K-x and long range remote

I have three IR remotes all of which work on the K-x but none stretch to more than about 4 metres in daylight. Made worse by the fact the sensor is on the front which means unless you are taking a photo of yourself you have to add the distance from the camera to the subject plus your distnce from the back of the subject, so not much use for wildlife. Obviously there are more options with the connector on the K20D etc. I would like to get a reliable 10 metres in daylight. Am I right in assuming that the RF ones which use a receiver need the connection socket or can they be worked via the hot shoe?
Any suggestions welcome.
Dave

Modify one of the IR remotes so that it is operated via (a) a wired switch, (limited to length of wire) and/or (b) a RF switch (limited to range of RF transmitter/receiver).

So John, are you saying put an existing remote with a modified swich close or attached to the camera and then trigger that with a wired or RF switch/ transmitter. Good idea but I'm not sure if I'm quite electronically up to doing the mod!

Yes, exactly that. The switch on the IR remote is a simple on/off type. I'd mount the modified IR remote in front of the camera, possibly using one of those cheap flash brackets that attachs to the base of the camera.

The switch will be quite simple; no electronics as such.

What remote(s) are you using?

Thanks. An old one from a Pentax Espio 35mm, a JJC RM-E4 (Generic) and another made in China Ebay cheapo. No problem to wreck one!

Buy a pair of Cactus V5's and the appropriate shutter cable from Gadget Infinity.. 100 meter range.

Not sure how that would work Peter, as the K-x doesn't have a shutter release socket, hence the post. Unless I am missing something?
Dave

You're right, it won't.

Sorry, I didn't realise that the K-x has no shutter release socket.

Thanks for trying to help. Yes I'm afraid that's the problem Peter and why the solution is proving a difficult one!I just don't understand why they leave out such an important feature to save what - a fiver?
Dave

you could hack together an remote extender using off the shelf stuff....
they have systems that take an ir remote signal, converts it to a radio signal which transmitts to a reciever that then out puts the ir signal,
these are sold for home entertainment systems.

there is also this...
any programable remote can be made to fire your camera if you are willing to cycle throug all the different tv models to find the right "ir pulse" to trip your camera ( i think one of the sony tv channels on my universal remote works)

lastly, my sons "Laser tag" gun works to about 8 meters in daylight, and fires my camera.
the issue however is you have to be in front of the camera aiming back, "to score a hit".. so you're in the frame, unless you're shooting a telephoto lens in which case I'm wondering why not just use a normal lens and get closer to the subject?

Don - 1. Might be feasible:-
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290529295988&fromMakeTrack=...
A lot of the extenders are mains operated but this one is AA battery. If I got a remote that worked the camera with AA batteries (current ones all have button Li's) then fit the receiver close to and facing the receiver of the camera............
2. This might be a cheap route to an AA based transmitter.
3. Yes you could use a closer focusing lens but this would only gain say 2 metres and I need to be further than 5 metres.

Where this would be useful is that if the RF receiver can be taped or mounted in front of the camera I could be behind it because firing the RF signal won't be directional, or at least not to the same extent.

Tempting to try the above for the sheer fun of it!

Unfortunately all the ones I can find need mains power, at least at the receiver end so that negates that idea.

giggles and googles and here is a possible solution:
link

Thanks Don, I'll look into this and I have an HTC Android phone as well.

Built the above but not working yet. This is probably due to my soldering and the lead I have used! Will have another go. In the mean time I have got an RF/IR remote extender from Ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SV1100-One-All-Remote-Control-Extender-Brand-New-/29053218...
This works brilliantly. So can fire shutter from behind, in front, another room and distance! There has to be a downside doesn't there! Well as I alluded to above I can only find them with a DC mains plug in adaptor so it can only be used near a mains socket and you don't come across many of those in the woods! Surely though, I can adapt it to work with some sort of 12v battery or something from Maplins? Any suggestions welcome because this would be really useful to lots of people.
Dave