My MX-3000, which was manufactured in late 2004, has a broken USB port. I believe this is generally referred to as a mini-USB port and is proprietary to URC. The remote still works fine but I can no longer download configurations into the remote.

I'm planning on getting a new remote in the near future (probably right after CEDIA-waiting for new product announcements including a possible two-way MX-5000). It could be an updated MX-3000, in conjunction with an MSC-400, to take advantage of the narrowband technology or I might go to RTI. I've been very happy with the MX-3000 with the exception of the RF performance which, while using an MRF-300, is very finicky and spotty at best. I've tried all the tricks like various placements, ferrite cores, etc. but I can never get it to be bulletproof. (i.e. every push of a button results in the underlying command(s) being received properly by the pertinent equipment). Is this an unrealistic expectation? Do those of you using the MX-3000 along with either the MSC-400 or MRF-350 get flawless RF performance? Should I just switch to RTI if I want bulletproof RF?

Eventually I'm going to have to get the USB port on my current MX-3000 fixed, however, I'd rather not send it back to URC for repair until I have a replacement. Two of the four prongs on the port appear to be partially broken off and I'm wondering if I can improvise a temporary workaround. I've taken a standard USB cable and cut off the end which normally goes into a USB device such as a printer. I found four wires (black, red, white and green) inside. The white and green wires were wrapped around each other. I'm wondering if I can try to manually attach these wires to the defective USB port where all four prongs are still visible even though two are partially broken. Does anyone have any idea how to assign the wires?

Lastly, I'm wondering what kind of USB port is on the newer versions of the MX-3000. I believe it's now a standard USB port like the kind you might find on a printer. Can someone confirm? A standard USB port seems like a better solution as the mini USB port on my MX-3000 does seem kind of fragile while standard USB ports don't seem to have this problem.

Bob

Newer 3000's have a standard Mini-USB port on them. Older MX3Ks have a notched proprietary cable. I have better luck with the 350, but it's still not always bullet-proof. There's some tough environments that have made them not work. Same with the 400. I have less problems with the 400, simply because it's single commands being issued as opposed to strings of commands. RTI arguably has more reliable RF, but it's really what you're comfortable with.

I have the MX-3000 and use it with the MRF-250, which most say has issues. My remote and RF base work flawless. I never have a problem with my devices receiving the proper signals.

My one and only issue I have is the volume hard buttons. Half the time when I press and hold the volume button, it does not repeat constantly. The volume only goes up or down one notch. I sometimes have to press and hold the buttons several times before I get it to move properly. I suppose this may be the way I coded it and not due to the actual relaying of the signals between the remote, the rf base and all the devices.

My RF issue involves periodic interference which can be seen on the RFX-150 antenna via the RF light. No matter where I move the antenna or whatever else I might do I sometimes get the RF light flickering even though I'm not sending commands. This problem is very intermittent and may not appear for hours at a time. When this happens RF performance gets spotty.

I recently discovered that 433mhz remote thermometers in my home would light the antenna up like a Christmas tree when moved right next to the antenna. I thought I had solved the problem but when not placed next to the antenna they don't seem to be causing the antenna to light up. I disabled all of them and yet I still get occasional interference. I have no idea of what to do to solve this problem other than change my remote.

The remote thermometers operate at 433mhz and, theoretically, shouldn't affect the remote system as it operates at 418mhz. I would expect that the new narrowband technology would solve this problem. Any opinions on this?

Esay enough to check. Set the remote to IR & no RF and see if you still have the problem.