[TDockUSC]

Hello all. I am trying to help out my father and was hoping that this forum could give me some answers. He has an outdoor "home theater" set up in his backyard pool/hot tub area.


Anyway, finding a remote to control all the different components is next to impossible. Basically the TV is exposed and all other components (cable box, DVD player, 5.1 receiver) are housed in a closet above the TV. He's usually a good 25-40 ft away from the TV while watching and uses wireless speakers.


What he needs to be able to control are the TV, DVD, Cable Box, and receiver.


I was thinking that an RF remote would be the way go for him, but wanted the boards opinion. Also, what is the range of an RF? I don't want him to spend a great deal of money and then it not reach.


I have a harmony myself and love it, but wanted your opinion as to what might be the best fit for his needs.


Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

 

[Beerstalker]

An RF remote like the Harmony 890 or some of the URC models should work well. I believe the advertised range is usually around 100ft, but it ends up being less when used inside. If he's using it outside it might actually work close to 100ft.


Only thing I would be worried about is the remote getting wet, they are pretty expensive and I'm not sure how well they deal with getting wet or high humidity.

 

[TDockUSC]

Thanks. I have the 880. Is the 890 basically the same remote, just with the RF feature?


Also, and I admit this might be a silly question, do the components automatically receive the RF signal or is there an attachment that must be added to them so that they can receive their commands via RF?


Thanks again.

 

[Beerstalker]

Yes the 890 is pretty much exactly like the 880 but with the added RF feature. The 890 uses RF to talk to a base station (which is included with the remote). That base station then either uses it's built in IR emitter to control your devices, or it has stick on emitters that you place on your components and run wires back to the base station and plug into it.


The 890 can also control Z-wave devices like light switches, power outlets, climate control, etc.

 

[TDockUSC]

Got it. Thanks for the explanation. Sounds like it's exactly what we need.