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Question for Robman

455 Views 8 Replies 5 Participants Last post by The Robman, Sep 12, 2003

uncleblaine

Discussion Starter · Sep 9, 2003

This is a question from a post yesterday that scrolled away. You said:

Quote:

Originally posted by The Robman
These remotes are normal infrared remotes that also send out an RF signal. The RF signal is picked up by the "complimentry" (sic) base unit which converts it back into an IR signal. You can place the base unit infront of your equipment (or you can use the included IR blaster) which enables you to use the remote from another location and still control your equipment.

http://www.ofausa.com/remote.php?type=URC 9910 http://www.ofausa.com/remotes/Urc9910withRF-AJ.jpg

Yes, it's true of all OFA and RS learning remotes, with the exception of the "Producer 8" series that was discontinued a few years back.

Do you know if the RF signal these things blast is compatible with the pyramid IR repeaters from X-10 and Smarthome?

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Jeff D

· #2 · Sep 9, 2003

Let me change my post...

The remote sends RF to the receiver (the black box), which translates to IR, so if you go IR from the black box to a repeater it should work.

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icecow

· #3 · Sep 10, 2003

I think he's asking if this remote can send RF signal to a x10 pyrmid directly, so he can use a IR remote somewhere else(basic pyrmid setup) and ALSO use this remote to control the pyrmid.

not sure though.

That's what I get out of it.

cow

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Jeff D

· #4 · Sep 10, 2003

My bad, I guess that's right, but kinda confusing because the pryamid isn't really needed if you just use the remote. I don't really understand the application uncleblaine was thinking of...

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plyons10

· #5 · Sep 10, 2003

I am nearly certain that the answer is no. It only depends on if I interpret the question correctly!

The pyramid IR repeaters use RF to communicate with each other. When one receives an IR signal, it sends RF to the other unit, which in turn repeats the IR signal. Uncle wants to know if the remote could be used instead to send an RF signal to the pyramid, which would in turn blast out the desired IR signal.

Rob has commented many times that the RF remotes (Radio Shack and OFA) are not compatible with other RF devices. I do not believe there is a standard communication protocol as there is for IR devices and IR appliances.

You COULD, however, buy the remote listed here (or the Radio Shack 15-2117, which I have), and then postition THAT remote's IR blaster / receiver unit (the black box at the lower right side of the picture) right next to a SmartHome pryamid. This could all happen inside a closet somewhere, actually. Then you would press a button on the remote from anywhere in the house... in addition to an IR signal , it sends an RF signal to the black box, which in turn transmits IR to the pyramid sitting near it. The pyramid picks up that IR and in turn sends another RF signal to it's mate somewhere else in the house. This pyramid then blasts out the original IR signal.

How'd I do Rob?

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uncleblaine

Discussion Starter · #6 · Sep 10, 2003

Quote:

Originally posted by icecow
I think he's asking if this remote can send RF signal to a x10 pyrmid directly, so he can use a IR remote somewhere else(basic pyrmid setup) and ALSO use this remote to control the pyrmid.

not sure though.

That's what I get out of it.

cow

Exactly! If the remote's RF signal matched the pyramids, I could use one IR receiver pyramid and one RF-IR pyramid to control my Replay content on all tv's. Currently I have to have an IR to RF unit at each television to control the Replays in the entertainment center. With 4 tv's, I could save a few bucks, as well as some outlets. But Pylons solution would work almost as well, I guess.

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The Robman

· #7 · Sep 10, 2003

The answer is NO. There's several problems with RF compared to IR, one of them being that it's regulated so you can just keep changing the frequency programmatically the way you can with IR, and more importantly, I don't think it's physically POSSIBLE to change it via software, I think you need to modify the hardware to change the frequency.

So, bottom line is this, there's no such thing as a universal RF remote (which is a very common question) and RF remotes cannot talk to devices that they weren't built to talk to.

Another idea would be to pick up more command centers for a 15-2117 or URC-9910. I'm not sure if they are available via any normal channels though. If you want to follow this path, i can make some phone calls.

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plyons10

· #8 · Sep 12, 2003

Rob... instead of more command centers, would it also be possible to split the blaster cable / signal. The 2117 command center / repeater brodcasts noise, which interferes with my cable box. I'd like to try just blasting each appliance I need (there's four) when using RF to IR.

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The Robman

· #9 · Sep 12, 2003

Sure, you can split it. Try getting two dual-head cables and splicing them together.

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