I have nearly finished a dedicated theater for a client. Yesterday, he shows up with a custom-made neon light to go above the candy counter/snack bar. Upon installation, we find the IR system (receivers/emitters) all glowing brightly whenever the neon light is on. We are using Xantech dinky-link receiver and 283M emitters with a 789-44 connecting block. I tried an Audioplex Technolgy "plasma-proof" receiver and had the same problem. Any suggestions on a different receiver that is immune to neon light. I am sure the client will be unhappy to leave this new light turned off. Thanks in advance for any ideas.........Terry

We did work for a client that had a neon that swirld around his basement cieling. It caused his phone system to have an awful buzz on some phones. There was nothing we could do. we tried everything, and lost alost $4,000 trying to fix that damn buzz. It just made a lot of noise, and we couldn't insulate the waires enough. Not to mention it was a 13,000 Volt neon. It wasn't even leagal for a house. Good luck!

Note to people posting messages: please include lots of info so we can more easily offer possible solutions.

Terry, the bottom line might be that you designed and implemented an IR system that worked perfectly with the room the way it was described to you: without a neon sign. That is an undesirable thing to say, but look at McNasty's response!

As for further information, what kind and brand of IR system are you using? Are you using some kind of programmed remote? Do any of your devices have strange IR modulating frequencies? Are there any other funny light sources (I once had IR obliterated by sunlight off the ocean)? Are you using more than one sensor? Could you move the sensor(s) to another location(s)? Is there perhaps an RF version of the IR system you are using (for instance, if you are using a Pronto, the RF version could allow you to do without IR pickups). Did you install shielded wire? Did you install CAT-5? With either approach, are you choosing to put the signals on the different wires for maximum noise rejection? Is your system grounded? Is your IR system grounded to your audio/video system (don't do this with a Niles system)?

And only because it never occurred to me before, have you tried putting largish ferrite beads on the outputs of the IR sensors?

Ernie

Okay, I was not reading carefully enough: it is a Xantech system.

Or have you tried putting ferrite beads on the neon transformer's power cord? Have you called a sign company to see if they know of any methods to reduce EMI put out by their products?

Ernie brings up an important issue that isn't often discussed which is the inteferance caused by non optical environmental factors such as EMI and RFI. Ferrite beads( I call them ferrite cores ) are an inexpensive remedy and often work. Try shielded wire but experiment grounding the drains at either or both ends. Try reversing the polarity of the Xantech power supply. If it was not mentioned before, make sure you tell the client that if the sign was not part of the original design that all your additional engineering is billable. Good luck.

The Neon signs emit the same frequency of signals as the IR beam.

Maybe the only way to fix this is to change the lights color (not really neon then but still...)

I've actually had neon lights turn on and off TV's randomly...

I had a recent job that the customer (really old guy) had his system hidden in a closet. A xantech system was in place, 291 eye, 789 connecting, etc. To see the system better, he put a neon light in the closet. I went there yesterday cause he was having problems. I get there use the remote...it works flawless...mind you, its a Sony RMVL900; a remote I highly recommend for $100 programmed we sell..does macros, etc. Anyway, we go to the closet, he turns on the light, I'm making sure everything is doing what it's supposed to..boom remote works 20% of the time. I physically take the remote to the closet, works great! The DVD player was at the bottom of the pile, and it's working like a champ. So at this point I know the Xantech is working....scratched hy head for a while, then it hits me. I turn off the neon light...everything works like a champ.

Here's what I would try:
(1) if it were me, and it was a pronto or nice remote, I'd somehow get tht neon light to turn off when the system is going to be used. You could use X10, lutron would be easier...but any "turn on" macro would turn off the light (first). When the "system off" macro was emitted, it would turn on the light (last).

Option 2.
Xantech makes sunlight versions of their eyes. SUN filters I think is what they call them. Problem though, the strength of IR reception is reduced and the angle of reception is reduced.

Try putting a cardboard toilet paper tube over the dinky link and point it so the neon is not hitting the dinky link. If the problem goes away it is an ir problem and you can try relocating the dinky link or use a micro link - it can be recessed and made more directional, if it is an rf problem the cardboard tube will not help, shielded cable may be the answer. Of course it could be both.

I like the idea of using X10 to turn off the light when using the system but won't the neon keep the remote from operating to turn it off?

Thanks a lot for all of the suggestions. I will go to the jobsite tomorrow and try these ideas. I will let you know the outcome. Thanks again.....Terry

It depends on where the IR eye is at. If you use lutron, the eye could be in the neon light switch. If X10, place the IR543 anywhere away from the system, but in line of the remote control. Boom, done.

Heeeeeyyyyy...There's nothing wrong with my response. I know phone lines and IR reapeater systems are 2 different things. But all I was saying is the neon lights give off a boat load of interference. I just thought my story might enlighten some people. But that's o.k., I'll go to my corner and lay by my bowl. :0)

"Sit, Ubu, sit. Good boy."

"Woof!"

Check out RF systems, they claim to market an IR eye with a Neon filter. Don't have any experience but worth a try.

Okay, ubu, get up and resume being a real boy (talk about mixed metaphors!).

I meant to point out that McNasty's reply is a comment on the real world we live in, where the customer does something at the last moment that scuttles performance of the system, or that changes what we should have designed for, and they refuse to take any responsibility for it. It is not nice to tell a customer to take a neon sign and stuff it, but look --McNasty is only one of us who has suffered because some technically devoid customer has decided that he wants a Jacob's ladder (25,000 volt arcs) next to his moving coil cartridge-type turntable (less than .001 volt audio).

Anybody think of emailing the Xantech bunch?

LOL...Actually, the loss of money was just as much my boss's fault. After 8hrs of trying different methods, my co-worker and myself told our boss that we thought we should just eat the loss then. But, he is one of those guys that never gives up, and this was one of those few times that it didn't pay off.