IR Repeater... Anyone use one?

[xJoey Dubsx]

So just bought a house and planning out all the rooms before it closes.. I have a nice space in the back room in the basement to hide my stereo for surround sound, Blueray, and all that, which is right behind where I want to put my TV. If I do this I'll need to get an IR Repeater for it..

Anyone have one? Experiences? Tips/Tricks? Etc?

Was looking at this one to try out, cheap on fleaBay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/400318476080?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

 

[GRN96WS6]

I work with a guy who does home theater installs on the side and he uses them, not sure which brand he uses though.

 

[DanCo]

When I worked in aviation we used Xanatec & Buffalo I/R products. We would buy it from partsexpress.com. Here's the linkhttp:// http://www.parts-express.com/cat/ir-repeater-systems/1974

Installation is pretty straight forward.

Dan

 

[justsam]

How is all your equipment going to be interconnected to your viewing/listening room?

What is doing the switching from your various input sources, STB (Set Top Box for cable, sat, etc.), Blu-Ray, Game Console? Is all that being switched via your receiver, (HDMI), or is you TV doing it?

I assume speaker cables are being passed through to the listening room from the equipment closet?

In regard to extending IR, Xantech is the professional choice. I have used others with various levels of success. It is not clear to me if the one shown on e-bay has talk back, i.e. the target receiver will flash will it receives an IR command. May or may not be important to you. Most of these systems will require 22/24 gauge, minimum of 3 conductors from the IR receiver to the connecting block. Scrap cat 5 is fine for this.

Since you are in the planning stages, take some time and review every connection you will need to make with your existing equipment and figure how it is going to get from equipment closet to viewing area. There are many ways to deal with IR, hardwire repeat is the most reliable. It will all become a thing of the past as most devices today offer IP control over your WiFi network so your smart phone is your remote.

 

[xJoey Dubsx]

The cheap one comes with everything, you just hook it up. I don't mind not having the red light coming back, but this one below has one... and needs CAT5 cable..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/IR-Repeater...e_Controls&hash=item589062bed2#ht_2456wt_1219

Will an Xbox 360 work with an IR Repeater?

 

[xJoey Dubsx]

Nevermind, apparently they are RF so it should work.

 

[Zoro Tools]

I personally have used the Xanatec ones and other off-brands before. Like mentioned- very easy. If your walls are still open, you may want to run an extra CAT5 cable (homerun) from each location to your media center. That will give you 4 pairs of wires to run the IR send and receive over. Extra cable is always easier to put in up front, than try and do it later.


(The above comments are based on personal experience, and not an invitation for sales of any items through my representative company. We do not even stock any of the mentioned devices).

 

[Gooch]

I just put the one m onoprice.com sells. Works great. Especially for $20. Just need to buy an appropriate length male to female 3.5 mms stereo cable.(fyi I paid 1.20ish for a 25' cable)

 

[67carl]

X2 on Monoprice. Their cables (I used their network, HDMI, etc...), banana plugs and TV mounts are solid and way cheaper than Best Buy or other places.

I have an "I.T. closet" and ran various cables from there to my entertainment center. Keep in mind distance limitations with HDMI - they make repeaters so do some research on that. A network switch is good to have so you don't need to run a bunch of Cat5 cables.

 

[YW84U]

When I did my theater build a few years ago, I researched various IR repeaters and ended up installing a "Hotlink Pro" from Microsmith. It was a toss up between them and a Buffalo setup at that time. I detailed the install plus a review of it in a build thread, around post #112, halfway own the page:

http://www.avsforum.com/t/739342/tanner-ridge-cinema-construction-thread/90

This one has worked flawlessly for me since installation, and the customer support was excellent (when I encountered a small issue, the actual owner corresponded directly with me and sent me an upgraded receiver within a day or two). Extending it using Cat5 was super easy and inexpensive, and it plays great with my home automation gear.

Cheers,
Tom

 

[Gooch]

When I did my theater build a few years ago, I researched various IR repeaters and ended up installing a "Hotlink Pro" from Microsmith. It was a toss up between them and a Buffalo setup at that time. I detailed the install plus a review of it in a build thread, around post #112, halfway own the page:

http://www.avsforum.com/t/739342/tanner-ridge-cinema-construction-thread/90

This one has worked flawlessly for me since installation, and the customer support was excellent (when I encountered a small issue, the actual owner corresponded directly with me and sent me an upgraded receiver within a day or two). Extending it using Cat5 was super easy and inexpensive, and it plays great with my home automation gear.

Cheers,
Tom

No offenses but that looks way to complicated for what it is.

 

[YW84U]

No offenses but that looks way to complicated for what it is.

No worries! I put it out there as one of many good options out there - one of my biggest hurdles was to find one that rejected IR interference from other things such as CFL bulbs, halogen lights, plasma tvs and such that can sometimes mess with your system.

Cheers,
Tom

 

[Gooch]

No worries! I put it out there as one of many good options out there - one of my biggest hurdles was to find one that rejected IR interference from other things such as CFL bulbs, halogen lights, plasma tvs and such that can sometimes mess with your system.

Cheers,
Tom

Fair enough. I didn't have any of those concerns with my setup. Not to mention what was available when you bought it