Need help with IR distribution components

[johnnynine]

I would like to get some IR distribution equipment that will satisfy the attached image as well as:

• Support for LCD TV interference.
• Stick on ir emitters with leds that will preferably block other ir signals (since some of the components will be in line of site of the remote control. - not sure if that's an issue).
• Quick performance (ie, no delay between receiving ir signal and resending it to emitters).
• Preferably 3mm plug in components so I don't have to wire anything.

The kits I've seen don't have multiple inputs and combining the components on automatedoutlet.com looks costly... and I don't want to break the bank for something this minor.

Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[bfisher]

Xantech stuff is good (it's what I use) with no real issues. A couple comments:
- LCD tv's don't really change anything... as long as your's doesn't spew IR noise. Or if it does - that your receiver isn't where it can affect it. Mine spews noise for about 5 seconds while it's starting... then it goes quiet.

- Using the Xantech stuff - it's immediate. There's no buffer or processing - whatever goes in comes right out through the emitters. If you run it through a HA system to process first - then there will be delays. I have my HV Pro connected in "parallel" so it sees all commands, and can issue commands - but it doesn't require all IR go through it first.

- IR block panels usually come with emitters, or you can simply use electrical tape. The block panels have sticky on the back, and have an indentation for the emitter to sit in and then sticks over the IR eye on your equipment. A must if you have equipment that could get out of sync by someone aiming directly at the equipment and your automation not being aware of it.

- are you sure you want IR to connect to your DirecTV receiver as well? I'm assuming from your picture that Tivo is controlling it... wouldn't you want it to be the only master? Otherwise, it could think it's recording something and someone else changed the DirecTV receiver's channel...

 

[johnnynine]

Xantech stuff is good (it's what I use) with no real issues. A couple comments:
- LCD tv's don't really change anything... as long as your's doesn't spew IR noise. Or if it does - that your receiver isn't where it can affect it. Mine spews noise for about 5 seconds while it's starting... then it goes quiet.

I'm not sure how to know if my tv spews irs noise and when.

- Using the Xantech stuff - it's immediate. There's no buffer or processing - whatever goes in comes right out through the emitters. If you run it through a HA system to process first - then there will be delays. I have my HV Pro connected in "parallel" so it sees all commands, and can issue commands - but it doesn't require all IR go through it first.

Do you have a recommended Xantech vendor?
Can you recommend any specific Xantech parts? Do they have a single block with multiple inputs and outputs?

- are you sure you want IR to connect to your DirecTV receiver as well? I'm assuming from your picture that Tivo is controlling it... wouldn't you want it to be the only master? Otherwise, it could think it's recording something and someone else changed the DirecTV receiver's channel...

In order to watch hdtv I must switch the video input to be straight from the directv box, so I need to be able to control it with the remote as well.

 

[eufreka]

I would like to get some IR distribution equipment that will satisfy the attached image as well as:

• Support for LCD TV interference.
• Stick on ir emitters with leds that will preferably block other ir signals (since some of the components will be in line of site of the remote control. - not sure if that's an issue).
• Quick performance (ie, no delay between receiving ir signal and resending it to emitters).
• Preferably 3mm plug in components so I don't have to wire anything.

The kits I've seen don't have multiple inputs and combining the components on automatedoutlet.com looks costly... and I don't want to break the bank for something this minor.

Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Thanks.

What do you mean by "multiple inputs"? Do you mean "zones"?

Take a look through this equipment selection at hometech...they got a nice tutorial also.

 

[johnnynine]

What do you mean by "multiple inputs"? Do you mean "zones"?

Take a look through this equipment selection at hometech...they got a nice tutorial also.

I don't think I mean zones since all the inputs would be controlling the same equipment. I just mean multiple ir control points. As seen in the diagram I have a remote control and plan to have a global cache (or other pc interface) and maybe other inputs.

 

[johnnynine]

Actually it looks like the ir receivers can be wired in parallel as see in the Xantech 789-44 CONNECTING BLOCK docs.

 

[bfisher]

I have a 791-44 which I think is similar to the 789-44 with more emitters capability. I also have a zoned block... but it sounds like you don't need one of those... The 791 allows me to bring in all my receivers into 1 common input and sends the signals out to all emitters that are connected to it. If that's what you are looking for (appears so in your image), then you should be good to go.

 

[johnnynine]

Do you guys like the emitters that blink or are they annoying?

 

[bfisher]

I have some of both. In general, I use and like the ones that blink because it's a visual queue everything worked the way it's supposed to. If something is wrong, when you have ones that don't visually blink, it's hard to know if the problem is in the IR or something else.