I have an MX-850 paired with an MRF-260 which I've been using for about 7 years. This morning my remote wasn't working on a lot of the presses. Occasionally it would work but predominantly it wouldn't. I moved to the area where my equipment was sitting (a dressing room off my Master Bedroom) and when I hit the buttons everything was working fine.

I did a little trouble shooting and discovered that once you left the room and got a few feet away the control stops working. The strange thing is that the lights on the MRF-260 continue to light indicating it received the command and the IR flasher blinks (only one of my flashers blinks when it gets commands) even though nothing changes.

I have two different MX-850s and both exhibit the same behavior. I don't have a spare MR-260. Is it possible my MRF-260 is failing? The fact that it continues to blink indicating the command was received and the IR flasher continues to flash is giving me pause that it is an MRF-260 issue but perhaps it isn't sending a strong enough signal? I did try changing the IR Receiver ID from 3 to 5 and it didn't fix the problem.

BTW, my IR is turned off on the Receiver so when I am close it is definitely changing the equipment via RF and not IR. I also confirmed by doing the change with the remote being blocked to the equipment.

Thanks for the help.

Is the status light on the 260 flickering without button presses? If so, lots of interference.

It could be that something in the house is causing some mild interference therefor shortening the range. Try moving the 260 and see what happens.

It is possible that you are picking up some RF interference.

Switch the id to 0 and see if the status light starts blinking. If it is blinking then there is RF interference You will have to move the MRF unit to a location that the light does not blink.

After moving it then change the id back to the 5.

Thanks for the responses. I'll try that later but don't think it is interference. It is a clear blink only when I push the button. Basically everything was working fine until earlier today and the MRF has been in the same location for 7 years. Haven't added anything to the home in terms of new devices that could have started interfering.

Still, definitely worth ruling that out so I'll put it to 0 and see what it shows. Do I need to disconnect all the IR blasters that are in the ports or just simply setting it to 0 would do it?

Thanks.

Just set it to zero.

It sounds like RF interference to me .have u add new lighting or any new electronics with in 20 30 ft of base station this includes routers etc also the ant on that remote can work its way loose from board .hope this helps

delete

I didn't get a chance to do the interference check (still will) however I did find an old MX-850 that I had stopped using b/c a few of the buttons weren't working. I loaded that one up and it worked fine from distance. Tried that one along with both of the older ones on my bed and only this third one worked from there. We started using this new/older one and it has been fine the past day or so. Even all the old buttons seem to be working.

Like I said, I still want to see if there is interference but assuming there isn't (in the end, one of them is now working fine) I guess it is that the RF is failing on two of the others. Is there anyplace to buy new ones of these remotes? I love the ergonomics of the MX-850 but I now can only seem to get used ones off Ebay and you never really know what you're getting with them.

If not, is there any other remote you guys would recommend for a generally knowledgeable consumer who doesn't want to have it professionally programmed? I manage my own Crestron system but in my Master bedroom I use the MX-850 since that cabinet isn't connected to my basement rack. Worst case I'll go the Harmony route as it appears their Home Control line has better ratings than many of their older models. For the time being I'll stick with my URC but as it gets older I'm sure the day will eventually come where I need to replace the whole system.

Are you using the CC to program your 850? If so the mx-780 is a good replacement that will work with your mrf-260, the mx-780 is also sold under the model name x-7 at places like BestBuy/Magnolia Home Theater centers.

If you shake your MX – 850 and hear a rattling sound, then the RF antenna has broken loose off of its board and you are not transmitting RF with an antenna any longer. I have fixed a couple of those.

I worked for URC back when the RF remotes first came out and have been programming and installing them since I moved on to my own installation company.

The two possibilities are
1) RF interference. Even if the RF status light only blinks when the remote sends a signal, that doesn't mean that there isn't some RF interference blocking the actual commands from passing through. However, since you have tried another MX-850, it's relatively safe to say it's unlikely to be interference.

2) As tomciara said, the antenna inside could be loose or detached. I've seen this problem as well. This is more likely the issue.

As far as recommending a remote, the MX-890 has been a fantastic upgrade from the MX-850. They are the remote that most of my clients get.


Damon

Hello Tomciara, I have the problem you mentioned in your post regarding the RF antenna coming loose inside the unit. I opened up the unit and the antenna chip is not connected to anything. It was just loose floating around in the unit casing. Do you know how to reconnect the antenna chip? I searched Google for images or diagrams and couldn't find anything on this. Actually, that is how I came across your post. Thanks!

I have probably not done one for three or four years. I remember it being pretty fine, fine solder work. You need to find where it broke off of a circuit board and reattach. I have no pictures.

Thanks for your response tomciara. I was able to determine where it broke off the main circuit board. I'll have to look for a local resource who can repair it. Thanks!