Atari 2600 remote controller mod a throwback to simpler times

Having a monster universal remote like Logitech's Harmony 880 is nice and all, but it can definitely be overkill when all you want to do is smack mute when the phone rings. Trying to simplify, enterprising hacker Alan Parekh built a basic TV remote into the chassis of one of those Atari 2600 10-in-1 game controllers. Using the guts of a dimestore keychain remote and some high-powered IR LEDs, Alan wired up the controller's fire button to power his TV on and off, left-right and up-down to the volume and channel buttons, respectively, reset to the mute button, and input select to -- what else? -- the select button. A simple but terrific hack, in our eyes. Video of the remote controller in action after the jump.

[Bob E @ May 17th 2007 8:05AM]

This looks great...
Instead of another controller I wish Microsoft, DirectTV and Comcast would stadardize so I could use my Xbox 360 contoller to adjust my TV!

[NHAnimator @ May 17th 2007 8:18AM]

After extended use, my controller use to make these crunching sounds every time I moved the stick in some direction.

And the area between my thumb and forefinger used to get sore something awful.

Ah, the good old days.

[PDubNYC @ May 17th 2007 10:55AM]

mine used to fire when you moved the stick down.

[Vagrant @ May 17th 2007 8:19AM]

I got craZy hand cramps using that old joystick, after playing Asteroids into the next morning and turning the game over. Ahh...good times.

[Tristan @ May 17th 2007 10:12PM]

I loved the womens chin shaving commercial on the TV. What timing!