Hi, I have a problem that is causing me to rip my hair out!! Sometimes an outside point of view helps resolve these little issues =) Hopefully some of you Pronto experts can help me with this challenge!!

Here's a description of the system...

I have two RFX-9600's stacked on top of each other in a built-in wall unit. They are both connected to a dedicated Linksys wireless router. No internet on this router, its just for control.

The RFX's have separate IP addresses, and they are set to Extender ID#1, and Extender ID#2.

I have a TSU9800 programmed to operate all the family room components, which are connected to Extender#1. I'm using 5 IR flashers and 1 hardwired IR connection to an LG television (via an Audioplex interface, to solve the 12v output to 5v input issue)

I also have a TSU9400 programmed to operate all the patio components, which are connected to Extender#2. I'm using 3 IR flashers and 1 hardwired IR connection to another LG television (again via an Audioplex interface)

Both systems are "discrete", meaning they all have their own dedicated components. Nothing shared. Each room has its own Denon receiver, an LG television, an LG BDP, and a DirecTV receiver.

When I tested the family room system, everything worked perfectly. The "transmit lights" confirmed all of my commands were being sent, and all the devices worked flawlessly.

Same thing with the patio system. Perfect!

But just as I was "buttoning up" the install, I noticed something...

On the LG televisions (not on any other components), when I send a command to the Family room TV, the patio TV does the same thing! And vice-versa.

Odd thing is, only the transmit light on the RFX for that controller blinks. Not the other one. But both TV's are executing the command!!

I pulled the IR cables as far apart as possible, just in case there was some interference or bleed-through, but this did not make a difference. Of course, the two RFX's are stacked on top of each other, so the cables get close at the back of the extenders.

Also double-checked the programming. Patio remote programming only contains the Patio RFX-9600. It has no information on the other RFX. And all of the components are set to the correct IR port on the correct RFX-9600. Same situation for the other remote's programming.

I tried endless troubleshooting, to no avail... too much to list here. Just hoping someone has experienced this, or something similar.

Any ideas? PLEASE HELP!

Thanks,
Cris

Are you saying 2 separate extenders are connected to 2 different LG Televisions?

What editor version are you using? Is the RFX9400 in standalone or network mode? The detailed post above does not include some of the basic things that we really need to know to determine if this is a bug or if this is a case where a ground loop may exist?

Also, is it possible that the LG TV has an IR emitter that is blasting commands to another room, by chance? Are there 1 or 2 audioplex interfaces? If a single AudioPlex interface, what happens when you remove one of the cables from the AudioPlex? Does the stuff continue to bleed through to both TVs?

Thanks for the reply... here are some answers...


YES


PEP2


Not using an RFX9400, they are both RFX9600's. The remotes are TSU9800 and TSU9400.


No, they are not nearly close enough for this to be the case. One is outside on a patio, and the other is inside the house.


Two - one for each TV


There are two AP interfaces, but I did a test similar to what you said. If I unplug the IR cable from Patio TV, and then send a command to the Patio TV, it no longer "bleeds" through to the Family Room TV. However, once I plug the IR cable back in, I get the command on both TV's.

By the way, when I send a TV command from one remote (lets say the patio system's remote), the IR LED blinks only on the corresponding RFX9600. The other (family room in this case) RFX does not blink. The same holds true when I use the other system's remote.

So, it doesn't appear that the remote is communicating with both RFX's. Because of this, I am led to believe that the problem is occuring once the signal is output from the RFX.

I seriously doubt you are getting signal coupling through the IR cables.

you said:

There are two AP interfaces, but I did a test similar to what you said. If I unplug the IR cable from Patio TV, and then send a command to the Patio TV, it no longer "bleeds" through to the Family Room TV. However, once I plug the IR cable back in, I get the command on both TV's.

When you pulled the IR cable for the patio TV and tried to control the family room TV did it work? Did the Patio TV also follow the IR command as if it saw it?
How aboput the other way round?


Some suggestions to try:

Find the IR windows on the TV's and cover them with tape so they can not see any IR.

Remove both audioplex units and plug an IR emitter with a visible light telltale into the IR ports of the RFX the audioplex was plugged into. See if they both flash at the same time or only the correct one flashes.

In the later case where the correct port lights the telltale, put back the Audioplex units and plug the TellTale IR emitters into the audioplex. See what happens.

Get rid of the audioplex units and just use IR emitters over the LG IR windows.

Which AudioPlex unit are you using, they make quite a few.

CTrebbi,

In spite of your care, there could be some sort of cross connection in the wiring. Otherwise, I suspect IR leakage. As a quick test, mask the IR sensors and emitters on both TV's. Note that regular black electrical tape is somewhat transparent to IR. For this quick test I would use a book, chair, newspaper, etc. If masking solves your problem, black electrical tape covering an underlying layer of aluminum foil is a practical, visually acceptable solution. Make sure that you mask is large enough because the IR can travel through a plastic bezel at an angle.

Lyndel has more trouble with "ground loops" than I've had. I hope that you are not having this sort of issue because it will be messy to fix.

Note that digital cameras are sensitive to IR -- you can easily prove that an LED is or is not emitting.

On LG TVs, if you use the rear IR port, it disables tie IR receiver in the front of the TV. Try this: route the IR for TV 1 from RFX 1 thru port 1, and route TV 2's IR thru port 4 on RFX 2. I doubt very seriously that you are getting any cross-talk thru the wires.

Buzz, I don't think the bold above was meant as an insult?

Personally, the only problems I've had is with an Xantech RT8 and older RFX6000 which was fixed by isolating ground via an internal jumper. And of course, my Escients hard-wired to single RFX9600.

However, I've gotten plenty of RC mail and other email about folks that hook all this stuff together in multiple zones, some with and without Xantech equipment and have issues where commands are being duplicated. In this case, the poster RC mailed me and asked questions about my past experiences. As I am not familiar with the equipment he is using, I asked him to post here as well.

Sorrn, no insult. I had intended to bold your handle, but something went wrong, hence the appearance that I was shouting.