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Broadlink Black Bean Smart Home Wi-Fi Networked Universal IR Controller (preorder) - AU$18.36

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Similar to this device, but IR only (no RF) and significantly cheaper.

Preorder price ramping upwards as more orders coming in. Price at deal submission was US $9.99 / AU $13.20, it has since passed through the second tier of US $11.99 / AU $15.81 for the next 333 orders, it has now hit the third tier of US $13.99 / AU $18.36 for the next 333 orders.

Turn your IR controlled devices into Phone App controllable devices.
Adjust volume on your outdoor speakers while you're gardening, turn on the A/C before you get home, record a program while you're out and about.

This device learns remote control signals and a simple phone app allows you to control devices as though you were standing in the room with the device's remote in your hands.

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closed Comments

  • Good thing I double checked before clicking submit. You bet me to it :(

    • Ooh, EB rep posting BG deal hey? :P

      • GB*. Meh they all try to poach me every now and then.

        • Whoops ah well same same right :P

        • +2

          @Spackbace: You have no idea ;)

      • *GB Rep

  • Works with Tasker…

  • Possible noob question; how do I know if my devices are IR controlled?

    • +12

      If the remote control has a dark window at the top, it's IR.
      The best way to confirm is to point your phone camera at the window and press a button on the remote. You should see a blinking white light on the phone screen which you normally can't see with your eyes.

      • Brilliant, thanks mate!

      • +2

        Well that was a fun little experiment.

      • +1

        Thanks, I will be considered even more nerdy now! :)

    • Point the remote at a camera and press any key (easier your mobile phone camera) and it should look like an illuminated led ;)

    • +1

      Pretty much every device that has a remote is IR controlled.
      Really expensive Amplifiers are the exception and sometimes come with an RF remote.
      (RF can pass through walls, IR can't)

  • +4

    How does this work exactly? Does this unit act as the IR blaster & actually have to be placed in-front of the device you want to control?

    • +1

      The internal photo shows a bunch of LEDs pointed all around, so depending on the placement of your device, you should be able to just put it "somewhere" in the room where the IR light can bounce around. It doesn't necessarily have to be line-of-sight… it really depends on what you have in that room.

      • Thanks for clarifying! Might now get one to control my projector w/ IR learning.

  • bought one, thanks OP

    now the wait..

  • Grabbed a couple to try…Thanks

  • +1

    Price increased as first 333 were sold. 334-666 are $15.81 and 667+ are $18.45

  • +1

    Anyone got a link to the Android app? Like to see what it's like before I jump in.

    • Myabe this? Not 100% sure.

      • If its the same app as the older model then yep thats it.

  • Thanks op. Bought one to have a play… And for the making romantics

  • The chinglish on this is quality!

  • IFTTT compatible?

    • +1

      Apparently.

    • +1

      If its the same as the older RM2 then I don't think so.

      The description on the old one said IFTTT like functionality & I can't see any channels on ifttt.com

  • +4

    Cool device/idea. Tho I can see myself not buying this, then thinking up a great use for it when it's not on sale haha.

  • +8

    Look forward to nice surprise in a few months when I've forgotten about ordering one of these

    • haha yeah that always happens to me

  • Nice, I've been looking for a simple network connected IR repeater to control my Air-Con away from home.

  • If your office have heatpumps. Use this to suddenly turn the aircon on to prank your coworkers ;)

    Did it with the RM Pro - 10/10 would do it again.

  • Noob question, how many devices can it control simultaneously?

    • +1

      I imagine you with 2 remotes in each hand pressing simultaneous buttons

      • So what I'm hearing is, unlimited devices and I could spend all day pushing on/off for all of them. Nice! Purchasing 10 now.

        • What do you mean by simultaneously?
          Turning on 2 devices at the same time like a Harmony remote? - NO
          Turning on the TV using the TV remote screen, then turning on the DVD Player with the DVD screen, then changing the A/C temperature with the A/C screen? - YES

          Each screen has multiple buttons and each button has to "learn" the command so you could have one screen to do the above if you for example taught the TV remote Channel Up/Down buttons using the Up/Down temperature buttons for the A/C.

        • @scubacoles: If / when the 3rd party tasker app is updated to support this model you could turn 2 devices on at the same time using tasker rather than the official app.

        • @daveaus:
          Cool!
          I Haven't looked into the Tasker side of things yet.
          (I own Tasker, thanks Google Rewards, but have done very little with it)

        • @scubacoles: Sorry, yes your 2nd point ("Turning on the TV using the TV remote screen, then turning on the DVD Player with the DVD screen, then changing the A/C temperature with the A/C screen? - YES") answers my question. Sorry for the confushiousness of it all :D.

          That is what I was trying to say :P My Engrish is not very goods lol. Thank you for this! :)

        • @scubacoles: im no expert at this but it looks to me that via the "scenes" option you just press one button and it will turn on a number of pre-set appliances at once.

          http://imgur.com/w3ksRQ9

  • Do I need it? should I get it? argh….

    • +5

      Under $20
      Over 30 votes
      That's me!

      • +3

        True Ozbargainer.

  • Up to $18.45 now

  • Is it really on preorder until May 15th? I got an email a few hours ago that mine has been shipped.

  • Got shipping notification too.

  • +1

    sent the link to my partner and he was freaked out by 'banggood.com' and then his jaw dropped at 'black bean' haha

  • I do t have a single device I would need to control when I am not home that is controllable with IR. I don't have a/c and while I have a heater with IR I don't feel it's a smart idea to turn it on when I ma not home. It also may be better for you not to have a temperature shock when you get in.

    I am however itching to find a cool use for one of these, hopefully there are some more ideas posted.

  • I bought one. Going to set it so it turns the aircon off if my phone leaves my house.

  • Got an email saying mine has been shipped even though it's presale. Also got an email saying I had to register to get the BG points even though I'm already registered. :/

  • Received mine today

  • Mine was on my doorstep too.. Quite surprised. No instructions.. Qr code on the box tries to load an iOS app store link that is not available. Searching the store I cant find an app for it…

  • Help!! Can anyone get this thing to transmit Foxtel remote signals? It seems to learn them OK but won't transmit. That's the only reason I bought this but it doesn't seem to work. Works fine with my Panasonic TV remote signals.

    • Foxtel remote is a doozie.. requires a true Square Wave which is unusually specific… probably so they can sell replacement remotes for exorbitant prices and possibly also to minimse people sharing one Box's signal to multiple TV's using splitters and remote extenders like this.

      • Sneaky buggers. So there's no way to emulate that signal type?

        • Yet another example of Foxtel being pricks!
          You can buy Foxtel compatible remote extenders, but you pay a premium..
          Alternatively, you may be able to replace the oscillator chip in the BlackBean.. obviously this is a highly technical process!

  • +1

    Finally arrived today. Pranked half the building by putting the aircon on full blast ;)

    • are you using it with ios or android? cant get the app with works for ios using the QR code supplied on box :(

      • +1

        Android. QR code on box outside takes you to Wechat.

        You'll want this:

        https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/broadlink-e-control/id793152…

        • oh thanks!! will give it a try now

        • WOW finally it works :O)

          its a bit tricky for me. Had to force reset button on device for fast flashing, then slow flash.

          connect to BroadlinkProv APN. in ios app then have to choose AP mode.

          then select router(internet) and put in password for it.

          finally it works!! happy days and thanks Clear!!

        • @supnigs: They can always be a pain to connect. I find Broadlink to be far easier to setup than Xiaomi.

        • @Clear: yeah. I'll play with it more tonight but it definitely works as how I expected it would once setup. The app can learn remotes which is awesome

  • Mine came today but cant get it to work with my iphone. Requeires an app from the china app store. Its not available for australia. Will try with an android device tonight.

    • try e-control app from Broadlink on App store

  • Arrived today, works great. Will be awesome for turning on the heat pump when I leave work, etc.

    • Same here, chinese instructions but setup was easy just by looking at the diagrams. It's working fine with my Sony TV and A/C

  • Mine arrived yesterday, but I can't find the URL required to update firmware, so it can work external from network. As a TV remote, it's quite temperamental. One press and the volume jumps up sporadically, or down.

    • The phone app does the firmware update.
      You'll also likely have to fiddle with your router firewall, port forwarding rules and DDNS (unless you have a static IP).

      • Ok, thanks. When I switched the region from China to Australia, there is a red message at the top stating - 'You will not be able to use the device externally unless you update the firmware.' Then provides a field to input the URL firmware address . But, dumb-dumb here should have tested it before, off the network. Have now, low and behold - it works! Power to the People! :D Thank you!! Love this thing.

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