I'm trying to figure out this IR extension stuff...

I'm going to mount my LCD panel on the wall in the Family room, and it will connect to a Yahama ( RXV 1700,2600,2700 still deciding) in a closet in the rear where I will house all equipment.

From a bit of research, this is the plan.

I'm going to mount a IR reciever near the panel (most likely a J-box mount to match the switches and such in the room)
Run cable to the closet(cat5)
attach it to a Xantech connecting block (789-44)

I'm a little confused on the connection from the Xantech block- the Yamaha recievers have remote connetions on them - in and out. I believe that I can just run a 3.5mm mini jacked cable from the Xantech connecting block to the reciever remote in jack- with out having to attach emmitters to the receiver. Anyone know if this is correct?

I question it because looking at the documentation on Yamahas site it seems that this may only be for zone 2 or 3? Or do they just use the examples for zone 2 and 3 since they would normally be physically seperated and the main would be in the same room. Are the signals from 1,2 and 3 specific so it doesnt matter where the signal comes from?

You can connect from your IR connection block into the back of the Yammy with the 3.5mm plug to plug. But I would consider something like a URC mx-950 with the mrf300. Or one of the URC RF unit combo's. The costs are about the same for an IR receiver, connection block and emmitters as it is for the RF extender on the end of the URC. Assuming of course you are going to put a remote infront of your system.
The bonus of using the URC with RF unit, you can use it in zone 2&3 (without additional IR receivers).

Cheers,

Ron.

Thanks for the confirmation.

The IR extension isnt going to cost much and I believe I can still do the RF controls later.

You can connect from your IR connection block into the back of the Yammy with the 3.5mm plug to plug. But I would consider something like a URC mx-950 with the mrf300. Or one of the URC RF unit combo's. The costs are about the same for an IR receiver, connection block and emmitters as it is for the RF extender on the end of the URC. Assuming of course you are going to put a remote infront of your system.
The bonus of using the URC with RF unit, you can use it in zone 2&3 (without additional IR receivers).

Cheers,

Ron.

This is very good advice. The control provided by the URC remote and MRF 300 or 350 is excellent...especially for multi-zone components like the Yamaha. Adding it later will make the previously purchased IR system useless and result in wasted money. I went the route the of the MRF 350 and it has worked very well. (The cost for the MRF was close to what I needed in additional items to finish out the existing IR system). Glad I went this way. Now I have expandability with no more cost (and lots of control). Plus, I have RF which works great!!! Much better than point and press (especially for long macros) associated with IR.

What about RF interference? Do these units have many problems. i seem to have all sorts of problems with radio stuff- whether its noise on the phone lines or my kids RC cars. Im a little leary of adding an RF device.We have a radio station near by which has caused all sorts of problems with phones- FCC, phone co say everything is ok- yet entire neighborhoods are reporting problems. I feel better about hardwired stuff for relaibility.

I couldn't agree more about hardwiring equipment to reduce the amount of problems incurred from interference.
2 major problems exist when using IR receivers. 1) Your remote when carrying out a lengthy macro has to remain directed at the reciever, no wondering off in a different direction (by everyone not just you) when the command is being sent. 2) IR commands (especially a lengthy macro) to the IR receiver are prone to corruption from IR emmiting devices such as plasma, sunlight etc. Not to mention IR corruption on your IR bus, not that this is a big issue when using the correct cable (cat5e is OK but I would recommend a sheilded 4 core cable in preference).
In my opion the befefits of installing an RF base station far outway the problems, not that I have come across any.

Cheers,

Ron.