IR extender/repeater for 4 roooms

[piper1st]

I'm nearing the end of a complete refurbishment of my flat, during which time I've taken the opportunity to lay cables to have a central media cupboard in the hall. I am using a 4x4 HDMI matrix to distribute audio/video to 4 TV's in four different rooms (living room, kitchen, bed1 and bed2). The TV's are all LCD/LED, non of the TV's are Plasma's.

In the media cupboard, there will be roughly 8 devices:

Sky+HD box
Freeview box
Bluray player
Xbox 360
HDMI matrix
CD player
A/V Amp
I-pod dock

No two devices in the media cupboard are the same, so there are no issues or requirement to have separate zones.

I have been pricing a basic IR system for my flat after writing off to some of the big names. I had only budgeted £120 for a complete IR system, so I was pretty shocked. haha!

Xantech IR System
Xantech 789-44 4 Way IR Splitter Block £24 x 1 = £24
Xantech 286M Twin Infra-Red Blink Emitter £14.40 x 4 = £57.60
Xantech 480-85S "Dinky Link" Infra-Red Receiver Silver CFL/LCD Friendly £78 x 4 = £312
Total: £393.60

Keene IR System
KEENE IR COMMANDER MATRIX - £169.99
KEENE IR PANEL MOUNT RECEIVER (BLACK) - £29.99 x 4 = £119.96
KEENE IR DUAL OUTPUT BLINKING WANDS - £9.99 x 4 = £39.96
Total: £329.91

Mircosmith IR System
MICROSMITH ZNRX3 HOT LINK XL ZONER - $378.88
Emitter Expansion Kit (X6) - $29.95
Additional Receiver Eye - £??.??
Total: $408.83
= £260 + shipping (£20) + Import Duty (£56 + £8)
= £344 (ish)

I had to price the Hot Link one in $ as i cannot get this anywhere in the UK.

Does anyone have any comments or advice, i'd really appriciate it.

Cheers,
Ross

 

[piper1st]

Anyone doing/done the same thing as me, with any signs of success or disaster?? :wave:

 

[Andy H]

That seems a lot of cash to me. I used to use Marmitek Powermids and found them to be ok.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=marmitek&tag=googhydr-21&index=aps&hvadid=7652249173&ref=pd_sl_1jjpxogwxu_b

Check them out, lots cheaper as long as they're what your after.

Hope this is of help.