RF Remote or IR Repeaters

scubalab

Thinking of putting some of my components in a cabinet/closet and need to replace a failing Harmony (680 or 690 I believe). Question is, should I get a new Harmony that has RF capability, or just get one of their good IR remotes and pick up an IR repeater? I've read some reviews that with the RF remotes, there is sometimes delays or other issues. Does anyone have any experience with either solution? Are there IR repeaters that work well? Was thinking of this one:

http://www.amazon.com/BAFX-Products-TM-Repeater-extender/dp/B009ZGK6QS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1373484296&sr=8-2&keywords=IR+repeater

Or this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Sewell-BlastIR-SW-29311-Infrared-Receiver/dp/B004FJV8EE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1373484296&sr=8-1&keywords=IR+repeater

PSOVLSK

I had an RF remote several years ago (I think with Dish Network) and loved it. Never any issues.

Here's a possible option for you: http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-915-000194-Harmony-Control-Smartphone/dp/B00BQ5RYI4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1373486330&sr=8-2&keywords=harmony+ultimate

scubalab

PSOVLSK wrote: »

I had an RF remote several years ago (I think with Dish Network) and loved it. Never any issues.

Here's a possible option for you: http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-915-000194-Harmony-Control-Smartphone/dp/B00BQ5RYI4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1373486330&sr=8-2&keywords=harmony+ultimate

I saw that one, but based on the fact that I believe it lacks of the skip buttons (for the 30 second jump and 15 second back), was a deal breaker. I'll have to look at it again. The price is nice especially for an RF Harmony. Don't know whether I'd like the iPhone app or not...

Syndil

I've got a Monster AVL300 (rebadged Harmony 890). Uses RF to send signals to a Multilink module which beams IR to the equipment. Wouldn't dream of going back to an IR-only remote.

scubalab

Will have to look into that :arrowu: remote...

Syndil

It's a great remote, but can be pretty hard to find these days. Amazon was selling it for $80 new when they still had them. That was the retail package with an included Omnilink transceiver. There is also a version that is sold without the Ominlink and another version that is sold with a Z-wave lighting controller (the remote will operate Z-wave lighting too).

So you have to be careful when you search for these to buy today, as many do not include the Omnilink. You can buy a refurbished remote directly from Monster for $180 but it does not include the Ominlink. Not worth it at that price IMO.

Best bet is eBay I think, but make sure the auction mentions the Ominlink is included. Many do not include it and that's sort of the entire point of getting this remote.

badchad

I've been too lazy to add the RF to my Harmony remote.

Using IR, there is a bit of a delay. I have no problem with it, but my GF never seems to realize that when we tell the remote we're "watching TV with surround sound" the remote is changing the TV input, receiver setting etc. and it take a second.

Overall, I like the remote though.

scubalab

There are a couple on Amazon but new they start around $200 with the Omnilink. Question on the lighting controller... do you need any special equipment? I would think so. I have a remote dimmer switch in my HT (that I currently have programmed in my Harmony), but the video made it look like they were even dimming lamps plugged into standard outlets!

Syndil

It works with anything Z-wave. So if your lighting is already Z-wave compatible, the Monster remote can control it. You just have to pair up each Z-wave device with the remote. You can then program it to dim or turn lights on/off based on what you're doing (watching TV, movie, etc.).

The Z-wave controller that comes with one version of this remote I believe is just for a single plug-in lamp.

But if your existing lighting operates on a different format like X10 or anything other than Z-wave it won't work with it, unfortunately. Apparently there is not one universal standard for this stuff.

$200 isn't bad for a remote with Omnilink I guess, although it would be tough for me to swallow considering I paid $80 for the same thing new. The Omnilink controllers sometimes show up on eBay by themselves, and they are usually pretty cheap, so you might look into buying them separately and see if that will save you any money.

BTW you can have a remote control more than one Omnilink controller, or you can have two remotes operate one Omnilink controller (that's what I set up for my parents).

RamZet

I use Roomie Remote at home.
http://www.roomieremote.com/

its Wi-Fi to IR. also has serial control as well as IP.

Very easy to setup. took me 10 minutes to figure it all out. I can even navigate my Sonos from inside the app. Their IR drivers are very good too. They also make a IR learner just incase their codes dont work.

Their Enet (or WiFi) to IR repeater only has three ports, so they sell a special wire to add Xantech 4 way IR blocks.

IR box is 99 bucks
all the apps and I drivers are about 60 bucks
special wire is 30
xantech 4 way IR block is like 60 but you cant get them used for way cheap.

RamZet

Thats just some of my system. Roomie will generate all the pages for you, you can even add buttons.
You do have to make the steppers yourself. You just go to the activity you created like "watch a bluray" and click on a green + and add each command from any device you want. So for "watch a bluray" I have Turn TV on, Turn receiver on, tv HDMI 1, receiver input DVD, bluray power on. Its very nice and easy to use. if you have a device with a Enet input (IP control) it gets even cooler. The remote will give you volume feedback ( show the percentage of volume your at, status, input, surround mode).
Something like this

To add IP devices it even faster then IR. when you click "add a device" it will show you all the Network devices.
like this

Its smart too. Some devices like Sonos cant be set to static IP, so the roomie will grab its MAC address and remember it/ update the IP as needed for IP control.

This is that Xantech IR block you will need to add more devices. Also no reason to buy more special Xantech wires from Roomie. you can buy one and link the IR block together using the Phoenix connectors.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002UUEXQ

These are the only good IR emitters on the market. The rest are trash. http://www.amazon.com/Xantech-284D-IR-Transmitter/dp/B002K8L4NM/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1373836520&sr=1-5&keywords=xantech+ir+emitter

Also Roomie is a iPhone,iTouch,iPad based system. No android.
Room will back up your Remote design to the Cloud so you never loss it. It will also update all your controllers from the cloud. So you edit from one device and the rest will change too.

scubalab

Oh, the choices...

Thanks to all for the great advice. Looks like I've got some homework to do!