TV Remote Control Extender

[Jeffrey Makiel]

I have a small TV built into my kitchen wall. I want to add a digital converter because analog cable service is dying. However, I can not easily install a digital cable convertor box in the kitchen.

I was wondering if anyone has experience with remote controller extenders that would allow me to place the cable TV controller box in a different location from the TV.

I see two types:
(1) A battery is substituted with a small transmitter in the cable TV remote that converts IR to RF. The RF signal goes thru the walls and is received by a receiver which converts the signal back to IR and send it to an emitter attached to the cable box's IR input. It's wireless. See pic below...
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y84/Beff2/RMT418.jpg

The flying saucer also is a battery charger for the small transmitter in the remote. I don't know how fast it goes thru discharges though.

(2) Similar to above, but uses an IR reciever which you point your existing (unmodified) remote at. It then converts to RF. Near the cable box is a receiver that converts the RF back to IR which then emits the signal to the cable box.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y84/Beff2/41CMgGEwlKL__SL500_AA280_.jpg

Are these gizmos reliable? Any recommendations on brand?

-Jeff :)

[Matt Meiser]

I have a pair of the pyramid shaped ones that we used to control our Tivo in the living room from a small TV in the basement until recently. It worked well, but seemed to slow the signals down. Still very usable though.

[Jeffrey Makiel]

Hi Matt,
I figured (and was hoping) you would reply because of your IT demonstrated knowledge in the past regarding alarm systems and X10 stuff.

I've seen those pyramid gizmos. I believe they are still available. Thanks for the input.

-Jeff :)

[Rick Gooden]

Jeffrey,

Here is a far more reliable solution. The remote control is RF instead of IR, the receiver is located at the equipment. You do not need to point your remote at a "target" and the system can work on multiple components.

http://www.amazon.com/MasterControl-RF10-Universal-Learning-Capability/dp/B000FL5OIW

http://www.amazon.com/Universal-Remote-Expander-MRF-100-Station/dp/B0006BFSBO

[David G Baker]

I have the pyramids like Matt has. I haven't used them since I moved to Michigan but I just found them in one of my shipping boxes and am going to put them back to work. They worked fine in California except for when I wanted to use them in a room that had three outside walls that had foil faced insulation in the three walls.