On 03/05/05 15:00 ET, gratefool1 said...
I was planning to use an rf system
although I have to admit that I do not truly understand
how they work. I assumed that the RF reciever,
which would be placed near the tv, was hard wired
to a transmitter near my equiptment that then
broadcasts an IR signal to my av reciever and
other inputs including digital cable box.
There are two units in a typical IR extender based on RF technology. The terminology can get a bit confusing because each unit is both a transmitter and a receiver.
You point your remote control at the RF transmitter (which is an IR receiver) and it then converts the IR signal into an RF signal for wireless transmission to the RF receiver. There is no hard-wired connection between these two units. The RF receiver then converts the signal back into IR. What the RF receiver then does with this IR signal depends on circumstances.
The Powermid RF receivers (i.e. IR transmitter) contain a so-called 'blaster' or 'flood' IR emitter, so that you can simply place the RF receiver on the wall facing the kit to be controlled.
However, when you have your kit hidden in a closet as you do, then the RF receiver would normally retransmit the IR signal via individual IR emitters attached to each of your items of equipment. The Powermid system I used briefly had a pair of stick-on emitters that plugged into the side of the RF receiver for just this purpose.