differences in remote control signal power

nduitch

I have been wondering what some of the differences are in basic consumer remote controls. I have had some remotes where I can pretty much point them anywhere and they will work. Then there are some, like my Sony CDP that will not work when I am at anything greater than about 35 degrees to one side.

Does it have to do more with the receiver than the actual signal? Or does the more powerful remote just bounce around the room more until it finds the receiver?

Marty913

It's a combination of things. The size, number, and location of the emitters have a lot to do with it. That determines the "pattern" of the IR transmission. The available power (battery number & size) jumps in there too. A cheapo single-emitter remote with a couple of AAA's is gonna be a problem.

As for receivers, it has more to do with where they are mounted than on quality, although some are more sensitive to off-angle signals than others. Most of my equipment has the IR receivers on the left. One piece has the receiver on the right (farther away from where I sit). I can always tell when my remote batteries are getting low as that's the one than "goes flakey" first.

I guess that's why they sell repeaters, extenders, etc.