Hi gang,

We're about half way thru our master bedroom re-model. We're just having the electrical done. I've wired up an electrical outlet on the wall for a new flat screen TV. There will be no furniture underneath the plasma, so I was hoping to locate the DVR, DVD, etc, in a closet in the rear of the room (and then run cables from equipment to TV thru the attic).

I would like to get a harmony remote that controls the electronics in the rear of the room, without having to point the remote in that direction.

Can someone help me understand IR and what I would need to setup and/or buy to get this working?

Thanks!
Aaron

The best solution is to install a separate single gang electrical box above or below the Plasma mounting location and run low voltage wire from there to the closet and install an IR repeater system. I use the Niles system with the IR receiver, control module and one flood emitter mounted about 4 feet in front of the equipment rack. Works great. Just make sure the low voltage wire is compatible with the IR system - I used cat5 because that's what I had but ended up having to combine 2 or 3 wires together to get it to work.

You'll need this sensor:
[Link: crutchfield.com]

This hub:
[Link: crutchfield.com]

This flasher:
[Link: crutchfield.com]

This wire:
[Link: crutchfield.com]

And an A/C adapter if it doesn't come with the hub.

Awesome. Thank you so much. So I guess this really has nothing to do with the harmony then.

So the sensor has to be in plain light of the remote, right? i.e. it can't be hidden behind the TV. Other than that, it seems to make sense.

I appreciate your time.

Aaron

You could use a RF remote like the 890 but the problem is that will only work with the Harmony remote, and it's expensive. The IR repeater will work with any remote, including all harmony and other universal remotes and the OEM remotes.

You must have line of sight to the IR sensor. You could look at some of the smaller surface mount IR sensors that might be less obvious but they might not work as well. For now you could put the wire in the wall behind the TV and figure out which sensor to use later.

The harmony IR signal is pretty strong. If possible, i would try to simulate your viewing position and control the components without anything special, and see if it works.

I don't think it's strong enough to go through a closet door. :-)

The easiest way if the Harmony remote is under the 800 series is to use the Around the House Remote Extender. This makes the Harmony remotes RF by simply replacing one of the batteries in the remote. Works great! Cost under $50.00

Please expand on this, are you saying that you can make the 880 to fuction like an RF remote??

Supposedly, although results seem to be mixed and I'm not sure about the range.

An RF remote would save you from having to run wires, but an IR repeater system is the most reliable. The IR receiver doesn't necessarily need to be in a single gang box, you could use an eyeball type receiver would work as well, and it's just a small (about 1/2 inch diameter) dot on the wall, which can be pretty close to the TV and is extremely unobtrusive.

I have one, and no one notices it until you actually use the remote - a little light inside flashes when it sees IR signals - very helpful for verifying your remotes operation. I'm sure there are models without the light also.

Aaron,

I agree with the other posters that an IR repeater would be the easiest to accomplish.

I am using the Terk Lf-IRX with my Dish setup. It has the advantage of shipping with an IR blaster, so it can sit in the closet with the equipment out of the way. You can then put the transmitter anyplace in the room where it can pick up the IR signal.

Works well for me

Self delete. Double post in error.