- log in
- join CNET
- welcome,
- my profile
- log out

Nyko Blu-Wave Infrared Remote (PS3)

Manufacturer: Nyko Technologies Part number: 83040

Zoom Compare with most popular

$14.50 - $28.00 at 7 online stores

CNET Editor rating:
3.5 stars Very good
Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 3 reviews

More product information:: Editors' review; User reviews; Specifications; Manufacturer info

Bottom Line:: The Nyko Blu-Wave Infrared Remote is a cheap and easy way to add IR remote compatibility to your PS3, but the inability to power the console on or off is an annoying limitation.
Read more

Where to buy

store	customer rating	inventory	tax & shipping	price
Savings, Selection & Service since 1971	Rate this store See store profile	In stock	Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price	$19.99 Shop now as of 12/04/2008
	Rate this store See store profile	In stock		$19.99 Shop now as of 12/04/2008 New
Amazon.com Marketplace	Rate this store See store profile	In stock		$23.95 Shop now as of 12/03/2008
Buy.com	Rate this store See store profile	In stock FREE SHIPPING		$19.99 Shop now as of 12/04/2008
	Not yet rated Rate this store See store profile	In stock		$14.50 Shop now as of 12/04/2008
Shop4Tech	Rate this store See store profile	In stock		$19.95 Shop now as of 12/04/2008
Next Warehouse	Not yet rated Rate this store See store profile	In stock		$28.00 Shop now as of 12/04/2008

*Total price for the Nyko Blu-Wave Infrared Remote (PS3) are estimated and may vary slightly based on exact tax, shipping, manufacturer rebate or any sale/promotion on the merchant site.

show

CNET editors' review

Nyko Blu-Wave Infrared Remote (PS3)

price range: $14.50 - $28.00

Reviewed by: Jeff Bakalar
Edited by: John P. Falcone
Reviewed on: 09/21/2007
Released on: 06/21/2007

The good: Infrared remote plus USB dongle for PS3; plug-and-play installation; mimics the PS3 controller in every way; allows other universal remotes to work with the PS3; affordable.

The bad: Can't be used to turn the PS3 on or off; proprietary IR codes mean you'll be teaching your universal remote how to interact with the USB dongle.

The bottom line: The Nyko Blu-Wave Infrared Remote is a cheap and easy way to add IR remote compatibility to your PS3, but the inability to power the console on or off is an annoying limitation.

Read full review

The PlayStation 3 is arguably one of the most advanced home consumer entertainment products ever, but it's missing one of the most rudimentary features found on every $40 DVD player: an infrared remote sensor. That means that you can't control the PS3 with a traditional universal remote; you're instead forced to use the console's included Sixaxis controller or Sony's Blu-ray DVD Remote, both of which interact with the PS3 via Bluetooth. In the wake of some kludgey workarounds and hacks, however, more bona fide third-party solutions are finally available. One such option is the Nyko Blu-Wave Infrared Remote, which retails for just $20.

The Blu-Wave package includes two components: a USB dongle (which adds the infrared receiver to the PS3) and an infrared remote. The remote is black and outlined in silver chrome, and feels good in your hand. It requires two AAA batteries (included). The clicker is, for all intents and purposes, a Sixaxis controller (minus the gyroscope) morphed into a more traditional DVD remote design. In addition to all of the standard PS3 controller keys (square, triangle, X, and circle buttons, and so forth), Nyko added shortcuts to all of the on-screen movie playback options--fast-forward, rewind, pause, play, chapter advance, display, top menu, and the like.

To get it working, you simply pop the dongle into any one of the console's front USB ports. It should begin working immediately, and there's no software to install. In our testing, the Blu-Wave remote performed well. There were no problems when playing DVD and Blu-ray movies, and it did a decent job with "special features" such as the shooting gallery on The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Blu-ray disc. Our only complaint was when we exited to the PS3's main menu--there was a noticeable lag when navigating the system's Cross Media Bar interface. The remote was simply not as quick as the Sixaxis controller.

While the Nyko remote performs ably enough, it's still yet another remote on the coffee table. We were more interested in just using the dongle with our existing universal remote. Because the Nyko remote uses proprietary codes, we had to take the time to "teach" them to our Philips Prestigo SRU8010. But if you have a learning remote like the Philips, it shouldn't be a problem. After a few minutes, we were finally controlling the PS3 with our one and only remote--the Nyko was tossed away in a drawer for safekeeping.

In the end, there's really only one annoyance that keeps the Nyko Blu-Wave from being a perfect PS3 remote solution--and it's not Nyko's fault. An IR remote can't be used to turn the PS3's power on or off (the USB ports aren't active when the PS3 is off, so the dongle can't accept any commands). That means that you'll still be forced to use the Sixaxis at the beginning and end of every PlayStation 3 session (or use the power switch on the console itself). While some are holding out hope for a firmware update to fix the issue, the idea of Sony investing time and effort into fixing a third-party accessory seems slim at best.

Bottom line: if you can live with that power limitation, the Nyko Blu-Wave Remote is a cheap and easy way to add infrared support to your PlayStation 3, whether you use the included remote, or opt for your own universal model instead.

See pricing

show

User reviews

Write Review

Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 3 reviews
My rating: 0 stars

Showing opinion 1 to 3 out of 3

Sort by:
9 stars

Makes my Harmony 880 work with my PS3

by themajestic on September 30, 2007

Pros: Gives me one-remote control over EVERYTHING again!

Cons: Can't power the PS3 on or off -- BIG DEAL!

Summary: Highly recommended, simple and elegant fix to the PS3's missing IR capabilities.

The only reason to get the Nyko is for the IR dongle and to use it to

...

Read more

Summary: Highly recommended, simple and elegant fix to the PS3's missing IR capabilities.

The only reason to get the Nyko is for the IR dongle and to use it to teach your all-in-one remote (mine's a Harmony 880) the PS3 codes. Like the review says, once that's done, the Nyko just sits in the drawer.

Power on/off is not a big deal for me -- when I play a game, the SIXAXIS is in my hand, and it controls the PS3's power. When I'm watching a DVD, I have to get up and physically put it in the PS3, which powers it on. When I'm done, I have to eject it...after which I simply press the power button to shut it off.

If you have a PS3 and an all-in-one remote, it's the best twenty bucks you'll spend.

Show less

1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
9 stars

Very effective, significantly less expensive

by griz_fan on December 2, 2008

Pros: Very cost effective
Gets the job done
Recognized by Harmony remote software

Cons: Takes up a USB port
sticks out of the USB port on front of PS3 (sort of ugly)
Won't turn PS3 on/off
Won't eject disk
Included remote a throw-away

Summary: You would have to spend a LOT more to do only slightly better than the Blu-wave. Works seamlessly with my Harmony remote. I don't miss the lack of power ...

Read more

Summary: You would have to spend a LOT more to do only slightly better than the Blu-wave. Works seamlessly with my Harmony remote. I don't miss the lack of power on/off, I'm still able to use all my activities with the Harmony, no issues. I also purchased a 10-foot USB cable and a hub, and now have the receiving unit near my TV for optimal reception and a less cluttered look.

This unit is easy to find online and in retail, it is dirt-cheap, so give it a shot.

Show less
5 stars

Okay, but better options exist

by lstockett on June 1, 2008

Pros: Inexpensive, and it works.

Cons: you only need the USB dongle part. remote is useless

Summary: I got the USBIRX3 from schmartz.com instead. It works just as well. The Nyko product comes with a cheap remote that you'll probably never use if you have ...

Read more

Summary: I got the USBIRX3 from schmartz.com instead. It works just as well. The Nyko product comes with a cheap remote that you'll probably never use if you have a universal remote. The USBIRX3 looks better too. It sits flush with the PS3 instead of sticking out.

Show less

Showing opinion 1 to 3 out of 3

See pricing

show

Specifications

Manufacturer: Nyko Technologies
Part number: 83040
Description: Easily control the next generation of home entertainment with the Blue-Wave Remote from Nyko. The Blu Wave allows you to easily control the playback of Blu-Ray movies, DVDs and CDs on the PlayStation 3 console. Utilizing infrared technology, the Blue Wave can navigate system and movie menus, skip chapters or tracks, pause and play a movie or music and replicate other PlayStation 3 controller functionality from up to 25 feet away. The compact USB IR receiver plugs into any open USB port for easy set up requiring no complicate software, pairing or programming.

General
Width 4.1 in
Depth 1.3 in
Height 9.8 in
Weight 6 oz
Packaged quantity 1

Input Device
Compatible Game Consoles Sony PlayStation 3

See pricing

show

Similar products

Sony Playstation 3 Blu-ray DVD Remote $19.35 - $26.99
- CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good
- Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 6 reviews
Nyko MediaHub (PS3) $18.99 - $23.99
- CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good
- Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!
Sony Reader Digital Book PRS-700BC $399.00 - $399.99
- CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good
- Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 4 reviews
PlayStation 3 Chill Station $14.99
- CNET Editor rating:
  Not yet rated
- Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!
Amazon Kindle $359.00
- CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good
- Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 47 reviews

Shopper.com strives to provide the best price, review, user opinion, and product information on the Nyko Blu-Wave Infrared Remote (PS3). Shopper.com updates pricing for all products multiple times each day. If you find a price, link, product specification, review, user opinion, or any other error for the Nyko Blu-Wave Infrared Remote (PS3), please notify us through our support form.

Shopper tools: All products; Popular brands; Deals; Rebates; Notebook Shopper; Site map

Popular topics: Apple iPhone; Apple iPod; CES; Cell phones; Dell; GPS

CNET sites: CNET Site map; CNET TV; Downloads; News; Reviews; Shopper.com

More information: Newsletters; Corrections; Customer Help Center; RSS; What's new; About CNET

Privacy policy
Terms of use
Visit other CBS Interactive sites:

#networkSites {display:none;}BNET | CHOW | CNET.com | CNET Channel | GameSpot | International Media | mySimon | Search.com | TechRepublic | TV.com | ZDNet

Nyko Blu-Wave Infrared Remote (PS3)

Where to buy

CNET editors' review

User reviews

Submit your review

Specifications

General

Input Device

Manufacturer info

Similar products