Actually, I'm hoping to make this small and simple. Something I can leave behind, or quickly make copies (lots of neighbors, who might find it useful as well...), since he does this everywhere there's a remote. It's really a compulsive behavior, don't think he realizes just how often he uses the remotes. It's not that big a deal, and kind of amusing We are all okay with it, and expect it around here, but sometimes friends mention it, after seeing him in action the first time.
I was going to start out on an ATtiny85, which is an 8 pin device, with 8k, but couldn't remember where I put them. Usually keep the microcontrollers in the same drawer, but got them specifically for TV-B-gone, so left them with the other parts for those, only got around to building one. Might give the ATtiny13 a go, but 1k doesn't seem like a lot of space. Still kind of in an early stage, I don't know 'C', so the source code I've found isn't a huge help, though I can pick out a few things. Need to dig up the data sheets, and see if I've got two timers to work with, although could get by with just one, since I won't be recording a button press, when sending out. It would just be simpler to use the hardware as much as I can to save memory.
Anyone know if IR receiver modules will work off less than 5 volts? Don't have a part number or specs, I have about a dozen or so in a drawer, salvaged and surplus. The ones I used before, I ran off 5volts, which seemed to be the normal, also 38khz seemed about average carrier frequency, which also worked out. They seem to be very tolerant, and was thinking about battery power. The Attiny13 will run off 1.8-5.5 volts, and was hoping two AAA batteries would be enough.