OT: Sorry for the #humblebrag here, but got a tech question for the board...

missouridawg

Junior
Oct 6, 2009
9,390
289
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I'm putting the finishing touches on the man cave in the new house. I have a 58" Phillips and 2 (different models) 32" Samsung TVs in the wall.

Each are connected to a different uverse cable box (all 3 are the same model). Currently, changing the channel on one results in changing the channel on all three without some strategic remote pointing.

Does anyone know of a way to control all 3 TVs and cable boxes with one remote control in a way that only one TV/cable box combo is altered at a time?

Sorry to HD6 for the non-sports post, however this room will have a lot of sports watched in it... So technically, it is sports related.

Appreciate any help that can be offered.
 

MabenMaroon

Redshirt
Feb 2, 2014
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Does your cable boxes have RF ( radio frequency ) capability? if so, you should be able to get hold of some RF remotes from your TV service provider. I assume that cable receivers would have much the same remote control circuitry that satellite receivers do. When you program a receiver and remote for RF they are assigned a unique radio frequency for each receiver. This would also give you the ability to operate your receiver in a hidden location or from a position where this no line of sight to the receiver. The standard default on most all types of receivers is IR ( infrared ) remote control and requires a direct unobstructed line of sight. Hope that helps.
 

benatmsu

Junior
May 28, 2007
2,402
229
63
I know with DirecTv, if you download the Remote App, you can select which box you want to control at one time... So there may be some sort of WiFi remote available... assuming your boxes are all wifi-enabled.
 

Optimus Prime 4

Redshirt
May 1, 2006
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You can use the app to control the individual boxes

I have an alternate 1 cable box, one chrome cast and one Apple TV setup. I can't afford the monthly fee to have a box on all my screens yet. Hd tvs are so damn cheap it's feasible to have one visible from about anywhere now. A 40" 1080p can now be had for $249, that's not shabby.

/saving up for a UHD tv
 

missouridawg

Junior
Oct 6, 2009
9,390
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I have an alternate 1 cable box, one chrome cast and one Apple TV setup. I can't afford the monthly fee to have a box on all my screens yet. Hd tvs are so damn cheap it's feasible to have one visible from about anywhere now. A 40" 1080p can now be had for $249, that's not shabby.

/saving up for a UHD tv

Agreed on the monthly fee part....AT&T screwed up my installation date big time so I negotiated 8 cable boxes for free for a year and a few upgrades. Will be interesting to see what happens when the contract runs up.
 

missouridawg

Junior
Oct 6, 2009
9,390
289
83
Does your cable boxes have RF ( radio frequency ) capability? if so, you should be able to get hold of some RF remotes from your TV service provider. I assume that cable receivers would have much the same remote control circuitry that satellite receivers do. When you program a receiver and remote for RF they are assigned a unique radio frequency for each receiver. This would also give you the ability to operate your receiver in a hidden location or from a position where this no line of sight to the receiver. The standard default on most all types of receivers is IR ( infrared ) remote control and requires a direct unobstructed line of sight. Hope that helps.

Only IR for me. My alast resort is to do the RF dongle option, but it still wouldn't give me the functionality I'm looking for. Gonna try to the app tomorrow... Didn't know that was out there.
 

mcdawg22

Heisman
Sep 18, 2004
13,202
10,854
113
I have an alternate 1 cable box, one chrome cast and one Apple TV setup. I can't afford the monthly fee to have a box on all my screens yet. Hd tvs are so damn cheap it's feasible to have one visible from about anywhere now. A 40" 1080p can now be had for $249, that's not shabby.

/saving up for a UHD tv
The UHD is gorgeous. I thought that UVerse didn't look very good. Turns out it was my TV. Netflix streams House of Cards in UHD, and it looks like Spacey is in the room. Sports broadcast still look the same though.
 

Optimus Prime 4

Redshirt
May 1, 2006
8,560
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I got one for free because he didn't feel like drilling a hole and running cable, so I got an extra wireless box. Someone needs to invent wireless HDMI connections that actually work, because the TVs that are mounted in my house I haven't come up with a great way to not have cables showing. Chromecast is hidden but an Apple or Amazon TV box shows. SOmeone mentioned putting cable boxes in the attic and using the app to control them, but again it's $10 per month per box, and I've got a TV above the kitchen sink, back porch, all over.