Originally posted by kotrenin
I don't think it works. The device is called the octagon ( i don't know why,) but it doesn't use IR it uses strobes that flash a particular pattern and it doesn't recognize the emergency lights. The ambulances or other emergency vehicles have a special transmitter light on the roof of its cab as opposed to the regular light bar on top. (Of course there could be other brands that work differently, but this is my experience with them.)
A couple years ago we had a fireman (a former coworker of mine from another private ambulance company,) die because of a fluke in this system. Two fire engines were coming to an intersection and couldn't hear each other's sirens or see each other. They were both going fast. The one on the right had the green light 100ft from the intersection then the one on left "stole its light" not knowing the other was there, they collided in the intersection. The fireman was not buckled in for some reason and was ejected through the front window.
It's called Opticon, not Ocatgon. And yes, it uses a strobe, not a tv remote.
That video is pure BS. A scam where someone is laughing at all the fools who will rush out and buy a remote.
When Opticom trips a light, a signal light up at the sensor shows a steady white light to the emergency vehicle to alert the driver the systems is active, and the traffic in the other 3 lanes get a flashing white light signal.
On that video, no steady white light is showing at the sensor, so basically they just filmed themselves pulling up to lights while pushing a useless remote, and they did that enough times it just timed out right once.
And give me a freaking break, setting up a "911" code in the remote! (slaps head in amazement that anyone is that freaking gullible)
Don't buy into obvious cons, and don't rush out and buy a universal remote.
And oh yes, most munincipalities or states have laws against unauthorized use of the Opticom system.
