Teaching my neighbor to keep the volume down

Remote, RF/IR Interference, and “TV-B-Gone” Tech

• Many comments zoom in on the technical root: remotes sharing codes/protocols, not true RF “interference.” It’s the system working as designed but poorly configured.
• Discussion on why RF remotes should be paired (like Bluetooth) to prevent neighbors or pranksters (or Flipper Zero–style tools) from controlling devices.
• Contrast between RF and IR: IR usually requires line-of-sight, but people suggest IR floodlights or relays through windows to reach neighbors’ TVs.
• Lots of nostalgia and hacks: TV-B-Gone, phone IR blasters, Palm Pilots, calculators, car key‑fob mods, IrDA crashes, and ham radio unintentionally triggering devices.
• Some worry about the legality and ethics of intentional jamming (Wi‑Fi deauth, spark gaps, etc.), noting serious penalties in some jurisdictions.

Noisy Neighbors, Retaliation, and “Conditioning”

• Thread fills with stories of indirect “training” tactics: flipping main breakers, using faulty appliances to trip RCDs, deauthing Wi‑Fi, linking phone calls or alarms to noisy behavior, blasting louder speakers back through shared walls, or sending whale sounds through a common wall.
• Some celebrate the ingenuity and “Pavlovian” (corrected to operant) conditioning; others explicitly label it sadistic, antisocial, or juvenile.
• Debate over when this is justified: some say it’s acceptable only after polite requests and failed official channels; others argue any such escalation is wrong and should be left to formal processes.

Smoke, Fireplaces, and Other External Nuisances

• Strong complaints about balcony smoking (tobacco and marijuana) and wood-burning fireplaces: health impacts, lingering smell, inability to open windows.
• Proposals range from automated window‑closers and stink bombs to loud alarms or watering hoses; others mention legal remedies and local councils as the only truly effective leverage.
• Some note cities and regions that restrict or ban wood burning or enforce cleaner stoves; others say even “efficient” fires still stink.

Soundproofing, Building Codes, and Housing Choices

• Many argue the real villain is poor construction: thin walls, shared studs, and minimal sound isolation built to minimum cost.
• Experiences vary widely: some report nearly silent multi‑unit buildings; others describe constant TV, footsteps, washing machines, and voices.
• Suggestions include better standards (STC/ASTC), a “soundproofing meter” tool for builders, triple‑glazed windows, and active noise masking.
• Several say neighbor noise pushed them to single‑family homes or even off‑grid living; others defend dense living but insist on stricter building and enforcement.