Next Generation Remote Control Extender
by Next Generation
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List Price: Our Price: $39.59 You Save: $25.36 (39%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Speakers See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Next Generation Remote Control Extender
Customer Review: Simple to use and works flawlessly
Summary: 5 Stars
I needed to convert IR to RF for a recent flat panel TV installation. I installed my new TV on the wall and put a cable box up in the attic that I needed to control without line of sight. This product works exactly as described and is incredibly easy to install: the hardest part was waiting the 24 hours for the battery to fully charge (1st charge is recommended to be 24-36 hours). I have used IR Extenders before that use 2 "pods"; the first to convert IR to RF and the second to convert RF back to IR at the source. These type of systems are bulky and fraught with problems (The RF antenna for the "pod" product I used picked up random frequencies and converted them to IR causing my device to "freak out". This Next Generation Remote Control Extender does nothing of the sort. In addition, the range is incredible; as described above my cable box is up in my attic and as a first test I went down to my basement 2 levels below and had absolutely no problem controlling the volume with the remote. As far as customer service goes, I had a simple question prior to purchasing the device. I called the company and my question was instantly answered. Finally - In addition to the Remote Extender I purchased the USB Charger (Next Generation USB-1) for $10 (inc. shipping) so that I do not have to use the battery charger built into the UFO. This is a great solution for someone like me who does not feel like going into the attic crawlspace when the battery runs low. This product works flawlessly and I recommend to anyone in need of solution like this.
EDIT: I had a problem with this unit when I switched over to ATT U-Verse. If you have U-Verse you will need to get the 418MHZ model instead. When I had problems I emailed customer service for Next Generation. They responded IMMEDIATELY, which was incredible enough. To fix the problem, they sent me TWO additional units (the 418MHZ model and the GENIUS model). All I had to do is figure out which one would work and send back the others. This is Customer Service like I have never seen before. You will not regret getting this product and if you do ever have a problem, customer service is only an email away.
Customer Review: Unreliable and nonexistent customer service
Summary: 3 Stars
I bought one. It worked reasonably well with most of my components. It did not work with my Scientific Atlanta cable box. Did some research and the company has a note about the product's use with SA cable boxes in their FAQs (actually, the last FAQ on their site - given the issue with this very common set top box it probably makes sense to make the note about the compatibility issue more prominent on the site, or at least in the FAQs). According to the company the product does work with the SA boxes but the unit needs to be set to the "A" position (inside the battery compartment) rather than the "B" position (which I guess most other components are compatible with). The company also suggests that if you're using the product with an SA cable box and other components you'll need to buy two units, one to control the SA box and one for the other components in your system.
So. I bought another one. Figured that would solve the problem. It didn't. Maybe it's my unit. Maybe it's the cable box (though I even went to Cablevision and got a new cable box - also SA as that's all they had - and the product was equally ineffective or unreliable at controlling the new box). I'm not sure what the problem is, but it's not working.
Which leads me to biggest gripe. The customer service. I sent email and made phone calls and no one ever got back to me to help me resolve the problem. Especially given that I had purchased TWO devices (based on their recommendation) I would expect someone to help me. Nothing. No response.
I put the products in storage, bought an IR extender, wired it between the baseboard and the carpeting in the room, and everything is working flawlessly. Everything is still out of sight, and I can control the components perfectly. I realize this isn't the best solution, and not viable for everyone, but it's working for me.
Given all the positive reviews it sounds like the product is working for many people. Bully for them. And for you if it works for you. If it doesn't though, don't expect much help from the manufacturer. They're nonexistent.
Customer Review: Two 2 TVs, 1 Cable box...a problem no more!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I purchased this item after little research, I found a link to this on a different website after a search of the web. My problem WAS that I have 2 TV's and only 1 cable box. Cable TV prices whether cable, sat, fios...etc are crazy...can't believe they charge that much. Well, I've found a way to beat the system and save some loot each month.
My setup is that I have a cable box in the living room of my apartment connected to my flat screen. I ran the coax from the cable box to an additional TV in the bedroom. This was great at first, at least I could have the full range of my channels that I'm paying for in the bedroom, albeit one channel at a time. I would set my program of choice on the living room tv and then retire to the bedroom to enjoy the show. Problem here is that should I want to continue watching in the bedroom, I would have to either love what was on the selected channel or go into the living room to channel surf until I found something else to watch. No so terrible, but far from convenient.
Enter the "NEXT GENERATION REMOTE EXTENDER"...I was pretty excited to try this out when I ordered. I ordered this on a Tuesday and had it in my hot little hands on that Thursday. Installation, if you can call it that was a BREEZE. I admit that I did not wait the 24-36 hrs. to recharge both batteries...one is charging as I write this.
Bottom Line: Remove the battery charging cover from the very tiny "flying saucer", place one of the rechargeable batteries in the bay, then select channel "A" on the frequency selector for use with cable box, then replace cover. Next, plug flying saucer in front of your cable box and plug into wall outlet. Next, install transmitter into cable tv remote control.
Next, lay in bed, be lazy and enjoy all of the cable channels you've got. All the buttons on my comcast remote worked with this system to include the "ON DEMAND" button.
With the money that I've save from getting a 2nd cable box, I'm going to upgrade to a DVR now....THANKS TO MY FLYING SAUCER!
Customer Review: Best kept home theatre secret
Summary: 5 Stars
Although I have been a home theatre enthusiast for close to twenty years, I had never heard of the Next Generation Remote Control Extender; it was inexpensive enough that I figured it would be worth a try, but did not have very high expectations; all the competing solutions are much more expensive and require some sort of external stick-on transmitter for the remote, so how good could this possibly be?
I just installed it in a new inexpensive remote I purchased (Sony RM-VL600) and it works spectacularly well. I was suspicious of the range, but was surprised to discover that it works throughout my entire house.
The principle is simple: you replace one of the batteries in your remote with a clever little gadget that picks up the RF signal as you press the keys and transmits it to the base station, which converts it into infrared signals that are blasted to the component you want to control.
The transmitter is shaped like a AAA battery; a part of it is hollow so you can stick a 2/3 AAA-sized battery into it, which lets it serve the dual function of transmitter and battery. The package comes with two of these rechargeable batteries and one AA sleeve for remotes that use AA batteries.
The receiver base is shaped like a flying saucer and about the size of a coaster. It is powered by a small wall DC power adapter. The bottom hides a door under which you will find a battery trickle charger with two slots, one AAA and one 2/3AAA. This lets you keep the spare 2/3AAA battery always charged and ready to go. There is also a sensitivity switch for "special cases".
The dome contains a blaster that you point at the device to control; in the back a jack lets you connect a remote blaster (supplied) if you need to control a second component out of reach of the base.
After having serious problems with other RF remote extenders costing several times the price of this one, I'm thrilled to have found an inexpensive product that works so well. Highly recommended.
Customer Review: Impressed
Summary: 5 Stars
I needed something to help me control a TV and Linksys Media Center extender in my office. We watch from two places, at my desk and on the treadmill. We have line of sight issues with the IR remotes for both devices from both positions, and I finally got frustrated enough to do something about it. I was going to break down and get another $150 (refurbished) Harmony 890 RF remote, I've got two of them and like them a lot, but it was overkill for this situation and I really didn't want to spend that much. I came across this device and thought it was worth a shot.
My installation was not without challenges. I charged the battery for a day as recommended, then put it into the remote for the Linksys Media Center extender DMA-2100 which also controls my TV. I could not get the devices to respond and the lights were blinking weird on the "ufo" receiver. I tried it with my XBox remote and it worked properly there so it seemed to be an incompatibility with my remote. I tried their website for some troubleshooting tips and they have absolutely no support online, not even contact info. Frustrated, I emailed their sales department and was told to call in. So I called their main number and the guy who answered the phone was extremely helpful. He hadn't seen that behavior before, but is going to buy one of the remotes to test with. I can't imagine the pile of remotes he must have. So they seem to be a very small company, but extremely helpful and friendly so I will forgive the lack of web content.
In the meantime, I'm not sure if I will be able to get it to work with my remote or not, but I found a Microsoft Media Center remote lying around that I was able to get to work with everything. I also found a 2 headed IR emitter lying around that works with it (it only comes with a single headed emitter). Everything works great. Saved me > $100 over buying the Harmony 890 and gets the job done nicely. Very happy with my purchase.