Increase The Sensitivity of IR Remote Control

I have a Pioneer XV-MF5 Micro HIFI in my room (around 1-2 years old), the sound is good, radio signal, all great, just one thing I am not quite satisfy. The sensitivity of the remote control seems like not so good, overall is ok, but sometimes I’ll have to point it directly to the HIFI for it to get what I press.

So, since I am having some free time, I decide to break into the remote to see what I can do to improve the sensitivity or increase the IR Signal brightness from the remote.

The model of the remote control is AXD7461 for your information.

After pop in the casing, and having some trial, I found out that the sensitivity will actually improve a lot without the casing attach, which also means that the casing for the remote control is blocking some of the IR signal, and make it not so responsive. Lets take a look at the IR LED placement at the casing. (sorry for the blur image)

Seems like the IR LED is like a bit too “deep” into the casing that even the cap of the IR LED is not so visible from the side of the remote control. So, to make the IR LED expose more outside the case, you will need to de-solder the IR LED from the PCB board.

A de-solder sucker should help you easily remove the IR LED.

Now, you’ll need to use a plier to reshape the legs of the IR LED, from this:

To this:

By reshaping the legs, you are actually making it “longer” that it will be expose more outside the casing. If the IR LED’s leg is too short, you can get a new IR LED from any electronic store, and make it as “long” as you want. Then solder back the LED to the PCB, make sure you follow the correct polarity as how it is when you de-solder it. If you are putting the LED in the reverse polarity, your IR remote will not work.

Let’s have a look at the before and after comparison for the IR LED placement.

Put on the casing and the batteries, and have a try on the new modified remote. For mine, it really improve the sensitivity, that I don’t have to point the device to the HIFI to adjust the volume.

For other models of IR remote, you will have to use your creativity to improve the sensitivity. The IR LED placement might not always be the reason for your weak IR remote. You can get the answer by opening the casing and try to run the remote without the casing (but with the batteries), or maybe only one side of the cover, where you need the battery housing. If the sensitivity improve when you run your remote without the casing, then you can continue with this IR LED placement trick.

So, thanks for reading my blog, and try it on your remote today. Leave a comment if you have any question or you can share your story on how you mod your IR remote.

3 thoughts on “Increase The Sensitivity of IR Remote Control”

  1. Nice mod! My TV also not sensitive to the IR remote. But the problem seems lie at the receiver at the TV side. The deisgner is too ‘smart’ to put sth fansy to block the receiver’s angle…

    Reply
  2. Yes, worked very well, you can also replace the IR LED with a high output type IR LED this can also help as some older remotes have low output IR LED,s

    Reply

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