After setting up outdoor speakers to my receiver inside the house, my only remaining gripe was that I didn't have a way to change the channel on the TV or adjust the volume from the spa. I kept looking at possible options and eventually found what seems to be the perfect solution... The Balboa Dolphin waterproof remote control. It's made for spas, floats, looks great, has more features then I could have hoped for, and controls my whole entertainment center.
http://www.balboainstruments.com/I had previously seen the dolphin or phazer model remote sold as a manufacturer option to control spa and/or audio features. The remotes even have the manufacturers name on them so some might think they're dedicated for those brands. What many people don't know is that
anyone can buy the Balboa remote to control their whole entertainment center for a heck of a lot less money then what the dealer will normally charge. I contacted the sales department at Balboa by phone and they referred me to a regional distributor. Before calling them I was a little disheartened after getting 2 quotes from dealers for over $400 for the remotes they sell with their spas.
When I went through Balboa's recommended distributor the cost was only about $120 and I received it within a week!!! Also, it was clean of another spa manufacturers brand name. No big deal but I got a similar feeling as getting a new car off a dealer's lot without their name being stuck to the fender
Not only do these Balboa remotes float, the Dolphin has all the features of most universal remotes and more, including a convenient indoor/outdoor mount to hold it when not in use. You can teach it to use commands not recognized by the default control codes. Also, the Dolphin it has a radio as well as an IR transmitter. The Phazer remote is far more limited but it is good for spa and basic controls for built-in audio systems.
The radio transmitter means you don't have to be within 15 feet and have a clear line of sight to the entertainment center. To make use of the feature though you need the Balboa Command Center. This option is located inside your house near the entertainment center. When you use the remote, radio signals are received through walls/windows and at further distances where their are translated and transmitted as standard IR commands for your equipment. Since I watch TV from my spa through a window, I didn't need the command center to control my system.
There is a 3rd option Balboa has that allows the remote to control your spa's pumps, lights, and other features but I personally didn't see the need for it since my spa already has two control panels.
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From a previous post (description of my setup):
With my trusty dremel tool I cut a hole in the wall to run speaker wire outside to a pair of $220 Boston Acoustics outdoor speakers. Radio Shack sold me a cheap wall plate with banana plugs for the wires to give the installation a clean look. A little putty on the outside was pressed around the wires to keep air/moisture out. With a few clips I ran run the wires to the speakers such that they are hardly noticable.
The whole project only took a few hours and cost $300 including the wire and other accessories. What matters to me more then the cost savings is that this installation sounds great! With the receiver I can plug in my ipod and enjoy my favorite tunes. Also, I can watch TV/DVD through the window thanks to an articulating arm that allows the flat panel TV to swing towards either the hot tub or to the sauna inside the house.
