Setting Up the Zmote

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Instructions for configuring the new version of zmote are over here: https://www.instructables.com/id/Join-Zmote-to-Your...

5 Aug, 2016

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zmote is a simple device that connects to your home wi-fi network and allows you to control any IR remote-controlled device (your TV, STB, AVR etc.) from any browser.

You can buy the zmote from Tindie.

Setting up your zmote is easy. Here's how.

Step 1: Power Up Your Zmote

Place the zmote in your living room (or wherever the devices you want it to control are) and power it using a micro USB charger. Any phone charger with a micro USB connector (such as the one shown in the picture) will do. Most Android phones use such a charger. So do the Amazon Kindle family of devices.

When powered, you should see a steady red LED and a blinking blue LED on top of the zmote. The red LED indicates that the zmote is powered and the blinking blue LED indicates that the zmote is not connected to the network.

Step 2: Connect to the Zmote's Wi-Fi Hotspot

The zmote has a built in htspot that you first need to connect to before you can configure it. The network name (SSID) for this hotspot will be of the form "zmote_123a2c" (the last six digits will vary and are unique to that zmote).

Open Wi-Fi settings on your phone or computer and connect to this hotspot. No password is required.

For security reasons, zmote's hotspot will automatically turn off after about 3 minutes of powering on unless you connect to it. If you don't see the hotspot, that timeout might have occured, so simply unplug the zmote and power it on again to retry.

Step 3: Visit Zmote.io

Visit http://zmote.io using the browser on the phone or computer that you used to connect to zmote's hotspot.

You should be presented with a configuration page like the one shown here.

Pick your home Wi-Fi network and enter it's password or key. Note that the Wi-Fi networks shown there are as seen by your zmote.

Once it successfully connects, the blue LED on the zmote will stop blinking. You should also be automatically disconnected from the hotspot at this stage (with your phone/computer automatically switching back to your home Wi-Fi network).

Step 4: Revisit Zmote.io

Verify that your phone/computer has been disconnected form zmote's hotspot and is back on your home network. Now refresh the browser page showing http://zmote.io.

At this point, you are already connected with your zmote and you will be taken to a page asking you to add your remote.

Step 5: Search for and Add Your Devices

Search for your devices by brand name or model number. If you don't find exactly what you are looking for, pick a similar brand or the same type of device form the brand.

You can add as many devices as you like, so try out some. If nothing suits, pick from one of the generic devices.

Step 6: Test It Out

Test out the newly added remote(s) on your device(s). Use the Menu button to edit / delete your remotes.

Step 7: Customize Your Remote

In the edit screen, you can drag individual buttons or entire rows of them to achieve the layout you desire. Notice that the remote is organized into pages. We recommend that you don't place too many buttons on one page requiring you to scroll to find buttons lower down in the screen. Instead place them in different pages (with the most frequently used buttons on earlier pages) and use swipe gestures to navigate between pages.

Choose the edit button on the bottom of the screen to change the text, icon and color of a button. You may also learn or re-learn an individual button from an existing remote. Press the learn button on the edit screen and press the corresponding key on your existing remote while pointing it at the zmote.

Step 8: Rapid Learning

Enter the rapid learning mode by pressing the "Learn" icon on the bottom if the screen. Rapid learning is especially useful if you started with a generic remote. It allows you to quickly train multiple keys with a minimum of key presses.

Once in Rapid Learning mode, the button expecting to be trained will blink and display a progress bar. Simply point your existing remote controller at the zmote and press the corresponding key. Once the key press is correctly detected and understood by zmote, the blinking will advance to the next button. Repeat the procedure for each button on your existing remote.

Step 9: Troubleshooting

Make sure that you are connected to the right Wi-Fi network. To configure the zmote, you should be connected to its hotspot. At all other times, to your home Wi-Fi network. As you switch between the two, you may accidentally end up connected to the wrong one, or to your mobile carrier's data network. Turn off mobile data to make sure that does not happen.