Subject: From: Date:

Re: [ECS] Computer control of A/V equipment? Gerry Duprey Thu, 8 Oct 1998 11:05:36 -0400 (EDT)

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On Thu, 8 Oct 1998, Mulle, Tim wrote:

> HI All,
> 
> I am curious, is anyone using their computer to control their A/V equipment?
> 
> If so, how are you doing it? Is your computer near your A/V stuff?
> Powermids? etc.?
> 
> I am looking into setting up my system and would like to hear how people are
> doing this with ECS so I can hopefully avoid choosing the wrong path later
> if I want to expand. I can't do any hardwiring right now, I am renting a
> townhouse and so I guess I am limited to wireless. My computer is upstairs
> and my A/V equipment is downstairs.

Avoid the powermids like the plague.  For ever one person who seems to
have some sort of marginal luck with them, 4 other people have no luck at
all.  I've never seen such a poorly QA'd piece of equipment in my life.

Hardwire is the way to go.

They do have means to use your existing cable coax as the "distribution"
medium for the I/R signal, so you wouldn't have to run any wires.  Places
like HAS have these - about $50 per unit (you'd need at least one receiver
and one emitter, so think $100).  

I've not used the Coax based units.  I have used hardwired unit with great
success.

It's really a shame the things are soo expensive - there is very little
electronics in them and if you are handy with simple project building, you
could likely build your own receiver/xmitter using parts from Radio Shack
about about $10/each.

Gerry Duprey                     EMAIL: gerry@msage.com 
Micro Sage Software Systems      VOICE: (734) 663-0444
130 South First Street             WWW: http://www.msage.com/~gerry
Ann Arbor, MI 48104 USA

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