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: Its Magic
Summary: 5 Stars
I have no idea how adding the batter provided with the kit converts an existing remote into an RF remote - but it just works and it works perfectly - like its magic.
Here is what you do with the kit:
1. Open the package.
2. Determine the type of battery that is currently being used in your remote (AA or AAA). Use the appropriate adapter for the mini battery that comes with the kit (they provide you with the adapters for both AA and AAA batteries).
3. Drop the battery into your remote (tip: orient the battery so that the + faces the front of the remote).
4. Place the receiver (the saucer looking thing) inside your cabinet.
5. Close the cabinet door.
6. Begin using your remote and be prepared to be amazed.
The remote extender works from 2 rooms away - though I never use it that way. I just wanted to be able to close my entertainment center's solid wood doors while operating the cable box and DVD system and it works perfectly.
In addition, I bought a universal remote into which I dropped the Next Generation transmitter battery. Has made my life so much more simpler and it looks clean and best of all - the price was reasonable.
I am still evaluating the battery life in the universal remote (which seems to consume quite a bit of the power as it has a LCD). Will update the post once I have more information.
If someone knows how this system works - please let me know - as I am curious as to how a battery with an RF transmitter knows which button is being pressed on the remote. To me - its MAGICE
Customer Review: Outstanding Value
Summary: 5 Stars
I purchased this to allow control of all my components (sitting in a wall-mounted cabinet) about 15 feet away from my HDTV in the basement. At first I was going to wire up an IR repeater system but after reading about this (and the fact it could work outside for me to control my receiver and the secondary speakers out there), I decided to try it.
Installation was easy and this worked right off the bat. I use Harmony remotes (510, 670, etc.) and have about 8 items to control in total. Since my components sit inside a glass fronted case in the wall, I just sat the receiver in the center of the cabinet facing out. I didn't even need individual ir transmitters as it must be bouncing the signal off the glass and everything in the cabinet picks up the signal (DVD, VCR, cable box, HTPC, A/V Receiver, CD player).
Pros:
Works exactly as advertised. Battery life seems to match my rechargeables I use in the remotes. Easy to trouble shoot (watch for the signal receiver to light up when you push buttons on the remote). Works with Harmony remotes (the ones I own) plus some other OEM remotes I tested.
Cons:
Battery transmitter placement in the remote matters in some cases. As noted previously, there was one battery location in the Harmony remotes where this wouldn't work. Once I moved the batteries around, I never had a problem.
Overall:
CAn't beat it. Stopped me from wiring in IR transmitters/receivers in the wall and in the stereo cabinet. Plus it's cheaper!!!!! Highly recommended from my point of view.
Customer Review: Using the Next Generation RF Extender with Logitech Harmony Remotes
Summary: 4 Stars
1. Quoted from the manufacturer web site FAQ 6-9-2008: [...]
"The RF Extender does NOT work with the Home Theater Master MX series
remote, the Kameleon remote, or the Harmony series 880 and up."
I had decided to purchase this product from the overwhelmingly great reviews. I was interested in using it with our Logitech Harmony One universal remote, but the high-end Harmony uses a flat little non-AA/AAA rechargeable Li battery, similar to the type used in cell phones and cameras... so unfortunately this extender won't work for me:(
2. Also quoted from the same FAQ page, an interesting note regarding those Harmony remotes that CAN work with this extender:
"What is the difference between the 433 and the 418 frequency?
There is no difference other than the frequency itself. The reason for the two frequencies is to allow you to be able to have the RF extender on two of the exact same brand devices without having interference. They both work great!! If you wish to control an XM radio then you will need the 418. If you wish to control a Harmony remote then you will need the 433." (Also, a relevant note from their product purchase page: "If you would like to use the extender with satellite radio products, you would need to purchase the 418MHz".)
FYI, there are also notes here re: use of the extender with Media Center PC or a Scientific Atlanta Cable box, battery charging options (including an available USB charger) and instructions, and optional 3 or 6-eye IR emitters.
Customer Review: Works well - for the most part
Summary: 4 Stars
I purchased the remote control extender so that I could control components that were hidden behind a chair. For the most part, the extender works as advertised.
I have had a problem, however, with one of the two HDMI switches that I use as part of my setup. The extender works fine with my Monoprice switch, but it inadvertently sets off the other switch -- an IOGear 3-Port HDMI Switch with Remote (Black). Strangely, the IOGear switch gets triggered even when I have not pressed a button on my remote (a Logitech Harmony 550 Universal Remote).
As you can imagine, this is very frustrating when watching TV, because it causes the input to change at random times. I never had this problem before using the extender.
I solved the problem fairly easily, by using electrical tape to cover the IR receiver on the IOGear switch. Since I rarely use the component connected to the switch (a media PC that I occasionally use with my HDTV), I can change the switch manually when I want to use that component. Obviously, this solution is unsatisfying, since it means I cannot operate the switch with my remote, and it would not work for someone who regularly needed to change inputs through the IOGear switch.
Despite this flaw, I give the extender 4 out of 5 stars, because in every other way, it works as advertised.
Customer Review: Easy and just works!
Summary: 5 Stars
Wow, what can I say. This product just works as advertised, and what is advertised is nothing short of amazing. Yeah, yeah, I know. IR to RF and back to IR is nothing earthshaking. But for something so reasonably priced to work so well and so neatly and deliver everything it promised is... refreshing!
I have a TV in every room but thanks to Comcast's pricing setup, I only have two cable box. So despite paying for digital (anything over channel 77) and premium channels, I only got the extra channels on TVs that had the cable box. Not anymore! Thanks to this product, I have access to digital and premiums on every room. All I had to do was run the coax out from the cable box to my video splitter in the utility room, and from there, to each TV in the house. All I have to remember is to take my remote with me, which is easy since the cable box in the basement is controlled by my universal anyway.
I understand that this may not work for everyone if more than one person wants to watch different programs. But I have basic cable connected to each TV and the other main TV has the other cable box (DVR) connected to it. For now, it's just me and my wife in the house so we have not run across any conflict.
One tiny smidgen of negative is the IR cable blaster doesn't seem to work well. I had to position it several times over the IR receptor to make it work. But I'm ready to blame the cable box for that since everything else on this product works so well.
Get it. This is a great product.