We've got the MX-850 and the MRF-250, and are using the front blasters on the MRF to send signals to the various components in our AV tower. All was working fine, but I've replaced the AV Reveiver with a SONY STR-DG500. I can't get the MRF front blasters to control the SONY Receiver unless the MX-850 is within about 3 feet of the MRF-250.

All other components work fine, though, and the IR commands when sent directly from the MX-850 to the SONY Receiver also work fine.

Can anyone give me a clue as to why the MRF would receive the signals perfectly well to control all the other components, but I'm having trouble with just this one SONY component?

Make sure you have your RF setup correctly in your MX editor software. Perhaps when you added the Sony you forgot to enable the RF for that device? If it is setup to use RF try changing the flasher for the Sony from ALL to the specific channel that the flasher is plugged into.

I checked that. Even changed the MRF ID number in the hopes that that would fix the problem. No luck.

(There is no flasher channel, the IR blaster is being used).

The problem is that the MRF-250 is not receiving the IR signals from the MX-850 unless their separation distance is less than about 3 ft.

At a distance of less than about 3 ft the signals are recieved and it works like it's supposed to.

So let me see if I'm understanding your problem completely. You need to be using the remote within 3 feet of the MRF-250 to make the Sony receiver work whereas all the other devices in the system work fine with the remote at a greater distance?

Yes. That's exactly right.

Here's a more recent development. When downloading from the computer to the MX-850, regardles of the configuration file being downloaded, the remote gets "tested" by the MX-850 editor. It fails the IROUT and IRAMP tests. I called tech support, and they had me reset the remote, sending it through its own self test. It passed. But, when downloading, it still fails. They had me send the remote in for testing. It's only three months old, so should be covered under warranty.

Do you think the failed test is related to the problem I'm having with the Sony receiver?

No, and I'm suprised they had you send it in.

Because every MX-850 fails on IROUT and IRAMP. It's perfectly normal.

Well, that sucks wind. I just mailed it off this morning, and will have to wait 2-3 weeks to get it back.

And if I understand you correctly, it still won't get the MRF-250 to send IR signals to the Sony receiver when I get it back!

That's probably the case.

And now it's kind of hard to troubleshoot it without having the remote in your hand.

There are two things that I can try. Neither of them are very attractive options.

1. Use a flasher (emitter) to send the IR signals from the MRF-250 to the Sony receiver.

2. Upgrade the MRF-250 to a MRF-350.

I've tried everything else that I can think of. Well, anyway, now I've got 2-3 weeks to think about it. Anybody else out there have any ideas? Please let me know.

Post a picture of your setup.
You said you are using the FRONT BLASTER, not an emitter.
The fact you need to be within 3 feet of the base suggests either you are weeking the IR blast by blocking it or are reflecting the blast. Without a picture no one can say.

It sounds like you have everthing set to RF only and are using the Front Blaster.
If other components work, then the MRF MUST be receiving the commands for the reciever too (it should blink); I think you are mistaken. You are either overpowering or underpowering the receiver.

Cover up the front of the remote and try all the components to make sure only RF is enabled too..

Do you mean a photograph, or a drawing, so you can see the relative positions of the equipment? I have a 6-ft tall tower of shelves, with the TV, receiver, etc resting on the shelves, all facing forward. The MRF-250 is mounted on the 8-ft tall ceiling, about 8 ft away from the tower, with its front blasters facing the tower. I'm not at work today, but I can take a photograph and measurements when I go back on Monday.


That is correct.


RF signals are sent from the MX-850 to the MRF-250. And those signals appear to be successfully arriving in all cases except for the following: When the separation distance (distance traveled by the RF signal) is greater than about 3 ft, and the RF signals sent from the MX-850 are associated with the one device (the Sony receiver).

If I understand you correctly, you are saying that the IR signals leaving the MRF-250's front blaster might be reflecting off the Sony receiver? If that's a possibility, because the angle is rather sharp, about 45 degrees, then I will definitely explore that once I get the MX-850 back from URC. (Two days ago I was advised by URC tech support to send it into them because it failed the IROUT and IRAMP tests during download. They report a 2-3 week turn-around time).


Yes. That is correct. (Except for one emitter used to control a ceiling-mounted projector located behind the MRF-250.)


It emits several quick blinks when it receives a successful signal. It emits a slightly longer single blink when it receives a failed signal. Successful signals are received for all other components from any separation distance between MX-850 and MRF-250. Signals intended for the Sony receiver fail when that separation distance is greater than about 3 ft, but are successful when the separation distance is less than about 3 ft.


I will do that. My recollection, though, is that I already tried that when I was trouble shooting this problem. I even tried enabling and disabling different combinations of IR and RF.

Underpowering. I finally got my MX-850 back from factory repair. They replaced it with a new one. I propped up the front of the SONY receiver so the MRF blaster could hit it at a more direct angle and all is well.

With the new replacement MX-850, all I see is the single longer blink at the MRF-250. And it's associated with a succesful signal! I don't know what was wrong, but apparently whatever it was has now been fixed.

They had it for over a month, including the transit times. The new replacement also fails the IROUT and IRAMP, but appears to be working fine. Go figure!

If you do a search you will find a master thread regarding Sony receivers and different ID numbers. Basically, there are some Sonys which do their IR on a different ID. If you change the receiver's ID then you will probably be home free.

Here: [Link: remotecentral.com]