IRTrans Support Forum

Hi,

I would like to install an IRT-LAN-DB in a closed closet together with a settop box and apple TV box.
Outside the closet there will be my TV.

Now I want to be able to:
- Use my existing remotes of the TV, settop box and apple TV to control the three devices.
- Control the three devices using commands send over the LAN (eg. using a home automation system).

My questions are:
1. Can this be done by the IRT-LAN-DB?
2. Is it correct I would need to install an external receiver outside the closet to receive the commands of my existing remotes to be repeated into the closet.
3. Is it correct I would need to install an external transmitter outside the closet to transmit commands to the TV.
4. If answer to 3 is yes, would I need a High Power one if I want to install the external transmitter behind the TV?
5. Do I need an additional external transmitter inside the closet? Or are the internal leds in general powerfull enough? Irtrans will be installed next to settop box and apple TV.
5. How is echoing of self repeating prevented in the scenario with a closed closet? Can I prevent the self repeated commands received through the external receiver to be retransmitted to the external transmitter outside the closet (because I guess that would cause echoing)?

Kind regards,
René

Hi,

1. Can this be done by the IRT-LAN-DB?
Yes.

2. Is it correct I would need to install an external receiver outside the closet to receive the commands of my existing remotes to be repeated into the closet.
Yes. The type of receiver depends on your devices - most use 38kHz codes, some 56kHz. We have a receiver that can handle both but has limited range compared to the specialised receivers (5-6m vs. 15m+).

3. Is it correct I would need to install an external transmitter outside the closet to transmit commands to the TV.
4. If answer to 3 is yes, would I need a High Power one if I want to install the external transmitter behind the TV?
Yes, unless you are willing to use a stick on minitransmitter (5mm diameter, black) that will be placed directly on the IR eye of the TV. When using the High Power Transmitter I would suggest installing it next to the TV and using the wall opposite to reflect the IR signal to the TV.

5. Do I need an additional external transmitter inside the closet? Or are the internal leds in general powerfull enough? Irtrans will be installed next to settop box and apple TV.
The internal LED are powerful enough. In fact I would think about reducing the duty cycle to prevent overdriving the IR receivers.

5. How is echoing of self repeating prevented in the scenario with a closed closet? Can I prevent the self repeated commands received through the external receiver to be retransmitted to the external transmitter outside the closet (because I guess that would cause echoing)?
The IRTrans only works in "half duplex" mode - meaning: while an IR code is sent the receiver is disabled to prevent exactly that.

I hope this was what you wanted to hear.

regards,
Eric

Yes, thanks for the clear answers!

I have the IRT-LAN-DB up and running for some time and it works great. I've configured it to repeat the signal of my remote into the closet.

Now I want to have both the tuner AND TV switched on/off when I press the on/off button of the TV remote.
So I've configured an IR translation macro to send out the on/off signal to the tuner when the on/off signal for the TV is received. The macro works, however somehow the signal looks to be repeated after about 8 seconds switching the TV and tuner on/off again .

Shouldn't I be using macros for this? Or can I somehow prevent the repeating to happen?

Hi,

using a macro is the right idea. What baffles me is that the repetition occurs after several seconds. I can only imagine that somehow there is a new command sent to the IRTrans from somewhere. Could you please check what the LED on the IRTrans does when pressing the on/off button of the TV remote initially, during the "delay" and conclusively when sending the IR signal again? Do you have a means to monitor network traffic such as wireshark?

best regards,

Eric

Hi Eric,

Indeed a new command was fired by my home automation system because of a stupid mistake I made in configuring it
Thanks for putting me on the right track.

Kind regards,
René