I have a installer that is really more of a salesman than anything and I am at the last stage in my theater in buying a remote. I have been using Harony's for a few years and I want to step up to the TSU9600. I will be using it for the following:

It will only be used in the theater room
Will control a:
Projector
TV
PS3 (with rf usb)
HD DVD Player
DirecTV box
Onkyo Reciever
Onkyo Reciever for Bass Shakers
3 Channel Amp
HTPC (with WMC for music control on the remote)

All of these item are roughly 8 feet from the remote direct line of sight.

So do I need the RFX9400 or RFX9600 to control these items. I know this is a basic question just never got a good answer searching through the forum.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

You don't need it, but it will make things MUCH easier as the remote doesn't have to be "pointed" towards your equipment. Also, the projector is probably not located near your equipment, so you can have an IR line to it or better yet if you already have a wireless network in your house, get a RFX9600 and use RS232 commands if some of your equipment can handle. The RFX9400 can be used in stand alone RF mode which doesn't require a network connection. Given your investment, you will appreciate having one of the extenders. SJ

tazzer,

I agree with SJHart.

If you have good line of sight, IR will do the job, but the installation is friendlier when using RF.

RS-232 requires a programming investment, but it can greatly improve the user interaction.

If there are multiple systems, I'll run them all from the TSU-9600. If the 9600 program is well done, you will not want to use another remote for the other rooms.

I agree with SJHart. If you have any of your component not directly in the IR view, you need a IR-receiver, IR-switch box and IR-transmission diodes (beamer...). The price of this equipment is not very much cheaper than Pronto RFX9400. But using a RFX9400 means freedom. At any place you can control your equipment. You have much security because macro programming is transmitted complete to RFX9400 without the risk of lost informations.

We recommend every one to have either an rfx9400 or Access point and rfx9600, its a far more reliable way of controling ir devices, just think, if you have a macro that runs for 15 seconds which is not uncommon, you have to make sure :-
it ponints in the right direction, and no one walks between the remote and the devices for the lenghtof the macro..

A common problem is that people put down the remote on a coffee table behind a mug of coffee or a book and you end up in all sorts of problems..

RS 232 does not require a programming investment if you do not need two way communications. Two way communications does allow for a lot more interactivity as Buzz said but is not necessity. RS232 works great as it is a lot more reliable than IR and is perfect for things such as a projector that is usually mounted away from your other gear.

I agree with all other comments in terms of the need for an extender as it improves the overall reliability immensely. It also helps if your equipment all have IR inputs on the rear as that is a lot more reliable than an emmitter.