I have questions on how to connect a MRF250 or MRF300 to the below components. I have put in parentheses the labels next to the 3.5 serial jacks.

Hughes Directv DVR ( Control out serial and a Control out IR)
Denon 3803 (Serial control)
Escient DVDM100 (IR)
Mitsubishi TV VS60703 (IR/G Link )

I know in most cases these jacks are used for external controllers such as Creston, but I was wondering if there were jacks on the back of equipments for use with remote controllers. I don't believe the jacks on the back of the DVR and Denon can be used but I want to be sure. For the TV the manual talks about the IR/G jack being used for TV Guide Plus, cable box and VCR so that jack probably sends out an IR signal instead of accepting one.

Bigdm

There aren't any jacks for IR in for Hughes Directv DVR or the Mitsubishi TV. The Denon might have an IR in. It might say control instead of IR next to the jack. I'm not sure about the Escient. Hope this helps some.

Wil
HomeTheaterTech.com

The Escient piece will accept IR directly in its ir input jack. I have used it before and it works great on the DVDM100, although it didn't work very well on the E40.

Since the DVR and TV jacks output signal they can not be used for IR. I called Escient today and they did confirm that the IR jack on their component can be used. The Denon is the only jack I still have questions about. In upper case letters there is the word "REMOTE CONTROL" and underneath it are 3 jacks. one jack has to the right of it the words "Serial Control", the 2nd jack has the words " Room to Room IN", and the 3rd jack has the words " Room to Room OUT". I believe the serial control jack is the one to use but I am not certain. Of course once my remote equipment comes in I will be able to check.


Bigdm

The "room-to-room" connectors sound like they are a "Denon to Denon" multi-room feature. (Never noticed or used it before) And the Serial link will probably only be for RS-232 not IR.

The room-to-room jacks definitely are not for the IR remote connection. The manual gives a somewhat decent description of what it is used for but nothing that I could find on the serial control jack.

Bigdm

You can plug an IR jack into the back of any Denon piece of equipment that has "Room to Room" jack on it. Denon explains this using their IR systems, but you can use anyones IR system and plug right in the back of the Denon equipment. Make sure you plug into the Room to room in.

Mike

Mike's right, plug the ir jack into the room to room in on the 3805, then if you have another denon piece like a dvd player, use another 3.5mm mono cable to go from room to room out on the 3805 to the room to room in on the DVD player. Then make sure you tell your remote to send the commands for the dvd player to the receiver. This eliminates an ir emmitter on the front of both the 3805 and the dvd player - a good thing IMO.

Edit: the part about telling the remote to route the ir through the receiver is if you are using a smart rf receiver like a HTM MRF250. If you are using a simple ir system with connecting block, it doesn't matter.

This message was edited by ejfiii on 03/15/05 07:38 ET.

If you're bent on keeping all the equipment faces flasher-free, open up the TiVo and the TV set and install the emitters inside. Or even go a step further and solder that internal flasher wire to a female 3.5mm panel-mount jack & drill it into the rear plate. Then connect it directly to your RF base.

Doug @ HomeWorks

Mike and Doug,
Thanks for you replies. This explains everything now. The manual kept refering to using Denon IR controller for the room-to-room ports which left me to believe that the only port left that might work with the mrf250 or mrf300 would be the serial controller. But I was uncertain about that because I thougth this was for RS232 communication. I am very capable of going inside the TV and DVR box and doing the things you suggest but at this time I will hold off.

BigDM

Doug,
I have installed several IR miniplugs on back panels, and run the emitters inside the component. I recently did this with a Hughes HDVR-2. Could only find metal mini jacks, and when bolted the the back panel, didn't work. I had to mount it on a plastic panel to isolate the ground. Ever run into this?

I am interested in soldering the jack directly to the IR receiver. They have a 3 wire pinout. Is this possible, or do you have to use a flasher?

Thanks for you helpful posts.