I'm looking for that device, an IR system I am told, that will allow me to use one satellite channel box in the house but change the channels from other rooms where I have split the channel box to other TVs. I only have plans for one split to one other TV, but the run is going to be about 75-100 feet. Any suggestions on where I can get a good, reasonably priced unit to handle this?

I am considering either Dish Network or DirecTV for my satellite source, just in case this makes any difference.

You could simply pay a bit more and get the RF capable receiver, or, use a 'pyramid' type system from X10, RCA, or whomever.

[Link: x10.com]

Buy an IR emitter and a receiver from Xantech. The emitters are $5.99, the receiver is about $12. Any 12VDC power supply with 200mA or more current will work to make it all go. The only other thing that you need is the wire to connect it all. Just about any three conductor will work. Just wire nut it together. You need to get three conductors to the receiver (12VDC, common, and signal out) tie one side of the emitter to the signal out from the receiver and the other side in with the common from the receiver and the power supply.

Usually cheapest and best are mutually exclusive. But in this case, Xantech makes the cheapest best IR sysem.

But the Xantech stuff is hardwired, if you don't mind doing that, then definatly the best is Xantech.

With that short of distance, the pyraminds will work fine.

where did digidan get his prices?

Be careful of the power supply that you use with Xantech. It must actually put out 12 volts. Most "12 volt 200 mA" supplies put out close to 18 volts when very little current is drawn, which will lock up or damage the Xantech receivers. The best bet is to get a 12 volt regulated supply (best, not cheapest) or do what xantech did for years -- use a supply labelled "9 volts" that puts out 12 1/2 - 13 volts with no load, and drops to about 12 under normal IR use.

Or just buy the connecting block and everything. Safer that way for newbies.

Xantech has a kit for exactly this purpose ([Link: xantech.com])
- it had an IR insertion splitter and IR receiver for the remote room, and another splitter that went in the receiver room to extract both the voltage and IR signal (which then went to the receiver). It used the run of coax that fed from the output of the receiver to the second TV.
Paul

As far as cheapest I dont know, Xantech isnt bad for the money, but as far as IM concerned the best IR systems on the market are made by Audioplex. They are frequency specific so they dont even see frequencies out of the range they are looking for.

I'm a big Audioplex supporter too...they make some great products.

It may be more cost effective and easier to just get a second receiver. It costs about $5/month for a second box and you can usually get a second box for $50, particularly if you are just starting out with satellite service.

Bill

"They are frequency specific so they dont even see frequencies out of the range they are looking
for."

Not to be too picky, but what does that mean?

That means that not all IR will go through those devices.

Most IR commands are modulated between 38 and 40 kHz. The Xantech and most other IR system receivers have tuned circuits that ignore signals outside of these frequency ranges. That is why the IR receiver works in a system of miine in the same room with a set of DC-fed IR LEDS for a surveillance camera; the Xantech ignores the constant IR and passes the IR modulated around 40 kHz.

Occasionally you will run across stuff that is clearly not in that range. Pioneer drove everybody TOTALLY NUTS a few years ago by introducing a 1.125 mHz system that would issue its own 40 kHz signals so the receiver could control other units; B&O and Vidikron have made IR controls with a 455 kHz carrier; I have seen cable boxes where there is no carrier at all. These are all problems with an IR system because you can't make the system open enough to see all of these signals without also making it see a lot of other garbage that will get in the way of the IR commands.