Showing posts with label remote control extender. Show all posts
Showing posts with label remote control extender. Show all posts

3/18/2012

Hot Link Xl CAT-5 Ir Repeater System Review

Hot Link Xl CAT-5 Ir Repeater System
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I've bought many things online over the years and have never bothered to leave a review, but after purchasing this product I just had to.
The product is really great - it does exactly what it says it's going to do, it's easy to set up, and it lives up to all the hype.
But even better than that is the customer service! I accidentally ordered the wrong version - the one that doesn't extend with Cat5 cable. I shot them an e-mail and asked them what to do, and they sent me the XL without even waiting for my exchange product to get back to them - I had it in two days! They also included a SASE for me to return my incorrect purchase in.
On top of that, when I received it and plugged it in it didn't seem to work - but after conferring with Microsmith we determined it was a problem with my Cat5 cable, and he helped me troubleshoot the whole issue.
The product is top notch, and the service is even better. Just buy it now!!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Hot Link Xl CAT-5 Ir Repeater System

CONTROLS GEAR UP TO 200 FT AWAY THROUGH CAT-5 WITH ALL THE FEATURES OF HOT LINK PRO; ROUTES IR SIGNALS TO OUT-OF-SIGHT EQUIPMENT; ENHANCED REMOTE PERFORMANCE FOR MULTIPLE A/V COMPONENTS; SLIM DESIGN, SIDE SENSORS & 6-FT SENSOR CABLE FOR FLEXIBLE POSITIONING; INCLUDES 6 LED EMITTERS FOR UP TO 6 A/V COMPONENTS, EXPANDABLE TO 24; RECEIVER EYE WORKS WITH VIRTUALLY ALL A/V COMPONENTS & CAN BE MOUNTED OUT OF SIGHT; INCLUDES POWER SUPPLY, MAIN AMPLIFIER BOX & REMOTE EMITTER/POWER ENTRY BOX, 6 EMITTERS & HYPERSENSITIVE RECEIVER EYE

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2/08/2012

Logitech Harmony RF Wireless Extender Review

Logitech Harmony RF Wireless Extender
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(More customer reviews)
The Logitech Harmony RF Wireless Extender allows your RF-equipped Harmony Remote (the 890, 895 or new 1000) to control components without having an IR "line of sight" to the components. One RF Wireless Extender is included with the Harmony 890, but it is unfortunately not included with the Harmony 1000.
Make no mistake, this device is an absolute REQUIREMENT for any large room or complex setup. In my configuration, the Harmony 1000 didn't have the strength to power all of my components through IR from 20 feet distance. The RF extender solved this problem, and now I can control my entire setup even from another room.
One RF Wireless Extender can control up to 8 components within the line of sight of the unit, or within line of sight of the 8 included IR emitters. You can add multiple extenders to your configuration if you have components in different rooms or areas that could not be served by one unit. Annoyingly, even if you have more than 8 components within the reach of the unit or the emitters the Harmony software won't let you assign more than 8 devices to a single extender.
IMPORTANT: You should try to setup and verify your Harmony configuration using IR-only if possible before adding the extender, even if you have to sit near your components or have cabinet doors open. This is because the Harmony software makes you connect and disconnect both the extender (which must be unplugged from AC power) and the remote each time you make a change. Setting up the Harmony first, by itself, with IR is much easier to make changes to the configuration.
After verifying I could control my components using IR-only, I added the RF Wireless Extender to my setup. The Harmony software updated to the latest firmware, and I have had no problems configuring it using both Mac OS X and Windows clients.
Setup is very easy. If all of your components are behind a cabinet, you can simply mount this "blaster" unit inside, at least 10 inches from the front of your components. Or, you can attach the 8 included wired emitters (in 4 pairs of 2) near the IR receivers of each component. The wires for each of the 4 pairs are roughly 7 feet long, splitting into 2 emitters that must be placed within 25 inches of each other. Also good to note is that the tape is strong enough to attach to your component, but not strong enough to leave any residue should you need to remove them.
Within the Harmony setup, you then assign each component to either IR or RF Extender control. Optionally, you can assign each component to a channel (A,B,C,D,blaster) which corresponds to the 4 sets of 2 wired emitters and base, or all channels which sends all commands to all emitters. I chose to specifically assign each component to its channel, which seems to give better performance. (TIP: label your emitter wires!)
Once configured, you connect the RF Extender and the Harmony Remote to your computer to download the configuration. Then, you must plug the RF Extender into the wall, and optionally attach the IR emitter wires. The Harmony remote must initially be "paired" with the RF Extender, which is done by pressing the "Connect" button on the extender, and following the prompts on your remote.
Operation was flawless. I could control all components from around my house! And, the performance of startup was much faster, I believe because I had assigned each component to a specific channel on the extender.
In my configuration, I was pleasantly surprised to find the RF extender is fast enough to send the repeated command sequences needed to accelerate up and down through the menus in my AppleTV. Great job, Logitech!
If there was one area where Logitech could make improvements it would be the supplied documentation, which attempts to be user friendly but in the process is so oversimplified it is of little use. Since Amazon doesn't allow half-star increments, I stand by my 5-star review, documentation withstanding.
Based on the large number of problems people had when this was first released a year ago, I was expecting issues, but it would appear that the latest firmware (RF Extender v2.4, Harmony 890 v4.7) and Harmony client software (v7.0.2) have resolved all issues for both Mac OS X and Windows users.
All in all, a highly recommended product - and a great value bundled with the matching Harmony 890 (see my review there). I have since upgraded to the Harmony 1000, but kept this extender to use with it. It's a shame that Logitech doesn't include the extender with the 1000, as it really is a requirement.
I would recommend this without hesitation.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Logitech Harmony RF Wireless Extender

Gain complete control of components that are hidden behind cabinets or walls. With a range of up to 100 feet, you can place your equipment out of sight, or even move it to the next room. Designed for use with the Logitech Harmony 1000 or 890 Advanced Universal Remotes, Z-Wave (RF) Technology enables remote control of audio, visual, lighting, climate, and security systems without direct line-of-sight.Use additional receivers to control multiple entertainment systems.

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1/31/2012

Ramsey RRW1AC Wireless IR/RF Repeater Transmitter Kit Review

Ramsey RRW1AC Wireless IR/RF Repeater Transmitter Kit
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(More customer reviews)
your marketing sucks.
seriously. it sucks.
I don't mean your lack of adverts on abc or anything that trite. I mean that you sell components that _require_ other components, and you fail to make those requirements known.
here, let me elucidate.
I have a projector. this projector is behind me. the video is fed to the projector by an AV receiver which is also behind me. leaning over the couch and trying to point the right remote at the right device (do I need to pause a dvd? do want to skip to the next selection on my apple tv? hell, do I want to adjust the volume on my stereo) is awkward. I have to imagine that this is a pretty standard predicament for someone to be in when they go searching for this sort of product. so I went looking for something that would transmit my IR signal at the front of the room (where the image is projected) to the back of the room (where the AV gear is located).
amazon, to the rescue!
the least crappy/most flexible of the products appeared to be the ramsey products. cool. for 30$ something, I ordered the IR/RF transmitter. it comes and it turns out that this is a DIY setup. ok, that's not what I was expecting. It would've been nice if the description said DIY somewhere. My bad for not correctly interpreting 'kit' to mean 'solder this yourself'. But what the hell, I get a soldering iron and get it setup.
nothing happens.
ok, I see that I only got the transmitter. crap. I guess I need a transmitter and some sort of repeater/receiver. would've been nice if ramsey had mentioned that on my initial purchase.
so I order the repeater. another $30 (and another 10 days). I'm expecting a DIY kit this time, and this time, I'm not disappointed. soldering gun at the ready, and I get it going.
repeater, works just fine. transmitter, still nothing. Not amount of futzing can get these two devices to talk to each other. odd, b/c my amazon research lead me to believe that these were the two I wanted. I figure I must've set the transmitter up incorrectly (it _was_ my first device. I was less experienced and the actvity indicator LED's act differently. when the repeater recieves a signal, the LED blinks on. when the transmitter recieves a signal, the LED blinks off. something must be crossed in the transmitter).
so I toss the transmitter and buy a new one. $90+ invested now, in a DIY kit.
setup. plugged in. LED blinks. still, no dice.
what could possibly be wrong?
Oh, when buying the RRW1A wireless transmitter, I also need to buy an RRW1B reciever (according to the manual). except that on amazon, it's called an RRW1BC wireless RF/IR Repeater Receiver (try searching amazon for "RRW1B", all I get is two random books when searching "all departments")
Riiiight.
So, Ramsey, your marketing sucks. you utterly fail to make known what components are needed for what to work. you have, however, inspired me to simply move my a/v receiver to a location that isn't quite so awkward to point at from the couch. yay, you.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Ramsey RRW1AC Wireless IR/RF Repeater Transmitter Kit

Have you ever been frustrated with the range of your remote controls? Tired of having to bounce your IR remote off ceilings and walls? Do you want to run your system from another room or floor? This is the answer to your prayers! Extend the range of your remote controls through walls, around corners, and even from outdoors. Unlike store bought units, error correction can be turned on for pulse width regeneration. The foolproof IR repeater! Take advantage of wireless technology with this practical kit, which almost anyone can use. The RRW1A and RRW1B pair allow you to rebroadcast your AV Infrared remote controls wirelessly on 433 MHz up to 100 feet. Broadcast through walls, doors, floors, and ceilings. Use the pair to control the satellite receiver downstairs, and watch it upstairs! Be outside and control the tunes on your stereo system in the living room! Use multiple RRW1A s to broadcast from multiple locations in the house to the single RRW1B receiver near your equipment. Feed the control freak in all of us! Both units operate on 7-18V AC or DC. For continuous operation, use our AC125 AC power adapter. Sleek matching cases measure 5 W x 1 1/2 H x 5 1/4 D.

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1/25/2012

Remote Control Extender 418MHZ Review

Remote Control Extender 418MHZ
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I purchased two of these units, one on each frequency, to address a situation where IR remote control of two TV set ups in adjacent rooms visible to each other was causing unintended operation. By "blinding" the IR sensors after attaching the IR heads from the RF extenders it did solve the problem.
The caveats are:
- Don't expect easy access to technical support from the company. Emails go totally unanswered. Phone messages left go unanswered. If you are lucky enough, however, to actually reach someone on the phone when you call, Bob in my case (once), you can get help.
- I could not make the RF extender work to turn on or off a Motorola DCT-700 cable box. In fact with the remote supplied by cable company it would not work at all. (What made this really strange is that the incredible sensitivity of the IR control of the DCT-700 is the reason I had the problem I was trying to solve!) When I substituted a Logitech Harmony remote I was able to easily control the cable box, but still not the on-off function on a reliable basis. (I solved the problem by leaving the cable box on all the time). When I did talk to Bob he acknowledged that they had issues with some cable boxes - something to do with IR pulse length - and that they have an updated version of the receiver designated with a "+" that may address the issue. He offered a swap out if I called and asked for this, but as I could never reach him again I did not pursue this approach.
- Be very careful if you do buy units on the two different frequencies. While the battery sized transmitters are color coded, the two receivers look identical in EVERY way right down to the model number and FCC designation. (I have no idea how they manage to keep these sorted out in their own operations!) After getting them mixed up a few times, I ended up using adhesive labels on each receiver to identify them.
- In most set ups you will need more than the single IR extender head included in the package. An optional 3-head cable costs extra.
- The receiver has 3 settings. The instructions indicate that some equipment may work better, or only, with one of the settings. As such it is quite possible that you could end up with a single RF extender receiver not being able to control all your gear. As the most likely role for this kind of unit will be to control many boxes inside a closed cabinet, this restriction could be an issue, and require you to buy 2 units for the same system. (I did not run into this as I used the extender ONLY for the cable box. I used the normal IR for the TVs as they were different models and didn't cross impact each other.)
- As noted in the instructions the location of the battery like transmitter in a remote that uses multiple batteries can be critical, and requires trial and error.
- The nature of the design means that you do need to swap the rechargeable batteries on a regular basis. The unit comes supplied with two and the receiver charges the one not in use. The challenge is that there is no indication that the batteries need swapped, other than when the remote no longer works. This is a minor inconvenience, but in a unit with this price tag a more elegant approach would have been nice. (I don't yet have experience of the battery life in the Harmony remotes.)
Overall, as noted in other reviews I have read, this is a really innovative and neat concept, that when needed in the kind of situation I was in and others, is a great solution. However the actual implementation, and particularly the virtually non-existent support, leave a bit to be desired so it can't be recommended without reservation. Expect to spend quite a bit of time getting things working reliably.
Using one of the top-end Harmony remotes with RF capability built-in is almost certainly a more elegant solution to most problems addressed by this unit, albeit a more expensive approach.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Remote Control Extender 418MHZ

Next Generation Remote Control Extender 418MHZ.

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12/24/2011

Audiovox D940 Remote Control Signal Sender Review

Audiovox D940 Remote Control Signal Sender
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I wish I would have known about this great unit many years ago! I had cable running to many rooms, but only a single DSS receiver unit. With the D940, I can control my DSS receiver from any room I need. I'm glad the response time is extremely quick when using this system. It is just like having the DSS receiver right in the room. The units do a great job picking up the signal from the remote, even from a fairly sharp range of angles. An added bonus: This works with nearly any remote audio/video equipment.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Audiovox D940 Remote Control Signal Sender

Thomson provides a wide range of video technologies, products and services to consumers and professionals in the entertainment and media industries. Offering an array of state-of-the-art digital products and services, Thomson adds value to hundreds of millions of consumers around the world every year. The D940 remote control signal sender controls DBS receiver from any room and can be used with any TV that is wired to your DBS receiver.

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11/15/2011

Infrared Receiver Extender Cable for HD DVR STB's Review

Infrared Receiver Extender Cable for HD DVR STB's
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My FIOS HD (non-DVR) box series QIP6200 had a port labeled "IR". With some internet investigation and an impressivly prompt email reply from the vendor IR-Resources I learned that my FIOS box had only either an IR-output or a service port...which was why the IR receiver would not work.
The GREAT news for me was that Verizon (with one phone call & a later trip to the local Verizon center) did a no-cost swap to an updated FIOS HD (non-DVR) box QIP7100 series that had "IR INPUT" port. The IR Recieiver works 1000% as I expected with the 7100 series box. I am now able to put my FIOS box inside a closed door entertainment unit and still have full remote control functions.
Delivery was prompt, the items (I bought 2) were well wrapped etc. and were exactly as represented. The receiver head is small & pretty much invisible on the black frame of my plasma TV and the 9 foot lead wire was plenty......
I'm not sure what happened to the other reviewers but when I first contacted IR Resources they willingly offered me a full refund if I so desired. They also followed thru promptly to update the Amzon posting as not-compatable w/ the Verizon 6000 series ......and again I CAN NOT SAY ENOUGH POSITIVE THINGS ABOUT HOW VERY VERY VERY PROMPTLY IR-RESOURCES REPLIED TO MY EMAIL SENT VIA AMAZON. If only every internet vendor was this responsible!!!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Infrared Receiver Extender Cable for HD DVR STB's

This Ir Receiver made and sold Exclusively by Infrared Resources WORKS WITH VERIZION HD DVR QIP 7216 1,all QIP 7xxx Motorola box , Pace HD DVR, PACE RNG110,PACE RNG150,RNG100,PACE TDC787X HD,PACE TDC 575D DVR, DC50X,Motorola,DCX 3425 MR,DCX 3400-M,DCX700,DC50X,MVIX 760 HD Media Player. WILL NOT WORK with Motorola DCT Series, SA Explorer 4280 HDC(Do Not Purchase for any Scientific Atlanta Set Top Box with exception to Cisco manufactured by SA RNG100, RNG110, and RNG150. )SA units require dual frequency Ir Receivers, or Verizon Motorola QIP 6416-2 ,6000 series, Moto DCX3200-M, DCX3400.DO NOT PURCHASE FOR STEREO RECEIVERS(Harman-Kardon etc) or Ir Repeater systems such as Logitech etc. They require 12v VCC ours is 5v.WILL NOT WORK WITH AV RECEIVERS(Panasonic, Harmon Kardon etc)!!!!! OR IR REPEATER SYSTEMS,, NOTE: This 5V 38KHz unit has been tested with VERIZION HD DVR QIP 7216 1 ,all QIP 7xxx Motorola box , Pace HD DVR, Comcast PACE RNG110, RNG100, RNG150(some are Cisco/SA)PACE TDC787X HD,PACE TDC 575D DVR, ,Motorola DCX3425 MR,DCX3400-M(does not work DCX3400 only M series),DC50X,DCX700, MVIX 760 HD Media Player!. Now you can place your Set Top box behind cabinet doors or other locations up to 9ft away by plugging the 3.5mm plug into the Ir port on the back of the box. We also have 25ft Stereo extension cable for our ir receiver.(Professional Grade construction. Beware of those selling for a few bucks!. There is a difference!!!!)When the unit is plugged into the Ir port the Ir signal over rides to only the receiver eye at the end of the cable. Remote control must be pointed toward the round ir receiver in order to change channels etc. unit will perform all functions of the remote control. dark lens makes this unit plasma proof!!!.I am using it placed on my Hitachi 52in plasma

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10/08/2011

Jensen DSC-IR100A Remote Control Extender Review

Jensen  DSC-IR100A Remote Control Extender
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I bought a set of these on EBay, & was very irritated to find out they would not work. The little red light that indicates the receiver is receiving & retransmitting the signal just flashed continually. I tried everything, even aluminum foil on the antennas, thinking they needed better signals to talk to each other. I then went to Best Buy & bought another set of the same thing, thinking the ones I bought on EBay were defective. When I got them home they just did the exact same thing. After several hours of rearranging the silly things I finally gave up. That's when I started doing some research, starting here. After seeing the comments, I got to thinking about where the people that actually got these things to work said they had placed them.
IE: "I've got a satellite with TiVO and have piped the output to both the upstairs and downstairs in my house. I have used this device to control the TiVO from both extremes with no problems."
I also noticed everyone that was having problems were using them as they were really intended. (Like through a single floor or wall.) Taking all of this into account I tried an experiment. I lowered the antennas on both units. That was it!!! Apparently they were getting too strong of a signal & interfering with each other. Kind of like when you get two walkie talkies too close together & you get that horrible feedback. Now the light is off all the time, unless it is receiving & retransmitting like it is supposed to be.
Something that simple should really be in the instructions as a troubleshooting step at the very least. Also "customer service" should have it as a first troubleshooting check. For those reasons I am giving it 4 stars.
You should not be afraid of this product as it does what it is made to do! Granted the documentation that comes with the product is sketchy at best, but try what I said, they work like a charm for me now, you just might be surprised how well they work for you too! I'm not saying this is the end all fix, but they do work great for me now, & they would not even send one command before I lowered the antennas!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Jensen DSC-IR100A Remote Control Extender

You're in one room with the TV on in another when you hear your least favorite actor begin talking in his obnoxious nasal voice. The sound is like fingernails on a blackboard but you can't get into the room to change the channel. If this scenario is familiar, then you need to pick up this Infrared Signal Repeater which converts any IR remote control to a thru-wall remote & is capable of operating your home entertainment system from up to 100 feet away. It may just save your sanity!

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8/08/2011

Next Generation 3-EYE Infrared Remote Control Extender Emitter Cable Review

Next Generation 3-EYE Infrared Remote Control Extender Emitter Cable
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This triple IR emitter (Next Generation 3-EYE Triple IR Mouse Emitter) solves the only problem I had with the Next Generation remote extender (Next Generation Remote Control Extender) -- positioning it where it could control all my stereo and TV components and keeping it aimed properly. The extender now lives very happily behind the TV. In the future I may want to control another component or two, so I expect to connect another single or triple emitter to the extender using a Y cable. I do not expect any problems with this, since Next Generation also makes a 6-eye emitter that works with the extender.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Next Generation 3-EYE Infrared Remote Control Extender Emitter Cable

Still the greatest thing to happen since IR remote control. The award-winning NextGen Remote Extender is now improved and we call it Remote Extender Plus. Simply install our battery transmitter in place of one of the AA or AAA batteries inside your remote control, then point the receiver or attach the bright eye emitter to the components you wish to control. Now you’ve converted your existing IR Remote to Digital RF, giving you the freedom to go from room-to-room and control your components anywhere in the house.The Remote extender plus gives you the ability to control two same brand components independently.

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Click here for more information about Next Generation 3-EYE Infrared Remote Control Extender Emitter Cable

8/03/2011

Next Generation 6-Eye Infrared Remote Control Extender Emitter Review

Next Generation 6-Eye Infrared Remote Control Extender Emitter
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(More customer reviews)
We got a Harmony 700 remote, a Next Generation Remote Control Extender, and the 6-eye extender. Our remote control experience is now perfect and utterly awesome. Easily with a click of just one button, we can turn on everything we need and it all comes on, configured right for what we want to do. Or turn it all off with one press. And it doesn't matter where we are in the house. This has made a huge difference for us because the projector is above and behind our heads, and the rest of the media equipment is to the left and also behind. It was previously impossible, even with the Harmony remote, to control everything in one pass. Because of the different locations we'd have to aim at the media center, wait until everything was off, then press another button and aim at the project and wait until it was off. Now we don't have to aim at all. We can do the instinctive "point at the screen" and it all works, thanks to the RF of the Next Generation, and the IR extender cables of the particular product I'm reviewing here, the Next Generation 6-Eye IR Extender.
The cables for the Eye Extender are long. This was important to us because it means they reach the projector *and* the rest of the equipment. And I like that they come stuck together but can easily be separated. I only separated what I needed to, and this makes it a little easier to keep cables neat. The little IR eyes are small and discreet. I'm very pleased with this product!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Next Generation 6-Eye Infrared Remote Control Extender Emitter

Still the greatest thing to happen since IR remote control. The award-winning NextGen Remote Extender is now improved and we call it Remote Extender Plus. Simply install our battery transmitter in place of one of the AA or AAA batteries inside your remote control, then point the receiver or attach the bright eye emitter to the components you wish to control. Now you’ve converted your existing IR Remote to Digital RF, giving you the freedom to go from room-to-room and control your components anywhere in the house.The Remote extender plus gives you the ability to control two same brand components independently.

Buy NowGet 19% OFF

Click here for more information about Next Generation 6-Eye Infrared Remote Control Extender Emitter

8/01/2011

Hot Link Pro Remote Control Booster System Review

Hot Link Pro Remote Control Booster System
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(More customer reviews)
To all:
Thank you for your interest in this feedback forum for Hot Link Pro.
Following are some answers to the problems, questions, and suggestions that have appeared on this forum.
We make every effort to make certain clients can contact us with support questions. The web site and phone number are molded into the bottom of every unit. In the case of this forum we have yet to make contact with those who have had less than a stellar experience with Hot Link Pro.
Hiding the Eye:
We intend no holes to be drilled for the Eye to see through. There is a Velcro Kit and a screw tab for mounting the eye. This screw is meant for non-visible, internal surfaces, not the outside of a cabinet.
Hot Link Pro does not work "hidden behind a cabinet door", it works great behind a cabinet door "slot". It also works on the back of flat panel displays, behind speaker grills and cabinets. It does not need direct line of site. The Blue LED is separate from the Eye so that the Eye may be hidden while the LED may be mounted in a visible location.
Compatibility:
Hot Link Pro is the most compatible IR repeater available. Works with all IR remote controlled DVRs, Sat Boxes, DVD players, CD players, Xbox, etc. It works with all the new 58Khz carrier based gear like Scientific Atlanta 8300, the new AT and T VIP1200, Hughes, Motorola, HR20, etc. It even extends IR Keyboards and mice.
Only a few devices that use 455Khz carriers will not work. Some Kenwood high-end receivers and a couple of Sony high-end "ES" receivers. And a few older pioneer Elite Receivers.
Many professional installers prefer Hot Link Pro to multi-piece systems because it is broad band, works better with flat panel displays and does not need to be visible like other IR repeaters.
Reliability/Quality:
Hot Link models have been in the field for 15 years with extremely few failures. When something does go wrong, we repaired or replaced units for free. Even when the customer cut or removed or damaged parts. While Hot Link Pro will not work if an emitter is cut off, the warranty is not void if a client splices and extends the emitter for the purposes of running it to a ceiling mounted projector. (Usually with great success.) Total overall failure rate is less than 1/4%.
Rugged Design:
When the emitter wires peel apart they do not damage the wire. It is our specification that the wires not tear the insulation while being separated. Consider the alternative, 7 connectors which reduce reliability, and 7 individually bundled wire sets. The whole product uses about a ¼ of a watt, lowering the risk of damaged components from heat, over time.
Remove-ability of Emitters:
Emitters on Hot Link Pro apply with high-grade 3M thick clear tape that is easily removable and replaceable and does not harm plastics. Place thumb and finger on opposing side corners at the lower part of the tape and peel up emitter and tape together. Or push sideways to break adhesion. Using foam tape as suggested on this forum has 2 other consequences: Heat inside cabinets often causes these tapes to fail especially "removable" tapes. Also heat and age cause some foam tapes to stiffen making removal difficult, possibly scratching the surface of AV equipment. Much research has gone into the tape selected for Hot Link Pro. We offer free replacement tape on our site.
The plasma/LCD compatibility question:
Sometimes the "noise" causing the blue LED to stay on is from another source in the environment like a laptop LCD screen or compact high efficiency florescent lamp.
Hot Link Pro has worked with almost all plasma TVs with the known exception of 60 and 61 inch Plasmas and the Sharp Aquos 37 inch LCD NTSC model. Even though Hot Link works with the Aquos 42 and 45 inch and the smaller Aquos LCDs. The 37-inch NTSC model emits to much IR radiation for most IR repeaters to function properly. Hot Link Pro will work with the IR and RF- noisy Sony XBR series.
The 60 and larger plasma displays will work if an Eye with Y Kit is used with the Hot Link. Recommended Eye mounting procedures will be on our site. Noise indication during warm-up of LCD TVs is easily mitigated. Turn on LCD TV after cool down. While standing to one side so as to not add local reflection, place the Eye on the back of the TV and roll it until the Confirmation LED turns completely off.
Since an IR repeater must be broad band and many of the frequencies that cause noise are very near the remote frequencies, multiple direct frequency filtering is actually less effective than power vector filtering accomplished by mounting the Eye in a hidden location. The energy in the vector of the remote going forward is greater than the vector of the noise of the TV reflecting back toward the TV.
Doors open and not functioning properly:
The Hot Link Pro does work with the doors open as well as closed, unless noise is not mitigated or if the LCD or Plasma TV are sending out IR noise directly to the AV gear and affecting remote performance.
Remote To Eye Distances enhanced:
Hot Link Pro enhances useful distances of remotes. Comments to the contrary are often because of not mitigating noise or misplacement of emitters. In the case of the Scientific Atlanta 8300HD which has poor IR range to start with, distance is often enhanced when 1 to 5 layers of masking tape are placed between the Hot Link Pro emitter and the 8300HD IR receiver eye.
We make every effort to make installation as easy as possible with the recognition that some installs are easier than others and we provide great customer service to help with the trickier installations. Please call us for help at 800-999-8846.
At your service,
Marcus, Microsmith Inc.


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ROUTES IR SIGNALS TO OUT-OF-SIGHT EQUIPMENT; ENHANCED REMOTE PERFORMANCE FOR MULTIPLE A/V COMPONENTS; HIDDEN SLIM DESIGN, SIDE SENSORS WITH 6-FT CABLE, EXTENDABLE WITH RG6 TO 31 FT; BLUE TALK-BACK LED CONFIRMS IR COMMANDS; HYPERSENSITIVE RECEIVER EYE CAN BE MOUNTED VIRTUALLY ANYWHERE, EVEN ON THE BACK OF FLAT PANEL TVS; 4X AS SENSITIVE THAN STANDARD RECEIVER TARGETS; REPEATS CARRIER FREQ OF 18 KHZ120 KHZ; DOUBLES USEFUL DISTANCE OF REMOTES UP TO 70 FT; INCLUDES IR RECEIVER EYE, 6 EMITTERS, AMPLIFIER BOX & POWER SUPPLY; INCLUDES 6 LED EMITTERS FOR UP TO 6 A/V Components

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5/31/2011

Single X10 POWERMID TRANSMITTER Review

Single X10 POWERMID TRANSMITTER
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I have 3 transmitters and one receiver. Here's how I set it up: plug in receiver and point it at the AVR. Test to make sure it pointed correctly and it was on the first try. Then I placed the transmitters in their respective zones. Point the remote at a transmitter and it works. It couldn't have been easier.

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If you have speakers or TVs in a separate room from your stereo/VCR/cable box, you know how inconvenient it is to adjust the volume, change DSS channels, radio stations, etc. Infrared (IR) remotes do not work through walls. You have to walk into the other room any time you want to make a change. With the PowermidTM you can now control your equipment through walls up to 100 ft. away.Point your remote at the PowermidTM Transmitter, it converts the IR signal into a radio frequency (RF) signal that can pass through walls. In the room where your audio/video equipment is located, the receiver converts the RF signal back into IR and transmits it to your equipment.The transmitter even blinks a red light to indicate that it is receiving your command.You'll need this item if you need to control equipment from more than one room. (Receiver sold seperately.)

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5/18/2011

Terk Leapfrog Remote Control Extender Kit LFIRX Review

Terk Leapfrog Remote Control Extender Kit LFIRX
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I purchased the Terk Leapfrog to control my Tivo from the bedroom, after running cables for the audio/video through the wall. In the end, this has worked excellently for me - so let me explain why it doesn't get the full 5 stars.
Initial setup with this product couldn't be easier. You simply unpack the two pieces, plug in the two included AC adapters - and that's it! I was surprised there was no programming it to accept certain IR codes... it just picks up whatever the remote might be throwing out, and relays it appropriately. When I first unpacked it, I set the one unit right in front of my Tivo, sitting about 2 inches from the Tivo's IR receiver. I took the other one into our bedroom and plugged it in. Presto - I could control the Tivo from the bedroom.
Now that I'd confirmed it worked, I went back to my living room to try and find a nice, out of the way place for the Terk Leapfrog to sit. It obviously had to have a clear line of sight to the Tivo... which I figued left me with plenty of choices. I tried putting it on a bookshelf, that was on quite an angle from the Tivo - but with no luck. I tried hiding it behind a picture frame (where is still had a clear line of sight to the Tivo) on a table that was closer to the Tivo... but again no luck. I went on to try 4-5 other places around the room, but could never make it work consistently.
Finally, I placed it *behind* the tivo, and used the included IR 'extender' (which is a little cable, with a peanut sized IR transmitter on the end). I snaked this little cord under the tivo, and then attached the little IR transmitter so it's aiming right at the Tivo's IR reciever. This, finally, worked. Just for comparison, I can aim my Tivo remote almost anywhere in the room and have the signal picked up by the Tivo, so I'm confident that the Tivo is not the problem here.
So... The good thing about this product is that it does work... the bad thing is that it seems it needs to be aimed by a professional sharpshooter to get the signal to your device.
Pros:
-Super fast setup
-Works great with your Tivo
Cons:
-Hard to get the 'placement' of the IR sender just right.

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Model- lf-irx vendor- audiovox electronics features- leapfrog ir remote extender extends the range of any remote control and operates through obstacles from up to 120 feet away. Freestanding units works with most remote controls and a/v components. Installs easily expandable system: add an additional receiver (lfirx-rx) and/or transmitter (lfirx_tx) sold separate.

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4/28/2011

Cables To Go Impact Acoustics 40430 Infrared (IR) Remote Control Repeater Kit (Black) Review

Cables To Go Impact Acoustics 40430 Infrared (IR) Remote Control Repeater Kit (Black)
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This product works GREAT and is very inexpensive compared to others. I recommend using this product over wireless repeaters for reliability and cleanliness of installation.
PROS: Very neat installation and very accurate repeater for a complete system using a Sony 52 inch LCD. Ample wires and expansion capability. Feels like a well built product with clear labeling on the box for easy installation. I added a standard 12 foot long 3.5mm M/F stereo extension cable to lengthen the 10 foot IR Receiver cable that was included in the kit. This allowed me to put the IR receiver on the TV (wall mounted Sony) and put the box in the equipment closet 12 feet away. It worked flawlessly. They should advertise this capability on the Cables to Go website.
CONS: The double back tape on the IR Transmitters seemed kinda week. I don't think they'll fall off over time, but actually might. The IR transmitter plugs pop out of the box very easily. I think they are using the wrong plug/socket combination in the design; they work, but come out VERY easily when they should 'click' in like the IR receiver and power plug do. The power cord is the same plug as all the other ports. It is easily confused with the port next to it labeled "Status". The unit will not work if the power is in the "Status" port, but when miswired, does not fry the unit either. (Uh, don't ask how I learned this...)
Great Product. Highly Recommended. 9 out of 10 for the IR Transmitters not locking in correctly.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Cables To Go Impact Acoustics 40430 Infrared (IR) Remote Control Repeater Kit (Black)

Does your entertainment system have wooden doors, or would you like to mount your components in a closet? Without a clear line of sight infrared (IR) signals from a remote control will not reach the equipment. We have the answer. Our remote control repeater kit contains all equipment necessary to remotely operate 4 components (expandable to 12 components) using your standard remotes. Mount the IR receiver in a central location and connect to the IR distribution block. This block repeats the signals through emitters to your electronic components. Your components may now be mounted in your entertainment center, closet or another room! The kit is self-contained and easy to connect.With this kit, you may mount a receiver in a convenient place on or near your entertainment system. The receiver has a 9 foot cable that is then attached to the repeater system that is mounted in your entertainment cabinet. The kit includes 4 emitters. These emitters are connected from the repeater system and placed over the IR receiver of the equipment.The IR receiver and IR repeater have blinking blue LEDs to confirm receipt of the IR signal; the IR repeater is designed for mounting on shelf or wall. You can use your existing remotes for simple installation and hookups. Packaged for resale.For your convenience, the AC/DC Adapter (#98025) is available for this item

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4/25/2011

Next Generation Remote Control Extender Review

Next Generation Remote Control Extender
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Next Generation Remote Control Extender
I had a need to remote control my TiVo HD and DVD player that are located inside a closed cabinet. I tried to use an inexpensive RF remote control but I hated the remote and there is a significant amount of lag when I push the button on the remote. Sometimes the component didn't register the command at all. Very frustrating.
I did a little more research on how to control my components that were hidden inside this cabinet and I ran across this Next Generation Remote Control Extender. At first I thought this was the same thing as those stupid X-10 Pyramid remote extenders or IR repeaters, but as I read more about it I realized this was something different. In short, this system will allow you to convert your standard remote into a powerful RF remote. This is a very unique solution.
I used this system to convert my favorite Logitech/Harmony 676 universal remote into a RF remote that can control my TiVo HD and DVD player while hidden out of sight in my cabinet. It totally works and there no lag from when I push a button to the action on the screen. Love it!!!

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Infrared remotes are generally limited to line-of-sight operation and shorter ranges. This deivce from NextGen will "RFize" your IR remote, giving it a range of up to 100 feet, room-to-room control, and the other bonuses of having an RF remote.
Effectively change your infrared remote to a more powerful radio-frequency signal.

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4/10/2011

X10 POWERMID Remote Control Extender Kit PM5900 Review

X10 POWERMID Remote Control Extender Kit PM5900
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MY father recently remodelled his home, and had all the electronics hard wired behind the walls. It's a real clean installaltion, however all the equipment (reciever, cable, DVD, CD etc) are all out of infrared range.
After figuring out he needed a universal remote, as well as needing r/f capability, the search was on for his christmas present. I had a lot of trouble finding a universaal remote that would set up easily for him, has well as have the R/F capability.
In the end, i opted for the infrared remote i really wanted, and the x-10 system. the leapfrog system appeared to have a few bad reviews, and i figured spending the extra money might make the difference (only like $10)
Turned out to be a great decision. I was concerned about the system b/c the front of all the components in the media closet are very close to the door. I purchased 2 extra extender eyes (plug into the back of the R/F recieving unit, and can be stuck right on the I/R eye of your component) but i didn't even need them. One pyramid in the closet ssomehow still controls all the componants w/o even being in direct line of sight of the i/r eye on each piece of equipment.
I would reccomend buying an extra transmitter (the pyramid w/o the antenna) as you might want to be able to control from other places once you see how convenient this is. My dad has 2, one in the living room, and one in the kitchen, if he wants to control music while cooking.he'll probably end up with another for the patio outside during the summer months.
overall, highly reccomended product.

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Use your remote to control VCRs, cable boxes, even stereo equipment in cabinets in another room with Powermid's whole-house infrared remote control extender! Lets you control your audio/video products from anywhere in your home. Powermid Transmitter converts your IR signal to RF and transmits up to 100' through walls to a Powermid Receiver, which converts RF back to IR to control your equipment.

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