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View Full Version : IP-to-IR bridges


GeorgeK
March 8th, 2004, 10:10 PM
Hi,

I am a newbie at trying to set up an IP-based remote control. I bought a Viewsonic ViewPad 1000 tablet PC (Windows XP) and will attempt to make it into an IP-based remote control for my AV system. I have an ethernet home network running, but am not running an HTPC nor am I planning one for the short term. I can put up software that I would need on any of my desktop PCs, but, if I understand things correctly, it would seem that I could mostly load software directly on the ViewPad, since I bought this model precisely because it is not a "smart display" (these seem to be about as smart as a 4-bit microprocessor) but is rather is a pretty decent PC.

What I would like to do as far as control goes is to get an IP-to-IR bridge, so that I would plug it into an Ethernet port near my AV system, then hook up a bunch of IR blasters into to it control the gear. Curiously, IP-to-IR bridges do not seem to get a lot of publicity. So far, I've encountered these four:
--Global Caché GC-100
--Barix "IR Ethernet Gateway"
--Philips NTX6400
--CorAccess A/V bridge
What is the experience with these? Good luck? Problems? Which ones would be viable to use with NetRemote? Are there others that might be better, that I haven't found? Any other useful guidance for my project?

Thanks,

ebariaux
March 9th, 2004, 12:03 AM
I know at least of one other which is in the IP tools range from Extron.
The GlobalCaché is the only one I've used and the only one that will work with NetRemote.

sdoow
March 11th, 2004, 08:29 AM
This might help...

http://www.auroramultimedia.com/web/images/waciplus_desc.gif

For more information, go to:
http://www.auroramultimedia.com/web/?section=products&product=waciplus

GeorgeK
March 11th, 2004, 10:42 AM
Thanks for the info! But from a quick look, this device would appear to be vastly less desirable than the GC-100. (a) The only place actually selling it that I found on the web charges $1565. (b) Only two IR-out ports and non-expandable chassis design. So it is fascinating that the manufacturer touts this product as "Cost effective." It must be all in the mind of the beholder...