I am needing to install a plasma tv on wall with the rest of the gear(rec., dvd, cable box etc) located in a cabinet behind the viewer. I am told that a common ir system (xantech single system) will not work with the ir receiver lens in proximity of the Plasma display, the only alternative being a "plama friendly" (expensive) receiver. Are there any universal rf models that will work in this application??
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Thanks
Greg

MX-800 will fit your needs.

Greg,

This is a FANTASTIC solution for you, and one of the cheapest!

Unfortunatley, that remote is on www.bluedo.com ( one of the CHEAPEST places you'll find it, for $499.00! Add another $200-$400 for programming (unless you do it yourself!) and you're in the $900.00 Range...

An AudioPlex PLASMA PROOF system, including Ir receivers, distribution block, and emitters, should run around $400.00 (including BOTH a 40 and 56 kHz)!

Xantach will run you more than audioplex...

Unfortunatley...there isn't too much available to you for LESS than the cost of a plasma proof IR system...most RF remote will approach 1K after being programmed!

avdude
www.integrationpros.com

Before we install the system, we tell the client that the best way to handle all the different component remotes, as well as the nasty habit of plasmas interfering with infrared, is to use a Pronto or Marantz with its RF extender. Then we are careful to tell them that they have to get themselves ready to spend more than a thousand dollars on this portion of the installation, but they will be very pleased with the simplicity of operation. I have seen arguments on this site that try to say that with a complete system with a plasma, it is unrealistic (or cheap!) to think that a hundred bucks will solve the remote control mess.

"Simpler" remotes with IR systems, yes, including the Audioplex, have given me mixed results. The Audioplex Stealth 4056 that I received late last year was an earlier version, and the Audioplex tech, Matt, told me not to follow the instructions vis-a-vis multiple IR emitters. Now, realize that I had already spent my time and thus my money following the instructions before finding the problem and calling them. Matt told me to wire the LEDs differently; even then, his solution controlled everything except the Denon's Power On and Volume. I had to invent a different LED wiring approach that he had already told me would not work in order to control everything. Supposedly the current units do not have that same problem, but now I would have to research (by installation) whether there are any new problems. I am not up for that if I can avoid it.

My solution up to now has been the Marantz 5200 with its RF extender. This totally does away with the IR pickup problem, and the ccf can be made with one device, the plasma, having its signals sent by IR but all the rest sent by RF.

We originally went with the Marantz because our supplier kept having problems having stock on the Pronto. Since then, we had only one short time when we could not just call up and get a remote.

Now that the 5200 is discontinued, there will be a bit of time figuring out if the new 5400 will fill the bill. The few notes I have seen about the NGs, however, made me go look at ebay for 5200s!

FWIW, I use the Xantech IR repeater with a plasma and have no problems. I have the Xantech reveiver mounted inside a cabinet such that it is about 6 inches below and 12 inches forward of the bottom of the plasma. When a bright scene flashes on the plasma, I can see the IR receiver flash slightly. However, I have not noticed any adverse effect on the operation of the IR system itself.

MX-600 would do the job for much less than the 800.