I'm wondering if there's any difference between the IR that is sent from a TSU9400 versus the IR that is sent from an RFX9600.

First, some background information on my setup. I have a Xantech 791-44 connecting block. It gets its input from two sources:

1. A Xantech IR receiver is connected to the Xantech 791-44 connecting block.

2. The IR port #1 output (set to "low" output) of my RFX9600 is also connected to the same Xantech 791-44 connecting block.

Thus, my Xantech 791-44 connecting block can receive input from either source.

My devices are connected to the Xantech 791-44. I have a number of devices connected to the 791-44. When my TSU9400 is configured to send IR output for all the devices, all the devices work correctly; i.e. they all correctly respond to the IR codes sent from the TSU9400. When my TSU9400 is configured to send RF to the RFX9600, which in turn sends IR to the 791-44, most of the devices work correctly, except for two devices: my TiVo Series 3 and my X10 IR543. The X10 does not work correctly - it does not respond to any commands sent by the RFX9600. Most of the commands of the TiVo Series 3 don't work when going through the RFX9600 - either no response, or very intermittent behavior. However, when I configure my TSU9400 to send IR for the X10 and TiVo codes, they both work correctly and reliably. Thus, I'm wondering if there is any difference in the TSU9400's IR versus the RFX9600's IR.

Note that when using the same TiVo and X10 commands sent via RF using my TSU7500 and RFX6500, the TiVo and X10 work correctly.

Anyone have any suggestions why I'm having trouble with the RFX9600 (note that all other devices work okay, so it's not my RFX9600 configuraiton)? Does anyone control their X10 or TiVo via RFX9600?

Thanks.

Have you tried increasing the duration of the codes that go through the RFX9600?

Pressing on each button for a longer amount of time didn't help. I can try to experiment with duration later. In the past, during the times I had to increase the duration, it was because the codes weren't working when sent via IR. But this time, the codes work just fine via IR but not when going through the RFX9600.

BTW, anyone know what the default duration is?

What makes you believe that the input to a Xantech connecting block which normally is connected to the output of a Xantech IR receiver, or several such receivers, is compatable with the output of an RFX9x00.

The IR output of a RFX9x00 is a carrier modulated by a signal and is normally used to directly drive an IR LED (an IR emitter). The output of a Xantech receiver is not the same signal. The 791-44 connecting block expects as inputs the output of a Xantech IR receiver.

The QAD (quick and dirty) solution which I often use is to get the cheapest Xantech IR Jbox receiver and a standard IR emitter and tape the two together so the receiver sees the emitter making an Instant optical coupler / signal converter. I normally put the combo in a radio shack project box and add some stereo jacks to connect it up. I often use multiple emitters from different sources. But then they have to be spaced a little away from the receiver so they can all be seen. The receivers cone of reception is narrow when very close.

I have a xantec 4 zone connecting block and I have directly connected one of the RFX9600 IR outputs (on low power) to one of the xantec's receiver connections without a problem.

Connecting the RFX9600 IR out to a Xantech was discussed here:

[Link: remotecentral.com]\-44

The fact that most of my devices work properly enforced my belief that this was a workable solution. But, apparently, not all devices (TiVo and X10) work properly....


My Anthem Statement D2 surround sound processor has an input connecting block in its back. I tried to connect an RFX9600 output to its built-in connecting block (using a 3.5mm mono on one end and tinned wire on the other), and that did NOT work. No response at all on the Anthem. This was not surprising. The Anthem manual said the optical method may be needed. So, I wound up taping an RFX9600 emitter to an IR receiver connected to the back of the Anthem to get it to work. I didn't do the same thing for my RFX9600 to Xantech connecting block, however (I used a 3.5mm mono cable on RFX9600 side and tinned ends on the Xantech side).

I will try connecting an emitter to the RFX9600 and tape it to the IR receiver connected to the Xantech to see if this resolves the issue. Thanks for the tip.

It absolutely will if that is the problem.

Xantech used to make something called dinkylink emitters. I always kept a few in my toolbox. They were IR emitters that also put out bright visible light and only cost a couple of bucks each. Xantech sold them as "testers". Get a Radio shack project box and paste a bunch of these emitters at one end, and the reciver at the other. Bring it all out through mono jacks for the emitters and a 4 wire terminal block for the receiver. Put a few emitters in there and you have a multi input, single output optical coupler guaranteed compatible with a xantech collector.

Also handy for devices like the squeezeboxes from slimserver that put out IR but at CMOS levels (3.3 volts) Xantech definately does not like that. Also the voltage output swing on a Xantech receiver is If I remember correctly 12 volts, that is what a collector expects. In todays world many devices that put out IR run at 5 volts and some of the smaller power conserving units at 3.3 volts (CMOS as opposed to TTL).

Okay, I'll try the "optical" approach when I get some time, and post my results later. Thanks!

I tried the "optical" approach (i.e. I connected an IR emitter to the IR output of the RFX9600 and placed it in front of an IR receiver connected to my Xantech 791-44 connecting block). This "optical" approach works well. My X10 and TiVo commands work correctly. With the other approach (which was connecting a 3.5mm cable to the IR output of the RFX9600 and connecting the other end of the cable directly to the Xantech 791-44), the X10 and TiVo commands would not work correctly. The interesting thing is that, with this direct wire approach, other devices, such as my Denon DVD-3910 DVD player, a Toshiba HD-A3 HD DVD player, and an ancient VCR (which I use maybe once a year) worked correctly. It's just that the X10 and TiVo didn't work. Anyway, I'm using the optical approach and everything works fine now! Thanks, Barry!

I am just a little curious. Does any one know what the output voltages are from an RFX9x00? Is it 12 volts 5 volts or 3.3. If someone has an oscilliscope they could mesure the envelope swing. A voltmeter will read average or rms voltage since the voltage is actually varying unless you have a peak reading voltmeter that holds the peak value.

I did run across a little circuit that essentially is a level converter using two transistors. Several I know used it to run IR from a slimserver squeezebox output (3.3 volt swing) to a Xantach network (12 volt swing). I used the "optical coupler) as I had the parts laying around. If the output of the RFX9600 is 3.3V then I would expect some trouble with it in a Xantech network. Also the output of the Xantech receivers (I am pretty sure) are either diode Isolated or tristate so as not to load the buss.

I wonder if with this Xantec interface module you could direct wire to the input of the connecting block and have 100% success? It is designed to interface the Xantech output to a 3.5mm mini hardware input.

[Link: xantech.com]

Not sure if I've asked this question before. Are you using the Mono cables that shipped with the RFX9600? If so, how many, and to what types of equipment.

It could be that you have a ground loop that is causing problems, especially with Xantech equipment such as RT-8. If you can eliminate using mono cables (wired emitters are OK) on RFX9600 for all but one port, does that resolve the problem?

Randman,

I am curious how you are connecting the multiple inputs to the Xantech connecting block as I suspect that is the source of the problem.

A Xantech Connecting block normally expects to see the signal from a Xantech receiver output which is a lot like, but not exactly the same as an IR signal used to drive an emitter. The difference is in the driver circuitry of the receivers. The xantech receivers can be paralled into a buss like architecture and the paralled outputs (the buss) can be connected as the inputs to a connecting block giving multiple inputs. The receivers have special circuitry to allow this similar to tri-state logic or diode isolation. Treating the outputs of Philips extenders as if they were Xantech receivers will probably cause loading problems and may work depending on the final controlled equipments ability to deal with degraded signals.

Xantech makes a device called the serial combiner (793-10) which might solve this problem, but I am not sure. It provides diode isolation between multiple IR like inputs.

I can not say for sure but it would be an interesting experiment to hook one up and see what happens.