TSOP4838 IR Remote Receiver

Decode every button on a TV remote with a single three-pin module — the same chip that lives behind the IR window of every consumer electronics device.

Difficulty: Breadboard. Estimated build time: about 20 minutes. Estimated parts cost: about US$2.20. 7-part bill of materials with live supplier pricing. A microcontroller-friendly receiver that reads the NEC, Sony SIRC, or RC-5 codes a TV remote sends out, so you can use any spare remote as a free wireless input device.