I want to try out the iRule app for the iPhone to control my AV stuff, see my setup below. Before i start buying stuff, I have some questions I'd like to get answered. Here goes:
- What is the best way to control the Yamaha RX-V3900, RS232, IP or IR, can I mix RS232 and IP control if I want?
- I'm thinking GC100 RS232 for the RX-V3900 and IR blaster for the rest, but then it can only be controlled from one iPhone? or is that one iPhone at a time? Both me and my girlfrind should be able to control the system from different rooms. How exactly are the limitations on the GC100 in this respect?
- does the GC100 come with anything besides the unit it self? What's in the box, cant find that, even on the GC site. It's not clear if emitters is included or not.
- I need an IR blaster to reach the projector in the back of the room, can I hook the GC 100 up to use a Harmony blaster I all ready have?
- The Yamaha RX-V3900 has a web interface, through which I get to control web radio and mp3 music on my NAS, it shows what's playing and that kind of stuff. Is there a way to bring that information to the display in the iRule control interface, perhaps even extracting the album art? (Im not interested in the web interface, just the info like artist and song title)
- Does the GC100 and the iTach use the same kind of IR emitters, plug and all?
- Does Emitters for both iTach and GC100 come with two emitters on each jack plug and do they both require stereo jacks?
- I plan on putting emitters inside my boxes, because I think the wires look ugly on the outside of the boxes, but can I fire IR through the emitters, using the original remote if I want?
- I guess I'll need an Itach IP2IR in the living room to control the Panasonic TH42-PZ85 TV, with it's own IR blaster or would it be possible to hook up two IR blasters to the iTach IP2IR, the included one on port 3 and one of the other expensive kinds for the GC100 (GC-BL2IR) on port 1 or 2?
- Can you recommend other blaster types/brands that will work with GC products, even if it goes through a relay block from other manufactors, since I don't find the design of the GC blaster practical. Right now I like the Harmony blaster better. (it covers a wide area and you almost don't have to point it, its that powerful)?
- Is there some third party IR emitters that I can use, in stead of the GC emitters? I'd like to get some smaller once to put inside my boxes and TV, to make it look better!
- If it's possible to use two emitters on each channel of the iTach, then i only need one iTach IR2IP and perhaps an iTach 2 serial to control my entire system. Is it OK, with two emitters per channel?
Thanks in advance. Kasper
Setup:
In my man cave HT basement:
Yamaha RX-V3900 AV receiver.
Panasonic BD35 Blu-Ray player.
Apple TV 2. gen
Panasonic Projector FullHD one year old.
IR controlled light dimmer Danish brand LK.
In the living room:
Panasonic Plasma TV about 2-3 years old. TH42-PZ85
Zone 2 on the RX-V3900
In the kitchen:
Zone 3 on the RX-V3900
In the bath room:
Apple Airport express, if possible id like to control it using IP, kind of like with the Apple TV only it don't have its own remote.
P.S.
From writing this post I'm stating to think that I might need 3 iTach modules for this. two IP2IR and one IP2SL, if IP control of the Yamaha RX-V3900 is still not working. (I read that the IP inputs was rather complicated) Perhaps I can do with just one IP2IR if I can fit one of the emitters inside the TV it might be tight. Can I use other types/brands of emitters for the iTach box?
Also I'll need extender cable for the IR emitter, but that's doable.