Hi there, I am using a MX850 with a mrf-250 to control a key digital matrix switcher. I am controlling 3 tvs with 4 sources. Once in while the switcher does not respond to my macros and does not change the source. Anyone out there have much experience with this key digital matrix switcher? Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your time.

I am not familiar with the switcher so much but I completely avoid the mrf-250 for exactly the problems you are having...this seems to me to be a situation calling at least for a mrf-300, maybe rs-232 control.

The rs-232 would be a big improvement from a feedback point of view. We just installed an KD 8x3 that we are running 7 sources through. Outputs 1 and 2 are video and output 3 is audio. This lets us switch the 7.1 between 2 video displays. We are running the whole shebang with an MX3000. What I have found is that there is some play with the delay between input and output selection. Watch the KD piece and you'll see the corresponding input lights flashing in their output "zone". I would try different delays if you haven't already and probably run thru the typical MRF troubleshooting to make sure interference isn't the issue. Good luck.

This has been posted on a few times before. I believe the delay I used was 1/2 second. the problem is that the Key piece doesn't shut the door after the second code, but waits several seconds before making the switch. This is true of the RS232 as well. One person has done it with the RTI remote and still has the occasional glitch. It's fairly reliable with an MX850/MRF300 combo (I wouldn't use a 250) but part of the problem is the control itself. Had they just given us complete discreets and shorten the delay before it switches then it would be 100%.

You have to add a longer delay between codes sent. Also, keep in mind that the IR eye is VERY narrow for reception of codes.

I have a project where I'm going to be putting an 8x4 matrix of some kind for a/v source distribution to 3 or 4 AV systems.

My prime concerns are:

QUICK and reliable input > output switching. RS 232 preferred.

Component Video + Coax Digital Audio + Analog Audio.

I was looking at the 8x4 KDS piece or the Neothings piece. I like the Neothings alot because it handles either coax or optical digital inputs, and outputs everything over coax... but it looks like the analog audio option is going to be mandatory.

This matrix is going to be one of the most important factors in the operations of a large scale system, and it has to work well. Is the KDS not the best way to go????

Comments, Recommendations and additional considerations are extremely welcome.

THanks for all the help. I have set the delay for 1/2 second and a 3 second delay from each macro. This seems to work well, but sometimes it glitches up. I am going to try to remove the antennas on both mrf250s. I will keep everyone posted.

NOte: The Key Digital piece works well I would think, but if you make it send a command after command it might screw up.

Thanks again everyone.

You can't go wrong with Extron. simple RS232 control and these things are wrk horses. www.extron.com

I used 3.5 seconds after the second keypress so the "window" would close and not foul up the input you were all done with. If I were king, I'd add an ENTER key that would act as the command to not allow more keypresses so you could move onto the next command.

A switching scenario with 3 sources and 3 displays will be around 12 seconds. I think shorter would be preferable.

Tom - thanks for that tip. Never even considered adding such a long delay to make sure the KDS switch would close out before the next press.

I would never build a system around the KDS switch where it was going to see such major usage. Both of the places I used it, the occasional glitch wasn't going to be a big deal. Go with the EXTRON if reliability and QUICK switching is of such importance