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IR Remote Control Extenders

J

Jim Thompson

Jan 1, 1970
0
Anyone have experience with the "Next Generation" Remote Control
Extenders?

Or recommendations for alternate types?

...Jim Thompson
 
J

Joel Kolstad

Jan 1, 1970
0
J

Jim Thompson

Jan 1, 1970
0
Jim,



What do you mean by, "Next Generation?"

I have one of these:
http://www.amazon.com/Terk-Technologies-LF-IRX-Leapfrog-Extender/dp/B000069EV0
... and it worked fine (we had a DVD player in a hall closest controlled by us
in the bedroom). (Now it's just in a box since we moved and I don't have a
need for it anymore -- want it?)

---Joel

"Next Generation" is a brand.

Sounds clever. One of the AA cells in your remote is replaced with a
rechargeable cell that also includes an RF transmitter at 433MHz. So
you don't have to point, just "click" ;-)

Did you have any "issues" with the Terk unit?

I've just started contemplating "remote" remotes, so I'm open to any
and all suggestions, cautions, etc.

...Jim Thompson
 
J

Joel Kolstad

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hi Jim,

Jim Thompson said:
"Next Generation" is a brand.

Sounds clever. One of the AA cells in your remote is replaced with a
rechargeable cell that also includes an RF transmitter at 433MHz. So
you don't have to point, just "click" ;-)

Ah, yeah, I've seen that one advertised; it does seem clever.
Did you have any "issues" with the Terk unit?

No, although we weren't really "stressing" the unit: There was only one in the
house and the required range was only about 15' through one wall.

---Joel
 
M

Michael A. Terrell

Jan 1, 1970
0
Jim said:
"Next Generation" is a brand.

Sounds clever. One of the AA cells in your remote is replaced with a
rechargeable cell that also includes an RF transmitter at 433MHz. So
you don't have to point, just "click" ;-)


Several of my remotes have a single AA or AAA cell. That would be
real interesting to see it work.


--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida
 
J

Joerg

Jan 1, 1970
0
Joel said:
Hi Jim,




Ah, yeah, I've seen that one advertised; it does seem clever.

Clever it is indeed. The usefulness depends on how long that
rechargeable holds enough charge. If it's the usual three months or so
I'd give it a thumbs down.
 
J

Joel Kolstad

Jan 1, 1970
0
Joerg said:
Clever it is indeed. The usefulness depends on how long that rechargeable
holds enough charge. If it's the usual three months or so I'd give it a
thumbs down.

If they were *really* clever they'd just suck power from the other batteries
in series to give themselves 1.5V. (Essentially a 1.5-4.5V boost coverter.)

Although obviously that doesn't work for Michael's one-cell remotes.

Are N-type cells the same diameter as AA's? Then you could just go back to
using primary cells.

---Joel
 
J

Joerg

Jan 1, 1970
0
Joel said:
If they were *really* clever they'd just suck power from the other batteries
in series to give themselves 1.5V. (Essentially a 1.5-4.5V boost coverter.)

Although obviously that doesn't work for Michael's one-cell remotes.

Are N-type cells the same diameter as AA's? Then you could just go back to
using primary cells.

No idea. However, the main challenge is that any batteries for such
mundane tools must be available at the local grocery. It's pathetic but
nowadays people consider it a major inconvenience when the remote quits
and, gasp, they have to get off the couch to switch the channel.
 
F

flipper

Jan 1, 1970
0
No idea. However, the main challenge is that any batteries for such
mundane tools must be available at the local grocery. It's pathetic but
nowadays people consider it a major inconvenience when the remote quits
and, gasp, they have to get off the couch to switch the channel.

Yeah. Next thing ya know they'll be wanting electric starters and
windows on their cars instead of hand cranks.
 
J

Joerg

Jan 1, 1970
0
flipper said:
Yeah. Next thing ya know they'll be wanting electric starters and
windows on their cars instead of hand cranks.


My first car had a hand crank. Worked fine :)

It's windows were semi-automatic though: Curve to the left, right window
opens a bit. Curve to the right, left window opens. But they never fell
off while driving (the trunk lid did once ...).
 
M

Michael A. Terrell

Jan 1, 1970
0
Joerg said:
My first car had a hand crank. Worked fine :)

It's windows were semi-automatic though: Curve to the left, right window
opens a bit. Curve to the right, left window opens. But they never fell
off while driving (the trunk lid did once ...).


Trunk lid? That's better than the hood at 55 MPH.


--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida
 
J

Joerg

Jan 1, 1970
0
Michael said:
Trunk lid? That's better than the hood at 55 MPH.

Yeah, but this was on an Autobahn. I noticed a sudden "air conditioned
feeling", then saw sparks flying in my rear view. Screeeeech. Luckily it
was at night and other cars were still far off. Ran into the lane,
picked it up.
 
M

Michael A. Terrell

Jan 1, 1970
0
Joerg said:
Yeah, but this was on an Autobahn. I noticed a sudden "air conditioned
feeling", then saw sparks flying in my rear view. Screeeeech. Luckily it
was at night and other cars were still far off. Ran into the lane,
picked it up.


One hinge held, but the hood slammed into the side of the car, right
on a weld in the unibody and cracked it. Then it went back up, and into
the engine compartment where smashed the brake fluid reservoir, and the
top of one of the carburetors before it caught on the windshield wiper
post on the driver's side. The inside of the hood was covering the
windshield in heavy traffic on I 75, near Cincinnati. I couldn't see,
had no brakes, and the damaged carburetor wouldn't let me slow down. I
was power downshifting while looking out the side window to stay in my
lane, and every bump caused the cracked weld to grow. By the time I was
able to stop, the crack was all the way from the door post on the
passenger side of the car, to my feet on the driver's side. The car was
a total loss, and caused a lot of people to slam on their brakes and try
to miss me as they slid into the emergency lane. That was the last time
I drove a European built car. French engineering, my ass! :(


--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida
 
F

flipper

Jan 1, 1970
0
One hinge held, but the hood slammed into the side of the car, right
on a weld in the unibody and cracked it. Then it went back up, and into
the engine compartment where smashed the brake fluid reservoir, and the
top of one of the carburetors before it caught on the windshield wiper
post on the driver's side. The inside of the hood was covering the
windshield in heavy traffic on I 75, near Cincinnati. I couldn't see,
had no brakes, and the damaged carburetor wouldn't let me slow down.

Turn ignition key to 'off' position.
 
F

flipper

Jan 1, 1970
0
My first car had a hand crank. Worked fine :)

So did mine.

My second car didn't even have a window crank, though. Side windows
fit in a rubber (gasket) 'slot' on the bottom with the top held by
spring clips. Lotus Europa S1.

It's windows were semi-automatic though: Curve to the left, right window
opens a bit. Curve to the right, left window opens. But they never fell
off while driving (the trunk lid did once ...).


Good grief, and I thought the Europa was bad for parts falling off,
but they never fell completely off. It's favorite was to drop one end
of the shift lever cross link so you had only 3'rd and 4'th gear.
 
J

Joerg

Jan 1, 1970
0
flipper said:
So did mine.

My second car didn't even have a window crank, though. Side windows
fit in a rubber (gasket) 'slot' on the bottom with the top held by
spring clips. Lotus Europa S1.

Mine had a little cantilever spring thingie. Press it and the lower half
pane could be pushed out and up. Citroen 2CV. It actually did have a
rope actuated starter but the 6V batteries had become so expensive that
it wasn't in a student's budget. So I used the crank. A stack of D-cells
provided the initial juice for the ignition coil.
 
J

Joerg

Jan 1, 1970
0
flipper said:
Turn ignition key to 'off' position.

But not too far, else the steering wheel locks and that can be really
bad news.
 
M

Michael A. Terrell

Jan 1, 1970
0
flipper said:
Turn ignition key to 'off' position.


With a manual transmission, at 55 MPH? The car was already
disintegrating around me, I didn't need to att more stress to the failed
unibody. You do it. If you live, you can brag about it.



--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida
 
F

flipper

Jan 1, 1970
0
With a manual transmission, at 55 MPH? The car was already
disintegrating around me, I didn't need to att more stress to the failed
unibody.

Besides it being better to be alive, even with a 'wrecked' car, than
dead with what would, no doubt, also be a wrecked car it isn't any
more stress than normal driving.
You do it. If you live, you can brag about it.

Already have, when the throttle cable on my Lotus Europa seized up
while doing a flat out acceleration run. Cable seized at the 3'rd to
4'th power shift and I simultaneously popped the clutch back in, hit
brakes, and killed the ignition.

Of course, I had picked an absolutely empty road at 3:00 in the
morning to do it, which left the matter of how to get home.

I reworked the manual choke into a limited throttle control and limped
the 20 miles back using that.

Then there was the time the clutch arm broke and I had to drive back
in traffic turning the motor off at stop lights and restarting it
while in gear, but that's another story.

Did I mention the Europa liked to drop parts?
 
M

Michael A. Terrell

Jan 1, 1970
0
flipper said:
Besides it being better to be alive, even with a 'wrecked' car, than
dead with what would, no doubt, also be a wrecked car it isn't any
more stress than normal driving.


Already have, when the throttle cable on my Lotus Europa seized up
while doing a flat out acceleration run. Cable seized at the 3'rd to
4'th power shift and I simultaneously popped the clutch back in, hit
brakes, and killed the ignition.

Of course, I had picked an absolutely empty road at 3:00 in the
morning to do it, which left the matter of how to get home.

I reworked the manual choke into a limited throttle control and limped
the 20 miles back using that.

Then there was the time the clutch arm broke and I had to drive back
in traffic turning the motor off at stop lights and restarting it
while in gear, but that's another story.

Did I mention the Europa liked to drop parts?


Did I mention that the welds in the floor had cracked, and the
bottom of the body was scraping the highway? Or that the opening was
wide enough for my feet to go through? Or the car that was about 25
feet behind me, blowing his horn for me to get out of his way? The roof
was the only thing holding the car together by the time I got it
stopped.


Did I mention that it was an Opel Cadette?

--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida
 
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