Only a basic Harmony remote, less than $100, if they are still available, will control your equipment directly by IR. The better models, if available, use a base station that communicates by radio with the handheld unit. You would not require an IR repeater. The whole idea is to automate your theatre while at the same time getting all of your remotes into one controller. Your theatre can be controlled by a Harmony, but some of the tricks your are going to require are not going to be obvious to the average consumer. We could help you with some lengthy discussions but you could save yourself some time by hiring someone with reputable skill. That itself can be a challenge....My wife thinks we can save money by learning how to install tiles on our own. I would much rather just pay someone to do the job well and do it quickly.