Why do remote controls use infrared light instead of other wavelengths?

Question

Why do remote controls use infrared light instead of other wavelengths?

In: Technology

Answer 1

Because IR transceivers are easy and cheap to make. Longer wavelengths need increasingly long antennae. Shorter wavelengths are visible(which would be really annoying), and as they get shorter, it becomes harder to make components that work with those wavelengths.

We use longer wavelengths(microwaves) for wifi and other communications in the home with about the same range, because microwaves can go through walls. Near IR has the limitation that it can’t go through walls, but usually if you don’t have line-of-sight to the TV, you aren’t watching and don’t need to control it.