IR Remote Extender Problem

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eracode

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#243350 7-Dec-2018 13:26

We have recently reorganised our Sky set-up and the Sky box is now in a cupboard a few metres away from the TV. I bought a simple USB-powered hard-wired IR remote extender from Jaycar - installed it - didn't work. Well, it did work so long as the remote was with one metre of the IR receiver - but not if further away.

I took it back to Jaycar and got my money back.

Then I bought a similar one on Trademe and have just installed it - doesn't work. The red power light is going on the supplied USB adapter and a green LED is showing on the IR receptor. It has four IR emitters - have tried all of them - and nothing.

I'm puzzled and frustrated - these aren't the most complicated devices on the planet and I've used them before. Have I been unlucky and got two duds in a row (which I find a bit hard to believe) - or is there something going on here that I'm unaware of. Interference of some sort?

Other devices in the same cupboard are our Spark HG659b and a Sonos bridge.

Would appreciate comments or advice.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

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#2141167 7-Dec-2018 13:38

Have you got any way to test it with another device (take the transmitter to another room and have the receiver control the TV for example)?

I know Sky decoders used to be really fussy with a lot of these IR transmitters (something about the speed of the pulses from the SKY remote).

SATTV

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#2141207 7-Dec-2018 14:41

trig42:

Have you got any way to test it with another device (take the transmitter to another room and have the receiver control the TV for example)?

I know Sky decoders used to be really fussy with a lot of these IR transmitters (something about the speed of the pulses from the SKY remote).

Back in the olden days when I used to fix TV's the remote on almost every TV used a 455KHz ceramic resonator, sky remotes used to use something completely different so yes you can have issues with Sky and remote extenders.

this one https://www.rapalloav.co.nz/wireless-remote-control-ir-rf-super-extender-1564.html

says it will work with MyskyHDi.

John

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eracode

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#2141211 7-Dec-2018 14:59

trig42:

Have you got any way to test it with another device (take the transmitter to another room and have the receiver control the TV for example)?

I know Sky decoders used to be really fussy with a lot of these IR transmitters (something about the speed of the pulses from the SKY remote).

Thanks - that is an Extremely Good Idea. Probably should have thought of testing with another device.

Have tested with the TV as suggested and it works fine - so its the interplay of remote, the extender and the fussy Sky box that prevents it from working.

I'll need to keep looking.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

surfisup1000

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#2141215 7-Dec-2018 15:02

These guys sell a good product...

http://blueeye.co.nz/

Works really well with mysky.

Dunnersfella

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#2141216 7-Dec-2018 15:02

Try and find out what remote IR kits installers in your area are using...

They tend to sniff out the most reliable / easy to integrate units on the market.

Approach them, buy direct from them if you can.

They deal with them daily so they will know what works, whereas bottom of the market TradeMe sellers tend to make all sorts of claims in order to shift a single box.

My $0.10.

eracode

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#2141217 7-Dec-2018 15:02

SATTV:

trig42:

Have you got any way to test it with another device (take the transmitter to another room and have the receiver control the TV for example)?

I know Sky decoders used to be really fussy with a lot of these IR transmitters (something about the speed of the pulses from the SKY remote).

Back in the olden days when I used to fix TV's the remote on almost every TV used a 455KHz ceramic resonator, sky remotes used to use something completely different so yes you can have issues with Sky and remote extenders.

this one https://www.rapalloav.co.nz/wireless-remote-control-ir-rf-super-extender-1564.html

says it will work with MyskyHDi.

John

Thanks to you too. Having tried two USB hardwired units without success, I guess I'll just bite the bullet and go with the more expensive Rapallo unit. It's more sophisticated than I want/need - being wireless - but at least there's a guarantee that it will work.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

frankv

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#2141220 7-Dec-2018 15:12

I have a Sky-supplied RF remote extender (don't know if it's the Rapallo one) and it works well. The emitter is blu-tacked to the clear TV cabinet case so that it is in front of the Sky box IR sensor.

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eracode

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#2141845 9-Dec-2018 07:54

frankv:

I have a Sky-supplied RF remote extender (don't know if it's the Rapallo one) and it works well. The emitter is blu-tacked to the clear TV cabinet case so that it is in front of the Sky box IR sensor.

@frankv Wondering what you mean by "Sky-supplied"? How/where did you get it?

Thanks

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gorringS

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#2141858 9-Dec-2018 08:38

Exactly what I was thinking so I rang Sky and ask and there answer is there nothing like that available . Guessing that why you never got response. Best way is confirm by going to source :)

frankv

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#2141915 9-Dec-2018 10:46

The Sky installer guy supplied it.

eracode

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#2141923 9-Dec-2018 11:24

frankv:

The Sky installer guy supplied it.

Thanks. How long have you had it and can you remember what it cost by any chance?

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eracode

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#2141932 9-Dec-2018 11:39

I put an enquiry to Blueeye (mentioned by @surfisup1000 above - thanks) and they got back to me with a guaranteed solution - but at $190 it's a bit rich.

After trying two different cheap-ish models from Jaycar and one from Trademe (all with differing tech approaches) - none of which worked, I now have a third one from JC which works pretty well - not always 100% on the first press of a remote button but 95% is good enough for our needs at $95.

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Brunzy

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#2141981 9-Dec-2018 12:41

Sorry meant to reply earlier. As mentioned before MySky’s are very finicky, best solution I’ve found is an hdmi attachment which floods the area, the others work then sometimes fail for no apparent reason.

eracode

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#2141984 9-Dec-2018 12:50

Brunzy: Sorry meant to reply earlier. As mentioned before MySky’s are very finicky, best solution I’ve found is an hdmi attachment which floods the area, the others work then sometimes fail for no apparent reason.

One of the three non-starters that I tried was a nifty concept from Jaycar that had two adapters that fitted in-line at each end of the HDMI cable between the TV and the Sky box. The signal was transferred using the CEC part of the HDMI cable. The adapter at the TV end had a 3.5mm socket for an IR receptor on a rattail - the other adapter at the Sky box end had a 3.5mm socket for LED IR emitters on a rattail. No external power - only what was in the cable already.

It worked - but barely and only-just. Was erratic and took many remote button-pushes before one of the pushes was detected. Couldn't live with that - very frustrating - so it had to go back.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

Brunzy

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#2142020 9-Dec-2018 14:07

Sounds very much like the same / similar product. Ive had good results with those.

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