So i read this article on Engadget awhile ago. I loved the entire idea of building a simple remote out of my iPod. While my car was being smog checked today i walked over to the local Radio Shak and bought a few items that would allow me to build my own little IR signal transmitter. I got a Infrared LED, a Panel-Mount LED Holder, and a standard 1/8 inch Phone Plug.
Pull the phone plug apart and cut off the end.
Then remove the rubber stopper from the LED holder and screw the holder into the new cut end of the Phone plug. The other piece of the phone plug also will need to be cut. The metal end that is usually used to crimp the wires in place after they are attached can be removed.
The IR LED will need to have its wires cut down just a little to adjust for the length of the phone plug. I just eyeballed the length and it came out at about 3/8 inch.
Then solder the IR LED onto the phone plug.
Screw the two pieces of the phone plug together now with the IR LED inside.
To make sure your unit is working you can download the little test power.WAV from engadget. Pop it into your iPod and grab your digital camera or video camera. Look at the tip of the new IR unit through your camera. The IR light will become visible through the camera's pickups and you'll be able to see if its working. (Even if you have the "wrong" sound file) Now I've gotta now build a IR detector microphone so that i can record all my remote control signals and set up the sounds on my iPod. But that's tomorrow.
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