What is an IR Repeater and How Does it Work?
As our homes are being filled with different video sources and other equipment like receivers and projectors, your remote control system can quickly become an inconvenience. While you may want to hide equipment away to minimize the electronic clutter in your home, covering up the infrared receivers built into your devices renders remote controls useless. The solution to this: IR (infrared) repeaters.
An IR repeater is a device that transmits an IR signal from a remote control to a location that would otherwise not be reached. For instance, if you store equipment in a closed cabinet, or in another room, an IR repeater kit can reproduce the signal there and allow you to keep components tucked away. As such, IR repeaters are great for people that prefer clean, simple set ups.
There are very few components that make up an IR repeater kit. First, an IR receiver accepts an IR signal and transmits this signal to the connection block. The connection block receives the incoming signals from the IR receiver, processes them, and sends them to the connected IR emitters/bugs/blasters. The IR emitter is placed close to the IR receiver for the device receiving the IR signals. In the next section, we will cover each component in more detail.
IR Receiver
This component is nothing more than an infrared sensor with a wire trailing out of it. The infrared signal from your remote pings this sensor and transforms it into an electrical signal that can travel through the connection block and to the emitter. This is the piece of the IR repeater kit that you put near the screen and you can point the remote control to.
IR Connection Block
The electrical signal travels through the wires from the receiver to the emitter, or it may stop by a connection block on the way. This will depend on what type of unit you purchase. As simple units are not equipped with connection blocks, the signal will travel from the transceiver to the emitter with a power supply tied in somewhere. On the other hand, advanced units will have a connection block where multiple outputs can be managed and the signal can be amplified.
IR Emitter, IR Bug, or IR Blaster
At the end of the aforementioned process, the signal will end up at the emitter where the signal from the receiver can be reproduced. Typically, the emitter will be hidden in a cabinet or entertainment center. It is usually compact and looks like a sleek teardrop of black plastic.
How To Use an IR Repeater
It is clear that IR repeaters are great solutions for your electronics and entertainment systems. Before implementing an IR repeater in your home, there are a few more details to cover. To begin, while they help in minimizing clutter, this is only an aesthetic upgrade. If you have six devices that each have a remote, you will need six IR repeaters. However, a Cables Direct IR Repeater System allows you to place one sensor that beams IR signals back to six different emitters. Nonetheless, you are still daunted by six remote controllers that you will have to organize in the appropriate manner.
Conclusion
ASAP Fulfillment provides IR repeaters for various military and civilian applications, all of which are thoroughly vetted for functionality, reliability, and authenticity. With over 2 billion items in our inventory, customers can easily fulfill their operational requirements. Kickoff the procurement process with a competitive quote which can be accessed via our Instant RFQ service and see how ASAP Fulfillment can serve as your strategic sourcing partner!
Share
Semiconductor's Certifications and Memberships
