We step through the basics of infrared control
Using the Digital Life TRADE MADE infrared kit (DLIRKITDB) we can put our sources in one room or in an enclosed TV cabinet and control them in another room using the remote to control it.
We have 4 parts to the Infrared Kit
- 1 x Power Supply
- 1 x Connecting Block
- 1 x Infrared Emitter (better known as the eye balls that receive the infrared signal)
- 1 x Infrared Target (we point our remote control at this)
As a kit this is basic plug and play. All connections are done using 3.5mm jacks and can plug directly into the connecting block. We will assume your equipment is in a TV cabinet and you've got the equipment covered so as you can't see it with the doors on the cabinet closed. The only thing you see is your TV and the TV cabinet. The rest is hidden. We simply connect the connecting block to the infrared emitter and the place the infrared emitter over the front of your source e.g DVD player. We have infrared cover caps made of plastic in the kit, that stick the emitter onto the front of your DVD player. We then take the Infrared target and peel off the double sided tape at the back of the target. We then tuck it neatly underneath or to the front sides of your TV facing your seating position and we stick to your TV. We then plug in the power supply, into the connecting block and we are ready to use it. Simply grab your DVD remote control and point it at the infrared target on your TV, you will see the target light up as it is receiving the signal from your remote. It should now be controlling your DVD player.
Source equipment In another room??
The same process can be done having your source equipment in another room. Simply extend the infrared target cable by plugging in 3.5mm extension cables for your desired distance. See our cables here. We leave the connecting block , power supply and infrared emitters all at the source end. You can now have the equipment away in another room and control it back at your TV.
Multiple TV's? Wanting to control your equipment in multiple rooms up to 4?
This is very easy and no problem at all - Although we now expect you to have some ability to solder or scotch lock(join) some small copper cables. First you need to purchase extra infrared targets. We sell these separately. You then cut the 3.5mm jacks off the ends. Here we strip back the cable and connect the wires inside to a copper stranded 3 or 4 core type cable purchased anywhere from one of our stockists here. Many installers use cat5e cable, but ideally using a stranded copper cable produces better results. After joining the targets to your stranded cable, run the stranded cable back to your connecting block at the source. We connect them here to the connecting block using the screw terminals and not the 3.5m jack. Contact us here for wiring/colour codes. There's 3 wires needed to join. Remember not to have any other infrared targets plugged directly into the connecting block via the 3.5mm jack if using this method, as it over rides the screw terminal connection and your targets won't work. Simply plug in your emitters and power supply as per usual.
Multiple sources?? E.g Pay Tv, DVD, blueray, Play station etc
This is no problem as the kit has 6 x 3.5mm jacks to accept up to 6 double infrared emitters. We sell these separately. This allows you to control up to 12 devices. Just purchase extra infrared emitters as required. Note if trying to control 2 Pay Tv boxes, they operate with the same remote therefore you will be controlling both at the same time, so this solution is not suitable for 2 devices with the same remote control codes.
Common problems with infrared control
- Sunlight will affect your infrared targets- Direct sunlight can pose issues with the target seeing too much sun, try to position it out of direct sunlight e.g away from windows etc.. Sunlight can also pose a problem at your source end, so ensure no direct sunlight is shining onto your infrared emitters.
- Too much infrared e.g Foxtel/Austar Pay TV set top boxes. These set top boxes are designed to work with the remote pointed at the back of them to eliminate user error, often they are receiving too much infrared. We can simply eliminate this problem by putting the infrared emitters to the side of the set top box or finding a position whereby the it works at it's best, away from directly over the infrared window (front of the set top box). This problem can also be aspirated if your remote is pointing at both the target and the source at the same time. If this occurs you need to make sure the source is not seeing infrared at the same time as your target is receiving the signal.
As always contact us for more advice if your not sure, we can design larger control systems. Hopefully this has helped you with the basics.
