I read some posts about using a TOSLink optical cable to "route" the remote control signal to the front of the camera. I ordered a 3" TOSlink cable for $2.5, mounted the remote control to the tripod handle, wired the cable around the center pole, taped the other end to the front of the tripod. IT WORKS!!!!

http://hv20.info/yopu/tos1.jpg

http://hv20.info/yopu/tos2.jpg

http://hv20.info/yopu/tos3.jpg

http://hv20.info/yopu/tos4.jpg

Can you please let me know where you got them from? I cannot get for the price you mentioned!
thanks
Ajit B.

I bougnht the cable from here

http://www.firefold.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=TOSLINK-3

Nice! I wish the remote had more functions, but this works well enough.

I bougnht the cable from here

http://www.firefold.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=TOSLINK-3

Thanks!! I am going to order now!

Hi Folks,

Check my post and photos in the "Remote Lens Controllers" section under "Want to Rig up your Infrared Remote ??"

I've been using this set up for many years, with all 4 of my Sony Cams set up this way.

My stuff is set up "plug and play".

Harold

Thanks for the tip guys, I'm on it....

clever! nice find!

Great idea and find. Just order one. Thanks.

Here is Harolds solution...

http://dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=84825&highlight=Rig+Infrared+Remote

I also like the way he mounted the remote to the cable...

This might work very well outfitting this in a underwater housing...

If you can get he housing control buttons to align with the remote control
buttons..

Hi Ray,

That's why I call it "Plug and Play". I have a TosLink connector attached to each of my 4 Cams, and to each of my 4 Remotes (3 on removeable cradles).

Then I can leave the fiber-optic cables attached to my Tri-Pods and just plug everything in when I set up.

Harold

I read some posts about using a TOSLink optical cable to "route" the remote control signal to the front of the camera. I ordered a 3" TOSlink cable for $2.5, mounted the remote control to the tripod handle, wired the cable around the center pole, taped the other end to the front of the tripod. IT WORKS!!!!

http://hv20.info/yopu/tos1.jpg

http://hv20.info/yopu/tos2.jpg

http://hv20.info/yopu/tos3.jpg

http://hv20.info/yopu/tos4.jpg

Hi Taky....very clever idea. What functions can you activate with this rig up.?? Will it work with any Toslink??
Thanks,
Luis

As you can see here, I am not the first one who come up this idea. I read many posts on the internet about re-routing IR signal through a TOS optical cable.

I believe any regular TOSlink cable will work. Whatever functions you have on your remote control will work too.

Looking at a slightly different application here....will the cable pick up IR without being right in front of the remote. I noticed on Takey's second pick that the cable end seems to be 90 degrees to the IR sensor on the camera.

The reason I ask is that in my living room the cable box sits in a entertainment center while the TV is on a different wall in the corner. If you sit close enough the cable box will pick up the remote but farther back and the angle is too great. If I take a TOSlink and mount it on the corner of the entertainment center where it is exposed to more of the room will it pick up the remote from accross the room?

Randy

Randal, probably not the way you imagine. The toslink captures a narrow portion of the beam from the remote and allows some play to it. But you still have to aim the LED pretty much directly into the cable to capture enough of the signal to pass on to the sensor. It also can't be too far from the cable. One possible solution to your problem is to reflect it on something.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/missilemike/491779741/

http://img383.imageshack.us/img383/3108/491779741ae66cc23d8qx9.jpg

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/1420/4917797252b84e8484aiq7.jpg