Remote control systems are designed to automate processes to the convenience of the end-users. With changes in lifestyles moving ahead with technological advancements, remote controls (commonly known as remotes) become an integral part of household equipment which the end users expects them to be part of their lives. Remote controls technology are often used in household appliances and electronic equipment.

Remote control systems consist of :

Receiver board which is connected to the appliance or equipment which it is suppose to control. The type of controls which can be activated by remote control are programming, changing of channels,volume, contrast etc, to activate a control board which in-turn operates electromechanical mechanisms.
Transmitter unit which sents signals to the receiver to enable it to activate the control board which control the various functions of the appliance, equipment or electromechanical mechanisms.

The remote controls systems can be single or mutiple channels depending on the type of application environment which it is used. The transmission method can either be by Infra-red light transmission or RFID transmission. Household appliances tend to use Infra-red transmission whereas outdoor/industrial envirionment tend to use RFID type of transmission.

Problems with remote control system
1) Power problems - most common problem where the batteries in the tranmitter are completely discharged and need replacement. Occasionally the power supply system at the receiver end can malfunction as well or the equipment which it is suppose to control is malfunctioning.
2) Obstruction problem - affects remote control systems which uses Infra-red transmission system. The end-user must ensure that there is a clear line of sight between the transmitter and the receiver.
3) Interference problem - affects remote control systems which uses RFID transmission system. There are a lot of equipment around us which emits RF waves (radio frequency) during its' operation. Some of these equipment emit RF at intermittent intervals whereas others emit continous RF during operations. RF interference may reduce the range in which the remote can operate efficiently or stop the remote control system from functioning altogether. In some instances your remote transmitter may affect the equipment of your neighbours' or vice-versa if the 2 systems are transmitting on the same frequency range. To solve that problem, the end-user can get their system reprogrammed to another RF frequency.

To minimize RF interference, all remote systems transmitting by RF tranmission system has to get their equipment approved by the Infocomm Authority of Singapore (IDA approved). It is an offence to use non IDA approved transmission equipment in Singapore and these end-users can be prosecuted and asked to dismantle an non-approved systems installed by the IDA.