I assume a "blaster" is an IR emitter that you mount in the back of the room to blanket the entire room with IR signals.

That said, I read that the Ocelot doesn't support IR blasters.

Is there any way around this?

Tony,
Yes...
Use a Powermid or RCA Remote Extender ($39 from Walmart)These use RF signals to increase the range of the remote control. They transmit through the walls, through the floor, etc.

Place the RF transmitter near the Ocelot.
The Ocelot does not have to be in the same room as the A/V equipment.
Attach the Ocelot mini-emitter to the face of the RF transmitter.(Place it directly over the IR receiver located under the opaque plastic window)
Place the RF receiver in the same room as the A/V equipment. The RF receiver has a built-in IR blaster, and also comes with an external IR blaster.
Dan Boone, ADI

Dan,

You should also be able to use your SECU16IR [Link: homeautomationnet.com] to remotely send IR. Of course this requires hard wire but will be a bit more immune from interference and flexible.

Bill
www.homeautomationnet.com

Bill,
Yes, that would be a better solution.
Dan

When using the built-in IR out jack with the Ocelot, what kind of range can you get using hard wire? Also, how many emitters will it support. I presume that with each emitter used it would degrade the signal to each component, so say you used quad emitters off the one jack, you wouldnt get as much range? Ive got 4 components I want to control, and cannot source the SECU16IR at this time.

Cheers, Cammo

Cammo,

IR range when hard wired is usually quite good, Xantech list typical transmissions as 200 ft with 24 gauge, 2000 feet w/20 gauge. Normally you would put an amplified distribution block at the end by the components. Ready made 50 ft. IR extension cables run about $8, we carry the IR stuff in our home theater section.

Bill
www.homeautomationnet.com

Cammo,
The IR output signal runs 10 mA. It is plenty to drive a single or double mini-emitter. With such a low current, I would not expect to lose signal over a longer run.
With 4 emitters, each will have about 2.5 mA drive current available. This is on the lower end of the acceptable range.
I'll have one of our tech. guys hook up 4 Xantech mini-emitters and see how it goes.
Dan Boone, ADI

Sort-of off topic, but I can remember seing somewhere a "module", more like a receiver/emitter coupler that allows for opto-isolation that might be suitable for use with the ocelot and Xantech's IR "manifold".
Can anybody give more info on this. (I can rememder reading that there is a slight voltage/current mis-match between Xantech products and the Ocelot so you can not directly connect the Ocelot's IR output jack directly to the IR input jack on Xantech's products.

Who can take this to the next level?

So the Ocelot already has an emitter built-in I guess. Then what's the SECU16IR for?

I'm guessing that you can plug in extra emitters into the SECU16IR for multi-room use.

And can the SECU16IR support a blaster?

Tony,

The Ocelot has a port that connects to a standard Xantek mini-emitter. The SECU16IR provides 16 zoned infrared outputs and connects to the Ocelot via the RS485 screw terminal. The 16 ports on the SECU16IR also connect to a stanard Xantek mini-emitter. You can not connect the outputs to a Blaster. Our output is 5V where Xantek connecting blocks and blasters require 12V.

Kevin Barrett
ADI Tech Support

So I'm guessing that what Bill E. meant above is to connect a SECU16IR to the Ocelot, and then have a bunch of wires running from the SECU16IR to each device that you want to control.

Then at the end of each wire, you have a Xantek mini-emitter which is placed on top of your TV, VCR, etc., with sticky tape.

I'm assuming that a Xantek mini-emitter is an IR light-bulb with very limited range (ie. it has to be pretty much stuck onto the device that you want to control).

Is this correct?

Keeping in the same tread. What the circuit for 2 dual Xantek mini emitters from one Ocelot port, Wire the bank in series or parallel?

Dave.

Dave,
Wire them in parallel, this will allow ~5 mA per LED.
If you wire them in series the resulting drive current will only be 3 mA.

Why?

For parallel
5V drive --- 330 ohm resistor --- IR LED(s)
I = (5V - 2V)/330 = 10 mA ... ~5 mA for each

For series
5V drive --- 330 ohm resistor --- IR LED---IR LED
I = (5V - 2V - 2V)/330 = 3 mA for each

Dan Boone, ADI

What this will do for you, Tony, is allow you to do what the big boys can do for a fraction of the cost. you can use some digital probes along with an ADI digital module and make your own 'smart' remote system like a Crestron or Panja system.