IR repeaters for kit inside cabinets
Discussion
I'm considering locating my AV amp, BT box, etc. inside a cabinet, on the back of a new partition wall in the living room. Should make for an easier and cleaner install than building niches on the living room side of the new wall.
I use a Harmony Smart Control remote, with the hub/blaster currently controlling all the devices from across the room.
I could put the blaster inside the cabinet, but that would mean using a stick on repeater on the TV - messy, with a wire visible.
Another option would be to have the blaster across the room, and used wired repeaters inside the cabinet. I'd have to extend the repeater wires to reach, probably about 15 metres to get the cables properly hidden. Not sure if this would be a problem?
Probably the easiest option would be to use a proper receiver/transmitter repeater, with the receiver in line of sight of the Harmony blaster, and stick on transmitters inside the cabinet.
How reliable are these repeaters? I'd be looking for one that just has the reciever "eye" visible in a small hole in the wall, rather than a big plastic box.
Doing it this way would mean I could use the original remotes if the Harmony played up.
I use a Harmony Smart Control remote, with the hub/blaster currently controlling all the devices from across the room.
I could put the blaster inside the cabinet, but that would mean using a stick on repeater on the TV - messy, with a wire visible.
Another option would be to have the blaster across the room, and used wired repeaters inside the cabinet. I'd have to extend the repeater wires to reach, probably about 15 metres to get the cables properly hidden. Not sure if this would be a problem?
Probably the easiest option would be to use a proper receiver/transmitter repeater, with the receiver in line of sight of the Harmony blaster, and stick on transmitters inside the cabinet.
How reliable are these repeaters? I'd be looking for one that just has the reciever "eye" visible in a small hole in the wall, rather than a big plastic box.
Doing it this way would mean I could use the original remotes if the Harmony played up.
If you're halfway handy with a bit of coding and hardware you could create a solution using an Arduino.
I recently did this to allow a Beo4 remote to control a couple of non B&O units as well as BV7 (only bit that's still baffling me is IR codes for a Dyson fan). Allowed me to place IR recvr and xmits exactly where I wanted them & hidden.
I recently did this to allow a Beo4 remote to control a couple of non B&O units as well as BV7 (only bit that's still baffling me is IR codes for a Dyson fan). Allowed me to place IR recvr and xmits exactly where I wanted them & hidden.
If you’re using the actual Harmony handset, then you can allocate the TV to be controlled directly via ir. There is a ‘Hub / Blaster allocation’ section in the wizard.
It’s often missed as it’s on the second page / ‘Next’ in that section.
All items will be default to blasters / hub. Just click on ‘Remote’ and you’ll be fine.
The only reason to have the TV on a blaster, is if you use the app, rather than remote, as your phone is wi-fi only, not ir!
I’m not a big fan personally though, as it lights up too much and you have to look what you’re doing.
Once your fingers know the actual remote, it’s way nicer to use
If you must use the app, then as VEX says, just get one blaster into the TV room.
Turn up the output a bit if required and allocate that blaster to TV only.
I’m not sure how you’ll get on, mixing ir eyes from a 3rd party anyway.
How does that sound?
It’s often missed as it’s on the second page / ‘Next’ in that section.
All items will be default to blasters / hub. Just click on ‘Remote’ and you’ll be fine.
The only reason to have the TV on a blaster, is if you use the app, rather than remote, as your phone is wi-fi only, not ir!
I’m not a big fan personally though, as it lights up too much and you have to look what you’re doing.
Once your fingers know the actual remote, it’s way nicer to use
If you must use the app, then as VEX says, just get one blaster into the TV room.
Turn up the output a bit if required and allocate that blaster to TV only.
I’m not sure how you’ll get on, mixing ir eyes from a 3rd party anyway.
How does that sound?
Yes, there's no IR on the remote itself.
You've both got me thinking though. Fitting the hub inside the cabinet, and running a single Harmony blaster to control the TV would be a lot neater than doing it the other way round. If the blasters are powerful enough to work across the room, that would work for me. I thought they had to be stuck over the device's IR receiver.
Next problem will be finding an LED compatible dimmer switch that the Harmony hub will work with. Currently using a Varilight dimmer, which needs a filament bulb in the circuit, and line of sight to the blaster. I think that the Harmony can control some RF dimmers directly?
You've both got me thinking though. Fitting the hub inside the cabinet, and running a single Harmony blaster to control the TV would be a lot neater than doing it the other way round. If the blasters are powerful enough to work across the room, that would work for me. I thought they had to be stuck over the device's IR receiver.
Next problem will be finding an LED compatible dimmer switch that the Harmony hub will work with. Currently using a Varilight dimmer, which needs a filament bulb in the circuit, and line of sight to the blaster. I think that the Harmony can control some RF dimmers directly?
clockworks said:
Yes, there's no IR on the remote itself.
You've both got me thinking though. Fitting the hub inside the cabinet, and running a single Harmony blaster to control the TV would be a lot neater than doing it the other way round. If the blasters are powerful enough to work across the room, that would work for me. I thought they had to be stuck over the device's IR receiver.
Next problem will be finding an LED compatible dimmer switch that the Harmony hub will work with. Currently using a Varilight dimmer, which needs a filament bulb in the circuit, and line of sight to the blaster. I think that the Harmony can control some RF dimmers directly?
Depending on what hub you have you might have two sockets for the IR blaster. Mine does and I bought an additional blaster so I can control the TV and gear in two different cabinets. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Genuine-Logitech-Blaster-...You've both got me thinking though. Fitting the hub inside the cabinet, and running a single Harmony blaster to control the TV would be a lot neater than doing it the other way round. If the blasters are powerful enough to work across the room, that would work for me. I thought they had to be stuck over the device's IR receiver.
Next problem will be finding an LED compatible dimmer switch that the Harmony hub will work with. Currently using a Varilight dimmer, which needs a filament bulb in the circuit, and line of sight to the blaster. I think that the Harmony can control some RF dimmers directly?
How many lights are you trying to control? Harmony can control Phillips Hue lights directly but those are expensive if you need to replace a lot of bulbs, not sure if it can control anything else. The alternative is to get a smarthub and use that to control both the Harmony and the lighting via a z-wave switch.
It's a Harmony Companion (updated version of the Smart Control), so the most recent Smart Hub, but the basic wireless remote.
I currently have 4 x 50w equivalent GU10 LEDs in a central fitting, but I will be swapping that for probably 4 individual downlighters when the new ceiling goes in.
Moodlighting is taken care of by some RGB LED striplights behind the TV (controlled by the Harmony) and a table lamp. A controllable table lamp might be good. Ballpark figure to get 5x Hue lamps working with the Harmony?
Even though I'm doing most of the work myself, I'm expecting this project to cost a few grand. The room will be pretty much gutted. Spending 2 or 3 hundred getting the lighting right is OK
I currently have 4 x 50w equivalent GU10 LEDs in a central fitting, but I will be swapping that for probably 4 individual downlighters when the new ceiling goes in.
Moodlighting is taken care of by some RGB LED striplights behind the TV (controlled by the Harmony) and a table lamp. A controllable table lamp might be good. Ballpark figure to get 5x Hue lamps working with the Harmony?
Even though I'm doing most of the work myself, I'm expecting this project to cost a few grand. The room will be pretty much gutted. Spending 2 or 3 hundred getting the lighting right is OK
Does the back of the puck look like this? If so then it'll take a second blaster.
If you are spending that sort of money I'd go down the smarthub and z-wave route instead, it'll give you more freedom over the bulb choices, offer direct replacements for the light switches to allow control from the light switch (which is always good for people not familiar with your setup) and allow cheaper expansion into other rooms. Any decent smarthub will also support Philips Hue so you can always use those as well as z-wave and ZigBee generic stuff.
If you are spending that sort of money I'd go down the smarthub and z-wave route instead, it'll give you more freedom over the bulb choices, offer direct replacements for the light switches to allow control from the light switch (which is always good for people not familiar with your setup) and allow cheaper expansion into other rooms. Any decent smarthub will also support Philips Hue so you can always use those as well as z-wave and ZigBee generic stuff.
Yes, it looks like that.
I've actually got the Harmony units in 3 rooms, but the other 2 are the earlier versions, which I don't think support Home Automation?
Pretty sure at least one of them came with the extra blasters. I'll search the loft for the boxes, have a play.
Is there a layman's guide anywhere to what smart controllers will work (and what they'll do) with the Harmony Hub?
It would be nice to use the Harmony to remotely switch the mains for the AV gear too, maybe even control the Evohome living room zone....
I've actually got the Harmony units in 3 rooms, but the other 2 are the earlier versions, which I don't think support Home Automation?
Pretty sure at least one of them came with the extra blasters. I'll search the loft for the boxes, have a play.
Is there a layman's guide anywhere to what smart controllers will work (and what they'll do) with the Harmony Hub?
It would be nice to use the Harmony to remotely switch the mains for the AV gear too, maybe even control the Evohome living room zone....
Here is a list of what is compatible: https://support.myharmony.com/en-us/compatibility
I like wirecutter for their guidance on all things tech: https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-smart-hub/
They have a great section on smarthomes,
I like wirecutter for their guidance on all things tech: https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-smart-hub/
They have a great section on smarthomes,
Gassing Station | Home Cinema & Hi-Fi | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff