IR Blasters?
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Posted by Craig M. Armstrong on May 29, 2007, 6:59 pm
Please log in for more thread options preferred method of IR distribution. But I'd still like to know what "blaster" options are available. I'd rather avoid sticking an emitter on a powermid and using it to do the blasting. I just want to put a box on an end table or shelf about ten feet from about ten components I want to control and connect that to the output of a Xantech xtralink kit. -- Craig | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Posted by Bugga on May 29, 2007, 8:53 pm
Please log in for more thread options rack (component) to get a good pattern... on convex surfaces and nice components that won't take a crappy looking emitter I've placed one on the front of "something" like the rack, shelf, etc. and bounced the IR pulse off the adjacent wall... works great providing the didtance isn't too far away or angled funny. Good luck. Oh yeah, turn your processor's IR setting up to high if equipped. -bugga wrote: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Posted by Craig M. Armstrong on June 4, 2007, 2:22 am
Please log in for more thread options Thank you for your input. What blasters have you used, could you
provide part numbers so I can search for them? I was planning on putting them ten feet away, directly line of sight, is that too far? Does the Xtra Link (172-94) kit have an IR setting? > Most blasters work pretty good if you have it far enough away from the
> rack (component) to get a good pattern... on convex surfaces and nice > components that won't take a crappy looking emitter I've placed one on > the front of "something" like the rack, shelf, etc. and bounced the IR > pulse off the adjacent wall... works great providing the didtance > isn't too far away or angled funny. Good luck. > > Oh yeah, turn your processor's IR setting up to high if equipped. > > -bugga > > wrote: > > > I know that sticking emitters on each individual component is the
> > preferred method of IR distribution. But I'd still like to know what > > "blaster" options are available. >
> > I'd rather avoid sticking an emitter on a powermid and using it to do
> > the blasting. >
> > I just want to put a box on an end table or shelf about ten feet from
> > about ten components I want to control and connect that to the output > > of a Xantech xtralink kit. >
> > --
> > Craig | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Posted by Dave Houston on June 4, 2007, 9:46 am
Please log in for more thread options The range of any IR emitter is mostly a function of the drive current
available from the IR signal source. Most microcontroller based devices need to limit the current to a level that the microcontroller pins can handle. So, you're really looking at this the wrong way around. If you have sufficient drive current, almost any emitter can give the range you need. Because the duty cycle is low, most emitters can handle lots of current. If you do not have sufficient drive current, no unamplified emitter will give you the range needed. Is your objection to the Powermid based on appearance? If not, its built-in emitter gives more than adequate range with no need to add any external blaster. There are other Powermid-like devices with a better esthetic but whether they have similarly powered built-in emitters may depend on the specific make/model. Finally, the term "IR Blaster" has come to be used with widely varying devices from stick-on emitter-only devices to amplified devices that are more deserving of the name. >Thank you for your input. What blasters have you used, could you
>provide part numbers so I can search for them? > >I was planning on putting them ten feet away, directly line of sight, >is that too far? > >Does the Xtra Link (172-94) kit have an IR setting? > >> Most blasters work pretty good if you have it far enough away from the
>> rack (component) to get a good pattern... on convex surfaces and nice >> components that won't take a crappy looking emitter I've placed one on >> the front of "something" like the rack, shelf, etc. and bounced the IR >> pulse off the adjacent wall... works great providing the didtance >> isn't too far away or angled funny. Good luck. >> >> Oh yeah, turn your processor's IR setting up to high if equipped. >> >> -bugga >> >> wrote: >> >> > I know that sticking emitters on each individual component is the
>> > preferred method of IR distribution. But I'd still like to know what >> > "blaster" options are available. >>
>> > I'd rather avoid sticking an emitter on a powermid and using it to do
>> > the blasting. >>
>> > I just want to put a box on an end table or shelf about ten feet from
>> > about ten components I want to control and connect that to the output >> > of a Xantech xtralink kit. >>
>> > --
>> > Craig >
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Posted by Craig M. Armstrong on June 4, 2007, 6:53 pm
Please log in for more thread options On Jun 4, 6:46 am, nob...@whocares.com (Dave Houston) wrote:
> The range of any IR emitter is mostly a function of the drive current
> available from the IR signal source. Most microcontroller based devices need > to limit the current to a level that the microcontroller pins can handle. > So, you're really looking at this the wrong way around. If you have > sufficient drive current, almost any emitter can give the range you need. > Because the duty cycle is low, most emitters can handle lots of current. If > you do not have sufficient drive current, no unamplified emitter will give > you the range needed. > > Is your objection to the Powermid based on appearance? If not, its built-in > emitter gives more than adequate range with no need to add any external > blaster. There are other Powermid-like devices with a better esthetic but > whether they have similarly powered built-in emitters may depend on the > specific make/model. I wanted to avoid using RF. > Finally, the term "IR Blaster" has come to be used with widely varying
> devices from stick-on emitter-only devices to amplified devices that are > more deserving of the name. Yes unfortunately, and thus makes it hard to search for what I'm looking for. I did find the Niles IRC-1 and IRB-1, which according to the manual can work 18'-30' line of sight, but the manual also mentioned wall mount options for better aesthetics, but mentions no part numbers, grr. Also, I was looking to set this on a table or shelf not mount on a wall. Back to your point about the drive current, do the IRC-1 and IRB-1 require special amplifiers, or can they be driven by the Xtra Link directly? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Similar Threads | Posted |
| IR Blasters? | May 29, 2007, 6:59 pm |
> preferred method of IR distribution. But I'd still like to know what
> "blaster" options are available.
>
> I'd rather avoid sticking an emitter on a powermid and using it to do
> the blasting.
>
> I just want to put a box on an end table or shelf about ten feet from
> about ten components I want to control and connect that to the output
> of a Xantech xtralink kit.
>
> --
> Craig