Control Lutron Maestro IR... behind me. How?

[Mettius]

Unfortunately, the Light switches are all behind me in my media room.

This also, unfortunately, means that the lights on/off commands programmed for my various activities on the Harmony 880 fail to do anything, forcing me to go to device mode and manually turn them on/off by reaching back over my head and aiming blind at the switch (not a very good grip on the remote this way...)

More unfortunately while aiming the Harmony 880 two days past the remote slipped from my hands and apparently bounced into one of the large cinder blocks I have temporarily underneath the back row couch (really, really need to get around to building that platform...) and cracked the LCD.

I was hoping to again attempt to tackle the problem of the Maestro switch behind me again.

A call into Lutron to see if their new wireless Maestro product would be compatible with the Logitech 900 came out negative (they don't support 3rd parties), though the tech indicated they had recently partnered with URC. Not to dwell on it, but I don't think I like the URC stuff (the idea of needing a service call to have my remote programed is a bit of a deal killer for me, that and their touchscreen units are 2-3 times the Logitech 900).

I'm getting long winded. How have others solved this dilemma?
Mount a mirror on the wall (kidding)?

IR Repeater?
Logitech 900 + RF extender aimed back at the switch?
These options seem rather pricey. Any way to inconspicuously bounce the singal back? Room is 13 feet. I'm about 5 from the front wall so distance of the "bounce" would be about 18 ft.


Regards,
-Mettius

 

[highfigh]

Unfortunately, the Light switches are all behind me in my media room.

This also, unfortunately, means that the lights on/off commands programmed for my various activities on the Harmony 880 fail to do anything, forcing me to go to device mode and manually turn them on/off by reaching back over my head and aiming blind at the switch (not a very good grip on the remote this way...)

More unfortunately while aiming the Harmony 880 two days past the remote slipped from my hands and apparently bounced into one of the large cinder blocks I have temporarily underneath the back row couch (really, really need to get around to building that platform...) and cracked the LCD.

I was hoping to again attempt to tackle the problem of the Maestro switch behind me again.

A call into Lutron to see if their new wireless Maestro product would be compatible with the Logitech 900 came out negative (they don't support 3rd parties), though the tech indicated they had recently partnered with URC. Not to dwell on it, but I don't think I like the URC stuff (the idea of needing a service call to have my remote programed is a bit of a deal killer for me, that and their touchscreen units are 2-3 times the Logitech 900).

I'm getting long winded. How have others solved this dilemma?
Mount a mirror on the wall (kidding)?

IR Repeater?
Logitech 900 + RF extender aimed back at the switch?
These options seem rather pricey. Any way to inconspicuously bounce the singal back? Room is 13 feet. I'm about 5 from the front wall so distance of the "bounce" would be about 18 ft.


Regards,
-Mettius

The bold print would make it work and the mirror will work but if you don't want one where it needs to be, it'll be annoying.

If this is a 1st floor and you have a basement with access to the bottom of the wall below the Lutron switch, you could run a Cat5 to that J-box and mount an IR emitter and place it over the Lutron's sensor. The NEC prohibits low voltage wiring being in the same box as high voltage, but you can bring the wires across the front of the box to mount it on the switch. Then, connect the emitter to the Cat5 and add a 1/8" plug at the repeater end (if you're using one). If you're not using a repeater at all (or the RF extender), you'll need one of either and at that point, you won't need to run the wire for the IR emitter.

I have gotten pretty good results by aiming remotes at a wall opposite any equipment I want to operate. You can increase the strength (repeats) of the commands in the Troubleshooting part of the setup. Go to the setup page, click on Troubleshooting and look for a line that shows "Device doesn't always respond to commands". Clicking on this usually shows a series of numbers, 1-5 and 3 is the normal setting, but you can change it to 4 or 5 and then update it.

 

[MDS]

A call into Lutron to see if their new wireless Maestro product would be compatible with the Logitech 900 came out negative (they don't support 3rd parties), though the tech indicated they had recently partnered with URC.

Any programmable remote that supports common IR frequencies and protocols should work with the Maestro. Partnering with URC just means that they worked to add the codes to the built-in database of URC remotes for those people that like to use setup codes instead of learning the commands.

I have a URC MX-350 and it works with my Maestro just fine but I learned the commands from the maestro remote and my switch is in front of me.

You're going to need an RF basestation but if you can place the RF basestation so that it is near the maestro you can attach an emitter to it and not have to run cables through the wall. If you can place the RF basestation directly in front of the maestro you wouldn't need an emitter at all (asssuming Harmony's solution also blasts IR from the front panel like the URC models do).

 

[BMXTRIX]

MDS - I believe that Lutron came out with some RF switches which are actually directly compatible with the RF line of URC remotes so that you don't need line of site to control the switches but can just install the switch and control it via RF from the URC remote. No IR funkiness to deal with.

There are some solutions out there, but nothing which is super reliable if you are talking about doing it with a IR 'across the room' blaster or a mirror.

You may want to try to switch things out for a Insteon dimmer system with this:

http://www.smarthome.com/2411R/IRLinc-Receiver-IR-to-INSTEON-Converter/p.aspx

This will keep the IR for the lights at the front of the room, while the adapter listed will convert the IR signals from your handheld remote (any brand) to powerline communications which should work fine with your wall switch.

It isn't cheap, but it is should be extremely reliable once it is setup.

 

[highfigh]

MDS - I believe that Lutron came out with some RF switches which are actually directly compatible with the RF line of URC remotes so that you don't need line of site to control the switches but can just install the switch and control it via RF from the URC remote. No IR funkiness to deal with.

There are some solutions out there, but nothing which is super reliable if you are talking about doing it with a IR 'across the room' blaster or a mirror.

You may want to try to switch things out for a Insteon dimmer system with this:

http://www.smarthome.com/2411R/IRLinc-Receiver-IR-to-INSTEON-Converter/p.aspx

This will keep the IR for the lights at the front of the room, while the adapter listed will convert the IR signals from your handheld remote (any brand) to powerline communications which should work fine with your wall switch.

It isn't cheap, but it is should be extremely reliable once it is setup.

Z-Wave is a way for some RF remotes to control lighting, but it seems that less companies are supporting that method. I just got off the phone with Harmony tier 2tech support and they aren't doing Z-wave on new models going forward. She said it was because not enough customers were using it, but I then informed her that URC isn't using it, either. They had previously offered Z-Wave control and now only support Zigby. It looks like only Nevo is the main remote, other than GE and theirs are made by UEI too, IIRC.

Only the Harmony 890 Pro and one other actually operate Z-Wave light controls. URC operates Lutron controllers, packaged as URC. I haven't looked into the others that can be controlled by URC lately.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Unfortunately, the Light switches are all behind me in my media room....
Regards,
-Mettius

Mine is to the side and a bit to the back but I don't want to turn it off at the same time as I turn everything on. So, I just select that command when I want to turn it off, point and fire.

 

[Mettius]

Mine is to the side and a bit to the back but I don't want to turn it off at the same time as I turn everything on. So, I just select that command when I want to turn it off, point and fire.

True, though there are certain activities I'd like better scripted. Like when I hit play I would like the lights to go off.
I'm probably going to be stuck with this as well, as I think all the solutions are going to be more than I'm willing to spend to address the issue.
(Spouse didn't balk when she mistook that the Harmony One for downstairs was $100, at checkout when she realized it was $200, there was some eye popping.)

Harmony One + "Aim over the head for lights as second action" = $200
Harmony 900 + RF Extender = $450
URC Branded Lutron + URC RF Remote w/touchscreen = $ 800 - $1,000
IR Repeater setup = $300+ and looks like it requires wiring in wall, not really an option.

On the plus side, if I present the above options to the spousal unit, I'm reasonably certain she will volunteer to run the remote and supply the necessary 2nd action. In essence, I gain. I go from one button click to zero!