Alright...

I've been posting here quite awhile... guess I consider myself a pro but lately i feel like a trunkslamming newbie getting brutally beaten up by s----y IR performance on multiple systems... something like 8 of the last 10. The simplest thing is keeping me from staisfying customers and collecting final checks.

I'm beginning to wonder if I am radioactive or something! Whats been happening is some component in the systems (not always the same one) will perform beautifully... all codes working... then 1 hour later be completely unreliable. Come back after a while and voila'.... all working again. WTF????????????????????

I've tried Xantech, Audioplex, Speakercraft, Pronto or MX3000 RF, etc. etc.. Some systems are with Plasmas and have stealth IR systems... some are projectors or Toshiba HD Tubes. One system has everything but a McIntosh DVD working and the DVD will barely respond to the Pronto but will respond to its own remote. In another, I've got a Cable Box (Motorola) that will perform the same way (perfect or crap...depending on its mood I guess) with either its factory remote or a Pronto.

Anyway... I'm fastly pulling out all of my hair and expect to be bald soon. Have any of you gone throuhg such a streak and if so what in the heck have you done to rectify it. The wierdest thing is that I have literally hundreds of perfectly working little Xantech Dinky Link systems out there...even with Plasmas that are working fine... the problems are all as of late (hence the reason I thought I might have taken some radiation or something). We usually CAT5e as wiring but have already replaced it with shielded stuff in a few of these and it hasn't helped.

Thanks in advance for any input!

Any dimmers (particularly Lutron) about?

Do you have a dinky link or other IR receiver pointed at a window, or some type of heat source?

Is there a factory remote in the room somewhere that has a stuck or intermittently stuck button?

Low voltage halogen lighting? Plus I have been having problems with Prontos linked buttons.

any of the xantech CFL Friendly ir receiver will not work with all equipment. I have been using the 491-30, 291-30, 480-30 all with excellent results.

Mike

Lutron Dimmers???

Yeah, almost every home has a few... I was unaware they emit IR or cause interference. If thats the case what have you done to rectify problems?

Factory remotes in all cases have been hidden and that wouldn't explain the intermittent nature when they are gone. Should I look harder at RTI?

I am ordering a few of Xantechs MAC1 to try out for macros but the commands that are killing me are mostly single (the MAC1s are mainly to stop the ridiculous "hold the Pronto at the TV screen for 4 seconds" instructions I've had to give to execute macros).

I have fixed a few by ordering Audioplex IR Stations with Adjustible IR Bugs. WARNING!!! I plugged one of the adjustables into a Xantech Connecting Block and blew it up somehow... compatibility seems to be a problem.

Let me change this up slightly. We have been selling Prontos for years and have a very nice library and system of programming them. Lately they have been so unreliable that we are ready to switch to something else. I am so convinced that the control system is what sets us apart that when it doesn't work reliably it kills me. The hardest thing is convincing a client of this and when you finally get the money out of it they surely expect it to wow the snot out of them. I have been looking hard at Destiny Networks and potentially Control4. What else are you all using that is more robust? What are the average retail costs of your Control Systems. Since we sell Integra and Dwin we'd like to use RS232 codes that get to a code spitter some other way.

Thanks for the replies!

Lets see what we can share here that might help us all.

OK rhm9,

I have had issues in the past and this is where I would suggest starting.

1) test each of the components with the origional factory remote to make sure all commands work properly

2)hook up the IR system

3) repeat #1

3A) if all works then you now know the IR system and remotes work properly.

3B)If all does not work properly then you may have issues with too much IR information going into components "flooding" them out(coming from the emitters) so they do not respond, or the IR receiver is being bombarded with IR from sunlight, flourcents lighting, halogen lighting blocking the transmission to the connecting block, or just have a defective part in the IR system (I prefer Xantech and have never had any real issues other that the ones that vwpower44 spoke about in the above post). When given the chance always use the mini plug IR inputs on gear, just less chance of the emitter falling off, getting pulled off, and getting that "my stuff don't work" call on Friday @ 4:20 in the afternoon when you are ready to enjoy your weekend.

4) lets assume that you fixed any and all IR system issues at this point, if not go back and fix them.

5) Now we know the IR system works as it should and the components respond as they should, so from here you can test the universal remote that you have programmed with all the necessary macros, punch throughs, and short cuts.

6A) Everything works perfect, customer is happy, you get the check and go home happy.

6B) The universal remote does not respond as it should, check your basic programming first to make sure your core device commands work properly, if they don't, then fix problems, if they do then you know you have a macro/punch through/shortcut problem somewhere, find it and fix it. Most of the time if you have gotten this far, it could be as simple as needing to add delays in your macro.

good luck

Thanks...a good listing of the process!

That is usually the approach I take. The killer is that everything works fine and then an hour later it doesn't. Then in frustration I rip into the problem a little less rationally then I should. I have got it down to components working with factory remotes and not with Pronto... then I try to re-learn, put new batts in, etc.

4:20 on a Friday???? a weekend off???? Ah but to be there someday!

Hi

The following will all affect I/R. Plasma, LCD's, Sunlight, Flourescent, Energy Efficient Lightbulbs (really bad!) and from what we've experianced this year ...............................................Pronto's putting out to much I/R!!! This seems to "blind" the receivers. Hope this helps. If you would like more Xantech info then we have our own forum site (recently launched) at www.martekuk.co.uk

Hey rhm9

suggestion....get rid of proto products

I know it is a personal preference, but you should check out Home Theater Master remotes, the MX 3000 is comparable to the TSU6000 but I think is made better, with fewer glitching problems. Personally I like remotes with hard buttons better than LCD touchscreens and the MX-700/800 remotes are killer products and they are easy to program and tech support is great. BTW new models are coming out that have improvements over the 700/800 (not much you could improve on)

Three words, IR TEST CARD. I used to fight problems with IR systems and the problem is you don't know if the eyes are working or if the system is always being flooded. These things are life savers.

Check out this site: [Link: elexp.com]

Good luck.

Diesel...
What a great link! Never seen those before and you can bet I will order a few... Thanks for sharing!

The wording of your question reveals what the problem is. "Get your ass kicked"? It's clear the IR systems do not respect you and you have only yourself to blame for letting things get out of hand. You need to let the IR system know who the boss is. They need to FEAR you. Let them know if they don't do there job they will end up in the crusher in the back of the garbage truck, destined for a smelly grave. And you can't just threaten, you need to MEAN it. You may take a loss on the first Pronto you smash into pieces but I guarantee you the next Pronto will think twice before not sending an IR command with the proper strength.

good one QQQ!, don't we wish we could do that with all our gear!

And all this time I've been using the "nice" approach.
You can bet that tomorrow an IR system is gonna get it!