Wireless RF Remote Control Extender Review

<P><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: arial"><A href="http://www.audioholics.com/productreviews/avhardware/WirelessRFRemoteControlExtender.php"><IMG style="WIDTH: 125px; HEIGHT: 95px" alt=[remoteextenderbattery_lg] hspace=10 src="http://www.audioholics.com/news/thumbs/remoteextenderbattery_lg_th.jpg" align=left border=0></A>Very seldom do I catch myself uttering the word "genius" silently to myself as I'm reviewing a piece of equipment. I have to say, I had my doubts about the Remote Control Extender when it was first brought to my attention last month. How can an IR remote control be automatically converted into a wireless RF remote simply by installing a battery/transmitter device in the unit itself? It just didn't make sense until </SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: arial">Bob</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: arial"> Dolatowski, President of Next Generation Home Products, Inc explained the Remote Control Extender to us in detail. For the price of a decent component video cable, you can transform your Logitech Harmony, receiver remote,&nbsp;or other universal remote control into a TRUE wireless RF unit - without clunky add-ons or IR converters.&nbsp;This is no joke - RUN and buy this product.</SPAN></SPAN></P><P><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: arial">[Read the Review]</SPAN></SPAN></P>
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Rob Babcock

Rob Babcock

Moderator
Looks very cool! I'll definately have to check it out. :)
 
krzywica

krzywica

Audioholic Samurai
Add that one to the already santa sized wish list.
 
E

elspankdog

Audiophyte
Will this thing work with the new Harmony 880 and its rechargeable lithium ion battery? :confused:
 
Unless Harmony changed its entire way of doing their remote codes (which I doubt) it should work great. You can certainly call and ask - and we should be getting the new remote to review so I'll be sure to test it out at that point.
 
M

Mac Man

Enthusiast
Remote issues?

I know you said a few remotes were not working with it, in the article it said that it had 2 frequencies, were these selectable or two different senders?
 
You can get it at Parts Express

I know you said a few remotes were not working with it, in the article it said that it had 2 frequencies, were these selectable or two different senders?
They are selectable on the "spaceship". If you use it with a cableTV remote, like I did, you might have to make a change. Obviously if you work with two remotes at once that require two different frequencies you may have a problem - but then you could always just get two complete units I suppose.
 
E

elspankdog

Audiophyte
Well I got an email from Next Generation, and they don't think it will work with the Harmony 880. They did say that they have units at Logitech being tested now, and they'll let me know of the outcome. Fingers crossed.

Brian
 
Z

zeke7237

Audiophyte
Actually ...

It's even simpler than you guys are thinking. Bob's doodad simply looks at the current flowing out of (through) the battery. The remotes quiescent current is very low, but when it turns the IR emitter on it's much greater. The remote extender simply senses the increased current and transmits whenever the IR is on, the receiver simply receives the signal and turns on the local IR emitter. I've not snooped the spectrum to see if it's CW or modulated in some way, but the key to the product is sensing the IR LED current ..
 
P

philh

Full Audioholic
I picked one up from Parts Express about a month ago, genius doesn't begin to describe the product. It controls the D*Tivo from anywhere in the house. In fact, if it wasn't for the committment, I'd drop one of the extra receivers.

My only complaint, it chews batteries up pretty quickly, only getting about two weeks of usage. Haven't gone to rechargeable AA, yet.
 
Tsunamii

Tsunamii

Full Audioholic
bald said:
Wow, I just got one of these from PE based on this review. Excellent product. Genius is right.

Anyone know where I can get the triple headed ir emitter shown on www.nghp.net (shown here http://www.nghp.net/images/3eyetclg.jpg ) website? Would be perfect addition to this product.

bald
I have also been on the hunt for one. Next Gen has been out of stock for awhile now and there is no light at the end of the tunnel for one soon. Anyone have any leads?
 
JohnA

JohnA

Audioholic Chief
PE will be getting them soon, as soon as Bob sends the info. Keep your eyes out for it.
 
Tsunamii

Tsunamii

Full Audioholic
I talked to Bob this morning. He said that the ones that were supposed to have been here had a polarity problem when they arrived in Korea and did not work. The new ones are supposed to be coming in around the end of August so check in with him around then if still need one. .
 
mtrycrafts

mtrycrafts

Seriously, I have no life.
Just one comment ;)
I couldn't help but notice one of the transmitting frequency, 433Mhz. That will interfere with one of your TV channels. I think it may be 59. I have a wireless weather station with an out door remote sensor. One day I see these wavy line patterns on that channel for a second or so, cyclically, about 32 seconds apart. Couldn't figure it out. Called the TV company. Nothing on his monitor in the truck, yet I had it on 2 TV sets. Then I noticed the weather station on the wall, 433Mhz. I asked him what frequency was that channel. You guessed it, 433Mhz.
I bet the other frequency will interfere with a RV channel too ;)
 
JohnA

JohnA

Audioholic Chief
mtrycrafts said:
Just one comment ;)
I couldn't help but notice one of the transmitting frequency, 433Mhz. That will interfere with one of your TV channels. I think it may be 59. I have a wireless weather station with an out door remote sensor. One day I see these wavy line patterns on that channel for a second or so, cyclically, about 32 seconds apart. Couldn't figure it out. Called the TV company. Nothing on his monitor in the truck, yet I had it on 2 TV sets. Then I noticed the weather station on the wall, 433Mhz. I asked him what frequency was that channel. You guessed it, 433Mhz.
I bet the other frequency will interfere with a RV channel too ;)
They are releasing a second version with a frequency of 418Mhz. On a side note...Bob had some computer problems, they had to redo their whole network so they were unable to send info...should be getting it soon!
 
N

newfmp3

Audioholic
I've tried a couple of times to contact these guys now with no success. very discomforting.

any other places i can buy one of these?
 
B

bald

Audiophyte
I've called their home office a couple times, and the last message I received was similar to the above poster, that the new triple headed IR blasters should be at partsexpress between the middle and end of August.

On a side note, any reason the board software decided to let 5 posts go buy over 2 months before sending me an email?

bald
 
newsletter

  • RBHsound.com
  • BlueJeansCable.com
  • SVS Sound Subwoofers
  • Experience the Martin Logan Montis
Top