Using a Relay Rack for Accessible AV Equipment

[admin]

Many readers of our website know that we're avid fans of getting your flat panel TV off the furniture and onto the wall. In fact we've written several different articles about this in the past. But what may not be so obvious, because we haven't yet made a big enough stink about it, is that we also love to make those flat panels seem almost "magical". How do you do that? By hiding the source components and equipment that make them work and send them their signal. Now, you may not want to do this with truly high-end gear and if you take lots of pride in your assortment of amps, pre-processors, flagship Blu-ray players and other equipment, but, if you're like most people, that doesn't describe you. If you're like most people, you've got a mainstream AV receiver and some source components that get the job done, but don't rise to the level of "glamorous" or "high-end".

Discuss "Using a Relay Rack for Accessible AV Equipment" here. Read the article.

 

[cwall99]

It is a brilliant idea, doing that, but, and feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, aren't you leaving out the most expensive element of doing this? Buying and configuring the RF remote control? I can't see my IR remotes being capable of seeing around corners or through doors all that well.

 

[JohnA]

You can do it with an IR target at the TV location and an IR distro hub in the rack.

It is a brilliant idea, doing that, but, and feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, aren't you leaving out the most expensive element of doing this? Buying and configuring the RF remote control? I can't see my IR remotes being capable of seeing around corners or through doors all that well.

 

[highfigh]

It is a brilliant idea, doing that, but, and feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, aren't you leaving out the most expensive element of doing this? Buying and configuring the RF remote control? I can't see my IR remotes being capable of seeing around corners or through doors all that well.

Truly trouble-free installations use RF and/or RS232 control, not IR directly from the remote. IR has several inherent weaknesses- sunlight, plasma TVs, lighting and range all make IR systems unreliable. For the cost of a plasma-proof IR receiver and all of the other parts, an RF remote with emitters or, now, whole system controllers are coming down in price, so that's another option. The equipment doesn't need to be in view, at all, and security is another reason for not showing it.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

It is a brilliant idea, doing that, but, and feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, aren't you leaving out the most expensive element of doing this? Buying and configuring the RF remote control? I can't see my IR remotes being capable of seeing around corners or through doors all that well.

Maybe be not the necessarily most expensive, but if choosing pro-product and pro programming - yes the $$$ signs will add up quickly.

I use URC RF20 remote (bought as kit for $80) - which works fine and it's cheap, but programming its is quite annoying.

On my to do list is programming of URC MX-900 and MRF-350 which I got both from ebay (used) for about $150. I got lucky and found the URC software, but it is not easy to find as URC limits the distribution to installers only.

 

[js19707]

great idea!

can you share details of the dolly w/ casters that you used as a base? i'm having trouble finding something that appears suitable..

 

[maratspolan]

Follow-up Questions

Thanks so much for the article. I had two follow-up questions, which I hoped you could answer.

1) Why do you need the Tributaries PWRC-T10X Home Theater Power Bar and the APC S-15? Wouldn't the APC S-15 be sufficient?

2) If I have the Pioneer Elite SC-68 Receiver, do I still need an amplifier like the Emotiva? It would seem that the Receiver would be providing all the amplification I would need? Am I off with my thinking?

Thanks so much!