I have an LED light over an aquarium which I would like to control with a timer. At the moment it has a standard AC timer in the outlet, but when off the light's remote of course can't turn it on.
What I want is to send, based on time of day, the "off" IR signal to the light. This could be either from a standalone universal remote (if any of them had a timer built in), or an IR blaster on a PC, though it needs a learn capability in either case as clearly "Aquarium light control" is not on most universal remote code lists.
I've found reference to lots of USB IR Dongles, but most seem either out of business or in someone's basement and a bit iff-y on software compatibility and still a bit pricey (like $50), or pretty expensive (Global Cache iTach for example is awfully pricey (> $100) but mainstream).
Any recommendations or thoughts?
Frankly I hoped there was just a "IR Universal remote with timer" but logitech and others don't seem to think a timer is useful.
I don't want to spend a lot of money as I can just get up and walk over to the wall timer, but it is a bit annoying when the timer is off and someone wants to see the fish.
PS. The reason for the remote is lots of "scene" modes - colors, dynamic effects, etc. in the light itself. WHY they didn't build in a timer either is beyond me, as every aquarium light has a timer.
What I want is to send, based on time of day, the "off" IR signal to the light. This could be either from a standalone universal remote (if any of them had a timer built in), or an IR blaster on a PC, though it needs a learn capability in either case as clearly "Aquarium light control" is not on most universal remote code lists.
I've found reference to lots of USB IR Dongles, but most seem either out of business or in someone's basement and a bit iff-y on software compatibility and still a bit pricey (like $50), or pretty expensive (Global Cache iTach for example is awfully pricey (> $100) but mainstream).
Any recommendations or thoughts?
Frankly I hoped there was just a "IR Universal remote with timer" but logitech and others don't seem to think a timer is useful.
I don't want to spend a lot of money as I can just get up and walk over to the wall timer, but it is a bit annoying when the timer is off and someone wants to see the fish.
PS. The reason for the remote is lots of "scene" modes - colors, dynamic effects, etc. in the light itself. WHY they didn't build in a timer either is beyond me, as every aquarium light has a timer.