I am trying to solve a problem ...
My system is as follows -
Hitachi 50" plasma w/ the Hitachi control center box the remote is rf,
Scientific Atlanta explorer 8300HD cable box the remote is ir
Bose lifestyle 24 surround system the remote is rf,
Sony CD/DVD DVP-NS575P remote is ir
Panasonic VCR the remote is ir

The entire mess of it is housed in a cabinet purchased just for it all. I even tested the Hitachi remote to make sure that it would work through the 1 inch door and it does, (we were told that everything would go through the Hitachi control box and we could use that remote for all. The problem is that the tv goes through the cable box which is ir and does not work through the 1 inch door. So we now use a remote for each item and the door must remain open all the time so the SA cable box will work. Question 1 - is there a remote that will control all of these devises or at least the first 2 or 3. that will control both ir & rf?
Question 2 - if not, I have found a device that converts ir to rf, can I use that or something like it on the SA cable box and at least get to keep the door closed. And with that device inplace can I use the Hitachi rf remote to control the SA cable box? At this point I don't care what it costs I just want to keep the doors closed and eliminate some of the remotes. Thank you for any help you may lend. DLind

Are you saying that the Hitachi cannot be changed to IR?

The Bose, I understand from posts on this site, can be changed to IR.

That would leave you with a common but supposedly solvable problem: how to have an IR system that works in the same room as a plasma. I have heard that AudioPlex has one, and I have seen it work, then fail; that Xantech has one and it will work as long as you do not have compact fluorescents in the same room.

I just heard yesterday that Lorex made a product that converted an IR remote to RF; a special part was inserted in the remote in place of one of the AA or AAA batteries, and that somehow emitted RF. I just searched for it, found one reference, but it had no text, so I don't know if this still exists.

Your Bose can be switched to IR only. I believe the Hitachi can be IR as well. Setup both to do IR only.

I'd then suggest going with an MX-800 by URC. If you have a few extra bucks go for the 850 it's got a better look and has a better backlight and "select" button.

These URC's will run the entire system, especially with the convoluded way the Bose might have to be set up to run the audio. The URC's have a base station that goes in the cabinet that the remote control talks to in RF. The base station converts the signal to IR and talks to your equipment.

The Hitachi should have discrete codes that will help you to switch inputs more easily since the Bose doesn't have the right video inputs (or enough of them).

There is a bit of a learning curve on the programming but you can download a tutorial that does a pretty good job for first timers. Most of the remote codes can be found in the URC's program database.

Ernie Bornn-Gilman & Steve Garn - thank you, thank you! I now have direction and I am off and running. I really appreciate your expertise. - Dana