[kascls]

I've searched through the board but I still have questions. I moved in to a new home with a "cubby hole" over the fireplace for a TV. My LCD fits there fine, the problem is positioning the components - my HDDVR and A/V Receiver. Ideally, I would like to place them right behind the TV, out of sight. I am using the HR20-700 and an Onkyo TV-SR503 A/V Receiver. My Directv remote will control the HR20-700 via RF, but I really want to use a single remote.

Before I moved, I bought the Harmony 880. I charged it but haven't programmed anything yet.

It looks like I have two options:
1. Take the 880 back and get the 890 for the RF capability. I am guessing I would need to compromise my ideal setup and provide a line of sight for the HDDVR (IR control) and use an RF extender for the receiver. Or;

2. Keep the 880 and buy an IR repeater(?). I'm not sure if I would need one or two. Keep the two components behind the TV and set the repeater somewhere near the TV...is that correct?

I'm not sure what the best route is, it's not like the components will be in another room, just hidden from view.

The forum's wisdom and experience is greatly appreciated.

 

[Starchy77]

Not sure if this is ideal for you, but check out this thread:

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=133902

I hooked this up to control my HR10-250 in a cabinet over the weekend and it seems to work great!

 

[DBSNewbie]

Either route should work just fine.

However, on your first option, you wouldn't be compromising anything. You can still keep the HD DVR out of sight. The Harmony 890 will send the commands via RF to a Base Station (Which will be placed next to the hidden components), which in turn will send IR commands to the HD DVR and AV Receiver.

The repeater option you mentioned will work in a similar fashion (routing IR commands to the components), but will have the base station "in view" to receive the IR commands from the 880.

Personally, I would go the with the RF solution. Not only will it keep everything looking neat (as everything will be out of view), but you don't have to worry about pointing your remote in the direction of the IR receiver's "eye". That makes channel surfing (or other commands, for that matter) a tad bit easier, as you are less likely to miss "sequences" or Macro commands.

 

[kascls]

If I go with the RF solution, will one RF extender work since the two components are sitting next to each other or do I need two - one for each component?

 

[DBSNewbie]

If I go with the RF solution, will one RF extender work since the two components are sitting next to each other or do I need two - one for each component?

What the RF extender does is sends all commands "towards" the components. However, since both components respond to different codesets there is no need to get an extender for each one. So when you send a "Channel Up" command, for example, only the DVR will react to it. When you send a "Volume Up", command for the Amp, only the Onkyo will react to it, and so forth.