The Official Smarthome Blog – All Things Home Automation

• Pass IR signals through doors/walls to control hidden AV components without line of sight
• CFL Resistant mini surface-mount IR Receiver accepts signals from up to 40 feet away
• Two included IR emitters stick directly onto your AV equipment – supports up to six IR emitters
• IR receiver and IR emitters work with existing remote controls
• IR Receiver works in most lighting environments and is CFL resistant
• LED status indicators on connecting block

The Vanco 280731 CFL Resistant 1×6 IR Repeater Kit is a great way to control your home theater components that are located inside of a media cabinet or in an AV equipment closet. Most AV components are controlled via an infrared (IR) remote control that requires a line of site to work between the remote control and the component(s). So components located behind closed doors can’t be controlled unless the doors are open, which defeats the purpose. An IR repeater kit solves this problem. The mini surface-mount IR receiver is the only item that needs to be visible. It receives IR commands from your remote, passes it through the connecting block and distributes the signals out through the IR emitters. This system allows you to keep a cable or satellite TV receiver, stereo receiver or amplifier, CD player, DVD player, Blu-ray player, or virtually any component controlled by an IR signal behind closed doors so you can use your remote control like normal.   Read More

The Redfish Instruments iDVM Digital MultiMeter (DMM) makes measuring and utilizing voltage, current, and resistance data much, much easier than any other product on the market. With its unique, advanced features, the iDVM will facilitate your work, save you time, and increase your productivity. The iDVM is the only DMM on the market that works with Apple’s iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad products. Our unique voltmeter measures voltage, current, and resistance. The iDVM wirelessly links to the Apple devices to allow the use of the tremendous Apple interface as an interface to the electrical measurements made by our device.

As a result of the integration of this advanced DMM with Apple devices, users can acquire data, save it, email it, post it to a web server, or display it for further visualization. Using the integrated speech function, the iDVM can “speak” the measurement through the iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad integrated speaker or earphones.

The iDVM application is easy to navigate and easy to use. It looks just like the volt meter that you’re used to using, but it let’s you do so much more. Read More

• Eight IR receiver input ports
• One IR receiver output to connecting block port
• Hardwired termination ensures a solid connection
• No Power supply required
• Mounting holes for secure placement in you audio video (AV) control center

If you want to control a single group of AV components from your IR remote control(s) from multiple areas throughout your home, consider using this Vanco 280735 8-Port IR Receiver Hub. The hub is hardwired with up to eight IR receivers and outputs to a single IR connecting block. From the connecting block, emitters go out to your AV components. The IR receiver takes in a signal from your remote control, passes it to the hub, through to the connecting block and out to the emitters allowing you to remotely control your AV components behind cabinet doors or in a closet. The supplied terminal blocks on the hub facilitate making the wire connections and can accommodate wire sizes ranging from 24 AWG to 12 AWG. The hub is a passive device that does not require a power supply. For added convenience, the hub has opening that allow it to be shelf or wall mounted.   Read More

EZ Commander is a wireless trackball mouse and keypad that is used like a remote control. Just plug the included receiver into the USB port of your desktop or laptop, and start to experience the full control of your multimedia center. It’s as EZ as the touch of a button and without the need to sit in front of your computer.

Media Control & PC Function Keys
In Media mode, these keys are defined as the control hot-keys for Microsoft Windows Media Player (10). With EZ Input software installed and running on your system, you may use the “Media” key to turn on the auto-key-translation function and use these keys to control other popular media software.

In PC mode, these keys are defined as some of the most frequently used hot-keys for Windows desktop and user applications. For example, you may press the “Task-Mgr” key to bring up the Windows Task Manager; press the “Web” key to open up your default web browser such as IE, etc.

Fully Functional Trackball Mouse
EZ Commander also features a highly sensitive wireless trackball mouse. Experiencing full control of your computer and applications is right at your fingertips. In addition to the mouse left-click key “L” and right-click key “R”, you may also push the trackball directly and it works as the mouse left-click key.

Keypad
These keys are regular number keys and some frequently used standard function keys. In Media Mode, these keys may be used as special function keys for multimedia application software.

In PC mode, these keys are used to control the multilingual text input software (EZ Input) and to type words into your current applications, such as search words in your web browser or a short email message. Read more

The NextGen Genius Remote Extender adds RF to your existing remote simply by installing a battery transmitter. Simply install the Remote Extender in place of one of the AA or AAA batteries inside your remote control, then point the receiver or attach the bright eye emitter to the components you wish to control. Control your components from anywhere in the house. Even works through closet doors and closed entertainment system cabinets! Go from room-to-room and control your components up to 100+ feet away, no direct line of sight is needed. Unlike other remote control extenders, you don’t have to attach anything to the front of your remote or be limited to using your remote in one room. The receiver has a built in charger and comes with (2) 2/3 AA specially sized rechargeable batteriess. And by simply installing extra battery transmitters you can convert as many remotes as you like. Works with virtually every remote control!

The NextGen Genius Remote Extender comes in 5 frequencies and colors: Green, Orange, Gray, Yellow and Purple.

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