Control your Xbox 360 with DirecTV remote

You already know that Sony's PlayStation 3 can be dictated via IR, and even your iPod can be manhandled by an umbrella, but the latest discovery in controlling gizmos in unorthodox ways involves Microsoft's Xbox 360 and your universal DirecTV remote. Thanks to a little bit of trickery, you can save yourself the hassle (and expenditure) of buying an Xbox 360 remote by just using the one you've already received with your DirecTV service, and thankfully, the steps to completion are far from difficult. Simply switch the remote to AV1 and hold down the mute / select buttons until AV1 blinks twice. Then, key in 991, followed by 2, and finally tag the Power button; once you've worked off a few calories doing all this, just cycle Up a few dozen times until your console powers up, and once it does, just mash Select to complete the (essentially painless) process. If you're still holding tight to your doubts, be sure to hit the links below for a bit more proof, and click on through for a live action video showing the two (very) distant relatives playing nice together.

[Via Xbox360Fanboy]

[Terrence Meekins @ Jan 24th 2007 12:15PM]

Dish Network anyone?

[Christian @ Jan 25th 2007 1:05AM]

yes good question ... Dish Network codes?

[John @ Jan 24th 2007 12:37PM]

The Logitech harmony remotes can control the 360 as well.

[vypergts @ Jan 24th 2007 5:40PM]

Harmony FTW

[Bjet @ Jan 24th 2007 1:05PM]

ummmm you press 3 not 2 after 991...

[Bjet @ Jan 24th 2007 1:05PM]

oh, and whats happening is just a code search, direct tv manual shows you how to do it. i guess nobody really thought it apllied to a 360...lol

[Monoto @ Jan 24th 2007 1:26PM]

The original XBOX and the 360 use RCA DVD remote signals, so there's nothing special about the DirecTV remote or the Harmony. Just look in your remote's manual and find the code for an RCA DVD player and you're in business.

[Matt @ Jan 24th 2007 9:57PM]

Doesn't work. At least, not using a Dish Network universal remote control. I believe I've tried all of the RCA dvd codes, and none worked. The Xbox 360 is supposed to turn off when you press the power button, right?

[Stridery @ Jan 24th 2007 1:42PM]

Theres an even easier way to do this. Just find the Media Center PC code for any IR Universal Remote.

For DirecTV:
switch the remote to av1 or av2
hold select + mute until the green light blinks twice
press power
type in 21972

done

Why have the remote manually search which is annoying when you can skip right to it? :)

[Chase @ Jan 25th 2007 1:40AM]

So I looked up the code 21972 in the Direct TV Remote Manual, and it corresponds to any computer related type brands. Microsoft, Dell, HP, Compaq, Gateway, Linksys, Voodoo, Viewsonic, etc. You name it. I tried looking in the Dish Network remote manual for all of these brands to find the code for Dish and could not find a single one... So I'm pretty pissed.

[mike @ Mar 25th 2007 9:14PM]

this code also works for th Bose cinemate remote. Not surprisingly, when I called Microsoft to ask them for the code they told me there was none and that if I wanted a remote for the xbox 360 I'd have to buy their remote. Just saved myself a few bucks.

[Greyking @ Jan 24th 2007 1:53PM]

I've long ago set my universal remote to flash the 360. However, I've found the IR pickup to be spotty at best, so I generally just use the wireless controller.

[Jay_Bice @ Jan 24th 2007 2:07PM]

I just use my HP Media Center Remote....

[mattstl77 @ Jan 24th 2007 2:21PM]

Wow... Engadget actually delivered a positive article about Microsoft! Who woulda thunk?

[scott berfield @ Jan 24th 2007 2:22PM]

Um - this isn't exactly brain surgery -- any number of learning remotes and universals can control the 360.

[c. baines @ Jan 24th 2007 2:48PM]

So I was the only person that noticed this in 2005? Amazing.

[Johan S @ Jan 24th 2007 2:48PM]

With star trek level voice control, single touch gesturing (not that multi touch confusing), OLED + LCD, and rockstar smoothness bringing up and scrolling thru menus on the HDTV.
Maybe in a future generation they'll integrate IR or the bluetooth in such a way that a third party could write a remote into phones. Heck throw rfid in there and u could have a swipe free credit card (u may have to enter a code to temporarily auth the phone), concert/movie ticket store, keyless entry/ignition start system, etc all on gadget. If you lose it, like having wallet/keys stolen u can call up and have the phone cancelled and maybe even data deleted off it remotely but if not no big deal cause important data is encrypted.

[askme @ Jan 24th 2007 3:39PM]

@ Johan

Actually my phone (Sammy i730) already can control my TV, 360, etc. with a full IR functionality including having all the IR code presets adn being fully scriptable.

So, I can actually control my TV, 360, and therefore my Media Center PC all with my phone. Convergence heaven.

The only value to this would seem to be the wife annoyance factor, which is exceedingly high.

[James @ Jan 24th 2007 3:44PM]

Does anybody know what manufacturer the code given in the comments above corresponds to? I have a "universal" remote that came with my TV, and it kinda sorta works for some of my other home theater gear, but I never thought to try it with the XB. I'm not sure it has a one-button code search like the DTV remote does, and I'd rather not have to type *all* the codes in by hand just to try. So, uh, any ideas?

[Jaq @ Jan 24th 2007 4:25PM]

I accidentally pressed 911 and the police showed up at my door.

[Uchendu Nwachukwu @ Jan 24th 2007 4:41PM]

I call fake on the video. It's obvious there's someone off to the side with a 360 controller who powers the system up at the right moment. Why else would he pan away from the Ring of Light, just in time so we can't see the connected controller light?

Yes, I'm joking, BTW. ;)

[nedge2k @ Jan 24th 2007 4:47PM]

You can also do it with a Kameleon remote:

http://nedge2k.com/blog/how-to-control-your-xbox-360-with-a-kameleon/

[adam @ Jan 25th 2007 12:34AM]

So does anyone know what manufacturer code is used? I could use the RCA code on most universal remotes for the old Xbox, but RCA didnt work with this one. Anyone know what code it will use for the Scientific Atlanta Remotes from Cox?

[Todd Loewen @ Jan 25th 2007 2:24AM]

You can also do this with Time Warner Remotes as well. You get the needed functions but not much else.

[CM @ Jan 25th 2007 3:19AM]

So I did this with my DirecTV remote (same as one pictured) to use with a MCE PC, but it's too lame. Most of the buttons around the cursor keys don't work (only Exit, which is "back", and Menu, which is a DVD-only function), and neither do the colored buttons.

I'm still waiting for a decent cheap remote which has all the MCE remote functions, plus some important TV controls. What I may end up doing is using the DirecTV remote along with an IRman, and setting it up in a mode where all the buttons work.

Still, the Dish PVR remote is the best-designed remote I've ever used. Too bad it doesn't work with IRman (it's a 56khz remote, not 38khz like most others).

[Anthony Emma @ Jan 29th 2007 2:39PM]

doesn't work fo rme at all...

tried all of the RCA codes...

tried every suggestion in the thread...

tried the search function...

no dice

any suggestions that aren't "Go buy a remote?"

[P.J @ Feb 5th 2007 6:44PM]

DONT BURN CALORIES I found a FIX!!

Switch your channel to AV1

Ok press and hole the select and mute buttons till AV1 blinks twice

Enter 21708 and press power VIOLA it WORKS!