I'm thinking of purchasing a ProntoPro for use in a classroom where I have an Hitachi projector in the middle of the room which projects onto a screen behind the instructor. The room also has two wall mounted data monitors located behind the instructor.

My problem is that I need to secure the remote to a podium so that it is not stolen. As I understand it, IR fires directly forward, so in a setting where the remote cannot move, will it be able to send its signal backwards so that it controls the monitors behind the instructor? Running a cable to carry the IR to the monitors is an option but I would much rather not add additional wiring to the room.

You might be able to bounce the IR off a reflector in front of it.

Or you could use an extender like the X-10 Powermid (much cheaper than the RFX6000).

Anything other than "Works every time" is usually not acceptable in instituional use.

I would never put a Pronto in this scenario. If the panel is going to be permanently fixed, your better off with something like a Sonance K2 if budget is a problem.

Otherwise, And AMX or Crestron system is prefered (And usually specified)

Is the Pronto unreliable or just not reliable enough?

The Pronto is completely reliable, but mounted and used in this fashion, especially if bouncing IR off of some surface where someone might get in the path of the IR, introduces unreliability to your overall system (or, in MadAve's latest irritating lingo, your solution).

You could get reliable performance if you strapped down the Pronto and put an IR sensor in front of it, and build the IR system into the podium so that two or three blasters fire IR backwards from the podium. Still, three or four people at the podium, which could happen, would block the IR.

And oh, yeah, I just remembered -- the RF Extender is actually less expensive than all the parts you would need to do an IR relay system (I'm thinking of Niles or Xantech, not PowerMids). Whenever possible, I spec the RF receiver because it adds to reliability and is less expensive than a sensor, power supply, wire, and LEDs and installation labor for a comparable number of components.

The ProntoPro is no longer made and has been superceded by the Pronto 7000. I suggest you get a 7000 with an RF Extender. Then you don't have to worry about which way the Pronto is pointing and you only have to have the extender positioned suitably.

the 6000 and the 7000 both can do RF. I think RF and a base is the best idea. We use Prontos in our conference rooms, and they are very reliable devices. I would also go with the Pronto RF base instead of the powermids. I found the powermids to be less reliable.

In what way? They automatically convert all 418MHz (or 433.92MHz) to IR. Nothing could be simpler and there's little chance for anything to go awry. They do have a fixed IR carrier but it's one that will work with nearly all devices, especially at the short distances involved.

I found it could not control our VC equipment at all using the default emitter. I did not get a stick on to test with. The Powermid also only has one port while the Prontos base has more. Also like you said, you can change the ID on the Prontos base, something you cannot do on the powermids

for a public installation I think the Pronto base is better. Also since it has several IR ports he could install the base between the two monitors and then stick the emitters on to each monitor. To do the same with a powermid he would need to get an IR distribution block and then the cost savings shrink

Thanks so much for all of the input. It is really appreciated!