If all my AV equipment is located behind a wood door, ideally in the closed position, how can I use a pronto or other IR type learning remote?

I think you answered your own question. An IR repeater I think its called. One source is www.xantech.com. There is box that sits outside the av cabinet. This box picks up the ir and re-distributes it to emitters (via wires) that you put in front of the ir eye on each of your pieces of equipment.

Thanks Jeff,
I will look into that option. So I will need the xantech box that can take 5 inputs (one for each source).
Thanks fo ryour time. Kerry

Kerry: If you have the money you might want to wait for the ProntoPro: [Link: remotecentral.com]
or you might want to look at the T2: [Link: remotecentral.com]

There may be other IR repeater solutions that are less expensive that xantech. I think xantech tends to be the high-end solution. You might try searching the web a bit or searching the home theatre forum here.

Anthony is suggesting another alternative, which is RF control. This would be transmitting the button codes via radio (RF) to a box that turns them back into IR. An IR blaster or IR repeater then sends the codes to your equipment.
I have an inexpensive product called a LeapFrog (I think) that does this. I control my receiver in the living room from my office on the 2nd floor.

Kerry,

I use the Xantech micro Eye on my Home Theater Installation. I really like it, it works perfectly, and it is very subtle. I would prefer this to the Pronto RF solution since if the proto isn't working, needs to be charged or whatever, you can still use any remote to operate the system. You can see my installation at:

[Link: wazoo.com]

Click on "Specialty Cabinets" this will bring up a crude gif of the stereo cabinet. You can bring up a high quality close up of the "Eye" by clicking above & to the left of the center channel speaker. You can also see the eye in another view by clicking on the Big Screen TV.

Hope this helps - Alan

Kerry-
Hardwired IR repeating is by far the most reliable solution. RF repeating devices such as the Powermid, and RF remotes are subject to interference. However, since you'll only be repeating your signals for a very short distance, i.e., from outside your cabinet to inside, RF may very well work for you.

I tried RF (via Powermids) but it was only about 80% reliable. My situation is a bit different though because I send signals from several rooms to my theater because my whole house audio system and my TiVo is in the theater.

Finally, if you have 5 devices, you don't necessarily need a 5 port connecting block. You could get away with a three port block because you can buy IR emitters that have to emitters connected to one cable. Of course, always leave some room for expansion.