hooking up a bathroom into home theater setup.

[lizardloren]

hey, I have a Direct TV HD DVR, DVD, CD Changer, Apple TV all hooked into an onkyo TX-SR605, which powers a 5.1 system. My question is, I would like to put a speaker in a master bathroom. I would like to get my music through the apple TV, but I'm fine with using the CD changer. How can I set this up without having to walk into my living room every time I want to change a song. I have seen a little thing that looks like an ipod that goes into the wall at my doctors office. What are those called and would something like that work?

Thanks a lot for your help!
Loren

 

[ParadigmDawg]

You can use some thing as simple as a Volume control or as complex as an IntelliPad. I have tried both and ended up really loving the IP.

Here is the one in my bedroom. It controls everything in my main room.

 

[lizardloren]

How do you go about hooking something like that up? How does it control the receiver? thanks.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

You have to use a control unit such as this connected to the IR port on your AVR and then run CAT5 wire from the MSU to the IntelliPad.

adkHighLander has a MSU for sale at a really good price.
Here is the link:
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48238

How do you go about hooking something like that up? How does it control the receiver? thanks.

 

[lizardloren]

Do I have an IR "port"? And because it is IR could I control my apple TV with the IntelliPad? Sorry if these questions seem ridicules, but I appreciate the help.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I can't really see the back of your AVR from this angle

I know nothing about Apple TV or how it's controlled. How is it hooked up and what all options does it have for hook up?

Do I have an IR "port"? And because it is IR could I control my apple TV with the IntelliPad? Sorry if these questions seem ridicules, but I appreciate the help.

 

[lizardloren]

O duh.. Google images: onkyo tx-sr 605

If it does not have a port, then what?


The Apple TV is controlled by a very simplistic remote. I stream my music from iTunes to the Apple TV, and can play a song using the Apple Tv remote, iTunes or my iPhone. I release I could use my iPhone to select a song, but would be nicer to control everything from a wall pad.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

It would be easier for you to look at the back of your AVR or look in the owners manual to see if you have an IR port.

How is the ATV hooked up? (what connections are available) for sources to be used in zone 2, they have to have a redundant analog hook up.

As far as control, it would not be an issue as long as it is IR. You would just use an IR flasher coming out of the MSU.

O duh.. Google images: onkyo tx-sr 605

If it does not have a port, then what?


The Apple TV is controlled by a very simplistic remote. I stream my music from iTunes to the Apple TV, and can play a song using the Apple Tv remote, iTunes or my iPhone. I release I could use my iPhone to select a song, but would be nicer to control everything from a wall pad.

 

[lizardloren]

I do not believe it has an IR port. It has an RI port to control other devices with the same remote, but I dont think thats the same.

As far as the Apple TV goes, I have it going into the AVR viva HDMI. It has an available Component video, Analog Audio and Digital Optical.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

How many mimi-plug ports do you see back there and what are they named?

You should have a 12v. trigger or control out and an IR port.

Sounds like the Apple will be fine.

I do not believe it has an IR port. It has an RI port to control other devices with the same remote, but I dont think thats the same.

As far as the Apple TV goes, I have it going into the AVR viva HDMI. It has an available Component video, Analog Audio and Digital Optical.

 

[lizardloren]

Im not sure what that is. here is a picture of the back:
http://raipr.com/downloads/Onkyo/TX-SR605/TXSR605 rear.jpg

 

[ParadigmDawg]

That remote control in should work for control. What does the owners manual say about it?

Let's see if we can get Adam to help on the AVR and Highlander to help on the control system. I will PM them and see.

 

[Adam]

P-Dawg...message received.

Hi, Loren. P-Dawg and Highlander are very knowledgeable about running in-wall and in-ceiling systems. I'm not, so I'm going to ask some questions that are based on my mindset of not running cables through the walls.

Are you planning on powering the speaker(s) in the bathroom from the Onkyo? If so, then you likely realize that you need to run speaker wire from the Onkyo to the speaker(s) in the bathroom. If not, then you don't need to control the Onkyo - you just need to control the AppleTV.

For example, if you want to hook up a wireless system that will take the audio out from your AppleTV and play it over speakers in your bathroom, then you just need to be able to change songs on the AppleTV and don't need to worry about any other component in your system. If that is what you'd like to do, let us know - there are different wireless systems available for speakers that aren't very expensive, and we could look into remote controls (or simply remote control extenders) for the AppleTV.

You all have my mind working this morning. I better get more coffee...

 

[adk highlander]

Got the message.

Adam has a very good idea using an RF remote control so you don't have to have a key pad and only have to run speaker wires to the in-ceilings and you could use the surround back outputs to power those speakers.

You do not have an IR in on your Onkyo. The RI is proprietary (sp.) and works with their iPod dock and other Onkyo products.

Keypads in manycases are just remote controls that transmit IR over a cat5 wire to the MSU and the MSU distributes the IR signals to each component via IR flashers.

So you could put a keypad in the wall and run cat5 wire to the MSU and add flashers to the front of each component. (you will need to have an anlog connection for each component to be used via Zone 2 of your reciever)

Now if you go RF then it is essentially the same except you will use the remote to send the IR data via RF to its MSU which will then use flashers to control each component.

My current whole house system I have a multizone Integra that I program via a laptop and then I have a minilcd monitor so I can view my music lists.

 

[lizardloren]

you will need to have an anlog connection for each component to be used via Zone 2 of your reciever

Ok, so If I want to have a monitor in the wall then I need to run analog video into he receiver as well as HDMI I already have. Do I have this correct?

And is there some sort of device that has a monitor and keypad all in one?

And as far as the wireless goes, I would like to be able to control the receiver's, power, volume, and inputs without having to walk into the other room.
Thanks!

 

[adk highlander]

Ok, so If I want to have a monitor in the wall then I need to run analog video into he receiver as well as HDMI I already have. Do I have this correct?

Analog Audio and Analog Video. Your AppleTV does not have composite video so you will not be able to use it for that. If it did I would probably have one instead of the Escient I have now. The Zone 2 will not use any digital audio connections so that has to be done as well for each component.

And is there some sort of device that has a monitor and keypad all in one?

Yes I have seen them from Crestron but they are a bit expensive and if it was your first foray into this it may be a bit much.

And as far as the wireless goes, I would like to be able to control the receiver's, power, volume, and inputs without having to walk into the other room.
Thanks!

Yes you would be able to do this with either a keypad or RF remote. The advantage to the Remote is that if you add more speakers later you would not be tied down to the keypad.

 

[lizardloren]

So what I think I will go with is a keypad hooked into 2 celling speakers. I want the keypad to turn on the AVR, volume, source, and be able to browse FM stations. I think I will get a small iPod touch to control the apple tv.

How does this plan sound? What keypad would you recommend for this, and what supplies should I buy?

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Crap, I didn't know you went this fancy. I will have to start all over now!

Got the message.

Adam has a very good idea using an RF remote control so you don't have to have a key pad and only have to run speaker wires to the in-ceilings and you could use the surround back outputs to power those speakers.

You do not have an IR in on your Onkyo. The RI is proprietary (sp.) and works with their iPod dock and other Onkyo products.

Keypads in manycases are just remote controls that transmit IR over a cat5 wire to the MSU and the MSU distributes the IR signals to each component via IR flashers.

So you could put a keypad in the wall and run cat5 wire to the MSU and add flashers to the front of each component. (you will need to have an anlog connection for each component to be used via Zone 2 of your reciever)

Now if you go RF then it is essentially the same except you will use the remote to send the IR data via RF to its MSU which will then use flashers to control each component.

My current whole house system I have a multizone Integra that I program via a laptop and then I have a minilcd monitor so I can view my music lists.

 

[Adam]

Crap, I didn't know you went this fancy. I will have to start all over now!

I was also amazed at how fancy Craig's system was. I'll never get that fancy, though...so I'm not even going to try!

Three glasses of cheap wine down the hatch, btw. The holiday is a startin' early.

 

[adk highlander]

So what I think I will go with is a keypad hooked into 2 celling speakers. I want the keypad to turn on the AVR, volume, source, and be able to browse FM stations. I think I will get a small iPod touch to control the apple tv.

How does this plan sound? What keypad would you recommend for this, and what supplies should I buy?

What is your budget?

I have used a ton of Niles gear and I cannot say enough good things about it. They have great customer service and tech support.

The Niles pad P-dawg has is discontinued but can be found on E-bay very reasonably priced. If you go with Niles you will need the following:

1) Keypad
2) MSU (main system unit)
3) Flashers for each component.

Another new one that looks nice is the URC KP-900 It can be done without adding any wire if you add a base station. So instead of the MSU you would need a RF base stationbase station and flashers like I lised above.

I do have an MSU-250 for sale I can give you a very good deal on but I would also look at the URC as well as you can carry it around.