IR Extender Best Buy | Radio Shack Remote Control Extender | Samsung IR Extender

System Transparency: All the benefits, none of the drawbacks!

Hot Link Product Comparison Chart

Adding new products to your home often leads to unpleasant trade-offs, and that can be equally true whether you buy the most affordable Radio Shack remote control extender or a top-of-the-range Samsung IR Extender. Often gaining one functionality means losing another. We work diligently to design products that give great benefits without taking away features or benefits you previously enjoyed. Below are many approaches to control hidden AV gear. IR extender’s best buy, Hot Link Pro, works in most systems without adding drawbacks.

Many claims, many hidden drawbacks.

As noted in our Comparison Chart, many remote control extenders have trade-offs. Hot Link Pro and Hot Link XL have the fewest trade-offs. With most wired “smorgasbord” brands, like Niles and Xantech, separate components must be selected for type of TV noise, mount type, frequency type and number of emitters, often leading to an expensive and unsightly installation with an exposed sensor. Hot Link totally hides behind the TV; one IR sensor works in all applications and all needed components to control six devices are included in a single box.

With wireless IR to RF to IR converter boxes and RF remotes with IR base stations, you once again have the “aiming” and “fishing” for remote response as with a weak IR remote. There may be RF noise that interferes and often a base station emitter that does not reach all of your AV equipment as well as crosstalk with other systems and IR carrier frequency limitations. Hot Link’s Super-Sensitive IR Sensor eliminates “fishing” – use any remote, macros run reliably. Hot Link uses six low-powered emitters to reach all of your AV equipment.

With battery RF replacement extenders, the battery must be recharged and wears out, frequency must be selected at the base station and blaster may not reach all of your equipment. IR extender’s best buy, Hot Link, doubles the useful distance of remotes and the XL model can operate AV equipment hidden 200 feet away with a Cat-5 cable.

Hot Link Pro and Hot Link XL	Totally hidden. No remote attachments. No antennas. No holes.	Receiver is hidden from view, line of sight not required	Use any IR Remote	Power supply Included	Six, lowpowered, directly attached Emitters up to 24 for XL	Broad band Receiver Eye, 18Khz to 120 Khz	No RF noise	Not susceptible to common RF noise	Not controllable by neighboring systems	Single box solution, all parts included	Single Receiver Eye for all applications including LCD and plasma TV IR noise mitigation.
Around the House Next Generation Battery Transmitter In Remote:	Antenna visible if placed across from AV gear		Committed to one remote without additional transmitters	Battery to charge Aprox. once a week for each transmitter	Blaster type IR, may not reach all AV gear, even with additional emitters	Only controls 38KHz or 56Khz, switch on base, Sat and Cable Boxes use 56Khz	Adds Radio Frequency noise to home	Susceptible to common RF noise	Might be controlled by neighboring systems
Leapfrog Attahced RFTransmitter:	Extra box attached to remote		Committed to one remote without additional transmitters	Battery to change for each transmitter	Blaster type IR, may not reach all AV gear, even with additional emitters		Adds Radio Frequency noise to home	Susceptible to common RF noise	Might be controlled by neighboring systems
Monoprice, Powermid, StarTech Wiresless Two Station IR to RF to IR:	EAntenna visible if placed across from AV gear	Receiver is visible cannot be hidden		Visible AC Power cord to unsightly receiver	Blaster type IR, may not reach all AV gear, even with additional emitters		Adds Radio Frequency noise to home	Susceptible to common RF noise	Might be controlled by neighboring systems
Harmony, Logitech RF Remote and IR Base:			Committed to their remote type		Blaster type IR, may not reach all AV gear, without additional emitters		Adds Radio Frequency noise to home	Susceptible to common RF noise	Might be controlled by neighboring systems
Xantech, Niles, Proficient,Buffalo	Hole in cabinet often required or visible ugly Sensor	Receiver is visible, often cannot be hidden, line of sight required		Seperate purchase of power supply required	Seperate purchase of emitters required	Receivers either for 38Khz or 58Khz, must purchase separate receivers				Multi piece purchase	Must choose Receiver based on noise issues, and mounting

Many claims, many hidden drawbacks. As noted in our Comparison Chart for Remote Control Extenders have trade-offs. Hot Link Pro and Hot Link XL have the least trade-offs.

With most wired “smorgasbord” brands, like Niles and Xantech, separate components must be selected for type of TV noise, mount type and frequency type and number of emitters. Often leading to an expensive and unsightly installation with an exposed sensor. Hot Link totally hides behind the TV, one IR sensor works in all applications all components to control six devices are included in a single box.

With wireless IR to RF to IR converter boxes and RF remotes with IR base stations, you once again have the “aiming” and “fishing” for remote response as with a weak IR remote. There may be RF noise that interferes and often a base station emitter that does not reach all of your AV equipment as well as cross talk with other systems and IR carrier frequency limitations. Hot Link’s Super Sensitive IR Sensor eliminates “fishing”, use any remote, macros run reliably. Hot Link uses six low powered emitters to reach all of your AV equipment.

With Battery RF replacement Extenders, the battery must be recharged and wares out, frequency must be selected at the base station and blaster may not reach all of your equipment. Hot Link doubles the useful distance of remotes and the XL model can operate AV equipment at 200 feet with Cat5 Cable.