Hey everyone. I tried searching but couldn't find anything from doing that so thought I would ask. Just finished installed simple single room system with a second zone for just audio. Everything worked fine on the cable box and fix all RF issues that I had. The problem is the cable box at times will respond and at times it won't. When I send a command the ir flashes and at times the cable box will change and other times it won't. When I tried changing the cable box in zone 2 channels would always change no issues. BluRay player works no issues, Onkyo receiver no issues and iPod docking station no problems. When I tried changing channels or doing anything from the cable box it is a 75/25 chance it won't work.

The list of products just installed are
Samsung PN63B550
Onkyo TX SR706
Samsung BD3400
Motorola DCX3400
URC MX850 w/MRF300

I was getting RF interference at first but moved the RFX250 location and that seemed to solve the problem but now that I was just going to program in the Fav's all of a sudden the cable box cann't be controlled. Right now I am at an end and seeing if I am missing something.

Any info is appreciated if someone has run into this before. I know about the rf issues that occurred in the past and have dealt with that myself but this is strictly the cable box that is non responsive at times.

Thanks.

Did you try adjusting the Gain?

Yup tried that and nothing. Just did a little bit more testing and went back to just Zone 2 to see what I has changed. Well turn on zone 2 and everything is perfect again. What I thought was a problem with the cable box or the BluRay player is really an issue with the plasma. I just turned the tv on and off and was looking to see if there were any differences. Well as soon as that plasma goes on bammo complete junk control. So that is the issues.

I believe the ir-eye/emitters that come with the MRF-350 are not plasma proof. Dont quote me on that though. Best of luck!

Thanks SignatureSV. I am going to call URC in the morning and then also check with my distributor to see what they say. I re-adjusted the RFX down to nothing and took out all the slack on the whip that they send. That helped a little bit but if not then I might have to try the MRF260 or go to a narrow band remote.

Thanks again.

If I could suggest when you call to ask for Anthony Tomitelli? i think his name is. By far one of the most helpful person I have ever talked to in any type of tech support. We had a issue last week with the MX880 and he went beyond the call of duty and actually got the file we were using and was tweaking it. He is a nice guy too! if hes a little busy i would wait for him. I keep meaning to call Universal and get a manager and say a few good words.

There is no such thing as a plasma proof IR flasher, as there is no need for one, since it is sending out a signal, not receiving one. Is the plasma facing the cable box?

Thanks again Signature.

Hi Greg. The plasma is in the living room and the rest of the equipment is mounted on a Middle Atlantic rack in a closet about 30' away. I originally had the RFX150 mounted in the closet since I was not worried about distance issues. When I started having this issue I thought it would be able to get resolved with using ferrite cores like I have in the past. That didn't work so I took the RFX and put it by the plasma since I had a 2 spare Cat5's there. I might have resolved it but I am still goinig to call URC in the morning and pick their brain. I ended up leaving the pigtail loose for the RFX signal wire and then routed it to one side of the plasma. Turned the RF range down to next to nothing and this made the cable box more consistent. I wasn't having issues like I was all afternoon. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day than today was and I can finally be done with this.

Your right, i was not thinking clearly lol long day.

Let us know how you make out!

Well to make a long story short again. I didn't even bother dealing with calling URC. I just went and picked up an MX900i along with and MRF260i and called it a day. Went back to the clients site put in my $2 for the meter went up to the unit did the program and touched up couple of things then tested it and retested and voila. All set and finally the thing worked the way it should have from the get go. So now I am happy well other than the meter maid that must have waited till my 2 hours were up because there was a $25 ticket for over meter limit. I really do hate working in the city. Oh well at least the client is all set now.

Thanks again to both you guys for the info. What kills me is that I knew I should have been able to take care of the interference issue like I have in the past with the ferrite cores and for the life of me couldn't find where I had all my extras that I have used in the past. Well last night I was moving some stuff around in the back of the truck and found the stupid thins in a bag that I know I had already checked. Oh well at least now I know to never use regular remotes and only use the "i" series narrow band remotes.

Thanks again guys.

Glad to here you made out alright! as long as the customer is happy and was understanding what the delay was it makes it that much better ( i wish my previous customer was a little more understanding but thats a different story)

And yeah i feel your pain, i generally dont let my truck get so dirty i cant find anything but somehow someway every job you do it gets dirty and things get misplaced. Darn truck cluttering fairies lol

I know this is resolved, but I'm going to throw this in here just for the hell of it.

If I remember correctly, those MOT DCX3400 IR sensors are in a COMPLETELY different place than most all other MOT cable boxes. Anyone dealt with that before?

I recently received a Motorola DCX3400 DVR from my cable co. It replaced another Motorola DVR that I was having problems with. I had an IR blaster attached to the front that allowed me to change channels fast forward etcetera from another room. Tried numerous IR blasters (emitters). Ones that already worked in other rooms. Called Time Warner and they told me on the back there was "Ext IR input". I plugged the device in there and it promptly started smoking. What I have is Leapfrog transmitters and receivers that use the phone lines to transmit signals. I can watch the DVR in the living room from the kitchen or bedroom. I can also watch the bedroom DVR (ReplayTV) from the living room. This used to work. All I did is change the DVR. Anybody help?

Maybe an upgrade to the RFX250 would have fixed it (you did say you were using a MRF300, correct?). How old was the MX850 (was it a newer narrow-band unit)?

When there is RF interference, it can appear that the component is simply not working. The fact is that the signal is not fully going through. For example, the RFX status light may flash, but you may get no status light on the MRF itself.

In NYC, especially Times Square, RF can be very difficult.



Thank you,
Damon
Control Systems Consultant & NY Custom Installation