Next Generation Remote Control Extender
by Next Generation
|
List Price: Our Price: $39.54 You Save: $25.41 (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: Great for two cable boxes
Summary: 5 Stars
I have both Comcast and Verizon FiOS to provide TV programming. For those of you who may not know, both use Motorola set-top boxes to provide the programming.
Though the remotes for each look different, they both use the exact same IR codes. So attempting to use a remote to control one box, will also control the other box. So what to do?
For devices like TiVo, the problem was anticipated and there are provisions to set a unique identity code for each remote - therefore, for installations where there are multiple TiVos, you can configure the TiVo remotes to control a particular TiVo.
The Motorola STBs are not so capable. There is no way to alter the remote codes or the cable box to differentiate between the Comcast and Verizon STBs.
I stumbled upon this Next generation Remote Control Extender, hoping that I could set things up so that the Comcast remote would control only the Comcast STB, and the Verizon Remote would control only the FiOS STB.
Success!
Here is how I did it:
- install the Next Gneeration RF+battery slug inside the Comcast remote
- cover the IR window on the Comcast Remote with tape so there would be no IR code transmission
- position the IR blaster from the base station to the front of the Comcast display (worked with 3412/3416/6412/6416 STB); both left and right side of the display window seemed to work OK
- cover the front display of the Comcast box so IR from the Verizon remote would not be visible
It worked! The Comcast remote controlled only the Comcast box; the Verizon remote controlled only the FiOS box.
Note well: be sure to cover the base station as well, as it happens to be an IR repeater. It has quite a strong repeat function, so initially it was also triggering both boses. Once I covered the extender base, no more false triggering.
You may be wondering how this little guy works?
Most likely, it is relying on the change in current flow thru the battery when the unit is transmitting IR codes. The subtle changes in current are enough to be detected by the RF module and the retransmitted to the base station. The RF transmetter/detector is in-line with the battery, so it can easily detect the change in current when IR codes are being emitted.
The technique is probably patented.
Quite clever indeed, and better than that Leapfrog piggy-back device that was offered a few years back.
Mike
Beaverton, OR
Customer Review: It Will Pay For Itself !!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Let me give you some background why I went looking for this product. As a Comcast customer you need to rent their boxes besides paying their monthly subscription fees. I kept watching the cost for renting this box go up and up to the point of it now costing $16.00 a month. Our family usually only watches one TV at a time but yet we like all the channels on every TV so in order to get all the channels offered through your subscription you have to have one of these boxes on each TV. This can add up if you have a lot of TV's. Frankly I got tired of it and bought a component splitter like this one available at Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/AV-400COMP-High-Performance-Component-Distribution/dp/B0009QW4MM/ref=pd_cp_e_2_img
and ran the video from one cable box to multiple TV's. Then with this very cool product I can control the single cable box from any TV that the splitter is hooked up to. Extra Comcast remotes can be bought for $20.00 at the local Comcast office. Make sure you get a new remote in a sealed bag as the refurb ones usually don't work. Now program the remote from Comcast to the TV you are using in each room. Also label the remote so you know which room it belongs in, in case it gets moved. In a few months the product will pay for itself saving the cable box rental fees. The other advantage with this idea is that you get rid of that big ugly, where that heck do you put it Comcast box. Why ugly up that beautiful flat panel TV with that clunky box. Now all you have are the cables going directly into the TV. You can run 150 feet max from the splitter to each TV. If your distances are greater or you don't want to run 5 coax cables (3 for video and 2 for audio), video baluns
http://www.hometech.com/hts/products/video/baluns/index.html
will convert the coaxes to a single cat5 that can go 300 feet! Don't get hung up on the fact that this is only component video and your TV is a 1080P. Comast HD is only 720P anyway and looks great with this distribution method. As I said earlier this idea will work if you can all agree to watch the same programming on all the TV's. Keep in mind you will need to buy the extra transmitters in the battery case from Next Gen, one for each TV but once again they will pay for themselves.
Have fun saving money!
Customer Review: Why didn't I find this sooner?
Summary: 5 Stars
After purchasing an LCD TV and hanging it on the wall in the bedroom, I found myself with nowhere to put the clunky X10 Powermid receiver that had been stationed next to my old TV on a stand. The Powermid had served its purpose for about 5 years -- but it was very temperamental -- you'd have to aim the old remote exactly at the receiver, and most of the time, you'd have to extend your arm to bring the remote closer to it for it to work. After searching online for a similar product that would have a receiver I could mount on the wall, I instead found the Next Generation Remote Control Extender, which not only was about half the price of what I originally paid for my Powermid, it also gave me the benefit of not having a receiver at all to have to point the remote to.
I was optimistic to receive it due to the number of positive reviews left by others here on Amazon, and the reviews ended up being entirely accurate. This is by far, the best IR remote extender I have come across. In addition to the extender, I also ordered the additional transmitter for the unit -- NGHP TX433 Extra RF Transmitter For 433.92 MHz -- which allows you to use a 2nd remote somewhere else in the house to control the same device. In my case, I am using one transmitter in a One-For-All PVR-6131 and another in a Tivo peanut remote. Both remotes perform flawlessly from anywhere in the house, without the need to aim them anywhere.
The documentation that comes with the product suffers from poor translation into English -- but for the most part it serves its purpose. One thing I should point out -- there is a battery charger on the bottom of the base unit with receptacles for 2 devices. The shorter slot is for using the included 2/3 battery by itself. The second slot, which can be misleading because it is labeled 'AAA' is meant for charging another battery while it is inserted into the transmitter. The manual wasn't clear on this, but the FAQ at the manufacturers website explains it perfectly. Do NOT put a regular AAA battery in there!
Overall, this is a great product and I am extremely pleased with it. The price is very reasonable, and much less than similar products that do not perform as well. I'm only disappointed that I didn't find this sooner!
Customer Review: Worked perfectly from the start!
Summary: 5 Stars
I live in a country where these little $35 products sell for around $100, so I did my homework before buying online. I already have the little cone type extenders that you have to point the remote directly to and not be too far away from them. I read about this one and decided to give it a try. Well, right now, I'm in my office, switching channels from my desk on my directv box that is two concrete walls away from me in the reception area.
The manual has some Tarzan-type English, but reading the reviews here gives you the tweaking and troubleshooting tips you really need. I followed the advice I read here and I left the tiny transmitter battery charging overnight in the charger on the bottom of the UFO shaped emitter. Next morning, I put the tiny transmitter inside the AA battery size plastic case as indicated in the manual, took out one of the regular batteries from my remote, put in the transmitter one and hit a key. The little red led lights on my remote shone meaning charge was ok. I later placed the UFO about 1,5 meters (nearly 5 feet) away in direct view of my Directv box outside at the reception desk, plugged it in, waited to see a set of lights go on and off on the UFO indicating it was set, went back to my office and began changing channels. Just like that. I suppose my remote uses the default B setting that comes on the extender, so I didnt have to change anything. The only issue came when my receptionist turned the Directv box in another direction and the UFO lost sight of the infrared sensor on the box. I obviously fired her ........ kiddinggg!!! We both learned that as the manual says (duh!), the front part of the UFO has to look the infrared sensor on your TV or cable box in the eye.
I did some more testing by walking around and changing channels. For my distance and material needs (around 6 meters and going through two concrete walls), the device works perefectly. The fact that you don't have to point the remote anywhere because this thing turns it into a transmitter is very creative, practical and very well worth my money and even writing this review for which I hardly have time for. Thumbs up all the way! Tarzan writing the manual is not reason enough to take a star from it.
Customer Review: Far better than I hoped
Summary: 5 Stars
Somehow when I first saw this online, I automatically assumed that it was just another gimmicky piece of junk. However, after reading the many glowing reviews I decided to give it a try.
My initial impression could not have been further from the truth. You can add my review to the list.
I tried one of the other IR extenders you will see out there for sale (Jensen) and it failed miserably.
You see, for some reason my Denon receiver leaks a lot of RF, and it makes it difficult for any UHF remote controlled components in the area of my system. (I have even gone as far as mounting the UHF remote antenna to my Dish receiver remotely, 10 feet away from my system.) Even with the remote antenna, the Dish UHF remote is very unreliable.
That problem is now a thing of the past with the Next Generation remote control extender. Using an infrared remote and this unit, I now have 100% reliability using the remote in a different room, whether I have my Denon receiver on or not.
Installation is absurdly simple by simply replacing one of the batteries in your existing IR remote control with the supplied rechargeable battery/transmitter assembly and setting the main unit somewhere with a direct line of sight to the unit/units you want to control. (In my arrangement the main unit/IR blaster is pretty unnoticeable perched on top of a china cabinet on the other side of the room, about 15 feet away from the units being controlled. There was no need to use the included little IR emitter, but it is included should you need it. I would guess it would come in handy when controlling a unit, say in a closet.) The unit comes with 2 rechargeable batteries, and they are charged by inserting them into the base unit. After the initial recommended 24-36 hour charge, you will install the battery/transmitter assembly into your remote, and have a spare, charged battery waiting for you in the base unit when you need it.
Note that you don't have to point your remote at a separate IR receiver/UHF transmitter like pretty much any other IR extender. The UHF transmitter is hidden away in your remote.
This is honestly one of the coolest little gadgets I have ever bought.