Hi guys, hope everyone is well, first time poster and also a newb:)
Ive read through a few things online but still need some help if possible.

Finishing off a theatre room i have done at home, 1 thing left to do is work out how to control the gear thats not in line of sight of when sitting down (gear in cabinet).

The projector is RF so thats not an issue, but all the rest of the gear is IR

I know that IR is old technology and most guys are now using harmony to control their gear with the harmony remote/smartphone which is RF and then have a few blasters off the harmony hub to the IR gear, this would work well, but from what i know/read you are restricted on using the harmony remote (or your phone) as the harmony hub isnt actually a IR reciever. So even is the harmony was in light of sight of the sitter, still wouldnt recieve IR signal

So if you still want to use the factory IR remotes while in sitting position, i would still need a IR reciever,

Please confirm all above is correct

So the questions i have is, can you connect a reciever to the harmony hub?

If not, looks like ill have to go down the path of IR extenders.
Ive been looking online and from what i can see the Niles and Xantech seem to be the most popular and way to go.

I know alot of guys have installed many of different styles so was hoping to get some feedback and recommendations

The niles gear im looking at is the MSU480 which is a 8 blaster unit.
The MS220 reciever, which ive read to be a great reciever. Only going to use 1, but the MSU480 allows to have more need be which could come in handy
And then the MF1VF blasters

In Xantech 791-44 which is a 10 blaster unit
DL95 reciever (ive read this is much better than the DL85)
283D blasters

Opinions and advice regarding both would be great and much appreciated

It seems both companies and now owned by Nortek control.
Is one of them meant to be a superior product? I have read Xantech quality can be a little so/so


Or if any1 has any other recommendation on how i should tackel this im all ears:D

thanks in advance:)

The majority of folks in this forum have moved far past Harmony remotes and IR Repeater systems.

To confirm:
Harmony does not repeat IR commands from factory remotes.

Since you have not actually told us what devices you need to repeat, We can only assume everything you posted will work just fine.

Obviously make sure the Projector does not flood the IR Receiver with light. but other than that, should work fine.

Most on this forum are professional integrators and use pro grade products (similar to harmony but more customizable) but training is required and you have to know what you’re doing. The remote or touchpanels communicate to a basestation or control processor via WiFi or RF and the basestation then controls the gear via infrared, serial, or network. I would highly encourage you to look for a seasoned pro to help you with this part. Only problem is it may be a little more difficult because you designed and purchased all the other equipment yourself first and might not be the easiest getting someone to touch it.

Only a basic Harmony remote, less than $100, if they are still available, will control your equipment directly by IR. The better models, if available, use a base station that communicates by radio with the handheld unit. You would not require an IR repeater. The whole idea is to automate your theatre while at the same time getting all of your remotes into one controller. Your theatre can be controlled by a Harmony, but some of the tricks your are going to require are not going to be obvious to the average consumer. We could help you with some lengthy discussions but you could save yourself some time by hiring someone with reputable skill. That itself can be a challenge....My wife thinks we can save money by learning how to install tiles on our own. I would much rather just pay someone to do the job well and do it quickly.

If your system is finished except for this portion, you're either going to be lucky or you'll have a heck of a challenge. Installing an IR extending system requires running wires from place to place -- are these "places" covered up and finished off?

I'm surprised at "Only a basic Harmony remote,... if they are still available, will control your equipment directly by IR." If the intention here was to say "you can control your equipment directly by IR with as little as just a Harmony remote," then that's true. But there are other brands of remote control systems that have IR-only solutions. As mentioned, though, the programming of these requires training, and that's only available to dealers.

I'd say it's time to find a pro to finish off your system.

My wife thinks we can save money by learning how to install tiles on our own. I would much rather just pay someone to do the job well and do it quickly.|

+1

hi all, appreciate all your replys.

Most of the replys are aimed at using products that control all devices with 1 remote. While this is great, i honestly have no interest in this. Using the factory IR remotes is all im interested in doing.

Ive already ran cables to where the IR reciever would go to the IR block/hub, plus i am electrical contractor, so running wires is the easy part of the job for me.

If i was looking at doing the complex solutions to use 1 remote, believe me i would use a pro, as i have no knowledge in programming side and rather spend my time doing something i know

On April 6, 2021 at 1:46 AM, mrtristan said...
My wife thinks we can save money by learning how to install tiles on our own. I would much rather just pay someone to do the job well and do it quickly.|

I fully agree with the above statement, I am licensed electrical contractor, i use this motto every day.

However the simplier IR systems to use factory remotes arn't complex and pretty much plug and play, I believe im more than capable for the simplier IR extenders i had mentioned.

I was more wanting product capability/knowledge/experience and feedback on IR extenders.

[Link: xantech.com]

I don't get it.  You brought harmony into the discussion from the beginning.  That is a "all in one" remote solution.  That is why you receive replies for all-on-one remote solutions.  It is absolutely the right way to go.  Your wife will thank you if you have everything work easily on one remote.  With that said, what is posted directly above is likely the most popular and reliable IR kit solutions out there.

Horze,

If you have a voice controlled cable box, you should try using that remote. While there are lots of potential nags, you could get lucky and this remote will do what you need for watching TV -- without any extenders. If you have a more elaborate system, or want to tinker with settings, you'll need the extenders.

For what the OP is asking --- as another reply already mentioned, the Harmony hub works with Harmony remotes. So if you just want to use the factory remotes for your own setup then either the Niles or Xantech pieces you mentioned will do what you want.

Both the Niles and Xantech products are well established, long standing solutions. Like anything else, some will prefer one brand over the other. Just pick one and you'll be fine.

thankyou Archibald "Harry" Tuttle That was one of the kits i was looking at.

goldenzrule I had only mentioned harmony as more of a question if it has an IR receiver to read the factory remotes but as Impaqt and pepper08 have said (thanks guys), it doesn't. Sorry if i made my question a little unclear:)

I agree 1 remote is beneficial, but i would still would want factory remotes working from seating position for calibrating settings. The harmony can be added later, at this point getting the factory IR remotes to work from seating position is my main priority. The harmony can be added later to the IR block.

Buzz, dont think i will have a cable box, and if I do it will be Foxtel (Australian one), i wouldnt think anyone here is familiar with that box unless from Australia.

pepper08 Thankyou for that, sounds like they are both on par in terms of quality


thanks for all the help guys