where can I get an IR transmitter

dwebkombi · **5th July 2008, 11:33 PM**

Hi Guys,
I am setting up my second VMC. I have the MS remote but no IR transmitter. My main VMC uses a harmony 785. Looks like they are hard to get
Any ideas.....

dwebkombi · **6th July 2008, 05:08 PM**

any ideas guys?

Mysteron · **6th July 2008, 08:34 PM**

Do you mean the ir blasters that come with the MS remote receiver? If you do then I think I have a couple of unused ones I'd be happy to sell you. If interested PM me.

TheRob · **7th July 2008, 11:42 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwebkombi

Hi Guys,
I am setting up my second VMC. I have the MS remote but no IR transmitter. My main VMC uses a harmony 785. Looks like they are hard to get
Any ideas.....

If you mean the IR RECEIVER that plugs in via a USB port, then I don't believe you can buy these without the remote - they come as a set. There are third-party receivers available such as the iMon one from Soundgraph, but it'll probably be cheaper to just buy the MCE remote with the receiver and then keep the additional remote as a spare.

leigh · **16th July 2008, 02:10 PM**

im a bit confused but i hope im on the right track here.

i would also like to know where i can get the ir blaster (i am guessing this is the little bud that connects to the back of the mce remote receiver enabling the ir signal to be sent to another unit - like a amp or stb)

basically i have programed the remote to control the volume on my amp, but since the amp is behind a wooden panel i need the signal to be received by the mce remote receiver and then send it over to the amp.

if this is what i need, where do i get it? i have called quite a few shops in the city, including the shop i bought the remote from and they dont have it.
(i am in sydney)

think ill pm mysteron just in case

dgaust · **16th July 2008, 02:12 PM**

The IR emitter buds for the MS receiver won't do what you want. They're only for controlling a set top box. It won't pass through volume commands.

leigh · **16th July 2008, 02:25 PM**

thanks for that......what a pain though, so does that mean the only controls that can be sent through the blaster is play/pause/channel/stop and stuff like that?

this has been confusing and a bit of a hassle for me. i did buy the jaycar ir kit and did a bit of soldering, but it doesnt seem to work (i have never soldered anything before)
jaycar have units but they convert the signal to a radio wave and require each unit to be plugged into a power socket. which is total overkill for what i need.

dgaust · **16th July 2008, 02:34 PM**

No, the blaster is used by the mediacentre to change the channels in a set top box. It's really designed for the US, for cable set top boxes.

Pretty much your only answer is one of the IR senders like you mentioned. Not sure if you'll find battery powered ones though.

leigh · **16th July 2008, 02:39 PM**

thanks again for the info.

if i have to plug one in, thats cool.....but plugging in the power for 2 units to send a signal only centermeters is too much for me.

maybe i should give the kit another go.....i could have a component soldered on backwards or something.

misterp · **16th July 2008, 03:00 PM**

DGAust is 50% correct, but not entirely.

The IR buds and the MS receiver (the USB thingo) CAN be used to re-transmit ANY IR signal you need to.
However you need to use a 3rd party driver for the MS receiver.
This can be either Girder (http://www.xpmediacentre.com.au/comm.../www.girder.nl) or HIP (http://www.byremote.com.au/Hip/).
My preference is HIP as its free....and best bit..no additional parts/soldering required!
Basically, using the modified MS IR driver (included in the full download or find the remote your using), you can program the HIP driver/interface to use (for example) the coloured buttons on the remote to re-transmit (via a blaster) to another device.
It means you can program the HIP driver your Amp vol up/down IR commands to be re-transmit via the MS receiver blasters to your amp, when you press the vol up/down on your remote.
Bit of fiddling I know, and I should point out that previously you lost the 'triple tap' (i.e text entry via the remote) capabilities.
Anyway, should solve your problem. Needs a bit of reading and playing to get it to work, but the download does contain a standard MCE remote layout, so all you would have to do is modify the vol up/down to learn your amps vol up and down, and get HIP to re-transmit via a blaster.

Incidentally, the thing I liked is that you can set the HIP driver to send out specific commands to specific blasters (ports) so amp commands can go out via port 2, and STB via port 1 for example.

Hope it helps.

leigh · **16th July 2008, 04:11 PM**

[quote=misterp;209433]The IR buds and the MS receiver (the USB thingo) CAN be used to re-transmit ANY IR signal you need to.
However you need to use a 3rd party driver for the MS receiver.
This can be either Girder (http://www.xpmediacentre.com.au/comm.../www.girder.nl) or HIP (http://www.byremote.com.au/Hip/).

this would be brilliant. i guess there is no harm in getting hold of the ir blaster and giving the drivers a whirl.

thanks

misterp · **16th July 2008, 04:50 PM**

You can always make your own IR blaster up for around $5ish if your handy with a soldering iron.
Just a 2.5mm jack plug, some thin twin or 2 core wire(cheap speaker wire will work), and an IR transmitter LED (you can ger these from Dick Smiths/Jaycar/Altronics etc).
But..if someones willing to part with theirs..then maybe easier to pay a little more for less hassle.
Least HIP is free to try it, and if it doesnt work..less than $10 down the drain.

leigh · **16th July 2008, 04:55 PM**

im not that handy, but i think i will have those parts lying around. i will give it a go tonight.