HornBlower Posted July 24, 2002 Share Posted July 24, 2002 By this I mean, I wish to extend control of my speakers/amp to other rooms in the house, and was wondering what kinds of experiences people had with the products that allow you to extend remote control of your amps/speakers to other rooms. Xantech is one of the companies under consideration. Thanks! ------------------ Amp: Integra 7.2 DVD: Toshiba SD4700 Fronts: RF-7 Centre: RC-7 Surrounds: old Advents! Sub: None TV: Dreaming of Plasma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justin_tx_16 Posted July 25, 2002 Share Posted July 25, 2002 my uncle had that setup in his house. little IR receivers put around the place, i can not see where they are... works pretty good but the volume moves so slowly, or the IR's are just slow to respond, that i will often mess up and think i am pointing towards the wrong area. ------------------ -justin A technical help site created by me and my fellow Klipschers promediatech@Klipsch.com /1-888-554-5665 - RA# 800-554-7724 ext 5 s> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STL Posted July 30, 2002 Share Posted July 30, 2002 I built my own wired (not RF) IR repeater system. I just got the circuit built and have done some testing. I hope to get it installed soon. All the stuff I looked at, including Xantech, cost WAY too much in my opinion. With my BSEE background I was able to build my own IR repeater (to handle at least 4 rooms and control up to 4 components) for less than $50. I have a Recoton IR repeater that uses RF but it doesn't work all that great. A wired system should work better and be less susceptible to noise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justin_tx_16 Posted July 30, 2002 Share Posted July 30, 2002 quote: Originally posted by STL: A wired system should work better and be less susceptible to noise. what do you mean "less susceptible to noise"? interesting ------------------ -justin SoundWise promediatech@Klipsch.com /1-888-554-5665 - RA# 800-554-7724 ext 5 s> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HornBlower Posted July 30, 2002 Author Share Posted July 30, 2002 He means that a wired IR system would transmit the received commands over wire to the receiver etc with much less chance of noise problems than if the same signals were sent back to the amp via an RF connection. This is generally correct, as long as you don't have the wire running through bundles of 120/240V wires which would likely impart considerable noise, especially on low voltage/current signals on thin non-shielded wire.... ------------------ Amp: Integra 7.2 DVD: Toshiba SD4700 Fronts: RF-7 Centre: RC-7 Surrounds: old Advents! Sub: None TV: Dreaming of Plasma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justin_tx_16 Posted July 30, 2002 Share Posted July 30, 2002 ahh, i c ------------------ -justin SoundWise promediatech@Klipsch.com /1-888-554-5665 - RA# 800-554-7724 ext 5 s> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HornBlower Posted July 30, 2002 Author Share Posted July 30, 2002 Thanks STL. I too could sit down and replicate what they do- I just don't have the time to tinker these days. The cost point is ridiculous, and since my amp has an IR in anyway (separate from the C Bus stuff), I may just try that route some day. The key is to obtain the ir receiver and ensure that it can drive the signal back over an approximate 50' distance without amplification. If I can get something that does that, then I need only worry about merging 2 separate IR receivers to one input on the receiver. Then later on figure out how to split that final receiver end into multiple ir transmitters. Again, drive will be the issue. Can you post back how you did this, and the problems you encountered? The silicon/passive components shouldn't be hard to obtain, even as samples. So, it's coming down to the wisdom you build.... Thanks! ------------------ Amp: Integra 7.2 DVD: Toshiba SD4700 Fronts: RF-7 Centre: RC-7 Surrounds: old Advents! Sub: None TV: Dreaming of Plasma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STL Posted July 30, 2002 Share Posted July 30, 2002 I used a CMOS 555 timer along with some assorted basic transistors. The timer is tuned to around 40kHz and the input from the IR rec'rs drive its Reset line. This gives you a cleaner signal than trying to amplify the IR signal itself. Here is a source of cheap IR rec'rs: http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=280&item=IRD-8&type=store Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STL Posted July 30, 2002 Share Posted July 30, 2002 I'll post more info and maybe pictures later! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Istari Posted July 31, 2002 Share Posted July 31, 2002 I hate to even mention Radio Shack in these hallowed pages but, they have a set of RF repeaters that work just fine for what you need. I think they cost around $30. or so. I've used them on a set up where all of the HT equipment was in a closet in the back corner of a room and the repeater up front, a good 35 ft or so, worked very well. ------------------ Jim McClung Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougdrake Posted July 31, 2002 Share Posted July 31, 2002 I think the set that RS has which TheEARs refers to is the same as the PowerMid sold at www.x10.com. I have used them, and they have been the best of that variety which I've tried. However, as with other devices of this type they are subject to outside interference and "jamming." Doug ------------------ My System Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STL Posted July 31, 2002 Share Posted July 31, 2002 I too have heard that the powermids work better then the recoton units (even though it looks like their functionality would be the same). I think you can find the recoton units for $30-40 but the powermid/RS units cost $50 (not $30). Those costs are per room too so if you want more than one room done it can start to get expensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougdrake Posted July 31, 2002 Share Posted July 31, 2002 Some places sell the PowerMid transmitter as a standalone unit, so you can place them around the house and have them all send back to one receiver in the central audio area. I think Worthington might be such a place, but I can't remember for sure. Doug ------------------ My System Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STL Posted July 31, 2002 Share Posted July 31, 2002 That is true dougdrake, but even then I see the single units priced $35 each. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HornBlower Posted August 2, 2002 Author Share Posted August 2, 2002 Thanks everyone! Hobbit, while I wouldn't use some RadioShack things like speakers in a situation where I'm being a purist, that attitude certainly doesn't pertain to things like jacks, and IR repeaters. Hey, if they work is all that I care about. RadioShack rules!! And to some of the other posts, yes I too noticed that a lot of X10 stuff is simply rebranded through RadioShack. Again, as long as the functionality is there, I don't care. Thanks again to everyone for giving me a good range of options, as well as earned wisdom. Toodles! ------------------ Amp: Integra 7.2 DVD: Toshiba SD4700 Fronts: RF-7 Centre: RC-7 Surrounds: old Advents! Sub: None TV: Dreaming of Plasma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krusty46 Posted August 3, 2002 Share Posted August 3, 2002 I'll second the Radio Shacks. When I needed to do the same, they were cheap and did what I needed. ------------------ Mains: KLF 10's Center: RC-3 (I know--doesn't match mains) Surrounds: Quintets Receiver: Denon 3802 DVD: Toshiba 3109 and 5700 (5700 goin back-stinks) TV: Sony 36XBR400 MIT cables throughout Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdowns Posted August 5, 2002 Share Posted August 5, 2002 Here's something else to consider. The Recoton units operate at a frequency of 418Mhz, one of the radio data freqs. A lot of low power telemetry items work at this frequency including remote temperature sensors for these "so called" Atomic clocks as well as many wireless control kits. I had the experience of having the Recoton receiver captured, full time, from who knows where making this unit unusable. The Powermid operates at 433Mhz. It too is a data freq, but seems to be far less used, at least in my area. So far, no interference. Hope this helps. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HornBlower Posted August 8, 2002 Author Share Posted August 8, 2002 Thanks everyone! I went the radio shack recoton unit route. A couple of observations: 1) Overall, seems to work acceptably. My system is in my home theatre in the basement, and my remote is upstairs in the master bedroom- so that's 2 floors above the basement. 2) I have noticed that the basement receiver/ir transmitter has it's led blinking almost continuously, but at a much reduced output level. This could be it picking up those 418mhz random signals, but it is intriguing that the output level is very low as compared to when the remote unit talks to it- then the led is very brightly lit. I don't seem to have any side effects with unwanted system changes. 3) I have noticed that some remote control features work perfectly, while others may require several attempts. Channel, Volume seem to work great. Setup, actual cable numbers etc seems to be less than perfect. I also need a remote unit in my main floor living room, and am wondering what happens if I get a second receiver/transmitter pair, and simply use the same basement base station. Are all sets working on a slightly different channel, or would this work?? Thanks! ------------------ Amp: Integra 7.2 DVD: Toshiba SD4700 Fronts: RF-7 Centre: RC-7 Surrounds: old Advents! Sub: None TV: Dreaming of Plasma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougdrake Posted August 8, 2002 Share Posted August 8, 2002 HB - I think you'll be OK with a second transmitter. But, that's the great thing about a local store -- just take it back if it doesn't work out Doug ------------------ My System Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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