I have a game room with 4 TV's independently operating with 4 of the same RCA DirecTV receivers. The receivers are all located on the same wall on top ot the TV's and within 7 feet of each other. Is there any way to reduce the dispersion of the IR signal from a single remote? Or limit the field of acceptance by the receivers? I have looked all over the internet and can't find anything. There has to be a solution! How do sports bars do it? I would even settle for 4 different remotes to operate each one. Help!

look at the HTM MX-800 remote or Xantech IR router

are they RF capable receivers? If so, you can set each receiver to a separate frequency...

Also, do you run 2 recivers off of the DirecTV function, and 2 off the AUX function? That would help a little...

The IR router is the way to go if you ever have a need to talk to every receiver at the same time. Othersie, I think their CC-12 is less expensive. It is just a six-relay switch. Take your IR lead and connect it to each relay, then the output of each relay goes to a particular receiver.

You will need a remote that can learn macros, and the satellite receivers will need to be moved to where they will not pick up any IR directly, or their LEDs and inputs windows will need to be covered.

In a sports bar with seven satellite receivers (total of two brands), I built a little do-hickey that went behind the bar.

This do-hickey had four slots, each large enough to stick the business end of a remote control into. At the rear of each slot was a Xantech IR sensor.

The barkeep would decide which satellite receiver he/she wanted to control, then stick the remote into the appropriate slot. They could stand back a few feet and aim at the slots and change all receivers to the same channel.

Thank you for the suggestions. Is there a particluar brand of router you suggest and how much should I pay? I found a Xantech IR Distribution kit for $80. It comes with the receiver, connecting block, power supply and 4 emitters. Is this all I would need? Thank you again for your help.

The CC-62 relay is probably the best way to go (I wrote CC-12, I meant CC-62). It has six relays. I use two of them in one house, both to route IR and to raise and lower TV screens.

The Router is the RT8, which will take an IR signal and send it to any one of eight outputs or all eight at once. They don't have a smaller one. I use the RT8 in two places in another house where I need to be able to send IR to all locations at once.

Call Xantech, I guess, for dealers, or I can get it for you. (SHAMELESS PLUG) Let me know.

You will also need the Xantech RC68+ programmer to program your learning remote for either the cc-62 or RT-8. Xantech is the way to go unless you go the MX800 route. I like Ernies slot idea but cost wise those IR receivers add up.

This message was edited by Shoe on 03/09/04 09:18.

Yeah, the slot idea was pricy. I mentioned it to try to jog someone's mind out of the routine way of approaching a problem. Also because it cracked me up when I realized it would work.

Its major drawback for any situation except a bartender behind a bar was that there was one, and only one, place where you could hold a remote control to get guaranteed results on the system. We did add another sensor so that volume on the main amp could be adjusted away from the bar if you needed to.

I have used the Xantech RT-8 in several applications and it has worked great for me. I have the codes for the RC68+ in PENG if you decide to go with a Pronto. I could not tell you what the cost factor is, I just put them in and make them work.

Roddy