Next Generation Remote Control Extender
by Next Generation
|
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 |
|---|
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: RF is much better than IR for remote installations
Summary: 4 Stars
I have a theater located on a different floor from where my A/V equipment is located within a dedicated, in wall storage area. I have tried several IR extender devises without much success. The plasma display interference limited the effectiveness of many of these IR "eyes" and regardless of the quality of the IR pickup unit much was lost in the signal strength being sent over a long wired connection from the pick-up unit to the actual device I was trying to control. The Next General Remote Control Extender eliminates much of the signal loss and delay I was getting from the IR units. While not as effective as having the remote and A/V device located within a few feet of each other in the same room, I will say that it is by far better than anything I have tried up until now.
I will continue to play with the location of the base unit to determine if I can find an area adjacent to my A/V cabinet which will eliminate structural interference I may be getting. My guess is that metal HVAC ducts and electrical interference from the A/V components near the base unit may be reducing the ability of the base unit to clearly pick up the signal from the remote control which again has to send the signal 35-40 feet through flooring to a lower floor location of the base unit.
I rated this unit only 4 stars based on the fact that it does not perform as well as if the remote and A/V device were located within the same room. This being said, this is by far the best unit I have purchased to give me the ability to remotely control my devices from another area of my home. My $50 dollar investment is the best money I have spent for this purpose and would highly recommend this unit to anyone with a similar setup.
Customer Review: Finally a IR repeater that works!
Summary: 5 Stars
I had tried several IP extenders, including the Radio shack and X10 `pyramids' both failed to fully control my Mediacom cable box. So I was skeptical at first. When I first got it, I let it charge the batteries (you get 2 - I assume you leave the extra one in the charger until you need it) for 24 hours as it said, before I tired it.
By putting the saucer in the front corner of my cabinet, and pushing my cable box and DVD player back, it was able to `see' both of them, even at a 30 deg. angle.(as shown in the video in another review) I then attached the extension IR cable to the Audio receiver on the shelf below, and its controls all 3 devices. I can now close the cabinets. I am using a Phillips `learning' remote to control all 4 devices (TV, Cable box DVD player and Audio sound system). It's nice you don't have to point the remote at a box for it to work (Nor do you need to have a `box' or `pyramid' sitting out on display). The only thing which would have been nice is that they would have put the power supply as a separate box, so it did not take up so much room on the power strip. I would defiantly recommend this.
Update: I have been using this item fow a while now, and the only concern is that the re-chargable battery does not last long (perhaps two weeks). It would stop working after a while, or would be intermittent. It turned out that you have to change the battery and it would start working again. So while they give you an extra re-chargable battery to swap out. I wonder how long they will last, knowing they dont hold a charge for longer then a week or two. I See you can buy new re-chargeable batteries for this. If they could make the battery last longer, this would be a perfect item.
Customer Review: A working solution to a real problem.
Summary: 5 Stars
Okay, it does look like a flying saucer! But it fills a nagging void handily.
Essentially, this device allows you to control audio/video components (e.g., TV, satellite receiver) from remote locations other than the room where they are installed. Why, you ask? Consider having a satellite receiver with its output split and distributed to various rooms around the house. Instead of having to install a receiver in each room/location, you can distribute the signal from one receiver all over the place. (Oh, c'mon, sure you do! Sorry DirecTV). But, how do you control the receiver to change channels, check schedules, etc? Use this gizmo.
I also have an X-10 Powermid transmitter/receiver to serve this same purpose. It works well. But, it's not easy finding a separate transmitter only (not a transmitter/receiver set) to permit sending signals from different locations to a single central receiving unit. And, when you can find one, it's expensive. Enter this remote control extender.
Amazingly, this system works by replacing one of the batteries in the hand-held remote control unit you are using in the viewing room with a combination battery/transmitter. This built-in transmitter sends an RF (not IR) signal to its receiver, which then converts the signal to IR directed toward the operating component. Very cool! And, since most remote control units can switch between multiple controlled devices, you are able to control (e.g., On/Off, volume) the local device and the remote component with the same hand-held unit.
And, it works flawlessly. This is one of those "I wish I had invented this" products which I highly recommend.
Therck
Customer Review: It WORKS!
Summary: 5 Stars
I recently purchased an inexpensive digital converter box, to upgrade my analog sets into the digital age. The converter is in the den, and is supplying a signal to three sets, two of which are in other rooms, out of remote control range...not a convenient setup.
I needed some sort of remote control extender, and decided to give this one a try based upon the price and the many positive recommendations.
Simply put, this unit deserves the praise that it has been getting! It's functioning flawlessly...the remote for the new converter now works in any room of the house, with no stumbling or hesitation.
One caveat to keep in mind--the supplied batteries (one of which has to be inserted into the remote that you wish to use) do come with a charge, and as such the instruction sheet didn't recommend charging them before the initial use. That initial charge that these batteries come with may not be strong enough to work with all remotes, as I quickly found out. The converter box remote, which uses a single battery, would not work at first, unless you were in the same room and pointed it directly at the converter. A VCR remote, which uses two batteries, would work though. This led me, initially, to the erroneous conclusion that the converter box remote was somehow incompatible with this product.
If you're anxious to start using the remote control extender upon receipt, and if you find that your remote isn't functioning properly with it, don't give up immediately. Charge the supplied batteries for a few hours and then try again...that's all that was needed over here.
Excellent, affordable, and so tiny that it's unobtrusive...am VERY happy!
Customer Review: we love the flying saucer remote extender
Summary: 5 Stars
we love this remote extender.
we just bought a 52" hdtv, and we put it on top of a dresser.
my wife likes things neat, so wanted the satellite HD-DVR controller below it, behind a closed door, and out of sight. but, that's a problem if you use normal remotes, since they are IR (infrared), and therefore need a direct line-of-sight. if the drawer is closed, you can't control it.
This next generation remote control extender fixes the problem by using RF - radio frequency - to send it. it also does it cleanly, by putting the RF transmitter inside a battery inside the actual remote controller - which is a stroke of genius. It works without any time-lag that some report.
There are 2 negatives - both fairly minor.
the first is very minor - from the instructions, i wasn't sure how to attach the IR emitter to the receiver. the instructions say to "position it" in front of the IR sensor, and then secure it. basically, you remove the adhesive tape, and stick it right ON the IR Sensor. that added about 60 seconds to the install.
the second negative isn't quite a negative yet, but may become one. we installed it about 5 days ago, after plugging in the batteries for 36 hours first. after about 4 days, we needed to swap batteries. i would have thought the batteries would last longer. now, it's not a major problem, because they're rechargeable, and the flying saucer is also a recharging unit; it only uses one battery at a time, and it's always recharging the spare battery. i just don't want to be swapping these every 4 days. it might be a problem that goes away, as they charge up more.
overall, an excellent solution.