TV and Uverse folks, need your help

[look 171]

Finished a large kitchen / house remodel about a month ago. We installed lots of crazy, custom wiring throughout the lower floor of the house. A small TV hung on one wall of the kitchen and when we started the job early summer, I talk with the folks at U-verse about remotely controlling the TV, such as changing channels by having the receiver inside a cabinet with control to this TV, wireless. The tech and rep said that was not a problem. We wired outlets and such and now the owner tells me that they no longer provide such device. I have to hang that f'ing ugly receiver on the wall next to the TV on a bare wall with all the red and green LEDs. when I got the call yesterday, I was pissed. Had I known, I would have ran the wires and built something inside the wall behind the TV. AT&T really screw us on this deal. I am not sure how it works, but is there a device that can transfer that signal from their receiver( Inside the pantry on the other side of the room) to the TV on the wall through some type of wireless signal? I hate to see this on such nice kitchen. Any suggestions?

[mattdavis11]

I know they have wireless signal gear that can be used to connect the router to a box, then on the other end received by a wall plug and sent to a computer that doesn't have a wireless card. It's a wall plug and the cat 5 plugs into the back of the computer.

Don't know if that will work though. I can't see how they are going to change channels if the receiver is in a pantry anyway. I have to aim my remote directly at the box to get the channel to change.

[Neilk]

There is an IPhone app that copies the remote. Might work better on an iphone bigger than my 4S. Not ideal though.

[GH85Carrera]

Check to see if you can use a TIVO box to get your cable feed. Contact TIVO and ask them if it works with U-Verse. I have Cox Cable so I don't know the answer. I had to get a cable card form Cox and a silly Tuning Adapter box but all of that is tucked into the entertainment center next the TIVO box.

On my system the TIVO box has a Radio Remote control that works even if you are in the next room. The remote it paired to the one device. From the TIVO box it would be a HDMI cable to run the TV. I don't know the limits of how long an HDMI cable can be.

In our use the receiver is in a cabinet with heavy smoked glass. Standard remotes only work if we open the glass doors.

[Hugh R]

I use one of these receiver/transmitters in my RV. But you have to have both TVs watching the same channel.

http://www.amazon.com/Actiontec-Wireless-WiFi-Multi-Room-Video/dp/B00LSS10PM

[MBAtarga]

You want there to be no cable connection between the TV and the Uverse box? And they are on opposite sides of the room/wall?

[stomachmonkey]

If I read that correctly you put the set top box in a cabinet and obviously the remote control does not work because the set top is hidden.

That's a simple fix.

Check the back of the uverse box for an IR receiver jack. Will look like a headphone jack. Plug in one of these.

Amazon.com: Infrared Receiver Extender Cable for HD DVR's & STB's- Check Compatibility: Electronics

If not you look at IR repeaters. Find one that is small and attach it under the cabinet.

http://www.amazon.com/Next-Generation-Remote-Control-Extender/dp/B000C1Z0HA/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1445954337&sr=1-3&keywords=remote+control+repeater

http://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-109194-Wireless-Extender-328-Feet/dp/B0087S9CJ2/ref=sr_1_9?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1445954337&sr=1-9&keywords=remote+control+repeater

[masraum]

Or you could get a Logitech Harmony remote that has the gear to go RF to IR.

[SGO930]

Recently finished the same project and had the same issue. AT&T gave me a non-IR remote and suggested it would work to control the box sitting in a cabinet across the room (never did). Ended up using a logitech harmony remote with an IR repeater in the cabinet. Works well. Only real complaint is that the remote won't control the power on the TV because the repeater and hub are in an entirely different room.

[dad911]

Originally Posted by look 171

....... I am not sure how it works, but is there a device that can transfer that signal from their receiver( Inside the pantry on the other side of the room) to the TV on the wall through some type of wireless signal? I hate to see this on such nice kitchen. Any suggestions?

If it is an IR remote, you can use an IR extender. I've used them on a vacation home to have 2 TVs share a converter box, hidden in a closet.

This works if using HDMI and you won't need additional cable: IR Extender Over HDMI - Monoprice.com

I've also used this one, for multiple tvs (1 box): Dual Band IR Repeater - Monoprice.com

[MBAtarga]

I'm still waiting for OP to reply to my questions (post #6). I think he was expecting no connections between the uverse box and the tv - in essence - a wireless HDMI. Not specifically to the remote operation itself - an IR repeater/extender would solve that.

[VincentVega]

If I understand your issue stomachmonkey's solution will work.

[gprsh924]

Guys, you misread. He has a tv on a wall and the only place for the cable box to go is in a closet across the room. The remote is easy, an ir extender or a universal remote will take care of that.

Uverse has previously advertised that they offer a wireless cable box, but that is no longer the case.

Look, you have two options: 1) if possible, run a long HDMI cord through the call from the closet to the tv. It sounds like all the work May already be done so that is not possible.

2) buy a wireless HD sender. They are about $200. It has a base transmitter and a receiver. You put the transmitter in the closet with the cable box and plug that into the hdmi in. Then you plug the receiver into the hdmi output on the tv. It is the size of about 2 decks of cards. The one I have needs power so hopefully there is access where the tv is plugged in. You can hang the receiver off the back of the tv. If the closet is in the same room, range should not been an issue. The signal might not be perfect, but it should work well enough.

http://www.amazon.com/IOGEAR-GW3DHDKIT-Wireless-Digital-Channel/dp/B00630WKGI

[look 171]

Originally Posted by MBAtarga

You want there to be no cable connection between the TV and the Uverse box? And they are on opposite sides of the room/wall?

The answer is yes. The tech told me all I need are plugs behind TV and plugs inside the cabinet. Now, its no longer available.

I do not have to do this for the owner, because we both know AT&T screw us on the situation. I do it because I hate to see this ugly box on the wall of this nice kitchen. On top of that, they are nice folks.

[look 171]

Thanks for the tip boys. Looks like a repeater is going to do the trick. Is there a real advantage in the 200 dollar unit vs. the 50+ dollar unit? Are they more reliable?

[look 171]

Originally Posted by gprsh924

Guys, you misread. He has a tv on a wall and the only place for the cable box to go is in a closet across the room. The remote is easy, an ir extender or a universal remote will take care of that.

Uverse has previously advertised that they offer a wireless cable box, but that is no longer the case.

Look, you have two options: 1) if possible, run a long HDMI cord through the call from the closet to the tv. It sounds like all the work May already be done so that is not possible.

2) buy a wireless HD sender. They are about $200. It has a base transmitter and a receiver. You put the transmitter in the closet with the cable box and plug that into the hdmi in. Then you plug the receiver into the hdmi output on the tv. It is the size of about 2 decks of cards. The one I have needs power so hopefully there is access where the tv is plugged in. You can hang the receiver off the back of the tv. If the closet is in the same room, range should not been an issue. The signal might not be perfect, but it should work well enough.

http://www.amazon.com/IOGEAR-GW3DHDKIT-Wireless-Digital-Channel/dp/B00630WKGI

Tell me about the signal not being perfect? Is there a momentary pause between changing channels? I am sure she can live with that as this lil' TV is there for back ground noise. Its 18' across the kitchen pantry where the u-Verse box to TV on the other wall. Its should be ok?

[dad911]

Originally Posted by look 171

Thanks for the tip boys. Looks like a repeater is going to do the trick. Is there a real advantage in the 200 dollar unit vs. the 50+ dollar unit? Are they more reliable?

I've been using Monoprice unit for 2 years now.

[John Rogers]

The way I hooked our Uverse receivers was to have one hard wired to our main large TV in the living room. The second receiver is wireless and feeds all the other TV sets and they are connected by coax cable. The second box came with a standard ATT remote and I bought one of their RF remotes that use an antenna that plugs into the USB port on the front of the Uverse box. The remote and antenna are matched so it is a plug and play.

If there are more than one Uverse receivers then they have to be separated as there is no way to keep the IR remote signals matched to just one box. If you change one, all will change and since your kitchen receiver is hidden in a closet it should be fine. The wireless IOGear system will work fine from the closet to the kitchen TV but remember there is that little receiver, connecting cable AND probably a DC power adapter that will have to be plugged in somewhere?

The last thing to consider is interference that can cause the Uverse receiver to drop it's connection or the IOGear system to do the same. The tech that came to install mine said it was a good idea to have my TV sets and the receivers wired since there are lots of home appliances that can cause signal loss.

[gprsh924]

Look, sometimes the screen will freeze a little or will drop from HD quality to standard def. once in a blue moon the signal drops out all together because of interference and takes a few mins and some rebooting to come back.

John, wired is by far the best, but in this instance, wireless sounds like the only option.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by dad911

I've been using Monoprice unit for 2 years now.

Basically, both gadgets get plugged into the back of the recover and the TV's HDMI port and they will work?