An IR extender is a device typically used to reduce visual clutter due to entertainment systems in a living room. Modern households tend to have VCRs, DVD players, Blu-ray players, and stereo systems in addition to any number of television sets. The cabling for all of these make setup a nightmare and no matter how carefully they are wired they still tend to look like a mess. To solve this problem, people can simply hide them all away inside a cabinet and install an IR extender to maintain control over them no matter where they are.
What does “IR” mean?
IR is short for infrared. Science has taught us that visible light is made up of electromagnetic radiation spread across a range of frequencies. Infrared is somewhere past the edge of this spectrum at around 400 THz. It is used in a variety of applications like night vision cameras, because humans emit infrared light through body heat, and telescopes, to view distant objects free from the visual interference of space dust. The properties inherent to infrared light are also useful in techniques to uncover layers beneath a painting to examine whether it is an original artwork or a mere reproduction.
In consumer electronics, IR has become the standard technology used for remotely controlling appliances. Hard to reach air conditioning units may be equipped with an IR receiver so that the user doesn’t have to get up from the bed to get the room colder during summer nights. Speakers can make their presentations with ease by using remote controlled projectors. Prior to the invention of Bluetooth, mobile phones used to swap files through IR modules.
Of course, the most popular usage of IR remote devices is in television sets as it allows viewers to enjoy watching their favorite shows without having to get up whenever there’s a need to switch channels or turn down the volume. An IR extender increases the convenience even further by allowing multiple players (DVD, VCD, stereo, cable box, etc) to be controlled through one module.
How does an extender remote work?
An extender remote is made up of three parts: a receiver, a connecting block, and a handful of emitters. They are all linked by a cable which allows routing through wide distances, meaning the cable box could be at the far side of the room, at the back of the user, or even at another room and it would still be possible to control it. They only thing that has be within the line of sight of the user is the extender remote receiver module which will accept IR signals as inputs. These signals then travel through the cabling onto the emitters for output. It is these emitters that should be within direct sight of the cable box in order for the latter to respond adequately to the user’s commands.
The IR extender is all about convenience, safety, and an organized look. It is easy to set up and is reasonably priced. Be sure to get a remote extender from a brand that is well-known for quality and reliability to ensure satisfaction for years to come.
