Yes, I know what you are thinking: âoh no, please not another TVBGoneâŠâ
Anyway, this instructable is for the newbies as me which are still experimenting with Arduino, and prefer to program an Atmega168 in Arduino than an AtTyny85 with other methods.
This circuit is based on Mitch Altmanâs TVBGone and on Ken Shirriffâs blog where the software has been modified to match Arduino IC. I then decided to move the programmed Atmega on a dedicated pcb, and make everything fit in a transparent box  with a 9V rechargeable battery.
Step 1: choose the box
My TVBGone uses only a little IR LED, so it shouldnât be much powerful, anyway itâs enough to turn off the unwanted tv with ads which had born as mushrooms anywhere in any station here in Milan, the difference is that mushrooms are very quietâŠ
Step 2: the BOM
In pdf you will find the traces to transfer on the copper board and the top view with components position and values. Next is the bill of materials.
- an ATmega168 with socket
- a temporary NO button
- a little switch
- a 5V voltage regulator L7825CV
- a 16000 hz quartz
- an NPN transistor PN2222A
- two coloured LEDs
- an IR led
- the following resistors: 220ohm, 10ohm, 1Kohm, 10Kohm, 47ohm
- the following caps: 10uF, 22pF, 22pF
- a 9V battery with connections
- a convenient box
- a damned annoying television always turned on
Step 3: the pcb printingâŠ
As usually, after cutted the copper board at the (almost) right dimension, Iâve laser-printed the traces on a glossy paper and I transfered them on the board with an iron. For this process you could follow this instructable âthe TIRR (very simple Timelapse IR Remote)â or this other one âBBB (Bothersome Blinker for Bikes)â where itâs good explained.
When youâve transfered the scheme on the copper and cleaned it from the paper, check meticulously the continuity of the single traces, and try to fill with a fine permanent marker every interruption. After that youâre ready to etch your pcb.