I decided to route ir to a couple locations in my own house. I'm sending one port from a msc400 to each extra location, then need it split to three devices. I sent it into a connecting block with a 12v power supply thinking it would bump the signal back up. But now I am thinking it is only for powering a receiver. How can I boost the output more so its not too weak?

Buffalo IR-100

Have used lots of them. Works great for what you want to do.

Thanks, where can I find them?

A xantech amplified connecting block will boost the signal all you need. The boosted signal will run over 5000 feet of 24 gauge wire. For runs of about 300 feet I have split it multiple times (5-6) with no issues. Since the amplified connecting block has 12 outputs (expandable to 24) you can run a lot of signal in a cat x cable without splitting it at all. IIRC the ground is common on each output so a single cat cable can handle 7 signals

You don't mention which connecting block.

PEOPLE, LEARN TO NAME THE EQUIPMENT YOU ARE USING.

They might all be the same as the Xantech 78944: that 12 volt connection goes to a pin on the sensor jack and has zero, zip, nada and nuttin' to do with the IR signal. It's for powering an active device that could be plugged into the block.

You also don't specifically state what kind of problem you're having: one of three components doesn't respond to the IR, none of them respond, they're okay but I'm worried they might not be, they are all fine at two locations but the third doesn't work at all...

See, you're asking experts for help after you made the decision as an expert that what you need is an IR booster. I have run IR signals 300 feet with no need for a booster. Maybe your conclusion that you need a booster should be reviewed, but you don't provide enough info.


As for running seven IR signals on a CAT cable, that will probably work, but only because you usually don't send out more than one signal at a time. If you had a really long wire and sent IR to two devices simultaneously, the resistance of the ground wire would tend to allow the signals to mix together some, and one or both IR signals could be corrupted.

Also, when no IR signal is being sent along a wire, the wire is an open circuit and thus more able to pick up interference. The cure for that with CAT cable is to always have the second wire of a pair be the ground; this idea proposes that the second wire should be an open circuit going to an LED and that open circuit might just pick up enough interference to make its IR blink a tiny bit. Could be no problem, but is not a system under control.

Got a model #?  I can't find an "amplified" connecting block on their website.  
Is this what ur talking about?   [Link: xantech.com]

That device is like a multiroom volume volume control: it can take a signal that you feed it, and cut it down. To zero, if you like.


? ? ? Really? What happened?

I googled xantech amplified... and as I typed, google filled in "connecting block.." Model 79144 showed up as a possible item to search for, too. I followed the first google response and it went to the 79144. Once on that page, I entered the word "Amplified" in the Xantech search engine, and it came up with two models -- the 79144 and 79520.

The 79144 is what you want.

Now, I have to say, though, that Xantech completely blew the title. The 79144 is named a


which I interpret as taking signals from ten IR sources and distributing them to one zone; they mean it takes IR from one input and distribute it to ten components. I suppose they think that LEDs are mounted on sources, but this ignores mounting them on AVRs, the most important place of all.

But that thing is expensive, too, and it's free for us to look into your reason for saying you need to boost the signal. Please let us know.