Just an FYI on my experiences regarding IR receivers and plasma interference. First, in general, we have not had any problem using non-plasma resistant IR receivers for infrared signal distribution, even in the presence of plasma interference. There has been only one exception to this rule. When dealing with universal IR receivers (not to be confused with universal *remotes*), the receivers have a tough time sensing learned signals from all the plasma interference. In particular, two IR receivers had difficult. Applied Digital's Ocelot box, and Evation's IRMan. This makes sense to me, as their receivers most listen to everything, as they really have to process any IR signal that comes in to see if it equals the learned signals.
Anyway, I have found success with SpeakerCraft's IRC-3.0 shelf-top receiver, plasma-resistant model, that can be purchased from Smarthome.com, among others. The SpeakerCraft appears to not to pass the low-intensity infrared noise that plasmas emanate. Both of the universal IR receivers work great with the SpeakerCraft, and no longer have problems discerning learned IR signals. The downside to the SpeakerCraft is that it's not as non-directional as regular, non-plasma resistant IR receivers. The up-down sensitivity (as opposed to side-to-side sensitivity) is much less than other IR receivers. This is not really that big of a deal, but you do now have to point remote controls at the IR receiver, aiming them at the IR receiver, instead of just pointing the remote controls in the general direction of the receiver.
That said, the plasma resistant IR receivers can be much more expensive than non-plasma resistant IR receivers, so I'd recommend trying the non-plasma ones first, to see if you have problems, before going with a plasma-resistant model. The Xanatech in-wall, for example, I think is around $300, whereas the generic in-walls are something like $50.
Anyway, I have found success with SpeakerCraft's IRC-3.0 shelf-top receiver, plasma-resistant model, that can be purchased from Smarthome.com, among others. The SpeakerCraft appears to not to pass the low-intensity infrared noise that plasmas emanate. Both of the universal IR receivers work great with the SpeakerCraft, and no longer have problems discerning learned IR signals. The downside to the SpeakerCraft is that it's not as non-directional as regular, non-plasma resistant IR receivers. The up-down sensitivity (as opposed to side-to-side sensitivity) is much less than other IR receivers. This is not really that big of a deal, but you do now have to point remote controls at the IR receiver, aiming them at the IR receiver, instead of just pointing the remote controls in the general direction of the receiver.
That said, the plasma resistant IR receivers can be much more expensive than non-plasma resistant IR receivers, so I'd recommend trying the non-plasma ones first, to see if you have problems, before going with a plasma-resistant model. The Xanatech in-wall, for example, I think is around $300, whereas the generic in-walls are something like $50.
