Remote extenders and Videosenders
Controlling equipment in a cabinet
What's a SkyLink remote extender?
Controlling a cable TV box Remote Extenders and Videosenders
What is a "Remote Extender"?
A remote extender has a "magic eye" that can receive the signals from a nearby remote control and send them back to control equipment in a different room - some use cable and some use wireless transmission. It does NOT handle video or audio signals itself, but will pass them if it is a type which uses a coaxial cable between rooms.
What is a Videosender?
This is a combination of a transmitter (which normally is designed to take the Scart video and audio outputs and modulates them onto a high-frequency "carrier") and a receiver (which converts the signals back to standard video plus left and right audio for a normal Scart connection. You will need equipment with a Scart socket. Some Videosenders also act as a Remote Extender as well.
Can you recommend a "Remote Extender" ?
No, it's a personal choice and depends very much on what equipment you have, your house layout and whether you want or have suitable cables installed. Please read the notes about wired and wireless systems, below.
Can you recommend a Videosender?
No, it's a personal choice but there are some notes below that might help you to decide.
Will a wireless Videosender or Remote extender work in my house?
It's impossible to guess but here are some notes which might help.
The units should not be placed too close to sources of interference such as TV sets, VCRs, microwave ovens etc. This also applies to any equipment which may belong to a neighbour with an adjoining wall.
The units should be kept away from sources of heat - i.e. not placed on top of or near anything that is warm to the touch.
The units should be positioned where they can not "see" sources of infra-red radiation (eg. sunshine, electric fire).
Also please note that mercury vapour UV lights, faulty fluorescent or "energy-saver" lamps can interfere with the operation, as can other transmitting equipment such as DECT phones and wireless LAN operating on 2.4Ghz. If in doubt, try unplugging such pieces of equipment temporarily.
The signal which such units are permitted to transmit is limited by law to a tiny amount (a few milliWatts), so that there is minimal risk of interference to other equipment. Unfortunately this does mean that if there's any locally generated interference from, say, mercury vapour lights or even a poorly designed TV, then they simply won't work reliably. Some buildings seem especially prone to such problems - possibly because of internal metalwork or wiring - and there's nothing that can be done in such cases. Wall-mounted (thin) TV sets are especially prone to transmitting interference and units may need to be at least 3 metres away in order to work reliably. In addition, double-screened coaxial cable should be used for the "extender" connections.
Older houses may have "chicken wire" supporting the plaster on partition walls. Newer houses with "dry-lined" plasterboard walls may have aluminium foil on the reverse side of the plasterboard. This applies equally to plasterboard used on ceilings. You can normally determine whether this is so by using a cheap "pipe locator" which you can buy from most hardware stores.
How do I control equipment in a cabinet?
The obvious way is to buy a cabinet with a glass door. If that's not an option, how about cutting out the door panel to leave just the frame; then cover the frame with loudspeaker cloth such as "Tygan". This cloth has an open weave that lets light through. (It also lets air through - don't you dare stack your equipment in a cabinet without one or more fans to draw cool air through!)
If none of that is possible then you can use a wired or wireless remote extender (see below). Painting the door matt white (inside the cabinet) will let it reflect the infra red signal onto the equipment front panels.
What is a "Skylink" Remote Extender?
This is a specific type of "magic eye" which works with a UK Sky Digibox. Several manufacturers produce these under various names such as "tvLINK". It converts the infrared signals from the remote control into a high frequency radio signal which it sends down the cable that brings the picture/sound signal to the television in another room. See magic eye review.
What are the RF Outputs on a Sky Digibox?
RF outputs 1 and 2 give the aerial input signal plus the selected Sky satellite channel. Output 2 is also an input for the "SkyLink" signals. It supplies a voltage (between 8 and 9 volts DC) up the coaxial cable to power the SkyLink "eye". The remote signals are passed back down the coaxial cable to RF output 2 and control the digibox. RF output 1 does not have this facility. If you want to split the signal from RF output 2 you must use a special splitter which is compatible.
Can a "Skylink" extender be used to control other equipment apart from a Sky Digibox?
Yes if you use it with a tvLINK-Plus device.
I have a Cable TV box. What can I use with this?
Please read THIS PAGE. (page 11 in the Technical section).
What's the difference between the Skylink extenders?
They are made by various manufacturers in different shapes, colours and sizes but they all do the same job. You can choose from the tvLINK, DigiLink, SLXlink, Triax Digital-Link and others.
How do I split the signal so I can use TWO Skylink extenders?
You will need a special splitter which is compatible.
>I have sky digital, but am thinking of getting sky +, if I do get sky+
>I want to also watch it in two additional rooms, but am not keen in keeping
>my Digibox and paying an extra subsciption. Can you please advise what
>products I need, my options etc.
You will need a length of cable to connect your Digibox to a second TV. Use double-screened cable to minimise interference and to ensure compatibility with digital aerial signals. Adding a remote extender will allow you to control the Digibox from the other room.
If you want to expand to more than one addition TV apart from your main TV then you will need to use:
- A special splitter or a two-output amplified splitter for up to two TV sets.
- A four-output amplified splitter for up to four TV sets.
- An eight-output amplified splitter for up to eight TV sets.
- Remote extenders if you wish to control the Digibox from other rooms.
You might also want to buy more SKY+ remote control handsets to leave permanently in the other rooms.
TIP
Be sure to buy TV sets that are compatible with the Sky remote. Many are not.
If you want to expand your system further to include radio or DAB then you should consider using a Loft Box. This is best explained by a diagram.
There is a wide choice of remote extenders in our on-line catalogue.
The "SkyLink" compatible remote extenders require coaxial cable connection - they use the same cable that takes the TV pictures to other rooms. These extenders operate ONLY Sky and Sky+ Digiboxes unless you add a "tvLINK-Plus" unit. See catalogue entry. Also consider our SmartEye and SmartBlaster combination. Not only is this Sky compatible but it can also control other equipment.
If you have a Sky+ and a standard Sky Digibox, you should look at our "Plus Combiner".
What if I have two identical Sky boxes in the same room?
Obviously they will both respond to the same remote control so you need to be a bit clever. Click HERE.
What if I can't install a cable?
If you prefer to go the wireless route - perhaps because you already have your house cabled with a system that is not SkyLink compatible - then you could use the "Powermid" system:
Alternatively the "DIGIEYE DG100DE" does a similar job but is also compatible with IRDA infrared systems as used in some cable TV boxes and other equipment.
If you need to go beyond this and transmit the picture and sound without cables then you need a videosender.
The DIGISENDER DG200 not only transmits the picture and sound but also acts as a remote extender!
Wireless systems have the advantage of sending STEREO audio, however the signal is very weak (a legal requirement to prevent interference with neighbour's equipment) and can give unreliable results in some properties.
Wired systems send only MONO audio and can be inconvenient to install but they tend to be more reliable.
Please note, however, that ALL remote extender systems are prone to interference from flat-screen displays. In some cases, the "magic eye" receiver has to be moved as much as 3 metres away from such displays.
What if I want good quality picture and stereo audio?
You can use a videosender (see above) or you can use a long Scart lead (up to 30 metres - we stock ten metre flat leads and couplers) or you can use our "Milestone" system.
I hope this helps you to choose which product to buy. In most cases I can not advise you if you ask "what do you recommend?" because it's a personal choice based on your house layout, existing wiring, existing equipment and many other factors. Whatever I suggest is certain to have some drawback (for which you'll blame me!) so don't ask. However, I'll try to answer questions about a specific product or else direct you to the manufacturer if I can't provide a quick answer.
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