Remotely controlling elderly parents tv - can this be done?

[mommybear1]

My DF 81 is increasingly struggling to use his sky remote/tv remote to change channel and select what he wants to watch. I’ve read about Jubilee TV but I don’t want to go down that route.

We have got him two Alexa’s that are on his WiFi network but connected to our Alexa set up. This works well for me to be able to set him reminders/alarms and “drop in” he can also voice command it to call if he needs anything.

I’m wondering if it is possible to get an Amazon Cube or Firestick and have the same system ie on his WiFi network but on our Alexa system and be able to change the channels for him if needed from my home rather than having to talk him through it or go to his home physically. Has anyone done this or have any other suggestions to help? Thank you

DH installed a 'Home Assist' system in our house and garden. We can turn on lights, fans, plugged in appliances, heating, open/close curtains, turn on the watering system in the garden and green house from it. We can be abroad to do this too.

I'd guess you could hook up a TV to a similar system also, but have no idea how I'm afraid. Might be worth looking into though.

Thank you @JDM625

Its called 'Home Assistant' OP, not Home assist, sorry. I just checked! My DH is very techy, hence we have it and he has found all manner of things to connect to it. Its brilliant IMO! And not connected to apple or other paid for systems. I don't think we pay anything, might be wrong, but its certainly not apple where you pay for every, single app!

https://www.home-assistant.io/

Firestick can be voice controlled

Sky Q is also voice controlled for the remote

I have a now TV box and that can be controlled by an app (Roku) so they should be something out there although it might want to be connected to the same WiFi.
There's always the old school method of blanking out the buttons they don't need on the remote with a Sharpie!

@JDM625thank you again I’m looking into this now. @LIZSand @Mamofteenager thank you both he does have a voice controlled Alexa which he operates fine but for some reason he can’t seem to get the Sky remote to listen to him or he’s pressing the button for too long when talking I’m not sure what it is as it works fine when I am there but we’ve had many 9pm calls where I talk him through it and it just won’t work. @Ollybobthank you yes we have tried a simple remote/sticking post it’s on and a step by step guide printed out for him in large print but nothing seems to help and he then gets upset as he can’t work it hence why I thought if I can just put what he wants on the tv for him it’ll take that added stress off him.

I can control my sky box from the sky go app even when I’m not in the house - can you log into his sky account from there any try it?

We have an LG TV and use the LG ThinQ skill in Alexa to control it - simply pair up the TV and we can say "Alexa, turn off TV", etc.

Have a look to see if there is an Alexa skill for the make/model of TV in question.

We set up an easy to use remote for my dad before he passed away - just programmed it with the channels on sky he likes to watch and large buttons etc

@FrangipaniBluethank you I’m going to find his sky details to try this. @LardyCakeLoverthank you he can turn the television on and off via voice control but the channel selection is the issue which Alexa can’t do. I’ve tried getting him to use the voice control on his sky remote but either he presses the wrong button or he’s not speaking clearly enough into it. @CoastalCalmthank you, the issue is he likes to watch the repair shop at night - he finds it soothing so even though I’ve set it on his sky tv playlist he can’t always access it as even with the simple remote set up he forgets which button to press. I’ll keep posting as I’m hoping to resolve this and hopefully this thread will help others.

I know this isn't what you've asked but I have seen somewhere where you cover all the buttons that don't need to be used with tape so the only ones left are the volume and channel buttons.

@Imtoooldforallthisthank you. The issue is we have done that but for him to watch the repair shop we can only get it on iplayer so it’s getting him to navigate to the app/then log in then find the programme even when it’s on his favourites. @FrangipaniBlueI’ve managed to find his sky details and created a sky go app for him but it won’t let me control his box to select something to watch from my house. How do you get your sky box to play something when you’re not in the house please? When I do it on my skygo if I’m at home I can use the remote icon in the top right but when I log into my Dad’s there is no remote - sorry to be a pain. Looking online it suggests it can’t be done.

Why did you discount jubilee TV? Sounds like it will do exactly what you need.

@AlwaysFreezingits upwards of £250 with a subscription fee.

OP I must be missing something or you would have already done it. If his tv can be voice controlled, can’t you use Alexa drop in to do this?

@ForCraftyWriterno Dad would still have to press the voice activation on the sky remote for me to talk to it to get it on and then navigate with the buttons into the app so I can say via Alexa “turn on the television” but then he has to hold the voice button on the remote to get into bbciplayer but he then has to press the buttons to select the account and navigate to the program/playlist.

When my dd went to university she took her Alexa with her and when I do an announcement here at home, she gets it on her Alexa. You don’t have to use drop in when it’s an annoying.

Alexa, announce dinner and it is announced on every Alexa.

@WhatsThatComing hi yes we do that with the Alexa’s now for Dad but I still can’t get it to work his tv as in select the repair shop for him.

@mommybear1oh I wonder if they’ve changed the settings?

I’ve not done it for a long time (I used to do it when I was staying away in hotels to annoy DH at home 😆)

When I opened the TV guide option and just tapped any current programme it would change the channel on my sky box to that programme…….