When we launched the phone remote for BetterSTR TV last month, we were thinking about remotes lost down the side of the couch. We weren’t expecting the thank-you messages to come from the backyard.
Hosts with a TV beside the spa pool, hot tub or swimming pool have been writing in to tell us it’s the thing their guests notice most. Guests sit in the water with the game on or a movie going, and change the channel, turn it up or pause it from their phone. No climbing out, dripping across the deck to find the remote.
Why the normal remote doesn’t work outdoors
If you’ve got an outdoor TV at your Airbnb or holiday home, you already know:
- Remotes and water don’t mix. They get dropped in the spa, left on a wet ledge, or splashed until the buttons stop working.
- They walk. An outdoor remote gets carried inside, left by the barbecue or packed into a beach bag, and the next guest can’t find it.
- Infrared needs line of sight. From down in the water, at an angle, with steam in the way, the TV often doesn’t see the remote at all.
- Waterproof remotes are a compromise. They help, but they still get lost and they still have to be within reach.
Guests, on the other hand, nearly always have their phone with them, usually sitting on the edge of the spa already.
How guests control the TV from their phone
The TV shows a small QR code. The guest scans it with their camera and a full remote opens in their phone’s browser:
- Arrows and OK, Back and Home, and power on or standby
- Volume up, down and mute
- Play, pause, rewind and fast-forward inside Netflix and other apps
- One-tap shortcuts to Netflix, Live TV, your guidebook and the HDMI inputs you allow
- Their own phone keyboard for searching or signing in on the TV
There’s no app to download and no Bluetooth pairing. It works on iPhone and Android. Once it’s open, they can leave it on the edge of the tub and grab it whenever they want to change something.
No line of sight needed
The phone talks to the TV over your property’s Wi-Fi, not infrared. So it doesn’t matter if the guest is low in the water, behind the TV, or across the pool. If the phone has Wi-Fi, the TV will respond.
That also keeps it private. The remote only works for someone on your Wi-Fi who has scanned the code on your TV, and each stay gets its own link, so last week’s guest can’t reach this week’s TV from home.
Tips for a TV by the spa pool or swimming pool
Check your Wi-Fi reaches the water
Because the phone remote runs over Wi-Fi, the signal needs to reach where guests sit. Stand in the spa with your phone and check. If it’s patchy, an outdoor access point or a mesh node near the deck usually sorts it, and guests will thank you for the better signal anyway.
Put the QR code where they’ll scan it
You can show the remote QR code on the TV’s home screen or on the Wi-Fi screen. For an outdoor TV, the home screen is usually best, so guests see it the moment the TV comes on. A small printed card by the spa saying “Scan the code on the TV to use your phone as the remote” helps too.
Keep the physical remote inside
Some hosts now keep the real remote in a drawer and let guests use their phones outside. It saves replacing remotes every few months.
Remind guests about phones and water
A clear waterproof phone pouch in the spa basket costs very little and saves a lot of heartache. Guests can still use the touch screen through it.
Works on any Android TV, inside or out
BetterSTR TV runs on Android TV and Google TV, so it works on most smart TVs from brands like TCL, Sony and Philips, or on a small plug-in box behind an outdoor TV. Guests get your branded welcome screen, the Wi-Fi QR, your digital guidebook on the big screen, and the phone remote. The welcome screen is free forever, and the phone remote is free on every plan.
If you’ve connected smart home devices, the same phone remote can also switch the deck lights you’ve allowed, without guests getting out of the water.
Turning it on
- Open Android TV in your BetterSTR dashboard and edit the outdoor TV.
- In the Display card, switch on Phone remote.
- Choose where the QR code shows: the home screen or the Wi-Fi screen.
The TV picks it up within a few minutes. The full walkthrough is in the phone remote help article.
Frequently asked questions
Can I control my TV from my phone without an app?
Yes. With BetterSTR TV, guests scan a QR code on the TV and the remote opens in their phone’s web browser. Nothing to install.
Does the phone remote work from the hot tub or pool?
Yes, as long as the phone is connected to the property Wi-Fi where the guest is sitting. It uses Wi-Fi, not infrared, so it doesn’t need to point at the TV.
Do guests need my Wi-Fi password?
If they scan the remote code while on mobile data, the page shows them the Wi-Fi details first, then opens the remote once they’re connected.
What TVs does it work on?
Any Android TV or Google TV, including built-in smart TVs and plug-in streaming boxes. If your outdoor TV isn’t Android, a small Android TV box on the HDMI port does the job.