Pre-wired for a client that is now almost ready for equipment. Among other things the home was pre-wired for 7 flat panels with cable boxes in basement rack. Client now says he wants to add 2 apple tv's in 2 of the bedrooms.
Now, I have to figure on the best way to control the atv's which will be local, behind the panels.
1. have them in plain sight to receive ir.
2. use a local ir repeater behind panel with a second ir receiver on tv.
3. This is what i'd like to do. use the ir receiver that will be in place (for control of cable box in basement) and split it using a "y" stereo cable with one side continuing to basement rack and the other side to a local ir kit behind panel. This is similar to option 2, but with using only 1 ir receiver on front of tv.
I called Snap tech support and the answer I was given when asked if that would work was that I would have to try it and find out.
So, I pose the question to see if anyone has done option 3 and whether successful or not?
Thx

Just have an updated AppleTV and a iPod Touch with update Remote app. You can control it via wifi.

We've mounted them (velcro) to the back of TVs quite a bit.  Sometimes we've been able to put the AppleTV close enough to the edge of the TV that the IR just picks up without a repeater attached.  Most times it works, sometimes it doesn't.  I think it depends on the design of the TV.  For example, if the TV is newer, thin, and has a flat back it seems to work.  If the back of the TV is curved and it's a thicker TV, because you can't put the appletv at the edge of the TV because of the design of the TV, it doesn't work or work well.  

? Do you mean "panel" and "TV" as two separate things? What's "second" about an IR receiver here? where's the first one?


Is this the first one you referred to?


Why a stereo cable? That's a pair of individually shielded wires... why that in particular instead of, say, CAT5?

Let's pin down the IR Receiver and say it's a Xantech plasma-proof so the TV won't interfere with its reception of IR. That, plugged into a Xantech block, gives a high level IR output that can go to the basement. A 78944 block also has emitter outputs. I don't remember the model number, but there's also a block with one or two emitter outputs and a high level output. I think that's all you need to sense IR in the room and send and IR signal down to the basement.

Thanks, i will have to look at those solutions and go in one direction. Turns out i now have another one with same scenario.


Yes


Because snaps kits have 3.5mm plugs

This what I would do. Using the y cable is going to connect the 12v receiver power from the basement and the local reciever power supply together. Im not sure what the conquences of that would be

FWIW, this works quite well (on any iDevice, actually) and would eliminate the need for any extra maneuvering for IR control.

Well, the one client doesn't want to spend any extra. The 2 tvs with apple tvs are kids rooms. I discussed options and will most likely wind up doing it like Hasbeen said.

For the other one, I might go with Ernie and Eric and put the Xantech pieces in for those 2 rooms...

Thanks

You sure do! I just realized that you never mentioned whether you're setting up no integrated remote system, or an RTI, or a URC, or an iPad... that will greatly affect what you do.


I find whenever anyone says "just..." that they then leave out many details necessary to doing what they suggest. For instance, will the iPod Touch control the entire system? To do this, is it impossible to have a remote system with only one item to pick up and push buttons on? Can the iPod Touch control the volume?


How much will this cost? It doesn't work quite well if it means $200 more equipment and three hours labor! Will this part of the solution drive the selection of the entire remote control system? If he's already proposed an RTI system to the client, how much will it cost/is it possible with all RTI approaches, to "just" use an iPod Touch as suggested?

You are correct Ernie, there is no additional control system, its just the factory remotes controlling cable boxes, thats it. Hence my question when he added in 2 apple tvs
Thx

ATV2 works fine behind my TV with the URC and Apple remote. I have white walls and ceiling though. YMMV.

Mine is held on with velcro to the support arm. Extend the ATV2 with a piece of flat aluminum to the edge of the TV if you have issues.

I would try to put the apple tv's front edge facing the bottom of the back of the tv if possible. You should be able to bounce ir signal off of the wall onto the ir receiver of apple tv. What color are the walls?

Or, if you have cat 5 at the tv location back to the rack, why not just mount the connecting block behind tv and run the emitter output over cat 5 to the cable box?

I must be missing something.

Let me clarify. I know Zohan to NOT be a complete moron. Therefore it is very reasonable to assume that he is very capable of taking the suggestion of using the Remote app and control the device he asked about controlling, not the tv, cable box, DVD, dishwasher, humidifier, hair curling iron or anything else.

However, since you want to ask againnn a bunch of pointless questions, let me ask you one. Can the remote that comes with the Apple TV, the same remote Zohan's clients will use, control the tv, cable box, DVD, dishwasher, hair curling iron or anything else?

This was a suggestion based on the assumption that an iPad/Pod/Phone are already in place. If so, then there would be no hardware costs associated with it. The "labor" involved is simply downloading the app, which is free. Using it is intuitive. The whole process, soup to nuts, takes less than a minute, and you have full IP control of the ATV. I know because I just did it last week. Granted, this option isn't integrated with the control for the rest of the house, but it does solve the problem. If said iPad/Pod/Phone aren't in place...then simply ignore the suggestion.

Since you're only using the cable box remotes...and depending on the model, their IR output is usually crazy strong, you can put the ATV behind the set and likely bounce off the wall/ceiling just fine as mentioned above.

You can also use the cable box remote to control the ATV for a pseudo universal remote solution by 'teaching' the ATV from the cable remote set to a secondary function such as Aux. No extra parts required, works 100%.