Hi all

Thanks for previous help about changing battery on a 9800 - did so but also managed to source a near-mint one recently.

I am interested in using the wireless functionality, and have ordered an RFX9400 extender from eBay. I had intended to use the IR output from this to feed a separate IR extender (of a type I already have and which works well), which would have its own IR output in a fixed place suitable to aim at all gear. But am wondering about using the 232 connections as well. Anyone tried these things?

Is it possible to connect in stand alone mode to more than one RFX9400? Comments on the RFX9600?

I ask as there are 7 components in the system requiring control.

Thanks in advance!

When using 'Standalone' mode, the Pronto connects to an ad-hoc network created by the extender(s). The network name depends on the 'Channel' you select on the extenders. The Pronto communicates with extenders on the 'Channel'. Multiple extenders can use the same 'Channel' but must specify a different 'Extender ID' (see switches on the back or in documentation). So, if you have 3 RFX 9400's, set them up on the same 'Channel' (1-3) but on each extender, select a different 'Extender ID' (0-F).

Next, in PEP2/3, specify the 'Channel' as 1, 2, or 3 which matches your extenders and add the RFX9400 Extender 0 - F as needed.

Note that you cannot use RFX9400 for 232 and if you want to use RFX9600 you will not be able to use standalone mode meaning that the Pronto must connect to a Router/AP that you have on a wired network as the RFX9600 only connects to a wired network. When using Wired Network, only the Extender ID matters and not the Channel. See the RFX9400/9600 manuals that are available from this site in the Files Section for more info.

That's very helpful, so thank you very much!

Are you sure that you can't use the mini-jack 232 connections from the 9400? The manual says that you can, and it seems that for my purposes, two 9400s in stand-alone mode, using a combination of 232 and IR would be ideal. Two of the items don't have a 232-style remote input.

I apologise for my lack of knowledge in advance - I really do appreciate the help a great deal.

Cheers

Simon

Simon,

To my knowledge, the mini jacks on the RFX9400 only support IR. If you need to do 232 control, you will need an RFX9600. And there are not 4 distinct UART chips in the 9600. Search for a thread by me regarding a shared UART (keyword UART) on ports 3 and 4. What this means to you is that you can only reliably send and receive on ports 1 and 2. Ports 3 and 4 share the same UART and therefore you are only guarantee that you can send on both. If you try to receive on port 3, for example, the response received may be data coming from equipment attached to port 4.

The RFX9400 box clearly states contents as 2 dual IR emitters and 2 mini-jack IR cables. Page 3 of the starter guide for the RFX9400 states the jacks as being 4 IR outputs.

So, I am a bit confused.
Can you please point me to documentation that you are referencing?

Thanks,
Lyndel

No, the thanks are all in your direction!

It's page 7 of the RFX 9400 starters' guide, where a picture shows the mini-jack connection method as an alternative to IR. I'm pretty sure it's the one I downloaded from here

EDIT: Am I just being a dimwit - 232 is something separate and both IR and mini-jack connection methods are still referred to as IR? That's how it's starting to look to me...

In which case, two in stand-alone mode looks like the way to go, using both IR connection methods!

If the 7 components you intend to control using IR are all in the same location within close enough proximity of one another a single RFX9400 should do the trick. Just use dual IR emitter cables, 2 emitters per port, support for up to 8 components.

RS-232 sometimes runs over 3 pins on a stereo plug/jack. Lots of equipment have started using this connectivity method. I have a Bryston BDA-3 DAC that does just this. The older BDA-2 model used DB9 connectors and the newest model changed to a stereo jack.

However, the Pronto RFX9X00 extender mini-jacks are for IR only.

With regard to LowPro's comments, provided that all 7 components use a different IR codeset, you'd be good with a single extender.

An example of 2 components using the same codeset, consider that you have 2 Sony Blu Ray Players and they do not have a method to select Codeset 1 vs Codeset 2, etc. In this case, you could put Blu Ray Player #1 on an emitter off port #1 of the RFX9400 and Blu Ray Player #2 on an emitter off another port (#2, #3, or #4) and send commands to a specific port based on settings in PEP2.

Thanks both - I think I know where I am headed now - I think I prefer using mini-jack where I can so the apparatus can be tucked away - the equipment is all on show.

Cheers!

Hi

Is there an idiot's guide to this?

I have tried using the extender discovery tool, but nothing happens.

I have then opened a project, gone into systems properties and added a wireless network, stand alone and added the extender in accordance with the settings on the back, namely stand alone, setting 1 and extender ID 0. I've then saved this and downloaded to device, but it just sending IR from the unit. IR emitter is connected to port 1, as per the configuration file. Have tried more than one IT emitter plugged into that socket. Oh, and have tried with and without the IP address on the back of the RFX. Both power and wifi LEDs are green and my laptops can see and connect to the extender's wifi network.

Oh, and in the settings on the remote itself, it is showing a network with mac and IP entries as well as a little RF icon top left that I don't recall seeing before. The IP address isn't the one on the back of the unit.

I did try configuring the RFX in network mode too, but that didn't seem to work. It feels as though in stand-alone mode, the remote and extender are connecting.

But it isn't working, so any help greatly appreciated - feeling quite frustrated! I get the impression I'm missing something small, or that I am just woefully out of my depth...

Oh, and the IR emitters aren't the twin-ended type in the manual. Could that be an issue?

Cheers!

The Extender Discovery Tool only works if your RFX is in Network Mode and you switch from position 1 to position 3 while the tool is running.

Assumption here is that you are using PEP1, PEP2, or PEP3.

When you Add Extenders to Project, that is only the first step. For PEP2/3, the next step is selecting (Clicking on) the 'Component' containing your IR codes for the equipment you want to assign to the Extender.. Now, on the right hand side of the Building Blocks Area, you will see all Extenders that have been added to the project.
In your case, you'd want to ensure that Extender 0 is checked when you have 'DVD', for example, selected. Finally, select IR Port from Building Blocks using the drop-down underneath the checkbox area (initially will show IR Port 1).

If you are still having issues, email me at the address on my profile and I will send you the Philips PDF that was used for the Pronto Certification Program (2MB) that should explain things a bit more.

Lyndel

Ah, so it was something reasonably straightforward that I was missing - and also explains how to assign ports, which was something else I couldn't readily see.

Thank you so much, we're all up and running to my great pleasure. I'll email you and ask for the pdf for reference, if that would be OK.

Again, thank you very much for your help, Lyndel!

RS232 works exactly the same way for Serial Port Assignment.

Hi Lyndel

I just wanted to say thanks again for your help with this - system is now exactly as I want it, fully-controlled by extenders, with three pairs of lights, two mains sockets and an outside socket used to power front and rear Christmas lights all installed and working.

Pronto is a wonderful thing, but using it without extenders isn't getting to see it anywhere near its best!

Cheers

Simon

Simon,

Very welcome.

Next step for you is JavaScript/ProntoScript for the ultimate control. :-)