Adding IR Remote Control to the Sony PS3 |All Gaming Solution

The Sony PS3 is the jack-of-all-trades of the console world. Not only does it represent some of the most advanced hardware ever to be dedicated to the business of gaming, but it also has a surprising

number of secondary skills including web browser and media player. But one of the most important

supplementary functions of the PS3 is the unit’s built-in Blu-ray Disc (BD) movie playback. In fact, for some folks this is the primary reason for purchasing the system – the PS3 is not only one of the best

BD players currently available on the market, but it costs barely half as much as the next

cheapest standalone model.

With Sony’s heavy hyping of the PS3’s extensive media capabilities, it’s disappointing to discover that they didn’t seem to learn from past history when it comes to integrating the PS3 with audio/video

components.

Back when the original PS2 was released, one of its primary secondary features was that it could play DVD movies. However, beyond using the wired controller, it lacked any real remote control

capabilities – which made it far from most people’s first choice when it came to DVD playback.

Wireless remote or bust! Sony (et al) listened, and official add-on wireless remote controls began

popping up on the market, each of which included a separate consumer infrared (CIR) receiver that plugged into one of the PS2’s controller ports. Eventually when the company redesigned the PS2 into the newer “slim” version in 2004, they built that CIR receiver right into the unit to make the unit more attractive for movie playback out-of-the-box.

Things looked bright for the PS3’s future when the PlayStation Portable (PSP) was released, as it came with a built-in CIR receiver/transmitter (even though there is still no “official” use for this). But

then, just before the PS3 was released, disaster struck for universal remote controls everywhere. Sony revealed that the PS3 would not have an infrared receiver after all, and the optional BD movie remote control would be based on Bluetooth technology. Nooooo!

Now, there’s nothing particularly wrong with Bluetooth. It’s a great wireless solution that doesn’t

require line of sight to operate, and since the PS3 is already using Bluetooth for its controllers this would seem like a natural and cost effective extension. However, the one thing Bluetooth is not is friendly with home theater systems. No commonplace equipment available in the audio/video world uses Bluetooth for control. There are no remote automation systems designed to handle Bluetooth – everything is either more traditional RF, or standard infrared.

So not only does this Bluetooth-only solution make it absolutely impossible to integrate that optional BD remote – and thus control over the PS3 – into any universal remote control, but it also makes it impossible for that Bluetooth remote to perform any regular home theater functions such as turning on the television or adjusting the volume. Bluetooth just isn’t a good match for the audio/video world, and with Sony pushing use of the PS3 with high-end home theater systems it’s unthinkable that such a basic necessity would be overlooked.

The parts you’ll need:

Well, necessity is the mother of invention, and using only off-the-shelf hardware it’s possible to add a
basic level of infrared remote control capabilities to today’s PS3. Here’s what you need:
● A Sony PS3 system (20gb or 60gb)
● A PSX/PS2 Controller to USB adapter (Location: Home | PS3 | Cables and Adapters)
● An original DVD remote control for the PS2 with external IR receiver

Some further explanation may be required for two of these items.

The “PSX/PS2 Controller to USB adapter” is a conversion cable designed to make PlayStation
controllers compatible with traditional home computers. It does not appear to matter exactly which adapter you purchase.
The trickiest item to obtain will be the original DVD remote control for the PS2 – at least one that comes with an external IR receiver. All currently marketed DVD add-on remotes do not include that
external IR receiver, since one is already built into the slim PS2. So, you’ll need to find an add-on
remote designed for the original PS2. For this test I used the official Sony PlayStation 2 DVD Remote Control model SCPH-10172, which specifically mentions “with IR receiver unit” on the package front.
The part number of the IR receiver is SCPH-10160. To find one check out the usual suspects for non current hardware – eBay, bulk liquidators, and so forth.
To assemble this contraption, plug the IR receiver into the PS2 controller end of the adapter cable, and then plug the USB end of the adapter into one of the PS3’s front mounted USB ports. The end result
may look a little bit ungainly, but it’s better than nothing!

Here’s what works:

Remote Button PS3/BD Command
Up Up
Down Down
Left Left
Right Right
Triangle Options Menu
Circle * Quit Player
Square* BD Menu
Cross* Enter
L1 Previous Chapter
L2 Scan -
R1 Next Chapter
R2 Scan +
Select Display
Start Pause

* Works on all PS3 screens; other commands only function while in the BD player.

So, that’s 14 functional buttons. Using a universal remote control this way works fairly well, although the PS3 is a little less quick to respond to repeated commands from the adapter, so you can’t press “up-up-
up” as rapidly as with the Bluetooth controller. The 35 other commands on the Sony PS2 DVD
remote control? They don’t do anything. There’s also no way to power on the unit using infrared nor navigate the Cross Media Bar, although this isn’t as inconvenient as it sounds since the PS3 will turn
on and automatically play a movie when one is inserted.
Note that if you purchase a different brand of PS2 remote you may need to map its commands to their PS3 equivalents yourself, using the original remote control. I also do not recommend using the Mad
Catz add-on PS2 DVD remote with IR receiver for the original PlayStation 2, as its non-standard
commands are notoriously difficult for universal remote controls to learn.
If there’s enough demand for infrared remote control of the PS3 I’m sure that an accessory company will step up to the plate and offer an official – and more elegant – IR remote control solution,
hopefully with a level of control that at least matches the official PS3 Bluetooth remote (which has 51
commands). But for now, this collection of non-intended hardware and adapters makes a practical and inexpensive way to integrate your PS3 with your universal remote control.