I'd like an all-in-one kit with a peep-hole design IR receiver. My contractor has told me that he ran Cat5 from the component closet to behind the TV; I can connect the IR receiver to the connecting block over Cat5, right?

I've heard Xantech is pretty good but it seems that their peep-hole style IR receivers all have the 3.5mm connecting cable as opposed to the 3-connector cable, which is what I think I need to run it over Cat5, but I'm not sure. Will I need an additional connecting block between the IR receiver and the Cat5, or will they connect directly?

If anyone can give me some advice I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks!

Do you have a remote already?? If not, Look into getting a remote that is capable of RF. This would allow you to send the signals RF to a base unit in the closet and that would have the IR emitters connected to it.

Xantech has blocks that convert the Mini plug to a termian strip, Or you can cut the plug off and hard wire it..Usually comes with a slip of paper attached to the IR receiver wire

Do you have a plasma/lcd screen in the vicinity of where the IR target will be placed?? If you do, Xantech is not a good way to go. I would try Niles, Audioplex, or Speakercraft.

Yes, Cat-5 is the best cable to use because it is cheap and common....but, you can realistically use ANY cable that has atleast 3 conductors.

I know that all Audioplex infrared equipment has bare wires as opposed to the 3.5mm jack, but that's the only one I am familiar with. I'd imagine that Xantech has some sort of transition device to move from 3.5mm to Cat5.

I would try Niles, they are usually fairly consistent and they have recently modified their existing IR line to reject interference from plasmas, LCDs, CFLs, and the new 120Hz refresh rate televisions.

http://www.nilesaudio.com/product.php?prodID=MS120&recordID=IR%20Sensors&categoryID=Ingenious%20IR&catcdID=5&prdcdID=FG01580

Do you have a remote already??
I have the Harmony One which is IR only I believe
Do you have a plasma/lcd screen in the vicinity of where the IR target will be placed??
Yeah, the IR receiver will be under a Vizio SV370XVT (120Hz LCD.) That Niles one looks perfect. Exactly what I'm looking for.

So just to confirm - I need the IR receiver, connecting cable (looks like the Niles comes with ample for my needs), connecting block, power adapter, and IR emitters...right? Am I missing anything? There is nothing that I will need to connect the IR receiver connecting cable to the Cat5, right? They can just be spliced? Or do I need something in between?

EDIT: I see your link is just for the IR receiver; what would you recommend for the other components?

Niles IR Packages (http://www.nilesaudio.com/product_detail.php?recordID=IR%20Kits&categoryID=Ingenious%20IR&catcdID=5)

I guess it would all matter as to how many things you wanted to control. You also might need some wire nuts or some sort of termination block to attach the bare leads from the target to the Cat5.

Also, looking at the television you are using, I do not believe that the rest of the IR manufacturers have figured out the problems with the 120Hz refresh rate televisions yet. I AM certain the Niles just overhauled the majority of their IR line to specifically target issues created by those televisions.

I just wanted to add my two cents to this thread. I have tried four different IR receivers: Xantech models 291-10 and 291-80, Hotlink Pro and the SpeakerCraft IRC-2P2.1. I found the Xantech and Hotlink products to work fair to good with my newer LCD TVs. However I have an older Sony KDL-V40XBR1 which emits a LOT of IR noise and the only IR reciever that could deal with this properly has been the SpeakerCraft IRC-2P2.1. The other models I have tried have all let me down with this TV. On a side note I would like to mention that the SpeakerCraft works perfectly with the Xantech connecting blocks.

-LiGHT

I found the Xantech and Hotlink products to work fair to good with my newer LCD TVs.
Good to hear this, since I ended up going with the Xantech 49085 (underneath a 120Hz Vizio SV370XVT.)

http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/1794/12797316.jpg

The contractor is still setting everything up so I haven't heard whether he's run into any problems with it. Hopefully it works :D