Freeing up some space - IR Receiver, equipment on other side of the wall.

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Freeing up some space - IR Receiver, equipment on other side of the wall.

michael001

160 posts

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#195308 15-Apr-2016 04:48

Hi all,

We have purchased a new house with a lounge that will require some good planning to make use of the modest space available.

Our setup: TV, HTPC (Windows 10 NUC), Pioneer AV Receiver, bulky UPS/Surge protection gear, Logitech Keyboard and Bluetooth mouse.

The room on the other side of the wall is a giant wardrobe that would be ideal to house all the entertainment gear. It's so convenient, the area will also hold network gear, router, switch, NAS, cabling, fibre thingo.

We would like our harmony remote to continue to control the TV and the AV Receiver, as if the AV Receiver were in the same room. For this I suspect I need an IR Receiver that can repeat the signal on the other side of the wall. Does anyone have any suggestions for this?
We also have a Logitech Keyboard/Mouse - its a simple K400R. The USB dongle plugs into an HTPC which will also be behind the wall. Will the above IR Receiver cover this as well?
Lastly we use a bluetooth mouse with the HTPC. We use the HTPC like a computer to browse together in the lounge. How can I extend the Bluetooth into the lounge? Any suggestions?

Physically, everything is covered. We have a semi-retired mature gentleman prepared to fulfill any construction requirements, but it's the above items I am not completely clear on.

Thank you very much.

Cheers.

geekiegeek

2513 posts

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#1533353 15-Apr-2016 08:05

I have a similar setup with all of my AV gear in another room but feeding the lounge. WiFi is the way to go with something like this - http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/components/componentview.asp?partid=20017

Works great through walls and has the ability to control stuff via bluetooth as well. I suspect you may need another solution for keyboard control though. Bluetooth may work better through a wall.

Jase2985

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#1533356 15-Apr-2016 08:22

2. the keyboard is wireless, and uses the 2.4ghz spectrum, so no the IR wont work, but it should go through the wall depending on how powerful it is.
3. the bluetooth mouse should work through the wall, i just tested mine 5m away through one wall and it worked fine. just remember it only has a finite range so cant be too far away.

gcorgnet

1078 posts

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#1533381 15-Apr-2016 08:26

Look at the Harmony Home Control: http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Harmony-Home-Control-Devices/dp/B00N3RFC4G

It comes with a hub thingy that acts as an IR blaster. Then you can use the provided remote or your smartphone to talk to the hub.

Might do what you need.

Stu

Hammered
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#1533396 15-Apr-2016 08:55

If range for the keyboard/mouse is an issue, perhaps look at mounting the NUC on the back of your TV.

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

Keep calm, and carry on posting.

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cisconz

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#1533414 15-Apr-2016 09:24

What about a USB wall plate

http://cdlnz.com/index.html?do=viewproduct&p=NC215&code=FP-USB3AMD

With HDMI

http://cdlnz.com/index.html?do=viewproduct&p=NC215&code=FP-HDMIAMD

and the plate itself

http://cdlnz.com/index.html?do=viewproduct&p=NC215&code=FP-2PV3

Then you can put you USB Keyboard Dongle in the same room - and it still looks nice.

Hmmmm

mclean

581 posts

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#1533422 15-Apr-2016 09:32

Stu: If range for the keyboard/mouse is an issue, perhaps look at mounting the NUC on the back of your TV.

In my experience with the Logitech K400+ it may struggle to work through a partition. If that turns out to be the case you could simply extend a cable through the wall to a USB socket for the receiver. Presumably you will be doing that for the HDMI so it could share the same faceplate. Also can't you run a Logitech mouse through the same receiver?

Pretty much as cisconz just said^

michael001

160 posts

Master Geek
Inactive user

#1533434 15-Apr-2016 09:54

Thanks a lot everyone.

As of yesterday I was thinking along the lines of a some sort of exhaust hole hidden behind the TV where all the cables would run through. The idea is I want the power cord to run through to the other side as well, completely invisible so it can plug into a large bulky surge protector. It could be sound proofed and tidied up etc.

So after hearing the feedback above I think I could do a combination of the ideas:

1. Hole at rear of TV - power cable + HDMI passes through into wardrobe behind. TV floats on wall, nothing visible, plugged into surge protector.

2. HTPC mounted on rear of TV. Keyboard + Mouse covered.

3. Harmony IR thingy purchased and parked somewhere discreet. AV Receiver covered.

If I mount the HTPC correctly I can even plug various uses things into it, like arcade controller.

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cisconz

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#1533438 15-Apr-2016 10:04

In that case - invest in a couple of these.

http://cdlnz.com/index.html?do=viewproduct&p=NC216&code=FP-BRUSHP

Also - Be careful with the power cable, I am under the impression that normal extension leads are not allowed to be placed into wall spacing's and only TPS is suitable.

You may need to get a Wall mount Plug and normal socket with TPS between them for it to be legal

Hmmmm

mclean

581 posts

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#1533452 15-Apr-2016 10:43

cisconz: You may need to get a Wall mount Plug and normal socket with TPS between them for it to be legal.

Or a normal socket outlet fed though a surge protector at the DB.

michael001

160 posts

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#1533560 15-Apr-2016 14:01

I think you guys have given me several options to work through - cheers.

Rikkitic

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#1533571 15-Apr-2016 14:27

Years ago I bought an IR extender from Jaycar to set up for a friend. It converts the IR signal to an RF one, transmits it through as many walls as you like, then converts it back to IR. This worked very well to control a Freeview box at one end of the house where the dish cable came in, from the other end of the house where the TV was. Up until then they had actually been walking from one end to the other to change channels!

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos