Project Hub /IoT & Connected Devices/Smart Home & Building Automation/Control TV With Alexa IoT TV Controller

Intermediate

ARDUINO

Project Specific

3 – 6 Hours

Partial Kit

Control TV With Alexa IoT TV Controller

Build an Alexa IoT TV controller to operate your television or set-top box using voice commands over Wi-Fi.

Originally published on ElectronicsForU

View original tutorial

Parts You'll Need

This project is sourced from another site, not written by us — this list is our best match of their components against what we stock, not a verified bill of materials. Always check the original blog (linked above) for the actual parts list before buying.

ESP8266 ESP-01 5V, 1 Channel WiFi Relay, Module Things Smart, Home Remote Control, Switch Rs. 886.00
IR Proximity Sensor Module With Pot Rs. 55.00
Jumper Wire 10 Pin Male To Male 20cm Rs. 45.00
MB102 Adjustable Breadboard Power Supply Module (3.3V & 5V) for Arduino & Raspberry Pi Rs. 139.00
400 Points Mini Solderless Prototype PCB Breadboard High Quality Rs. 89.00
Jumper Wire 10 Pin Male To Female 20cm Rs. 45.00

Selected: Rs. 0.00

We don't carry yet: Arduino (unspecified board)

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How It Works

The Control TV With Alexa IoT TV Controller system bridges modern smart home infrastructure with traditional infrared-controlled appliances by combining Wi-Fi connectivity with local hardware signaling. At the core of the system, an ESP8266-01 module connects to your local wireless network and runs firmware utilizing the espalexa library. This library allows the module to emulate a smart home device that Amazon Alexa can discover and communicate with natively over your network without requiring an external cloud skill bridge. When you issue a voice command to Alexa, such as turning the TV on or changing the volume, Alexa sends a command packet to the ESP8266 over Wi-Fi. The microcontroller processes this network request and translates it into a specific sequence of infrared pulses. Using an IR LED connected to the circuit, the system emits modulated light pulses that match the standard communication protocols required by your television or set-top box. An Arduino board and a dedicated power supply work alongside the ESP8266 to ensure stable voltage levels and proper logic-level signal routing throughout the circuit. Because infrared signals require a direct line of sight, the system acts as a smart relay, receiving wireless digital commands from your smart speaker and executing them locally via optical infrared transmission.

Why Build This

Bridge legacy infrared consumer electronics into modern voice-controlled smart home ecosystems without replacing existing hardware.

Gain practical undergraduate-level experience integrating IoT communication libraries with physical hardware signaling.

Implement custom network-connected automation controllers using modular microcontroller hardware like the ESP8266 and Arduino.

Real-World Application

Enabling voice-controlled automation for legacy infrared consumer electronic appliances in smart homes.

Skills You'll Learn

Wi-Fi microcontroller programming

IR signal modulation and decoding

smart home protocol emulation

serial communication

power supply integration

Safety Precautions

No specific precautions noted for this build — always follow general electronics safety practices.

Technology Tags

ALEXA

IOT

WI-FI

IR REMOTE

SMART HOME

ARDUINO IDE

C++

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an Amazon Echo device to use this controller?

Yes, or access to the Amazon Alexa app configured on your network, as the ESP8266 relies on the Alexa smart home device discovery protocol provided by the espalexa library.

Why are both an Arduino board and an ESP8266-01 used in the project?

The ESP8266-01 provides the necessary Wi-Fi connectivity and processing power for IoT integration, while the Arduino board can assist with logic interfacing, pin expansion, or stable power distribution depending on the specific circuit layout.

Can this project control any television model?

It can control any TV that uses standard infrared remote controls, provided you program the correct IR hex codes matching your specific television brand into the IR remote library.

Gallery

This page is part of Kitkraft's Project Hub — a curated collection of electronics & robotics projects gathered from the maker community to help students and hobbyists discover and learn to build. Kitkraft does not claim authorship of the original project, and makes no representation as to the accuracy, completeness or safety of third-party source material. The summary and "How It Works" explanation above are AI-generated, rewritten with reference to the original tutorial — not a reproduction of it. Full credit and a direct link to the original source are provided above. If you're the original creator and have a concern about how your work is represented here, please contact us and we'll address it promptly.

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