Deployed three SnapAV IR repeater systems on a job. All three had:

- IR-SM-3660 IR Sensor
- KIT-IR1X4 Repeater with Power Supply
- SnapAV IR flashers

Had problems in 2 rooms. Third room was fine. Here are the details:

ROOM 1: control was intermittent on all sources. Components were:
- Denon AVR2112CI
- Motorola cable box (not sure of model #)
- Samsung Blu-ray (not sure of model #, but this year's model)

Tried connecting sensor to repeater in various ways: over 40' of 18/4 with and without resistor, and then directly connecting sensor to repeater. Made no difference.

ROOM 2: control was intermittent on the single source, which was a Motorola cable box. Not sure of model $. Sensor connected to repeater over 40' of 18/4 without resistor.

ROOM 3: control was perfect on the single source, which was exact same Motorola box as Room 2. Sensor likewise connected to repeater over 40' of 18/4 without resistor.

Other info:
- all sources for all rooms located in same rack
- sensor mounted in same location (lower left) on Samsung LED TVs (various models) in all rooms
- problem continued after sunset (i.e. no direct sunlight on sensors)
- did not have chance to swap sensor with the one good room

Any thoughts on what's going on? Possible I got 2 bad sensors? Thanks.

Very possible!

Do some research. I love Snap but this area is their weak link.

Any idea of the electrical interface for IR sensors is standard enough such that I can just swap out the Snap sensors for another brand? If so, any recommendations? Thanks.

BTW, I love Snap, too. Very smart company that I feel genuinely understands what's important to dealers.

I have one arriving next week. I have spare Speakercraft IR sensors to swap and test if the surface mount fails.

How new are they? When did you get them from Snap? I know they have an "all-new design" infrared line (per there site). I personally got burned twice about 6 months ago with there stuff. I replaced with a Niles and had no issues. I believe I only replaced the sensor and kept the Snap 1x4 repeater system. Good luck, I don't think I'll use Snap IR sensors until I see some good feedback here.

The old IR stuff was POS!

We've had this conversation many times on RC.  Snap's IR systems don't work well.  I've had to replace nearly everyone that I've isntalled.  They started including a resistor in the package, that doesn't help.  

However, they've just redesigned their systems.  BUT they're still "Coming Soon".  The upside to that is that these units might work, the downside is that they took away the reason that you bought them in the first place. The price.

Not bashing.  But for the Extra $ I'll stick the the Xantech

From what I can tell, the newly designed kit is only $10 more than the old one.

Right.  But the Xantech is only a little more than that, and I know it'll work 100% of the time.  

Nothing ticks me off more than spending 6 hours on an install, and at the end you're having a discussion about coming back and swapping out the ir repeater because they can't change the friggin' channel.

snaps IR repeaters suck!!!!!!!!!! got burned a few times, they dont work w motorla DCX versions, cisco fios.....

Im still amazed IR repeaters are even still being used. Rf or nothing! LOL

As far as their emitters go, we use them 100% of the time and have had zero failures. hundreds if not a 1000 used. Love them because they are small and their covers fit perfectly over them.

Just stop using IR repeaters and go RF, lol.

My concise version of all the discussions about SnapAV IR Systems is this:



Telling the truth about product that does not perform is not bashing. I'll also stick with the Xantech and I just HATE that they've increased the prices on everything and made any old IR emitters that you might have in stock, that you have to put an opaque cover on, obsolete just by changing the shape for no damn good reason.

+1 RF

Well, yes, but every RF system has an IR distribution system at the component end; all works well as long as you don't need more emitters than that system has ports. If you need more ports, you'll have to be conversant with distribution blocks such as the Xantech 78944, which can take one output and make it be four. Problems rarely happen doing this, but they might, as each of those outputs is lower than the RF system's output.

if you need more emitters than a dual emitter on each port will provide then you have the wrong base station and solution. No?