Question about the range of IR transmitters

[wacind]

Hi

Sorry if this has been asked before but i was unable to find a proper answer...

I recently bought an HP-MCE receiver/transmitter link

after playing around with it all weekend i realized that the ir transmitter has to literally be right infront of the device i am transmitting to (less than an inch in most cases). This is annoying for me, because i was planning on using eventghost to transmit signals to multiple devices spread across my living room.

Is there an IR transmitter that has range that most regular remote controls do? I would just keep the IR transmitter in a spot in my living room that has line of sight to all of these devices. My living room is not big, but i would expect most IR transmitters to at least be able to send signals to devices 10 feet away.

Any suggestions on which IR tranmitters may have better range?

Thanks

[zian]

Good question wacind.
This sounds like fun... maybe aggravating but fun.

Have you tried mirrors?

I wonder if fiber optics would do it.
A spliced hacked digital audio cable maybe.

[wacind]

Hi Zian,

Thanks for the response. can you explain what you mean by mirrors? as in actual physical mirrors to reflect the ir signal?
Well i am trying to achieve what the ir signal on what most common remotes handle... we can all use our typical remotes from about 10 feet away so why not a signal from an IR emitter?
Most emitters im seeing require the emitter to be directly infront of the device that you intend on sending a signal to and that sounds counter intuitive to me.

[zian]

Yes.

Hi Zian,

Thanks for the response. can you explain what you mean by mirrors? as in actual physical mirrors to reflect the ir signal?
Well i am trying to achieve what the ir signal on what most common remotes handle... we can all use our typical remotes from about 10 feet away so why not a signal from an IR emitter?
Most emitters im seeing require the emitter to be directly infront of the device that you intend on sending a signal to and that sounds counter intuitive to me.

[kkl]

Hi
I would just keep the IR transmitter in a spot in my living room that has line of sight to all of these devices. My living room is not big, but i would expect most IR transmitters to at least be able to send signals to devices 10 feet away.

Speaking from experience with that specific device, what you are trying to do shouldn't be any problem at all. If it only works by putting the IR blaster right in front of the device, it suggests that you have IR interference (e.g. sunlight, plasma TV, fluorescent lighting). You might try ruling those things out first.

[Sem;colon]

after playing around with it all weekend i realized that the ir transmitter has to literally be right infront of the device i am transmitting to (less than an inch in most cases).

Yes, that's normal for the IR blasters, they are meant be go directly on the device case.

I never tried it, but I bet you could use an IR extender for this (like this http://www.amazon.de/Marmitek-Powermid- ... r+extender)

[kkl]

I've got an IR blaster taped to a receiving device behind a black curtain, 15 feet away and around the corner from my MCE Receiver, and it still registers any commands sent to that blaster. It may just be that most devices aren't that sensitive. I'd take sem;colon's word for it.

Another device to consider that is also supported by EG is the USB-UIRT.

[wacind]

Thanks guys,

I am going to replace my MCE device and see if the new one has better range.

It just baffles me that even a $5 IR remote control can transmit signals from 20ft away while a blaster needs to be directly in front of the receiving device.

I will keep this thread posted with the results of trying out a new device

[mickelin]

You are confusing emitter and blaster. An emitter (like the one you have) is meant to control one device and be taped right on top of the 'eye' of the controlled device. The power is low specifically to avoid leakage to other devices. A blaster on the other hand is a high powered emitter that is meant to control several devices from a distance. Sounds like you need to buy a blaster.