Does a remote need RF control to go through glass?
I am looking at getting a universal remote and trying to understand the RF control. It states this is needed to 'go though closed cabinets and closets'. I am wondering if this applies to glass doors. I have a few devices in glass doors and don't want to waste my money. I am specifically looking at the Logitech Harmony One remote.
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IR remotes go through glass just fine. My Harmony works great and all my gear is behind glass doors.
You need RF if you 'hide' all your gear in a closet or position your gear to the rear of the room and dont want to turn-around to control things.
This is a frequent concern on various fora, including variations like will tinted/frosted or other specific types of glass block IR signals. A quick survey of fora threads re IR remotes and glass (See links for 2 of the best) show they work through glass unless a) (possibly) the remote puts out a particularly weak signal, b) there are IR reflective coatings on the glass, c) unexpected impurities, d) (possibly) glare from sunlight, or e) the glass is particularly thick.
Basically, "glass" is a very variable term, but most IR remotes will work through most glass. Furthermore many IR remotes will control components at the back of the room by reflecting the signal off a white wall or projector screen at the front of the room, so RF isn't needed unless you put components in another room or inside opaque cabinet doors/closets.
You receive radio signals, don't you?