Terk LFRF Universal Remote Control Extender | List Price: $69.99
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Brand: Terk
Binding: Electronics
Features: - Extends the range of any remote control to control A/V devices through obstacles from up to 120 away.
- Easy to install: fits into your existing remote control battery compartment.
- Works with virtually all button-type remote controls.
- Includes a triple IR-eye to control up to three A/V devices.
Incompability Issue, Poor Range [Posted on 2007-07-17]
My experience with this product has not been good. First, it did not work at all with my Scientific Atlanta cable box. (I wish I had seen the review below, with a similar complaint.) I contacted Audiovox technical support by e-mail and phone and was told there might be a compatibility issue with that particular cable box. It would be nice if they listed incompatible products somewhere -- on the web or on their packaging. Would have saved a lot of time.
Second, out of curiosity, I decided to try to make it work with SOMETHING, and tried a Sony VCR. Yes, it did work with that, but I didn't get anything like the range advertised -- no more than 30-40 feet. Perhaps their 100 ft. claim is based on homes with very thin or hollow walls. So even if it had worked with my cable box, the range would have been inadequate.
Perhaps it will work with your cable box. Perhaps your walls have less plumbing or structural metal than mine and you'll get better range. Meanwhile, I've returned mine. I've noticed that a lot of remote control extenders get poor reviews online. If anyone knows of one that really works -- long range, no compatibility problems -- please post a comment or a review.
could be better, limited range [Posted on 2007-07-30]
The unit works alright from about 25-30 feet away. I need it to reach 35-40 and it just won't do it. I wonder if the two adapters for the AA size battery gives an insufficient connection, or maybe the two watch zize batteries that power it, along with the one AA you have left just doesn't give it enough juice.
Ok, but not great [Posted on 2007-08-20]
Worked well with the original remote for my Verizon FIOS STB, but didn't work well in either of my universal remotes. Handled the amp and DVD fairly well, but the signals to the STB were inconsistent enough that I returned the device.
LFRF Works Very well, but excludes direct IR remote [Posted on 2007-10-22]
My experience was very positive - I saved a few hundred dollars and aggravation. My goal was to operate my surround sound receiver, which is indoors, from my outdoor deck. I had installed outdoor speakers, but wanted to avoid the cost and trouble of wiring a weather-proof IR receiver/extender. This worked perfectly - I simply walk onto the deck with the original remote control for my receiver and it works!
The base unit and the tripple-IR eyes work exactly as described. The only issue I see with this unit is that it emits IR background "noise" which can interfere with using an IR remote directly with your equipment while this is on. The converted RF remote (that you install the battery-sized transmitter in) works fine through the LFRF, but if you have 2nd IR remote to control your equipment it may have difficulty due to this background "noise" from the LFRF. 3 solutions: 1-don't use the IR remote, 2-turn the LFRF off while using an IR remote directly, 3-buy an extra battery-sized transmitter (LFRFB) for each of your IR remotes.
Also, the transmitter did not seem to work with my Harmony universal remotes. But, that was OK for my needs.
A better solution [Posted on 2008-01-05]
I previously gave this a very high rating based on my initial experience and still do for my original purchase. However, I later ordered additional transmitters and neither worked as well as the first and not well enough to be useful. It took me a year to get back to trying to get a reliable whole house remote system working but I finally did. I purchased the wireless system from Ramsey Electronics RRW1A/RRW1B (currently kit only) and by accident found that their transmitters worked well with the Terk receiver. The Ramsey transmitters are table top with very good IR reception and wireless transmission range. I discovered this compatibility because I still had the Terk set up when I tried the Ramsey receiver (RRW1B) and it turned out that the RRW1B was not working. Ramsey is going to fix the RRW1B for me as they will not take an assembled kit in return, and Terk will not take their LFRFB transmitters back at all. So, if you are stuck with a LFRF receiver you can purchase one or more (I got 2) RRW1A transmitters from Ramsey for about the same price as the Terk LFRFB transmitters. If you never put a kit together this would be a good first one as it is quite simple and the instructions are excellent. If you don't want to build a kit maybe you can talk Ramsey into assembling it for you.
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