How to use mobile as Tata Sky remote (Answered)
Tata Sky has developed an android/ios mobile app that turns your phone into Tata Sky remote. You can perform all the actions via your mobile that you can do with your regular remote control. This is a small guide for everyone who's looking to try it out. The first step is to understand the overall setup. The Tata Sky remote communicates with your Set Top Box via IR (Infra-Red) signal. Most mobiles do not have IR port and hence you'll need a special accessary called 'MP3 Mobile Accessory' sold separately by Tata Sky (check update). It's a simple IR transmitter that fits into the standard headphone port (3.5mm) and converts your mobile phone into remote.
Download the Tata Sky App: First, you will have to download the tatasky app from Google Play store (link below). Once installed on your phone, attach your MP3 Mobile Accessory to your phone's headphone port. You are now good to go. Simply load the remote interface from your app and point the IR transmitter towards your set-top box, just like you do with the regular remote. Enjoy all the functions of your remote now via your mobile.
Pro Tip: Note that the IR signal depends on the audio signal of your phone and it's recommended that for the best performance, keep the volume level of your phone to maximum.
Update: Tata Sky has mentioned that they're developing an updated version of the App for iOS and Android platforms which will no longer require the MP3 accessory. It's likely that they're connecting the channel menu to the central server to which the app will connect. Once you keep your phone's data connection on, the signals from your mobile will be directly sent to the server and then to your set-top box wirelessly, eliminating the need of a special accessory.
If anyone of you is using their android mobile as remote with this accessory, please let me know how well it functions. The user reviews on the official app page are pretty bad and TataSky has discontinued the separate sale of the MP3 accessary.
Update: Tata Sky is now Tata Play
Tata Sky aka Tata Play has launched a new mobile app for App Store (iPhone) and Google Play (Android) that allows you to manage your entire Tata Play account and also control your Set Top Box (STB) using mobile phone.
The app lets you view your shows anytime anywhere on the mobile device. You can even update the language settings and interact with your STB using voice commands.
The mobile app also has buttons like your TV remote to let you control programs and channels. It also lets you set reminders on your TV. Download the app from: https://www.tataplay.com/dth/mobile-app-download
I hope this helps. Let me know if you have further questions.