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Macro Learning IR Remote that will work with Next Generation Remote Control Extender or Alternative?

post #1 of 19
6/14/12 at 12:28pm
Thread Starter 
I already have a Next Generation Remote Control Extender, which uses a battery adapter to transmit RF to the device, which then outputs IR. Since my TV is in the front of the room and my devices are in the back of the room, I thought I'd buy a remote that I can point to the front of the room, which will hit the TV with IR while also sending RF to the NextGen in order to emit IR to the devices in the back. I was planning on buying the Harmony 650, but I read online that it's not compatible with the device.

A. What similar remotes are compatible with the Next Gen?
B. Is there an easier way to do this without using my Next Gen?



The URC RFS200 is a possibility to use instead of the NextGen... however, can it send IR to control the TV? How would I control the tv?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FL9E6U


Reading some reviews, it looks like it also shoots IR at the same time so it would work for the TV, right? Am I better off using the Next Gen in conjunction with a new remote or just the URC RFS200 by itself?
Edited by Superfluous - 6/14/12 at 1:02pm
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post #2 of 19
6/15/12 at 8:11am
The URC RFS200 will do what you want since it does in fact send IR and RF at the same time. I recently bought the URC RF20 which is the same remote without the Power Blaster (I didn't need the RF capability) to replace the URC MX-500 which I've been using for 8 years. Rather than go into detail here, you can read the review I wrote on the RF20 on Amazon if you're interested.

With that said, I aslo am a user and fan of the Next Gen remote extender which I can confirm does not work with the Harmony 650 since I own that as well. smile.gif I have successfully used it in the past though with the Harmony 550 and the Harmony 670. Based on my experience with the MX-500, I'd hazard a guess that the Next Gen will not work with the RF20. For the record, I'm currently using the Next Gen with a DirecTV RC65 remote and with the now discontinued One For All URC-8820n.
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post #3 of 19
6/15/12 at 9:09am
The RF20 will communicate directly with 418 mhz version of Next Gen without use of the battery gizmo.
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post #4 of 19
6/15/12 at 9:27am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Edmund View Post

The RF20 will communicate directly with 418 mhz version of Next Gen without use of the battery gizmo.

Interesting. You know, I had actually thought about trying that out just out of curiosity. I'm currently using the 433 MHz version of Next Gen but I also have a decomissioned 418 MHz unit, not to mention several Leap Frog units which I believe also operate at 418MHz. I don't need RF capability for my RF20 in it's current application but it's good to know I can accomplish it without buying the additional Power Blaster should my needs ever change...thanks Edmund.
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post #5 of 19
6/15/12 at 9:06pm
Thread Starter 
Is there a slight upgrade to the RFS200/RF20? It seems very well priced and that anything above it with IR and RF with an RF adapter is much more expensive.
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post #6 of 19
6/15/12 at 10:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Superfluous View Post

Is there a slight upgrade to the RFS200/RF20? It seems very well priced and that anything above it with IR and RF with an RF adapter is much more expensive.
The Xsight Touch is essentially the same price but a vastly better remote that works perfectly with your existing Next Gen base. Only you don't have to use the Xmitter battery. It's a fantastic solution.
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post #7 of 19
6/16/12 at 8:54am
Thread Starter 
Which one do you recommend? And it will work with any version of the Next Gen?

edit- I see the Touch is the specific model.
Edited by Superfluous - 6/16/12 at 9:00am
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post #8 of 19
6/16/12 at 10:10am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Superfluous View Post

And it will work with any version of the Next Gen?
The Xsight Touch transmits RF at 433 MHz.
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post #9 of 19
6/17/12 at 12:49pm
Thread Starter 
Is the RF slow? The way I'm controlling directv using the Next Gen seems a bit slow but I'm not sure if that's the Directv, the RF, the battery dongle, or what aspect. Would using the Xsight with the Next Gen give me a delay as well?
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post #10 of 19
6/17/12 at 1:16pm
DirecTV is always slow. The RF doesn't really add any additional delay.
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post #11 of 19
6/19/12 at 11:50am
Thread Starter 
Is there an advantage to using the xsight remote with my nextgen vs a URC remote with the battery device and nextgen?
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post #12 of 19
6/19/12 at 1:02pm
IMO, yes, many. Xsight has it's own rechargeable battery and charging cradle, so it's less hassle since you never have to remove the battery to recharge. It transmits perfect RF signals straight from the processor, not the faint copies the Nextgen battery picks up. It works natively with DirecTV just like the original DirecTV RF remote, without going through the Nextgen base (or battery) at all, so you can put your DirecTV box back in RF mode and not have to deal with blasters at all.

If you get a URC, you should bite the bullet and get an RF one. Although Nextgen should work, a real RF remote is just a cleaner, more reliable solution.
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post #13 of 19
6/19/12 at 1:14pm
Thread Starter 
But this would be using an RF with the nextgen, right? Otherwise I'd have to buy a very expensive RF receiver as well? And the RF feature on directv is painfully slow.
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post #14 of 19
6/19/12 at 6:51pm
I don't think DirecTV RF is actually slower than IR, but if it seems slower to you, then IR is fine. The Xsight will control the DirecTV box directly via RF if you want as well as control everything else via the NextGen. It can do both simultaneously. That's one less blaster to worry about on the DirecTV box. Or you can do everything through the NextGen. It's your choice. Personally I would go direct RF with DirecTV, which is what I did for years back when I had DirecTV. No new RF bases required with Xsight. The NextGen base works fine.
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post #15 of 19
6/21/12 at 2:52pm
Thread Starter 
So I bought a URC R50 for the bedroom before deciding what to do in the living room. I'm first trying out the URC R50 for the living room without the nextgen and it seems to work in any direction without using RF. I guess the IR is bouncing around well enough that it doesn't need RF. Is this a better remote for my living room needs then?
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post #16 of 19
6/22/12 at 9:06am
So you're saying if you get another R50 you no longer need RF because its IR is stronger?

I'm biased, but I think the Xsight is far better overall than the R50 or comparable harmony (900) regardless of whether or not you use RF. If it turns out you don't need RF, then you don't have to use it. IR mode will still work fine. But if you like the R50, I see no reason not to get another one. The R50 will be the most durable of the lot. But the heft and lack of PC programmability knock it down a few notches IMO. You seem to be very reluctant about Xsight, so the R50 sounds like the best choice for you.
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post #17 of 19
6/22/12 at 10:31am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mdavej View Post

So you're saying if you get another R50 you no longer need RF because its IR is stronger?
I'm biased, but I think the Xsight is far better overall than the R50 or comparable harmony (900) regardless of whether or not you use RF. If it turns out you don't need RF, then you don't have to use it. IR mode will still work fine. But if you like the R50, I see no reason not to get another one. The R50 will be the most durable of the lot. But the heft and lack of PC programmability knock it down a few notches IMO. You seem to be very reluctant about Xsight, so the R50 sounds like the best choice for you.

I'm not against it. But now that it's programmed for the living room and working, I might as well leave it and look for a bedroom remote, whether it's the same or not.
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post #18 of 19
6/22/12 at 12:19pm
I assume your BR is a lot simpler, so why not just use the DirecTV remote, or get a backlit DirecTV remote? In my BR I have THIS $33 Xsight. Works about the same as the R50 but is a bit simpler and PC programmable.
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post #19 of 19
6/22/12 at 12:47pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mdavej View Post

I assume your BR is a lot simpler, so why not just use the DirecTV remote, or get a backlit DirecTV remote? In my BR I have THIS $33 Xsight. Works about the same as the R50 but is a bit simpler and PC programmable.

It has become simpler, but it wasn't originally. Because of the way it was setup before I moved into the house, all the equipment is either in the bathroom or a distant closet, with the audio and video separated. Because of multiple in-ceiling speakers on that floor, I'm using separate receivers for the bedroom and bathroom but one feed from each source (blu-ray, directv, appleTV). However, in the end, they're all connected through IR repeaters, so as long as I can do the correct macros, all I have to do is shoot IR to the TV. In which case, I just want a macro-learning remote. I'll look at the cheap Xsight.
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AVS › AVS Forum › A/V Control & Automation › Remote Control Area › Macro Learning IR Remote that will work with Next Generation Remote Control Extender or Alternative?