As you might have noticed, the 38-KHz pulse generator is built around the evergreen timer chip NE555P (IC1). Here, the RC components (R5-C3-P1) set the astable frequency to drive the infrared light ...

“You can’t put new wine in old bottles” – so the saying goes. But you would if you’re a hacker stuck with a radio built in 2005, which looked like it was put together using technology from 1975.

Back around the turn of the century, infrared ports for wireless data transfer over short distances were commonplace on many mobile devices. But it wasn't long before infrared communication technology ...