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jeremybe
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Posted: May 09 2007 at 12:46 | IP Logged Quote jeremybe

Hi -
I'm moving all of my home theatre equipment to my Family room and I have been working on controlling my Insteon lights from my MX3000 remote control - Originally I was going to utilize the IR X10 bridge, but I have decided I would like to keep everything X10 free (My Neighbors X10 signals keep jumping into my house!) - I purchase an Amplifed Xantech IR block and thought I would install a Xantech 490 IR receiver in my cabinet - The thought is I would connect the output of the the IR block to my USB-UIRT and have the USB-UIRT with Powerhome software control the lights - My problem is that the Xantech block is located in my family room and my PC running Powerhome is locate across the house maybe 100 feet away - I would have no problem running a wire that distance, but can I have an emitter that far away? How would I do this?

Any help would be appreciated
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ginigma
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Posted: May 09 2007 at 16:24 | IP Logged Quote ginigma

Not sure where your USB-UIRT is located. Can you move that to the Xantech block? You can get USB cable extenders which run over Cat5 wire. I'm using one that Dave recommended.


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nadler
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Posted: May 10 2007 at 07:14 | IP Logged Quote nadler

I just started to use speakercraft ir which is similar to xantech. I run an emitter from the amplified speakercraft block from the second floor to the basement and then one flight up to where my computer and USB-UIRT are located. This is done over Cat 5e and altho I don't think it's quite 100 feet, it's pretty close. Works well, with no false signals. I use my Harmony remote to control the lights in my bedroom.
You could always try it, just using 100 feet of wire, without running it through the walls yet.
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jeremybe
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Posted: May 10 2007 at 11:48 | IP Logged Quote jeremybe

I'm about 100 Ft away - I could use a USB extender I guess... Does it really work??? What brand did dave reccommend?

ginigma wrote:
Not sure where your USB-UIRT is located. Can you move that to the Xantech block? You can get USB cable extenders which run over Cat5 wire. I'm using one that Dave recommended.
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jeremybe
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Posted: May 10 2007 at 11:50 | IP Logged Quote jeremybe

nadler wrote:
I just started to use speakercraft ir which is similar to xantech. I run an emitter from the amplified speakercraft block from the second floor to the basement and then one flight up to where my computer and USB-UIRT are located. This is done over Cat 5e and altho I don't think it's quite 100 feet, it's pretty close. Works well, with no false signals. I use my Harmony remote to control the lights in my bedroom.
You could always try it, just using 100 feet of wire, without running it through the walls yet.


I'm a little confused, is the IR emitter spliced into the cat5???
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nadler
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Posted: May 10 2007 at 12:44 | IP Logged Quote nadler

Exactly. I cut the emitter wire in half and spliced the Cat5 in between. (I actually have it connected to cat5 plugs and it plugs into the wall, since each room has a Cat5 homerun to the basement. But the same idea, just a little neater).
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ginigma
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Posted: May 10 2007 at 15:44 | IP Logged Quote ginigma

jeremybe wrote:
I'm about 100 Ft away - I could use a USB extender I guess... Does it really work??? What brand did dave reccommend?

Here are links to 2 different threads with links to cat5 USB extenders. I'm pretty sure I got the one from Cyberguys, and I got one with a 4-port hub. I'm only using one port for now though. Using more than one port requires a wall wart to power the hub (at the far end, not at the PC end). I have no problems.
Link 1
Link 2


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