Remote Possibilities
Unscientific it might be, but in an
informal survey of friends and acquaintances recently, I observed that most have a minimum
of three remote-control devices on the table by their main listening positions, usually
controlling the TV set, the VCR, and part or all of the audio system.
Most remotes use infrared light. Pushing the buttons
modulates an invisible beam of light, which is detected by a sensor on the component being
controlled. The number of operations that can be controlled is virtually unlimited, and
the only real constraint in the use of infrared is that the control must be able to
"see" the sensor.
The ability to adjust things from across the room is not
simply a matter of laziness (although it is very attractive for the more, um, sedentary of
us). Some functions can't be properly set up except from the primary viewing/listening
position -- surround-sound levels, for instance. And miniature remotes are sometimes
supplied with camcorders, which not only eliminates the need to control things by finding
buttons the size of pinheads, but also allows the user to be in the picture and still
control the camera.
One major advantage of the remote is that it allows
equipment designers to remove controls from a component's front panel, and thus save
space. The main controls are usually there, of course, but extra features can often be
accommodated on the remote.
The popularity and eminent practicality of the wireless
remote does mean that almost everything now comes with one, and most of these are designed
to operate only the machine they are supplied with. The result is often a table full of
remotes, clamoring for space, falling between the cushions, confusing even the primary
user of the system. There are caddies available that hold a number of remotes so they can
all be aimed at the components at once, and that might be a reasonable solution in some
instances, but they're pretty awkward.
More practical, probably, are the increasingly common
multi-component remotes, designed to replace at least some of the individual devices.
These come in a couple of configurations. Perhaps the most
common is a remote supplied with one component that has the ability to control one or more
others. The clicker that comes with your TV can often run your VCR and DVD player as well;
many A/V receivers come with remotes that can drive a disc player or cassette deck. For
many systems, one such remote may operate the whole shebang, but to find it you will have
to shop carefully: there's no point in buying a component in the belief that its remote
will control everything, only to learn that it will handle some VCRs . . . but not yours.
The alternative is a third-party remote designed
specifically to handle a variety of devices -- as many as 10 in some cases -- from
different manufacturers. Whichever you choose, such a remote should be able to replace all
your separate devices, so check before you buy to make sure it can in fact handle what you
have.
Such "universal" remotes must be set up by one of
two methods. The simplest type is preprogrammed: it has a built-in memory of the signals
required to control equipment from a wide range of manufacturers. You simply look up the
appropriate code in the owner's manual, punch it in, and stash the other remote. This is
fine if, in fact, the unit contains the code for what you have; if not, or if you add
something later that uses a code devised after the remote was programmed, you might be out
of luck.
In that case. a "learning" remote might be the
ticket. These are programmed by feeding the various commands from the dedicated remote
that came with your equipment into the universal so it can emulate the codes. This can be
a time-consuming process, but it ensures that the device will be able to run practically
anything.
Light doesn't bend very well, so a number of companies have
come up with remote "extenders" for use when you don't have a clear shot from
your listening seat to the equipment you want to control. Usually these consist of a
sensor placed near your chair, which picks up the signal from whatever remote you are
using and carries it by cable to a retransmitter placed in sight of the components. These
can simply let you run equipment facing the other way or can run from room to room.
Infrared doesn't have the field entirely to itself, of
course. Some years ago, one company introduced a system that included a remote that put
out low-power radio signals, which had the advantage that it could operate out of sight of
the main components. You could also control things from anywhere in the house, which was
useful in multi-room systems. That early system used relatively low-frequency radio
signals. More recently, a number of audio companies have experimented with frequencies in
the 900MHz band -- previously the domain mostly of garage-door openers -- or even higher.
There are also wireless remote extenders using radio frequencies (RF), which eliminate the
need for a wire between sensor and retransmitter.
However you configure your system, the remote control
offers freedom and flexibility unknown a dozen years ago. RF remotes may eventually
dominate the market, but for now, humble infrared does such a superb job that it seems as
if it has always been with us.
...Ian G. Masters
ian@mastersonaudio.com
|
