I'm one of those guys who just likes to learn things and I'm in need of an IR repeater to blast the IR commands received from outside the cabinet to inside. My wife hates the glass door inserts...

I've been looking around and everything seems to be either PC or PIC based designs. I wasn't sure that there is a need for the microcontroller. What I wanted to do was just take the data stream from the IR receiver and repeat it out the IR transmitter. I didn't even thing the input stream would need to be buffered, but I don't really know the electronics.

Has anyone ever done this and are there any designs to reference?

Thanks!

[Link: xantech.com]

[Link: nilesaudio.com]

Thanks for thos links, but I may not have been clear on what I was looking for.

I'm thinking a little more DIY, as in making the whole thing from electronic parts, not some store bought thing I put together.

I'm looking to learn a bit about electronics and I thought this may be a "simple" project to get started with... maybe not. The more I look into it the more I discover. There are apparently two different frequencies that are pretty common for IR to run at 40KHz and 38KHz. Beyond that I'm lost. I think I should be able to read the receiver and then amplify that to then send out the transmitter.

I think I need two timers, a maybe 556 or two.
IR receiver LED, 2 IR LEDs, looking to run at 5v. I'm hoping to avoid using a PIC, but I'm comfortable in doing so and programming it.

I understand there are all sorts of things that can mess with IR, I may need to be aware of things like other light waves (so need a red plastic filter); the soure IR may need to be demodulated (no idea how to do that, but maybe run it through some other timer to clean up the signal; noise from other electronics including a power source, so may need some extra power filtering.

Ir Runs between about 38-58 + 433ish for some random components. There is no real 'easy' way to build a working system unless your buying the already existing components (emitter you might be able to make, but they will cost more then just buying them), receiver good luck, connecting block you might also be able to build, but again thats not really where the cost is. Getting a receiver that receives the codes is the hardest part...and the most expensive part. For 75-200 you can buy a system that should work just fine. You may run into IR interference issues which is where the more expensive receivers come in that have filtering capabilities...but at that point you may be better off going with a decent entry level RF remote system (URC MX450+MRF260 retails for $400) versus a plasma or lcd proof IR kit with also runs about $400.

Good luck on your venture, though this is one area where reinventing the wheel really isnt in your best interest.

[Link: reallycleverhomes.co.uk]

just use this.

it would cost you like $30.

if you really want to, open it up and see how it works. that would be a good way to see how to create the sort of circuit you want