Forum Discussion

mclee47's avatar
mclee47
Explorer
Mar 07, 2014

IR Repeater Problem

I recently bought at 2014 Allegro RED with an in-motion satellite system and a Panasonic SC-BTT190 Blu Ray player/home theater sound system. All the components are connected with a UV repeater with emitters attached to each component so that the remote control can be used in several places in the rig without a line of sight. The rig came with a Direct TV satellite receiver, but I replaced it with a Dish 211k receiver for compatibility my home system. All the components now work properly, but I am having trouble with the repeater. The repeater works fine on the Blu Ray, but it works only intermittently on the satellite receiver. As a test I moved the emitter from the Blu Ray to the satellite receiver, and it did not work any better than before. The remote control works properly only if I open the electronics bay door and point the remote directly at the receiver.

Does anyone have a clue what the problem might be? The only conclusion I can draw is that the repeater emitter signal output is incompatible with the remote signal output, but I thought all UV systems used compatible wavelengths.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    Mar 07, 2014
    I have one device in my motor home that is well "Shaded" when I point a remote at it (I do not currently use a repeater since I can do the remote thing via HTTP easier than I can remote an IR, This is a device I control directly)

    I glued a piece of aluminum foil in a position to act as a reflector,, Due to the placement of things, you do not even see the foil less you look at it (Ok, you might if you are 4'tall but I'm over six). works great.
  • lryrob9301's avatar
    lryrob9301
    Explorer
    Mar 07, 2014
    I have a 2013 Phaeton with a DISH VIP211K and the IR system works just fine. The trick is to get the IR emitter positioned exactly over the center of the IR window on the receiver. Once I got mine positioned correctly it worked correctly. Also when using the DISH remote I have found it works best to be aiming directly at the IR pickup point by the TV.
  • lanerd's avatar
    lanerd
    Explorer II
    Mar 07, 2014
    Look in your manual and you'll find that it specifically states the IR repeater is only compatible with Direct TV...not DISH.

    I had the same problem and fixed it by getting a IR to UV converter from Radio Shack (about $50). Now it works about 95% of the time.

    We also removed the in-motion antenna and replaced it with a Wineguard Trav'ler.

    If you're not already a part of, you might want to join the Tiffin forum at This Site. A lot of good info over there.

    Ron
  • mclee47's avatar
    mclee47
    Explorer
    Mar 07, 2014
    There are no CFLs in the rig as far as I know. All are LED types. The remote works just fine with the Blu Ray disc player/sound system. When I press a button on the Dish remote, the receiver LED flashes, but the Dish box switches only maybe every 10 pushes. It works the same on the TV up front and the one in the bedroom. That eliminates any occasional bleed through via the cabinet louvers. The repeater box has 2 or 3 uncovered LEDs, which I assume emit an IR signal, but the receiver is at 90 degrees to it. So maybe it receives from that only intermittently. Guess I need to turn the Dish box 90 degrees to see it that works. The emitter buttons are attached via a plug and cable to the repeater box.
  • CA_Traveler's avatar
    CA_Traveler
    Explorer III
    Mar 07, 2014
    Florescent lights can interfere with IR. Due to receiver mounting I switched to RF for my DTV receiver.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    Mar 07, 2014
    IR or UV.. We call it typelexia in other places where the average IQ is greater than mine... Brain Fart is a good explanation too.. Or in simpler words: OOPS

    Done it enough times to forgive you.

    Florescent lights sometimes bother I/R receivers.

    Discovered this when I used a repeater in the sticks and bricks.. I had a desk lamp with a CFL and if the light shined on the IR-Repeater it would indicate activity (Visible light led flashed) till I moved the lamp to shade the thing.. Then it worked normally.
  • aslakson's avatar
    aslakson
    Explorer
    Mar 07, 2014
    Brain farts get more frequent with age. :) I know from experience.

    al
  • mclee47's avatar
    mclee47
    Explorer
    Mar 07, 2014
    Thanks. That is undoubtedly the problem. I knew it was IR and not UV. Don't know why I said UV. Wrong end of the spectrum.
  • aslakson's avatar
    aslakson
    Explorer
    Mar 07, 2014
    First off, it's IR (InfraRed), not UV.

    And not all IR operates on the same frequencies. So it;s very likely that your IR repeater isn't passing the proper IR frequencies. There is one repeater - Hot Link Pro - that has a much broader frequency range than most others, if upgrading is something you want to do. I use the Hot Link Pro and have no compatibility issues with some gear that other repeaters won't control, but not specifically your receiver. Send Marcus at Hot Link an email - he'll tell you if it will work.

    That said, it may be the easiest thing is to see if Dish makes an RF remote. I did a quick Google search and found this spendy one, which looks like it has IR emitters. Makes me think that the Dish receiver doesn't natively support RF remotes.

    Good luck.

    al

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