Do you know why you really need to have the Best IR repeater (the best-infrared repeater)? If you don’t, then allow me to tell you a little bit about owning one at home. I shall then share with you some of the best repeaters around.
The majority of home theaters have plenty of cables and other equipment; it’s almost impossible to set them up without creating a horrific mess. Ordinarily, you can’t tuck all the stuff out of sight in a cabinet or closet, but as the remote controllers won’t work because they need an unobstructed path, you need to think about alternatives.
The good news is that there’s a way in which you can hide away most of the stuff and still get the remote controllers to work – Infrared repeater kits. But you need the Best IR Repeater so that you do not face issues while you want to use your home theater.
What’s an IR Repeater?
An IR Repeater is a system that converts the infrared light from the remote controller into electric signals that can be distributed easily to remote-controllable components of a device. Therefore, IR repeaters eliminate the clutter of devices and wires by hiding them from the view.
Good IR repeaters control hidden audio and visual elements from long ranges. Here are the best IR repeaters in the market today.
BAFX Products IR Repeater Review
• It works with a regular USB cord
• Comes with an IR receiver and a distribution block
• Has a long-range capacity
• It’s relatively affordable
BlastIR Wireless IR Repeater Review
The best thing about this product is that Sewell provides you with all the components you need in a single convenient package so you can send IR signals to any place. Also because this repeater kit is wireless, it tends to look a bit more organized. The following are the other advantages of using this product:
• Comes with IR Reciever and Optional IR Cables
• Includes an IR Emitter
Nevertheless, the product isn’t compatible with the following:
• Dish Hopper 3
• Dish VIP 211
• Cisco 8300 HDC
• Cisco 9865 HDC
• Cisco Explorer 4240 HDC
• Cisco Explorer 4640 HDC
• Cisco Explorer 4642 HDC
• Cisco Explorer 4742 HDC
BlastIR Pro Multizone by Sewell Multiple Zone Remote Control Extender Kit Review
The problem often is, if some of your screens use the same video source or the same remote control, changing the channel on one screen changes the channel on all screens attached to the repeater.
This can be fixed with this Multizone repeater. 3 “zones” are available and any input you give to your television is sent to the correct zone and only changes the video source you want. This setup is great if you have a standalone AV cabinet or closet where the components are all together and behind a door.
Also if you simply have multiple cable boxes in one spot you can avoid interference with multiple zones. Dual-band IR and RC-MM IR signals are supported. Included in this kit are 3 receivers 3 dual emitters a 5V DC adapter and setup instructions.
Sewell Direct SW-30471 BlastIR
Its distribution technology enables you to hide the heavy entertainment equipment such as the cable box, satellite receiver, the amplifier, and much more without losing the ability to control them.
The repeater uses a dual-band system, and thus works with most IR devices.
Buying Guide – How to find the best IR Repeater for your needs.
1. The receiver’s band
Going for a single-band receiver may save you a few bucks, but for performance purposes, it’s advisable to go for dual-band models.
2. The connection block
How many emitters can the repeater’s connection block handle? If you’re looking for maximum functionality, go for the device that can control many emitters. As a matter of fact, some infrared repeaters can handle as many as 18 emitters.
Final Word
Finding the best IR repeater can make running your home theater system an easy task. Remember, a good infrared repeater is easy to use and emits strong signals that work perfectly with out-of-sight audio/visual components. Also, keep in mind that the best IR repeaters have a long-range and are able to work perfectly with multiple devices.
Don’t forget to have a look at our other best reviews at Helpful reviewer.