Media player with infrared input?
Media player with infrared input?
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caduceus

Original Poster:

6,121 posts

289 months

Monday 24th September 2012
quotequote all
I want to buy one of these: http://www.amazon.com/Infrared-Receiver-Extender-D... to stick on my tv to connect to a media player (mkv) which will sit in a cupboard, out of sight (along iwth the HDD and xbox.

Is there such a thing? Have Googled it, but only found an av forum with a thread asking the same thing and no answer frown

Thanks in advance
Cad

JimbobVFR

2,820 posts

167 months

Monday 24th September 2012
quotequote all
I know the Popcorn Hour C200 has an IR input socket on the back. I can't guarantee that it would be compatible with that receiver but its a start.

You get an RF remote with the C200 anyway, but you can get an IR replacement with comes with its own receiver on a cable like the one you linked to. Unless you need IR control using another remote (Harmony, Pronto etc) then you'd actually only need the RF remote anyway.

I'm not sure if other PCH models are the same, I've only had experience with the C200

0000

13,816 posts

214 months

Monday 24th September 2012
quotequote all
Does your media player not support HDMI-CEC?

Bullett

11,131 posts

207 months

Monday 24th September 2012
quotequote all
I use this - http://www.keene.co.uk/multi.php?mycode=IRBKITS with a harmony, all my kit is in a closed cabinet. The bug sticks on the devices ir receiver, the receiver wherever it gets a signal.

Works 100%

caduceus

Original Poster:

6,121 posts

289 months

Tuesday 25th September 2012
quotequote all
0000 said:
Does your media player not support HDMI-CEC?
It has a HDMI slot.. Thats all I can tell you hehe

Its a Sumvision Cyclone Micro2+ http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sumvision-Cyclone-Micro-Me...

caduceus

Original Poster:

6,121 posts

289 months

Tuesday 25th September 2012
quotequote all
JimbobVFR said:
I know the Popcorn Hour C200 has an IR input socket on the back. I can't guarantee that it would be compatible with that receiver but its a start.

You get an RF remote with the C200 anyway, but you can get an IR replacement with comes with its own receiver on a cable like the one you linked to. Unless you need IR control using another remote (Harmony, Pronto etc) then you'd actually only need the RF remote anyway.

I'm not sure if other PCH models are the same, I've only had experience with the C200
This does look good, but did not want to spend this much as a solution to such a perceived small problam. Could be a last resort. Thanks

caduceus

Original Poster:

6,121 posts

289 months

Tuesday 25th September 2012
quotequote all
Bullett said:
I use this - http://www.keene.co.uk/multi.php?mycode=IRBKITS with a harmony, all my kit is in a closed cabinet. The bug sticks on the devices ir receiver, the receiver wherever it gets a signal.

Works 100%
Now this does look like a good idea. Going to give them a call this morning to find out if they have a smaller receiver to go on the tv. That standard grey one is too big.

Thanks for the link smile

caduceus

Original Poster:

6,121 posts

289 months

Tuesday 25th September 2012
quotequote all
0000 said:
Does your media player not support HDMI-CEC?
Did you mean this as a solution: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55pN4vj1oAs
I don't know how they did this, but if it works, it very good for single use application.

caduceus

Original Poster:

6,121 posts

289 months

Tuesday 25th September 2012
quotequote all
Thanks for your replies gents.
I've gone with Bullets great recommendation. Really is a neat little solution thumbup Thanks!

0000

13,816 posts

214 months

Tuesday 25th September 2012
quotequote all
caduceus said:
0000 said:
Does your media player not support HDMI-CEC?
Did you mean this as a solution: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55pN4vj1oAs
I don't know how they did this, but if it works, it very good for single use application.
No, you use your TV remote and part of the HDMI spec allows the commands from it to be sent over HDMI to the device. No extra hardware required, you can even lose the remote for the device, just software support from your media player.

Like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBs7KaTK5Hk

JimbobVFR

2,820 posts

167 months

Tuesday 25th September 2012
quotequote all
HDMI CEC is a good idea but in my experience notoriously unreliable, frequently needing to be turned back on and not working properly.

Regarding the extender you've purchased. I use a similar gadget to control some LED lights round my TV. I actually found if you mount the eye behind the TV facing down on the bottom edge (or at the top facing up) then it still gets enough signal to work and is completely invisible. I guess the IR bounces to a certain extent. This is with a Phillips Pronto so it may have stronger IR transmission than standard remotes but worth a go when you get the kit. I'm sure you can find somewhere it works but can't be seen

0000

13,816 posts

214 months

Tuesday 25th September 2012
quotequote all
JimbobVFR said:
HDMI CEC is a good idea but in my experience notoriously unreliable, frequently needing to be turned back on and not working properly.
Works flawlessly for me, I'm sure there are some poor implementations out there, but I would expect cheap bits of one off kit to be worse than a widely implemented standard.