect to Mi TV 3.

Question: Can we use Mi Remote App to control the lamp?
Answer: Most bulbs do not have an infrared remote control and Mi Remote App does not support this device yet.

Hello, friends

In this review, I will tell you about the Xiaomi universal infrared controller, designed to control any devices that have remote controls with an infrared LED. In addition to an extensive database of devices, the remote control can also be taught - so that it can repeat absolutely any remotes. I will also give examples of smart scripts with his participation, including those that activate / deactivate themselves or other scripts. Details in my review

Where can I buy?

Delivery, delivery set

Delivery - by Novaya Poshta, everything is standard, there is nothing to describe, it is delivered in a cardboard box, this time not the usual white, but brown - I also met such, like the first versions of mi band bracelets were in similar ones.

The dimensions of the box are perfectly matched to the controller - nothing dangles around the box. The cardboard is dense and hard; it will be quite problematic to damage it during shipment.

Delivery set - ascetic - "washer" of the controller and flat power cable USB - micro USB

Appearance, dimensions

Dimensions - about 10 cm in diameter

and just under 3 cm in thickness

On the side end surface of the washer, which we will conditionally call "in front", there is a blue activity LED, which is constantly on when the controller is turned on, and on the diametrically opposite side - which we will call "back" - a micro USB connector

The upper part, initially protected by a shipping sticker, appears to be opaque, but in reality it is not.

It is imperceptible to the naked eye, but with the help of a camera, the glow of infrared diodes located in a "daisy" is visible to direct the signal to all sides. Screenshot from the video (video review, as always, at the end of the text)

The bottom of the base looks like this.

Working with the controller

The base works via Wi-Fi, no gateway is needed for its operation, just a smartphone / tablet with installed Mi Home software is enough. You will also need a 5V power supply with a USB A connector

After turning on the power, the controller is detected by the Mi Home application, pairing takes place, after which the controller appears in the list of devices. The standard plugin is not even translated into English

So I had to use the translated version that I took. The controller's firmware is updated immediately after installation. The controller's main menu contains options that allow you to sort the saved remotes in order, view or create new smart scripts, and go to the main settings submenu.

In the main settings menu, you can set a device name, share it with another MI account, assign a device group (by room name), check for updates, delete, add a plug-in shortcut to the desktop, view network information.

Developer mode - allowing you to add a device to alternative systems, like yeelight or airlock, unfortunately not.

Now let's look at the methods for adding remotes. There are three

Model search - all supported remotes by name, and there is both an official gallery of remotes and a custom one.

Add remote- we add a remote control from the existing ones, choosing by the type of device - similar to the Mi Remote application on Xiaomi smartphones with an IR sensor

Remote control copy- copy control signals from any available IR remote control

The first and second modes differ only in the first choice, and then they are exactly the same - we find the device we need - for example Samsung TV, then by checking the power and volume buttons - select a working remote control and save it in the list.

By the way, for owners of Android TV boxes with such a remote control - choose a device - openbox from the Xiaomi Mi Box category - will work fine. What is convenient, the software offers to combine the remotes - and you can get TV control buttons on one screen - on top - power and volume, and nothing else is needed, and a TV box.

In the menu for copying the remote control, we can add any remote control from the existing ones. First, select the type of device, or the option "Other devices", then, following the on-screen prompts, assign a command to each button. In the case of a certain class of devices - for example, a TV box, we, according to the screen template, alternately press the corresponding buttons on the real remote control, keeping them on the virtual one, or, in the classroom - we name the buttons ourselves and record actions on them from the real remote control.

My list of remotes for this controller is as follows. In addition to standard remotes - for TV and android boxing, there are "trained" remotes, from a humidifier, a robot vacuum cleaner and an air conditioner. That allows you to control these devices using smart home scenarios.

Examples of my scripts.

Air humidifier - unlike a mechanically controlled humidifier, which can be simply turned on and off using a smart plug, this model is controlled by a remote control. In order to integrate it into the smart home system, and control the humidity, I wrote an executable script in which, with a difference of 2 seconds, the humidifier first turns on, then the set humidity rises to 70% (especially so that it does not turn off on its own) and the ionization mode turns on ...

Humidity is controlled by two scenarios - one is triggered when the humidity is less than 40% - it starts the executable script, the second one is triggered when the humidity is over 50% - it simply activates the "on / off" button.

There is one subtlety here - the humidity changes and even after turning on / off the humidifier it remains within the acceptable scenarios for some time. In the case of control via an outlet, this is not a problem, the outlet is already switched on / off, a repeated command does not change anything. In the case of control via the remote control - repeated triggering of the script - turns it on or off again, since the same remote control button is responsible for this action.

To prevent this from happening, each of the scenarios has additional conditions - the termination of its action and the inclusion of the second boundary scenario. That is, the scenario humidity is more than 50% - activates the on / off button on the IR controller, switches itself to the “off” state and turns on the scenario - humidity is less than 40%. And vice versa.

I also added to this moisture control scheme - scripts for opening and closing a window. Since humidifying the room when open window it makes no sense, then if the event is observed - the window is open for more than 1 minute, the scripts for controlling humidity less than 40 and more than 50% are disabled, scripts for working out the closing of the window are activated - there are two of them and the action of the script "window is open" stops, it has already worked, and repeat it the house of the moment of closing the window is not necessary. Since I cannot track the state of the humidifier - whether it is working when the window is opened or not - I simply unplug the outlet it is plugged into for 30 seconds. Which just resets it and ensures it turns off.

There are two scenarios for closing the window. The first is triggered when the humidity when closing the window is less than 40% - the executable script for turning on the humidifier is immediately activated, the control script is activated - humidity is more than 50%, the script is "window open" and both scripts for closing the window are disabled.

The second scenario is if the humidity is over 40%. In this case, the humidifier does not turn on, but the scenario is activated - the humidity is less than 40%, then, in the same way, we turn off the closing scripts and activate the opening script.

As examples, I will also give a few scripts that I use.

Executable script on TV off. So that at first I do not leave the android boxing player from one remote control - I watch films and television with it, and then, from another remote control, I do not turn off the TV - now I do this by pressing one button.

I also turned off the scheduled cleaning on the robot vacuum cleaner (Ilife A4) - now it is controlled from the controller. Now on weekdays it starts a little earlier than on weekends, and on weekends, in addition to starting, it automatically switches to high power mode, which reduces the cleaning time - instead of more than 2 hours, to an hour.

Video version of my review, in which there will also be inserts for triggering the controller diodes.

All my Xiaomi device reviews in chronological order -

Every year, the tendency towards the fact that mobile phone will become a thing with which you can control almost everything in the house. This can be judged by new products in the field software from leading gadget manufacturers. In particular, most Xiaomi smartphones Mi have started to be equipped with infrared ports. This is done to ensure interaction with other electronic equipment that has the same infrared port. So that the user can control all the technology that surrounds him on one convenient screen, the Remote app by Mi was born.

Operating principle

After downloading and installing the Remout on your gadget, you automatically turn it into a kind of remote control with which you can control household appliances... There is no need for special training to work in the application, because navigation in it is extremely simple and straightforward.

You can choose among the devices included in the Mi database. If it is found there, then control via the infrared port directly from your mobile is not difficult. If the device is little known or is not in the database at all, then it is unlikely that it will be possible to fully configure its control from the gadget. But there is no need to worry - the database contains all modern TVs, washing machines, prefixes and a lot of other equipment.

In some cases, connection is possible not only through the infrared port, but also via wireless network Wi-Fi. This is relevant for communication between several branded gadgets of the company. For example, a phone and a Mi Box or Mi TV.

Give gifts

Algorithm of use

After installing the application on your Mi gadget, just indicate which device you want to connect to. There are the following categories:

Camera - it's easy to guess that we are talking about cameras;
Cable / Satellite box - any cable antennas are meant here;
Fan - fans;
TV - televisions;
Mi TV / Mi Box - set-top boxes for TVs;
Box - any other set-top boxes;
DVD players;
Acoustic Systems - acoustic systems;
Projector - projectors;
A / V receiver - any audio or video amplifiers.

After choosing the type of device, go to the choice of its manufacturer. The list is huge, so you will probably find the one you need, unless you are using equipment from some completely unknown company.

When the required device is found in the system, you can start testing its interaction with the gadget. To do this, point your smartphone at the infrared port of the equipment with which you want to establish contact, while holding down the button that appears on the application screen. If there is a response, and the control of another piece of equipment is established, then we confirm the settings and edit the profile, adding to it the location of the device (a specific room in a living room or office). This is realized only when connected to the Internet, and when the data is saved in the profile on the phone, each subsequent contact can be established even offline.

Controlling home or office equipment is possible even without logging into your Mi account, that is, without any passwords, codes and registrations.

To download Mi Remote, just go to Play Market, search for the search app and download it to your phone. The manufacturer guarantees the absence of any paid functions and unpleasant surprises while using the application.

Impeccable execution

Xiaomi Universal IR Remote Controller

Center for intelligent control of home appliances

With a Xiaomi universal remote control, you will forever forget about traditional remote controls, replete with numerous and incomprehensible buttons. Combined with the application " Xiaomi Smart Home »you can control your air conditioner, TV, DVD-player, digital receiver, sound amplifier and other infrared household appliances with one click. Moreover, you can control the equipment not only at home, but also outside it. For example, in the sweltering heat, it will not be difficult for you to start the air conditioner on your way home so that, upon crossing the threshold, you can immediately feel the refreshing coolness.

Remote control

On and off timer

With the Xiaomi universal remote control, you can turn devices on and off remotely. For example, in a sultry summer heat or in a winter blizzard, you can start the air conditioner on the way to the house, so that when you go inside, you can feel a comfortable coolness or a salutary warmth.

In the "Scenarios" section of the "Xiaomi Smart Home" application, a timer function is available for turning the devices on and off. Go to " Personal Area"And select" Scripts ", then create a script and specify the start time, then go to" Universal remote control Xiaomi "and select" Remote control mode ". Control your home appliances remotely, take advantage of the opportunities that modern technologies give you!
* This function is only supported by Android OS version and not available for iOS.

Impeccable execution

The Xiaomi universal remote control not only makes your appliances smarter, but also creates a high-tech atmosphere in your home. The case is designed in a minimalist style and features a lacquered finish similar to the polished surface of a grand piano, due to which the device has an ultra-modern look. You can be sure that it will perfectly fit into any place of your interior.

Wide range of supported devices

Extensive infrared code base

The Xiaomi remote control is programmed with a voluminous base of infrared codes, which allows you to manage a huge amount and range household appliances on the market.

Such devices appeared three or four years ago and, although they did not receive wide distribution, they are developing and receiving new functions. Their main purpose is to control devices by infrared channel within sight. Commands are received via Wi-Fi via an Android or iOS program. In addition to this, you can get the function of controlling household appliances via a 433 MHz radio channel (sensors, switches, sockets) and link the operation of various slave devices. The most popular device in stores is the Broadlink RM2. So Xiaomi has tightened up. Unfortunately, practically nothing is known about its implementation. Even on the official website it is difficult to understand something. And unofficial sources lie a little.

Unpacking

Before us is a laconic box with a small "washer" inside. There is not even a power supply unit, only a long cable and a brochure in Chinese. The brochure is quite useful; on the leaflet with a description, you can find among the incomprehensible symbols useful information... For example, the model of the device is now known:

model: NDZ-08-GA
weight: 133g
dimensions: 100x100x26 (mm)
power supply: DC 5V1A
IR working frequency: 38KHz
operating temperature: 10 - 50 ° C
Wi-Fi: 2.4GHz b / g / n

There is a discreet Reset button near the power connector to reset the settings. A 1-meter cable may not be suitable for convenient placement of the device, so you may need a longer cable. After power is applied, the device begins to accept commands after 20 seconds.

Customization

As you can see, there is no radio control. The QR code leads to the mi.com website. The logical assumption that the Mi Home program is needed to start was confirmed. After installation, the program found a new device, asked to tell the SSID and password of the local Wi-Fi networks(2.4 GHz only) and updated the "washer" firmware. In the program you can choose English interface.

At this stage, everything is just beginning. You cannot add a new device without a personal account. Registration took about a week. Only for the eighth time and for the third mailbox confirmation of registration has come and now you can add a device. After choosing the monitored device from the list, the main program downloads the required plug-in. Plugin in Chinese. Without translation.

Plugin management

Before us are three buttons to choose from.

The upper one offers to select a controlled device from a list of well-known manufacturers.

The middle button offers to search for the device by entering its model.

The bottom button allows you to "assemble" your remote control by buttons. If you direct the existing remote control to the "washer" in the area of the green LED and press, for example, "Vol-", then you can then assign this pressing to a key on the virtual remote control.

As a result, "by typing" I set up the remotes to control the air conditioner and the TV.
All buttons work, but because of the signatures in Chinese, it is not always possible to guess their purpose. In the air conditioner remote control mode, the current temperature is displayed, probably there is a corresponding sensor in the "washer".

Localization

The w3bsit3-dns.com forum has a localized version of Mi Home. Unfortunately, but latest versions Mi Home plugins update automatically and quite often. Localized versions are quickly replaced Chinese versions... There is outdated version Mi Home with built-in translated plugins, but she didn't want to use the account I created.

Total

The device is interesting, but so far it is difficult to use it.

adds functions to smartphone / tablet
there are updates
there is a temperature sensor

there is no translation in the control program