AV IR

Summary: ProAV IR

ProAV Cable Solutions for Commercial Integration

Windy City Wire manufactures SmartWire® low-voltage cable engineered for professional audio, video, and control systems in commercial and industrial environments. From balanced audio and speaker runs to video distribution and control wiring, our pro av cable offering is built to help integrators deliver consistent performance, faster installs, and long-term reliability across venues, campuses, and enterprise facilities.

Built for Installation Efficiency and Performance

• SmartWire® brand — our U.S.-manufactured low-voltage cable portfolio designed for commercial AV applications.
• Standard 1000 FT lengths — bulk cable lengths that support efficient rough-in and rack-to-room pulls across large job sites.
• SmartWire Glide lubrication — a cable-jacket lubrication applied during manufacturing that reduces friction during pulls by up to 70%, helping speed installation through conduit and densely packed pathways.
• Application-focused designs — constructions for balanced audio, control and data pairs, speaker circuits, and 75 Ohm coax for RF/video backbone and digital antenna wire and cable distribution.
• Color options — extensive jacket and stripe color combinations available to support standardized identification across jobs. Custom color requests are available; contact our team for details.
• Low-voltage only — all SmartWire cable is designed for low-voltage systems used in ProAV environments.

Where SmartWire Fits in ProAV

• Balanced mic/line-level audio, DSP I/O, and analog/digital tie lines
• Room control, IR, GPIO, and serial/automation circuits
• Speaker runs for foreground/background audio, paging, and distributed sound
• 75 Ohm coax backbones for video transport, headend links, and digital antenna wire and cable distribution to displays and tuners
• Rack-to-room and room-to-room infrastructure for auditoriums, houses of worship, education, hospitality, arenas, and corporate facilities

Complementary ProAV Control Components

• Designer IR emitters (non-visible, high-output) — deep purple Lexan™ shell with clear adhesive film to mount on a component’s IR window; includes three pre-cut adhesive backings for replacement. Lead terminated with a 3.5 mm mono mini plug, length 10 feet.
• IR shield covers — black shields sized approximately 1" x 2" that effectively cover component IR eyes to prevent stray IR and improve reliability when used with designer emitters.

Why Integrators Choose Windy City Wire

• Consistency from batch to batch to support predictable performance and neat terminations across large projects.
• Labor-conscious designs that pull cleanly and route easily, helping crews stay on schedule.
• Broad ProAV coverage with constructions to standardize your specification from headend to endpoint.
• U.S. manufacturing and a team focused on requirements for commercial AV contractors, distributors, and OEMs.

Available Constructions

The following SmartWire bulk cable constructions are commonly specified for ProAV projects. All are low-voltage and supplied in 1000 FT lengths.

• 22 AWG 2C Stranded PVC CMR 300V: Balanced audio or control pair for mic/line-level signals and general control wiring.
• 22 AWG 2C Stranded FEP CMP 300V: Plenum-rated balanced pair for audio/control in air-handling spaces.
• 22 AWG 4C Stranded PVC CMR 300V: Two balanced channels or multi-drop control in a single jacket to reduce pulls.
• 24 AWG 2PR Stranded FEP CMP 300V: Twisted, individually shielded pairs for digital audio, control, or data in plenum spaces.
• 16 AWG 2C Stranded PVC CMR 300V: Speaker cable for distributed audio and mid-length runs with low loss.
• 14 AWG 2C Stranded PVC CMR 300V: Speaker cable for higher-power or longer runs to maintain performance.
• 12 AWG 2C Stranded PVC CMR 300V: Speaker cable for extended distances and high-power amplifiers.
• 20 AWG 1C Solid Foam PE RG59 CMR 300V: 75 Ohm coax for baseband video, CCTV, or short- to mid-length runs.
• 18 AWG 1C Solid Foam PE RG6 CMR 300V: 75 Ohm coax for headend, satellite, and broadband distribution to displays.

How We Add Value to Your Next ProAV Project

• Simplify specification with a unified SmartWire catalog covering audio, video, control, and speaker infrastructure.
• Reduce install time with SmartWire Glide lubrication that helps cable move through conduit and tight spaces more easily.
• Standardize identification through broad jacket and stripe color options that support your organization’s wiring standards.
• Support at scale from a low-voltage manufacturer that understands jobsite sequencing, consistency, and long-run requirements.

Summary

Windy City Wire delivers ProAV-focused SmartWire products and solutions that help commercial integrators build reliable systems, stay on schedule, and maintain project consistency from the rack to the farthest endpoint. Whether you need balanced audio pairs, speaker cabling, control wiring, or 75 Ohm coax for RF/video and digital antenna wire and cable distribution, our portfolio provides the performance, installation efficiency, and standardization you need to trust us with your next project.

Solutions: ProAV IR

AV IR control solutions for professional environments
Windy City Wire supplies low-voltage ProAV cabling and IR accessories that make control systems predictable, serviceable, and easy to deploy at scale. Infrared (IR) remains a practical way to command displays, projectors, set-top boxes, media players, and other source devices across commercial facilities. Our AV IR solutions support integrators who need dependable point-to-point control in rooms and centralized control from headend racks, while keeping installation and maintenance straightforward.

Where AV IR fits in modern systems
Even as IP and serial control expand, IR continues to be the simplest way to manage many commonly deployed devices. When IR is engineered with purpose-built pro av cable and quality emitters and shields, projects benefit from fast installation, clean signal paths, and reduced callbacks.

• Conference and collaboration spaces: Control room displays, BYOD switchers, video bars, set-top boxes, and legacy sources from touch panels or processors.
• Lecture halls and classrooms: Tie projectors, document cameras, media players, and confidence monitors to centralized or podium-based controllers.
• Digital signage networks: Manage player boxes and local displays behind kiosks or within enclosures where serial/IP may not be available.
• Hospitality and MDU: Use IR to control in-room TVs and set-top boxes while distributing video from a headend; pair with digital antenna wire and cable in RF distribution environments.
• Retail and quick-serve: Update or reset source devices and displays after-hours via IR, minimizing on-site service time.
• Houses of worship and education campuses: Simplify control of mixed-generation equipment across rooms where IR remains the native control method.
• Government, courts, and public spaces: Provide reliable, non-networked control paths where security or policy limits IP connections.
• Healthcare training rooms and simulation centers: Standardize on IR for displays and source gear to keep operation consistent across multiple rooms.
• Stadiums, arenas, and entertainment venues: Control displays in suites and concourses from centralized racks using IR distribution blocks and emitters.
• Command/control and NOCs: Manage auxiliary monitors and set-top sources in dense racks with IR shields to prevent cross-talk.

Common AV IR architectures we support

• Room-based point-to-point: An IR receiver at the user interface feeds a control processor or hub; discrete emitters adhere to each device’s IR window for direct, reliable control.
• Headend-to-room distribution: A central controller drives multiple IR outputs that route to remote rooms along structured cable paths and terminate in emitters at the display or source.
• IP-to-IR gateways: Networked controllers convert IP commands to IR where devices lack Ethernet or serial ports.
• Matrix switcher ecosystems: Utilize IR pass-through on extenders to send control from the display location back to the rack or source device.
• RF/coax environments: In properties using digital antenna wire and cable for TV distribution, IR provides a simple return control path for set-top boxes and tuners located remotely.

Product-driven advantages for installers and facility teams

• Discrete, high-output emission: The emitter design focuses energy at the device’s IR receiver without visual distraction, supporting reliable operation in bright environments or longer device-to-emitter offsets.
• Field-serviceable mounting: Clear, ready-to-use adhesive on the emitter housing and spare adhesive pads help technicians place, reposition, or replace emitters quickly during commissioning or service calls.
• Standard terminations: Leads terminated with common 3.5 mm mono mini plugs integrate with IR distribution hubs, control processors, and many AV receivers and extenders without custom adapters.
• IR shielding for dense installs: Shield covers block ambient light and neighboring emitters, preventing signal bleed when identical devices sit side-by-side in racks or credenzas.
• Durable housings: Robust shells protect the emitter element through transport, installation, and routine service, maintaining consistent alignment and adhesion.

When to use IR emitters, shields, and dedicated control cabling

1. Multiple identical sources: Use shield covers where several of the same set-top or player models are stacked; isolating each IR eye prevents unintentional simultaneous commands.
2. Hidden equipment: For sources mounted behind displays or inside cabinetry, adhere emitters directly to the IR window for dependable control without line-of-sight remotes.
3. Mixed-control ecosystems: Blend IR with serial/IP as needed; IR remains the fastest retrofit for devices that lack network or RS-232 ports.
4. Long cable runs from central racks: Run structured pro av cable to each device location and land a short IR lead and emitter at the endpoint for clean, serviceable terminations.

Design and installation considerations

• Emitter alignment: Place directly over the manufacturer’s IR window; verify repeatable response during commissioning.
• Light management: Use IR shields in high-ambient-light spaces (sunlit lobbies, glass-fronted racks) to reduce interference and false triggers.
• Cable management and strain relief: Route leads away from high-heat surfaces and moving mount arms; secure gently to avoid dislodging the emitter.
• Control standards: Confirm carrier frequencies and command sets for each device model, especially when using shared distribution hubs.
• Serviceability: Leave accessible slack and keep clear documentation of IR port assignments for rapid troubleshooting.

Integrations across industries

• Corporate: Boardrooms, training spaces, divisible rooms, and all-hands venues.
• Education: Classrooms, lecture theaters, hybrid learning studios, libraries.
• Hospitality/MDU: Guest rooms, ballrooms, lounges, and fitness areas with centralized sources.
• Retail/QSR: Menu boards, promotional displays, and localized media players.
• Healthcare: Simulation labs, conferencing spaces, and signage.
• Government and courts: Evidence display systems and public meeting rooms.
• Worship and performing arts: Stage displays, overflow rooms, and green rooms.
• Sports and entertainment: Suites, concourses, and back-of-house monitoring.
• Transportation and industrial: Control rooms, break areas, and production-floor displays.

Why spec Windy City Wire for AV IR
Our focus on low-voltage infrastructure gives integrators and facility teams the right mix of IR emitters, shields, and control cabling to support dependable device management across single rooms and campus-wide deployments. By pairing high-quality IR accessories with professional-grade pro av cable, projects achieve consistent control, cleaner racks, and straightforward service for the life of the system.

Plan your next IR-controlled deployment
Whether you are extending control from a central headend, outfitting conference rooms at scale, or integrating IR alongside digital antenna wire and cable in a hospitality or MDU property, our team can help you choose the right combination of emitters, shields, and low-voltage cabling. Contact us with your drawings or device list to get started.

Frequently Asked Questions: ProAV IR

• What AWG conductors are available with this SmartWire AV IR cable?

  This SmartWire AV IR cable is offered in a single AWG optimized for IR signal transmission. For the exact gauge on the specific part number, please contact Windy City Wire.

• What other colors is this SmartWire AV IR cable available in?

  The stock jacket color for this SmartWire AV IR cable is black. If you need color-coding, SmartWire cables can be made to suit custom jacket and stripe colors—contact Windy City Wire to discuss customization.

• Is this SmartWire AV IR cable made with solid or stranded copper conductors?

  SmartWire AV IR cables are typically manufactured with stranded copper conductors for flexible routing. Please refer to the specific product datasheet or contact our team to confirm the conductor construction for your selected part.

• What length is this SmartWire AV IR cable sold in?

  1,000 feet. At Windy City Wire, we manufacture and stock SmartWire Building Wire in 1,000 ft lengths as our standard length.

• How is your SmartWire ProAV cable sold—on spools or in boxes?

  SmartWire ProAV cables are packaged in our patented RackPack carton to maximize labor savings and on-site efficiency. Learn more about our RackPack: https://windycitywire.com/solutions/rackpack-overview

Additional Links:

• Learn more about our SmartWire Cable
• The RackPack - Our patented cable delivery solution
• Our Transporters - RackPack Transportation Devices
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