about the mention of an IR blaster:
another consideration, if you’re using a service with a set top box. This is pretty old technology I’m talking about, like 5 years or so out of date at least, but some boxes that I am familiar with used some sort of port (typically DB-9 serial or some modification thereof) to connect to another source such that it could control things. Some newer boxes may use USB for this. Pretty much it would send the same information a remote would over the lines direct to the box, and it was useful for a few things. Mostly changing the channel, based on an automated VCR schedule, or to be used by media-capable PCs.
also, hypothetically the IR blaster should be able to transmit any and every signal your remote could, since (I think) it’s a computer-controlled IR emitter (remote controls emit IR pulses, don’t want to get too technical on you, but anyway). You’d pretty much just have to set it up somewhere you could regularly use a remote control, and hope (like a universal remote) that it has the right instructions to operate your box.