I wanted to have access to my mega cd player and my mega DVD player while in another room. This would entail having to control the receiver as well. What device would I need to activate these items while in another room altogether.

Wired IR system or RF system. Some remotes have RF built into them. Or you can buy RF repeaters. The wiring is usually the toughest part, I presume you have the audio wired from one room to the other?

Also, you ideally need a receiver that can handle 2 different zones. Even if you don't ever play different things in the 2 rooms at the same time, you'll probably not want the speakers blaring in the 'other' room, whichever is other at that moment.

Well I was told I could pick up a IR/RF repeater from Radio Shack that could do the job. I guess they mean those pyramid type devices.

As for the peaker wiring, no I haven't ran that yet since I want to make sure I can access the system from the upstairs living room.

The Radio Shack is the simplest solution as it is ready-made and works pretty well. I have seen a few of them fail, though, so keep your receipt and know your warranty.

Does anyone have a particular repeater unit they like best?

Radio Shack had two different types pf repeaters. One that had a battery type unit that you insert into your remote to change the signal to RF which sends it to a repeater that turn the signal back to IR for your devices. I tried it and it did not work. Will go back and try the other hoping for success.

Got the other transmitter from Radio shack and it works like a charm. Now I have to just run the speaker wire

Rich Guy,

I have a hardwired IR system in my current house. I used little tube style IR pickups by a company called Imagine (they also say Buffalo Electronics on them). You need a connecting block back at the components you want to control, which is fed by the pickups (I have 5 in the house). Emitters plug into the connecting block and feed the components.

Assuming you have access to run wires, this system is a breeze to install and works PERFECTLY.

In a large house I would never count on the wirless systems discussed here to have adequate range, so I am not planning that route in the new "casa".

I used regular old telephone wire to make the runs, but I hear rumor that cat 5 wire works the same, and who would complain about an extra cat 5 run down the line.

In my new house, I will have several "zones" of infrared signals, using an "addressable" IR router to like specific remote commands for devices that share like codes. In addition, some of these zones will be hardwired to specific receivers that will take care of volume and amplification in those zones.

OK, i am getting wordy here... sorry.

Kitchenleopard

If you have to run speaker wire anyway, why not just run cat 5 with it and use a zantec (or equivilant) repeater. Nothing against Rat Shack, they've saved me in a pinch; but I have installed a ton of zantec's, russound,etc. over the years with only ONE failure!! Can't remember wich brand.

I have a Russound system in my house, with IR on each zone's keypad. This allows me to access all the sources in my HT's cabinet. I have a pronto in each room programmed with the titles of all the cd's in the megadisc changers so that all you have to do is select the title, and it starts playing. I ran Cat-5e cable for each keypad. There are enough pairs of wires in one cat-5e cable that I was able to add a paging system in each zone as well.

Mark

Sounds like you guys have a winning formula. Still I've tried out the radio shack repeaters and they do work really well. Better than I thought. The only thing I find difficult is not being able to see the different function on my home theater when I use the remote upstairs. I turn on the cd player, then the receiver, then choose the cd ... I hope one step isn't missed through the repeater. If so I have to get in front of the system to get it to work right. Perhaps if I had a camera on my HT I could see what I was doing. Just joking.

Haven't had the time to run the speaker wire, but will do so this week. I'm on vacation! I like the idea of the pronto with the name of the titles to get it going. Is there anything I could do similar with the MX700? Also is there any good way you list all of your music in your megachanger?

Take care

If your receiver has on screen display you can pull coax to the bedroom for a video line. Receiver monitor out to bedroom tv video in.

Well that is one solution I didn't think about. That would show me what the receiver is doing, but how about the other components like cd, DVD player, etc..

You really should consider an IR repeater system rather than the RS pyramids. I have used the pyramids for around 3 years, and I am now in the process of installing an IR repeating system as part of an overall remodeling of our house. The pyramids have served me well, overall, but they fail to transmit the commands maybe 5% of the time. While that doesn't seem so bad, it does get on your nerves after a while. The placement of the pyramids greatly affects their performance (due to interference from the electrical system, sunlight, etc.), so certain locations may now work well at all. I have also had two of them fail, and had to replace them. The IR repeater system is slightly more expensive, but it is worth it.

The only major problem with IR repeaters is that the wiring can be difficult. But, if you are pulling wires anyway, then that is not an issue.

Charlie

Well for now I think I will keep the repeaters since I am not ready yet to pass a wire. So far it has worked well, but I have found that the range for the remote to the repeater is not greater than 10 feet. Since this is a new experience we will have to see.