Re: IR Blasters?

[nobody@xxxxxxxxxxxx (Dave Houston)]

The range of any IR emitter is mostly a function of the drive current
available from the IR signal source. Most microcontroller based devices need
to limit the current to a level that the microcontroller pins can handle.
So, you're really looking at this the wrong way around. If you have
sufficient drive current, almost any emitter can give the range you need.
Because the duty cycle is low, most emitters can handle lots of current. If
you do not have sufficient drive current, no unamplified emitter will give
you the range needed.

Is your objection to the Powermid based on appearance? If not, its built-in
emitter gives more than adequate range with no need to add any external
blaster. There are other Powermid-like devices with a better esthetic but
whether they have similarly powered built-in emitters may depend on the
specific make/model.

Finally, the term "IR Blaster" has come to be used with widely varying
devices from stick-on emitter-only devices to amplified devices that are
more deserving of the name.

"Craig M. Armstrong" <upzqsse02@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>Thank you for your input. What blasters have you used, could you
>provide part numbers so I can search for them?
>
>I was planning on putting them ten feet away, directly line of sight,
>is that too far?
>
>Does the Xtra Link (172-94) kit have an IR setting?
>
>On May 29, 5:53 pm, Bugga <big_bug...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>> Most blasters work pretty good if you have it far enough away from the
>> rack (component) to get a good pattern... on convex surfaces and nice
>> components that won't take a crappy looking emitter I've placed one on
>> the front of "something" like the rack, shelf, etc. and bounced the IR
>> pulse off the adjacent wall... works great providing the didtance
>> isn't too far away or angled funny. Good luck.
>>
>> Oh yeah, turn your processor's IR setting up to high if equipped.
>>
>> -bugga
>>
>> On May 29, 3:59 pm, "Craig M. Armstrong" <upzqss...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> wrote:
>>
>> > I know that sticking emitters on each individual component is the
>> > preferred method of IR distribution. But I'd still like to know what
>> > "blaster" options are available.
>>
>> > I'd rather avoid sticking an emitter on a powermid and using it to do
>> > the blasting.
>>
>> > I just want to put a box on an end table or shelf about ten feet from
>> > about ten components I want to control and connect that to the output
>> > of a Xantech xtralink kit.
>>
>> > --
>> > Craig
>