Ir solution , last bit of install .

[Jamster1]

Right guys I have finally managed to get most cables in and ready for plastering but I'm still confused with The IR side of things .

I'll have everything in a cupboard upstairs which ID like to be able to control the lot from anywhere in the house pretty much .

I'm stuck between 2 options it would be great if anyone can help me choose by pointingout any flaws in my choices.

Firstly I'm considering buying this harmony with the Rf/IR extender.

http://www.letsautomate.com/12098.cfm?

Not sure if I'm reading correctly but it sound to me like I can place the extender somewhere in the house and it will pick up any signals from the remote , is it this simple ? Or do I need somthing else in the cupboard ?

Secondly considering buying stuff from the xantech range , this was recommeded to me but I have no Idea exactly what stuff I need !

I'm desperate to get the wiring finished and so confused with all the different Ir options would be great if somone could advice me exactly what to buy.

Sorry for my ignorance on the issue , but I have so much going on with the renovation I have no time to research it properly!

So just to clear up I will need to control my everything in the cupboard which is IR compatable from preferably everywhere in the house but essentially the 3 screen locations .

I already have 2 co-axils and 2 cat5s at each screen and have plenty of cable left so additional wiring is no problem , just want to get it done this week so I can get the floor back down .

Cheers , Jamie

[Jamster1]

after some more reading I'm thinking I might be better with the harmony plus extender and do I need wands fro each device ?

Also the harmony 895 has IR/RF , Any of the harmonys cheaper but with similar compatability?

[jamesk190]

Hi Jamster1,

Don't know anything about either of the two things you mentioned (!) but I'm in the process of getting all the small bits together before we move into a new place and I start my install.

I found this (CyberSelect | QED Flood IR emitter) and thought I'd solved all my 'hide everything in a cupboard and control it from outside' problems!!!

I called the company and the guy I spoke to gave me some great advice (although it turned out I hadn't solved my problems!).

The cheapest, but perfectly adequate way of getting round the problem was to go for this (CyberSelect | Powermid XL IR extender set) which transmitted the IR signal into the cupboard (or wherever else you may have your AV gear) then use the first product to convert the emitted beam from a very narrow, concentrated beam to a wider, more general beam. This makes it usable with several devices from a fairly short distance, making it suitable for having on the inside of a cupboard door that's only a couple of inches away from the front of the AV gear.

Hope this helps a bit, if not give CyberSelect a quick bell, they were really helpful when I spoke to them!

By the way, when it turned up I tried it out and it worked perfectly first time, no set up, no problems, just turned it on, pointed my remote at it and it worked!

Cheers,
jamesk190