We cannot control this box with a xantech system using 291 or dinkylink receivers, mouse emitters or an IR blaster, and a 789-44 block. Changing to a 791-44 amplified block did not help. We used connecting 24-4 wire for runs of 20 and 30 feet. So far we're just trying to pass the signal from the supplied remote only. Any ideas? The other component still are controllable and we do get a very infrequent command passed to the cable box.

I've run lots of 6208s with SPeakercraft Systems, URC MX-350s and AMX systems... No tricks... One thing I have noticed is that it appears that the IR receiver is on the Right hand side of the display window, but in actuallity, the Emmitters work much better when they are on the LEFT side of the display window.

Might want to call Xantech. For some reason this cable box is incompatible with many the universal remote controls I've tried, except for the Xantech URC-2. The only way you can learn the codes to the remote is threw Xantech's website in the 'factory learned codes' section . Since Xantech have put these codes avalible to URC-2 customers, they PROBABLY know that it is difficult to reproduce these ir codes.

The sensor is on the left. The older black boxes had sensor on the right side of the display. Haven't had any trouble with any remotes what-so-ever. Make sure you turn "auto-tune" on.
Have had lots of Xantech power supplies go bad. LED still blinks but won't pass IR.

hey deano!

I usually pry down the front face of the 6208 and slip a the emmiter minus the shell between the plastic and the pc board for a clean and touble free installation. We just got a new style of cable remote that has working List, Live TV, VOD, PPV buttons that make the DVR portion easier for the customer. btw. is buckeye doing HD and DVR in the 6208 yet?

This message was edited by Mike@Masterpiece on 01/06/05 21:18 ET.

Dean is right the IR pickup is on the Left on these boxes. They are finicky on the LED power output. Try pulling the IR emitter 1 foot away to see if this changes anything. I have not had any trouble learing or sending IR commands to the 6200, 6208, 6412 so far, but I have only done a dozen or so.

Can someone explain to me exactly how this is done? I read all the time here that guys put the emitters INSIDE the front face of the component and have no idea how they are doing this. Does the whole front piece of most equipment just 'pull off' or are you taking the whole case apart to get to the front?

TIA

DO NOT TAKE APART CABLE BOX! You can get into some serious trouble. Any equipment without a 1/8" jack in the back can usually be disassembled slightlt to get the emmiter close enough to the sensor for reliable results. This especially great for HTM RF remotes. There adhesive blows. The front of the Motorola DTC 6208 can be pryed apart from the bottom of the chassis under the sensor just enough to slide a naked emitter between the face and the vertical pc board that the sensor is mounted on. The cable guys dont like it but I dont think it is illegal.

Like GotGame stated, the Motorola boxes are very susceptible to IR washout. Especially with the Universal gear. If you cannot internally mount the IR, try mounting it on the top of the unit with the emitter firing down at the IR receiver. If that doesnt work, or if the top of the box needs a clean appearance, try mounting it on the left side and blasting at the receiver that way.

We have done quite a few of the 6200 and 6208 boxes and never had a any problems with IR. We don't use the xantech stuff however, we use the Sonance opti-link IR parts. They seem to work better, but have to talk-back function. We also use a generated codeset for all of our universal remotes which may help as well. A while back I ran a full code search for the 6208 looking for a discrete power command. All I got out of the effort was a clean generated(not learned) codeset for the box. I posted it a while back. [Link: remotecentral.com] Some of the codes are not named, but every command the box responded to is listed, some with a ? for command name.

Jason