Home Hi-Tech Android World ,,,,, Cyber Layman tests iSnatch WiRi, the infrared accessory that controls household appliances, transforming them into smart. It is a comfortable and functional solution to adapt old TVs, stereos, or even air conditioning systems, to the modern era. Here's how it works.
How it's done
iSnatch WiRi appears, first of all, as a small box with a triangular shape; or rather, imagine it as a small pyramid that lacks the tip. Its operation is absolutely intuitive and beyond the reset button it has only the input for the power supply. After connecting it to the electrical outlet it is practically ready for use. Of course, the hardware has to be paired with the software, and much of the operation is dedicated to the application for iOS and Android. 
Before even seeing how it works, iSnatch WiRi is equipped with a standard 802.11 b / g / n (2.4GHz) Wi-Fi connection module, while the infrared frequency is 38KHz. These numbers translate into an infrared coverage range from 6 to 10m in the optical line, while the radio frequency transmission is in the 432.75MHz-433.25MHz range with a coverage range up to 20 meters. Last of the technical information, not least is its humidity range, equal to ≤ 85% RH, with a temperature range from 0 ~ 50 ° C.
Operation
After connecting the power socket, the first thing to do is download from the App Store, or Play Store, the official application, which is called BroadLink e-Control. Starting the app you will have to click on the Add Device item and then on the configuration button. At this point the application will perform a quick scan, will find the iSnatch hub and it will be sufficient to follow the instructions on the screen to configure the device. After this first configuration, to ensure that iSnatch WiRi is seen by the home network, you can configure the different remote controls, with a simple tap on the item “ Add Remote “.
From this list you can choose the different peripherals to control with your smartphone. In particular, you can choose between air conditioning systems, audio systems, set top boxes (including Apple TV and Xiaomi Mi TV Box), Televisions, switches, shutters, padlocks, and more .
After choosing the appliance to be controlled, it will be sufficient to click the keys of the virtual remote control and, subsequently, the corresponding key in the physical remote control : in this way, the app and the iSnatch hub will learn the infrared commands, thus being able to replicate them. On some occasions, such as the TV setup , we had to manually set each button on the virtual remote. In other cases, however, such as the air conditioner and the Mi Tv Box , it was enough to press a single button to have all the others working. Even in the case of the Mi Box, for example, no manual learning of the keys was necessary.
Application
The e-control application available on Android and iOS is absolutely functional, even if graphically it does not reflect the canons of the most modern graphic minimalism. In short, the app works very well, but the UI seems to belong to a few generations ago. Anyway, all saved remotes are always just a click away, and the app also offers a handy feature to create scenes, or shortcuts.
For example, it is possible to create a scene in which, with a single click, WiRi will turn on the television and at the same time set the air conditioner to a certain temperature. Again, the app works fine, but the icons and general UI would need some updating.
Conclusions
iSnatch WiRi costs less than 70 euros and it does its job correctly. The manual learning system of remote controls can be annoying and take a few more minutes of setup, but once configured it works really well. The app is not the most modern from a graphic point of view, but even in this case it is a functional system.
iSnatch Wiri can be purchased for € 69.90 directly online at this GBC online address.
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