Simple wireless remote controls come with many devices (i.e. garage doors, lamps, toys, etc.). They use one of the license-free radio frequencies and transmit data one-way using simple OOK and EV1527 encoding/ev1527remotecontrols/).
Overview
With simple RF remote controls, there is a dedicated sender (the remote control), and a dedicated receicer (the device(s) to control). Such remote control systems use one-way communication, and there is no feedback whether the target device has received the control signal.
This is typically no problem though since the controlled devices (i.e. garage doors) clearly indicate themselves whether or not they were invoked.
Radio Frequencies
Since RF remote controls do not depend on infrastructure, they can operate anywhere and do not need i.e. WiFi coverage, or Internet access.
Their RF output power is limited, and the typical range is 10-100 meters. They use one of the four major license-free bands:
| Frequency | Region |
|---|---|
| 315MHz | US, Japan |
| 433MHz | Europe, Asia |
| 868MHz | Europe |
| 915MHz | US, Australia, Asia |
Security and Rolling Codes
Since RF remote controls send radio signals, anyone in close vicinity can pick up these signals. This can be risky because hijacked (recorded) signals can be played back later.
An attacker could record the RF signal when a garage door is opened, and later play back the signal to open the garage door for house invasion.
Rolling Codes Prevent Replays
For this reason, more sophisticated remote control systems use rolling codes: they change the valid code on every press to resist replay and cloning attacks, and add cryptography and counters so a captured transmission cannot be reused later, making them far more secure than fixed/simple codes.
In a nutshell, rolling code systems ensure that an intercepted signal cannot be used again because it has been invalidated by the receiver.
High Risk Areas
Rolling code systems are especially important for controlling access paths, i.e. garage doors. Less security-sensitive devices that are located inside the home (i.e. lamps) do not benefit from rolling codes: their RF reception distance is low, and attackers would have to break into the house in the first place to get close enough to the device to intercept its radio signals.
Coincidentally, this also means self-learning remote controls from other vendors never support rolling codes, despite any claim. After all, the sole purpose of rolling codes is to prevent that anyone (including self-learning remote controls) can pick up and replay radio signals.
Use Cases
RF remote controls are used in many areas:
Ready-Made Devices
Many commercial devices come bundled with RF remote controls.
In addition, you can purchase DIY sets consisting of a remote control and controllable electrical outlets. This way, you can turn any regular device into a remote-controllable device by controlling its power supply.
DIY projects / Home Automation
For DIY projects, you can purchase sets consisting of a remote control and a small PCB (receiver). The receiver PCB can then be used in various DIY projects/ev1527remotecontrols/).
The receiver PCB signals the control message when it receives it, and your project design can then decide what to do with it, i.e. control relais, SSDs, or forward the signal to Home Assistant to control any type of home automation or connected device.
There are even mini modules that are small enough to be mounted right into light switches:
Always make sure the module supports the frequency range you intend to use. There are similar-looking modules for RF frequencies (i.e. 433MHz), for WiFi, and for both.
Self-Learning Remote Controls
Very affordable self-learning remote controls exist that combine a sender with a receiver. This way, such remote controls can do what attackers would do: sniff and receive the signal from any other RF remote control, then store it and play it back later.
This way, you can:
- Consolidate:
Combine multiple RF remote controls in one remote control. - Replace:
Replace an old and/or clumsy remote control with a modern one. Often, self-learning remote controls are cheaper than the special 12V batteries used by some garage door openers, so for the price of a replacement battery you get two or three self-learning remote controls. - Add:
Cloning an existing remote control can be a simple way of adding a replacement or backup remote control.
Caveats
Self-learning RF remote controls are great, but they can also be frustrating. They often lack manuals/clear instructions, and prerequisites must be met:
-
Frequency:
The self-learning remote control must support the frequency used by the original remote control. Some “universal” self-learning remote controls support the entire frequency range from 300-915MHz, whereas others support just a particular band.
-
Other Caveats:
Most self-learning RF remote controls can learn the signal from another remote control only if you place the two remote controls into direct contact.
Even when the two remote controls are just a few centimeters apart, the learning process fails.
-
Rolling Code:
If your existing RF remote system uses sophisticated rolling codes, then they don’t allow cloning of the changing encrypted payload; instead, a self‑learning rolling‑code remote must be introduced to the receiver through a secure enrollment that shares secrets or authorization, not by over‑the‑air copying of a button press.So if a self-learning remote control claims to support rolling codes, this is typically wrong. While you may be able to pick up and record the signal, depending on the rolling code system you use, this signal won’t work, or it works only for a short period of time, and you would have to re-learn the signal every so often.
Slow Website?
This website is very fast, and pages should appear instantly. If this site is slow for you, then your routing may be messed up, and this issue does not only affect done.land, but potentially a few other websites and downloads as well. Here are simple steps to speed up your Internet experience and fix issues with slow websites and downloads..
Comments
Please do leave comments below. I am using utteran.ce, an open-source and ad-free light-weight commenting system.
Here is how your comments are stored
Whenever you leave a comment, a new github issue is created on your behalf.
-
All comments become trackable issues in the Github Issues section, and I (and you) can follow up on them.
-
There is no third-party provider, no disrupting ads, and everything remains transparent inside github.
Github Users Yes, Spammers No
To keep spammers out and comments attributable, all you do is log in using your (free) github account and grant utteranc.es the permission to submit issues on your behalf.
If you don’t have a github account yet, go get yourself one - it’s free and simple.
If for any reason you do not feel comfortable with letting the commenting system submit issues for you, then visit Github Issues directly, i.e. by clicking the red button Submit Issue at the bottom of each page, and submit your issue manually. You control everything.
Discussions
For chit-chat and quick questions, feel free to visit and participate in Discussions. They work much like classic forums or bulletin boards. Just keep in mind: your valued input isn’t equally well trackable there.
(content created Aug 30, 2025)