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Installation
![]() HOW DOES BLUE EYE WORK?
The Blue Eye repeater system begins with a small IR receiver head. The IR Receiver receives IR signals from a remote control. The receiver head strips off the carrier signal (used to achieve good transmitting distance between the remote control and the device it’s controlling) and converts the signal into a simpler data stream – one that’s used by a micro-controller inside equipment like set-top boxes and DVD players.
This simpler ‘baseband’ signal can now be sent over long lengths of cable with negligible deterioration. Once it reaches its destination, it needs to be reconverted back into a remote control signal with the carrier signal so that the IR receiver in the equipment being operated can receive it. For this we use a special oscillator in all of our IR emitting devices.
This operates at 36.50 kHz, which works on 99% of all consumer equipment. The signals from a single IR receiver, or receivers in different rooms essentially gate this oscillator on an off rapidly, thus recreating a copy of the original remote control signal.
IR EMITTER DEVICES
An IR emitter sends an infrared signal to the piece of equipment being controlled. There are two Blue Eye emitting devices available.
![]() 1. ACTIVE FLASHER MODULE
The Active Flasher Module is sold in two versions; with either three or six emitter buds.
The Active Flasher Module is intended for multi-room installations using a Blue Eye hub or Power Injector Unit. (It is also possible to have two Active Flasher Modules coming from a hub controlling equipment located in two rooms or locations.)
The Active Flasher Module recreates a copy of the original IR signal coming from the remote control and sends that IR signal from either three or six emitter ‘buds’. Each bud is designed to be stuck to the IR receiver of a controlled device (eg: DVD player).
This close optical coupling means the IR output does not require much strength. The Active Flasher Module is recommended for Pace decoders because of their need for an optimal IR signal level.
NOTE: The Active Flasher Module is also available with one emitter bud substituted for a 3.5mm jack for Direct IR (eg: for Marantz hi fi equipment).
![]() EMITTER BUD OPTIONS
There are three Active Flasher Module bud options.
*Glass Emitter buds are no-longer available.
EMITTER BUD INSTALLATION
![]() STANDARD EMITTER BUD WITH SILICON ADHESIVE PAD
![]() NEW ‘GLASS’ EMITTER BUD
![]() 2. MINI BLASTER
The Mini Blaster has a single high-output emitter designed to flood an area around the controlled devices with IR signal. It does not require direct coupling to the equipment’s IR receiver. It is idea in situations where equipment is contained in a cabinet.
NOTE: The Mini Blaster is not recommended for Pace decoders.
NOTE: Although the Mini Blaster is intended for multi-room installations using a Blue Eye hub, it is not recommended in situations requiring zoning, where there are often two of the same piece of equipment in the same location (eg: two SKY decoders). In this case the IR signal would have the undesirable effect of controlling both devices at the same time. In this situation it is recommended to install two Active Flasher Modules. For more information regarding zones, please read on.
INFRARED RECEIVER (TARGET) DEVICES
The IR Receiver is a small infrared receiver placed in each room or area where remote control(s) will be used to control devices located in another location. There are three Blue Eye IR Receiver options, all developed for specific preferences.
![]() 1. STEALTH RECEIVER
The Stealth Receiver is so named because of its tiny receiver head on the end of a slim ribbon wire – making it very discreet. It has a small adhesive pad for fixing in a location where it will receive signals from a remote control. This might be attached to the edge of a TV or other device, on a wall or even the ceiling.
The stealth receiver’s ribbon wire is 0.75m long, where it terminates to a small circuit board where the signal is buffered, ready for sending over longer distances. A tiny blue LED on the circuit board indicates data activity. Flat telephone cable (2m) connects this assembly to an RJ45 jack (for connecting to a Blue Eye bus or Power Injector Unit. The three active connections are (+), (-) and signal out.
![]() 2. STANDARD BLUE EYE RECEIVER
An IR receiver and buffer circuitry housed in a small black enclosure with a blue ‘data’ feedback LED. Flat telephone cable (2m) in either grey or black connects the receiver enclosure to an RJ45 jack (for connecting to a Blue Eye bus or Power Injector Unit. The three active connections are (+), (-) and signal out. The standard IR Receiver is often the preferred option, as the blue ‘data’ LED provides immediate visual feedback whenever the IR Receiver detects an infrared signal.
![]() 3. PDL RECEIVER HEAD
An IR receiver housed in a black or white PDL insert which can be fitted to a PDL wall plate. Since the receiver is not on a flying lead, the wall plate must be located where it can receive signals from the user’s remote control. Termination to the PDL receiver head is by a 3-way screw terminal block on its rear side. The connections are +/- and signal out.
PDL RECEIVER WIRING DIAGRAM
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IR SIGNAL BUS DEVICES
Blue Eye offers two devices for terminating IR Receivers and injecting power to the infrared signals before sending them onto the emitter device(s).
![]() 1. EIGHT-PORT HUB
The Blue Eye eight-port hub is a tidy means of terminating multiple IR receivers coming from different rooms to one location; or when there are devices in several locations, requiring more than one emitter device to control them; or where two zones are required (see diagram below and ‘BLUE EYE THROUGHOUT THE HOME’ diagram on the homepage.
EIGHT-PORT HUB: TWO-ZONE INSTALLATION
![]() The above diagram shows a situation where there might be two Sky decoders installed in a cabinet. One decoder is used by the family in multiple rooms (Zone 1). The other decoder might be used by the children in another room (zone 2).
All eight hub ports are identical, with I/O connections for zones A and B receivers and Active Flasher Modules, allowing for a number of multi-room configurations, multiple locations of devices and where two zones are needed. RJ45 wiring configuration diagrams are shown below.
Blue Eye also offers a UTP splitter to maximise the use of the six RJ45 ports. By utilising a UTP splitter, in the previous example, both of the Active Flasher Modules can terminate to the same RJ45 port on the hub allowing a free input for another IR Receiver.
NOTE: As the majority of installations are single zone, unless specially ordered, all Blue Eye components are pre-wired for zone 1.
![]() 2. POWER INJECTOR UNIT (PP1)
An alternative to the eight-port hub is the Power Injector Unit (PP1). The PP1 Power pack is used to supply 5 volts DC to the multi-room Hub or in an installation where no hub is installed, the PP1 can be plugged directly into the Active Flasher Module to supply power to IR receivers located ‘upstream’.
RJ45 WIRING CONFIGURATIONS
The diagrams below show the various wiring configurations for Blue Eye RJ45 terminals.
Note: Unless specially ordered, all Blue Eye components are pre-wired for zone 1.
RJ45 PIN CONFIGURATIONS
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![]() WIRED FOR ZONE 1 EMITTER
![]() WIRED FOR ZONE 2 EMITTER
![]() WIRED FOR ZONE 1 IR RECEIVER
![]() WIRED FOR ZONE 2 IR RECEIVER
INSTALLING BLUE EYE
1. INSTALLATION UTILISING POWER INJECTOR UNIT
This installation is typically used to relay infrared signals to audio-visual components installed in a room or cabinet, while being remote controlled from another room. The IR Emitter can either be an Active Flasher Module or a Mini Blaster.
INSTALLATION WITH SINGLE IR RECEIVER
![]() INSTALLATION WITH TWO IR RECEIVERS AND UTP SPLITTER
![]() 2. MULTI-ROOM INSTALLATION WITH SIX-PORT HUB
Below is a typical situation where IR Receivers are placed in several rooms and all controlled devices installed in another room or away in a cabinet.
MULTI-ROOM INSTALLATION WITH SIX-PORT HUB
![]() 3. STEALTH KIT
The Stealth Kit is an all-in-one solution for same-room applications. It is an integrated unit comprising of a ‘stealth’ IR receiver, plug-pack and Active Flasher Module, with the same emitter bud options. It is typically used where equipment is hidden from view in a recess or cupboard.
NOTE: The Stealth Kit is not expandable and its cables are not able to be lengthened. If multi-room or longer cable lengths are required, please look to one of the options listed above.
STEALTH KIT INSTALLATION
![]() INSTALLATION TIPS
LOCATING THE IR RECEIVERS ON YOUR EQUIPMENT
Before fastening the emitter buds to the equipment to be controlled, locate the position of the IR receiver on each piece of equipment. An IR receiver is typically a small, black, shiny circle or rectangle found on the front of a piece of equipment, or found behind the dark plastic panel shared with other indicators or displays.
If the IR receiver location is not obvious, locate it using a mask made from a large sheet of card with a 15mm light aperture (hole) in the centre. Take the remote control and have somebody stand a few meters away pressing a common function button repeatedly – like channel up/down. At the same time move the card across the front of the piece of equipment until the channels are changing reliably (or other function being pressed on the remote control). Once the equipment is responding well to the remote control signal, the IR receiver will be located at the spot directly behind the hole.
FASTENING THE EMITTER BUDS
Once the IR receivers on each piece of equipment have been located, take the Active Flasher Module and undo the cable ties. At the end of the thicker grey cable is either three or six emitter buds (depending on which version you purchased). Separate each bud by stripping the cables apart from one another, so that each emitter bud comfortably reaches each of your equipment IR receivers.
For standard ‘naked’ emitter buds, stick a clear silicon pad (supplied) directly onto the IR receiver of the piece of equipment. Press the emitter bud into the hole in the pad.
For glass emitter buds, peel the covering off the sticky surface on the flat side of the glass and stick directly onto the IR receiver of the piece of equipment.
A NOTE ON PLASMA & LCD SCREENS
The IR ‘Stealth’ Receiver is plasma and LCD screen friendly; however some budget-priced plasma screens emit enormous levels of IR ‘noise’ that challenge even the most well filtered IR receivers. If you notice the Active Flasher Module’s blue “DATA” LED blinking away by itself, the most probable cause will be the plasma screen. Re-locate the IR Stealth Receiver until the “DATA” light no longer blinks by itself.
BLUE EYE SPECIFICATIONS
Infrared Frequency: 36.5 kHz
WIRE LENGTHS
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