I put two Rogers boxes in one room, with two TVs going (hey, its NFL season and I have Sunday Ticket). One unit is an 8300 (non-HD) and the other is an 8642. The IR codes are the same, so unless I cover one box up, both boxes change channels from the remote. So looking for a solution, preferably a Canadian one (GTA being a plus), where I somehow can control both terminals, I am thinking with two different remotes. I know Harmony is one way of going about it, but is there any other/cheaper solutions? 

I know on Bell you can assign different codes for each unit, but I don't see that as an opton with Rogers :(

The only way is via routable IR. The Harmony (RF models) is one way... a professional grade URC remote is another... other solutions would require a CI's programming due to software restrictions, or a discontinued remote like a Pronto.

What about the Smarthome IR to RF to IR Remote Control Range Extender Kit?

[Link: tigerdirect.ca]

It would qualify as a hack... the only way that gadget would work is:

1) You would need 2 remotes, 1 with this and 1 without. I personally never recommend anything that requires 2 remotes, because it's against the whole purpose of RC.

2) You would somehow have to disable the IR transmitter on the RF remote - by covering the front with black tape, cutting off the IR LED, etc. To note, I'm not completely aware of how the battery pickup systems work, so I would make sure it's able to pick up what it needs purely off the circuit board, and doesn't also require some sort of resonance from the actual LED (in which case snipping it off would be bad).

3) Because of #2, you would not be able to control any other IR devices with the RF remote, except through the RF basestation.

Two remotes isn't an issue for me. I just would like a way to control both units independently. Unfortunately, that Smarthome unit is now sold out at Tiger and don't think they will be getting stock.

Is there such thing as a cheap professional grade URC remote? Or some other cheap option we can go?

About the cheapest URC option would be the MX-450 (and you could use just the one remote), but it's still a couple hundred dollars. They have cheaper RF remotes, but they're hard coded to send both RF and IR at the same time, which would make it tricky to do what you want.

Well couldn't I just block the IR port on the remote on a cheaper model?

If that satisfies you.

Remember that you'll also have to make sure you block the IR receiver on the RF-operated box. For that, it might be best to open up the unit and actually wrap the receiver eye with black tape (because I've found on those, when you have a powerful remote enough stray IR can get in on the sides of the display that merely blocking a part of the front plastic isn't enough).

So given that, what model should I go with and more importantly, where in the GTA am I looking at to pick it up?

Sorry, can't help you with "where". I don't go many places that actually carry URC Products - I know Kennedy HiFi near me did, but that's probably not going to be of much help with URC's residential products.

As for "what", in the low-end range you're pretty much limited to the RF10/RF20... there's a combo pack you can get with the RF20 + RF Receiver called the RFS200 that can be found at places like Amazon: [Link: amazon.com]