555 Timer TV Remote Jammer – Complete Instructions

Here is a nifty little circuit that’s designed to make sure nobody messes with your TV settings while you are watching your favorite show – a 555 timer TV remote jammer!

This sneaky device sends out an invisible signal at a frequency that the TV thinks is coming from a remote control. But instead of changing the channel, it just fills the air with noise that the TV can’t understand.

The Circuit

To build this circuit, you’ll need a 555 timer, a potentiometer, a couple of diodes, a transistor, some resistors, capacitors, and an IR LED.

Parts List

• 555 Timer IC
• IR LED (that works with 100 mA or more)
• Q1: Transistor NPN
• C1: Capacitor 10 nF
• R1: Potentiometer 10 kΩ
• R2: Resistor 1 kΩ
• R3: Resistor 470 Ω
• R4: Resistor 56 Ω
• D1, D2: Diode 1N4148

How It Works

This circuit is all about that 38kHz signal—it’s the sweet spot that most TV remotes use to chat with your television. The 555 timer sets up the frequency, and you can use the potentiometer to fine-tune it.

The IR LED will blink with that frequency to send out the IR signal. IR stands for infrared, which is a type of light that’s just out of sight for our eyes, but TV sensors can pick it up like a dog hears a whistle.

The transistor, the two diodes, and the 56 Ω resistor (R4) make up a constant current source to make sure the IR LED gets 100 mA of current. So make sure you choose an IR LED that can handle this much current or more.

Build The Circuit

You can build a prototype of this circuit to test it out on a breadboard:

Once everything is connected, you can power the 555 Timer TV Remote Jammer by connecting a 9V battery. The IR LED should start emitting the 38kHz signal, effectively jamming nearby TV remotes.

Build this circuit, point it at your TV, and it’s like you put up an invisible ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign for any other remotes.

Remember, it’s important to follow the schematic diagram accurately to ensure the circuit works correctly.

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