I'm having a remote problem.

I'm planning on setting up a video network to 9 TVs for two channels of satellite video. The point where the satellite receivers will need to be installed is in one corner of the basement (cable distribution point) and be able to be controlled from the second floor on the other end of the house.

I really don't want to run new wires (between walls) to accomplish this (it'd be a lot of cables), so I see only two options:

1. Run IR through the coax cable.
I have two problems with this. The first is that there would need to be a lot of equipment installed to do this. The second, and probably more important, is that there would probably be a lot of IR noise from 9 IR receivers funnelled down to one location.

2. Use RF Remotes. This I think is going to be the preferred solution if it can work.
There are potential problems with this though.
a. I'm really worried about the range that the remotes that are available for DSS receivers would offer. I understand that there's an RCA DirecTV receiver (no UltimateTV?) and a Dish Network receiver and PVR/receiver. Know of any more?
b. If I get two of these units can I use both at once independently?

* Does anyone know of any other RF remote options? I would think that an RF to IR system would work if it had the right range, but I have yet to see any unit. I'm not referring to IR to RF to IR because that would have the same type of interference issues as with the IR over the coax cable. I'm talking about RF remote controls that at the final stage emit IR signals. Anything I haven't mentioned would really be appreciated. Thanks a lot for your insight.

For you question #2, you can have 2 receivers and their RF/IR remote won't interferce with each other. You have up to 15 channels to choose from so as long as you pick a different channel for different receiver, you should be fine.

However, I don't have answer to your #1 question.

The Sony sat receivers have RF capability also. There are IR only models and IR/RF models, I can't remember the exact model number off hand of the RF models. We usually modulate the two receivers on unused cable channels and use the RF remotes that come with the receivers. The range has been excellent, one set up is in a 3 story beach house and it works just fine. Each receiver can be set to its own RF code so a remote can be set to control either receiver without interfering with the other. The antenna's that come with the receivers can be moved aroud until you find the best spot if you have a signal strength problem, but so far it has not been a problem for us.



This message was edited by Jeff406 on 09/03/01 08:15.18.

I am planning to drive two TVs off the same DSS receiver (dishplayer 7200). I plan to keep the receiver next to one of the TVs, but I want to be able to use that receiver to watch TV in another room. I am lucky in that I can run cable/wire very easily (walls aren't finished yet). What is the best (not too expensive) way for me to make this work?

The easiest is to run RG-6 to the 2nd TV. But using the coax out from the sat receiver loses PQ and stereo sound. So I ran 3 lines to my 2nd TV for standard A/V hookup (red/white/yellow). I'll switch one to S-video if I need it in the future.

You also should remember that S-Video degrades quickly over moderate length. There is however several S-Video amplifiers to allow you to accomplish longer runs.

If you're building a house I'd realistically run anything you can think you'll use. If you run a span of the "standard A/V hookup" to one point in the house you can hook it into a receiver or a/v switcher to allow you to send anything you wish to the TV. You may also want to run Cat 5 computer cable for either a computer or for running IR or other control systems.

I've currently have 2 RG-6 coax and 2 CAT5 cables running from a central distribution box to every conceivable location I would want TV, Audio, Computer, etc. I also have a pair of fiberoptic cables bundled in with the cable for a couple of rooms.

I would prefer to send video via S-video and audio via optical, but I'm not really sure how to do it. I also am not sure what the best approach would be for relaying the IR signal for remote control.

Can you use CAT5 for s-video and if so, where can I find the terminals and crimping tools?
Are there affordable tools for crimping toslink-type connectors to fiberoptic cable?
What's the best way to control IR devices from other rooms (X-10?)?

Since the drywall is going up in my basement beginning in October, I would like to run any cable I need soon.

Thanks for the input!