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Topic:
MX-800 RAM Failure...H0w to fix?
This thread has 21 replies. Displaying posts 16 through 22.
Post 16 made on Saturday June 23, 2007 at 19:12
jimsfield
Lurking Member
Joined:
Posts:
May 2003
8
1ziggi1, I'd be interested in one of those if you still have any.
Post 17 made on Sunday June 24, 2007 at 11:15
Question
Lurking Member
Joined:
Posts:
June 2007
1
Any update on this? I have the same issue (was RAM FAIL and now RAM EMPTY)?

Thanks!
Post 18 made on Monday June 25, 2007 at 13:39
yocappy
Lurking Member
Joined:
Posts:
June 2007
7
If you have your custom programming saved on a computer to which you have access, you can release the unit from test mode in which it is stuck by following this procedure:
1.Open up the MX-800 editor & run a live update, if available. Load the custom programming for the failing unit into the editor after updating.
2.Remove 1 of the battereis from the unit. Press the light button several times until the unit is drained of power & the screen goes blank.
3.Press & hold the "MAIN" & "ENT" buttons simultaneously. Continue to hold these buttons while you reinsert the 4th battery.
4.Continue to hold the "MAIN" & "ENT" buttons while the unit performs the self-test & the "running man" icon proceeds from left to right along the bottom of the screen until he dissapears. Release the buttons once he has disappeared.
5.Connect the unit to your PC & download the custom programming. Ignore any error messages that do not inhibit continued downloading of the profile, as it is common to see error messages at 25 & 50% completion while still being able to release the unit from the test mode. Repeat this process at least 2 more times if you receive an error message that stops the download process.
The unit may still have a failing PCB that needs to be replaced, especially if it fails this procedure 3 times.
Post 19 made on Tuesday January 20, 2009 at 01:55
James Reinders
Lurking Member
Joined:
Posts:
January 2009
2
My MX-850 looped endlessly in test mode - reporting "RAM FAIL" - so I could NOT download to the unit.

MAIN and ENT together didn't work for me (tried it many times) - but I found this (in Google's cache, the original page is no longer available) and it worked for me:

Try this:

1. Take out one Battery
2. Press the LIGHT button.
3. Put battery back.
4. IMMEDIATELY press the MAIN and STOP button until the little guy disappears.
5. Connect Remote to serial cable
6. On the Editor: Click on File>New>10 devices> Partial Download.
7. On Remote: Test Mode appears> Main Page

Now if the Test screen displays the RAM as EMPTY, call the Technical Support department for further assistance.


Now... for steps 6-7, I actually download my download file (from a Windows machine) with no issues. Steps 1-5 got it out of the endless testing looping so that a download was possible.

It is worth documenting that my MX-850 got into this state because of an aborted download. After spending several hours making my Mac able to download to the MX-850 - I was "close" in getting it to work (using KeySpan, SerialClient, on an MacBook Pro running Leopard with Parallels running Win XP)... but the "close" was that it could read firmware, get programming from the unit, but when loading software into the MX-850 it would give the error "unknown protocol [dltr-4]" at 25% (when it usually tests the unit) and at 50%, halting at 50% the download. This seemed frustrating enough... and I was able to go to a natively running Windows and upload/download flawlessly with the same KeySpan (US-19HS) and MX programming cable (I only have one such setup). So I *knew* the issue, solvable or not, was with getting the MX programming software to work on the Mac. Well, I was stubborn and suddenly found myself with a TEST LOOPING MX-850, and wondering if I had to send it in for a factory flash re-do.

I was thrilled to find your note - but it didn't work for me... but it led me to the MAIN-STOP button combo which did work.

I won't be continuing my experiments in getting the Mac/Parallels combo to work. I'm interested if someone gets a solution, but nervous at continuing experiments with the firmware can get FUBAR.
Post 20 made on Sunday November 15, 2009 at 15:16
comtech
Lurking Member
Joined:
Posts:
November 2009
2
On January 20, 2009 at 01:55, James Reinders said...
My MX-850 looped endlessly in test mode - reporting "RAM FAIL" - so I could NOT download to the unit.

MAIN and ENT together didn't work for me (tried it many times) - but I found this (in Google's cache, the original page is no longer available) and it worked for me:

Try this:

1. Take out one Battery
2. Press the LIGHT button.
3. Put battery back.
4. IMMEDIATELY press the MAIN and STOP button until the little guy disappears.
5. Connect Remote to serial cable
6. On the Editor: Click on File>New>10 devices> Partial Download.
7. On Remote: Test Mode appears> Main Page

Now if the Test screen displays the RAM as EMPTY, call the Technical Support department for further assistance.

Now... for steps 6-7, I actually download my download file (from a Windows machine) with no issues. Steps 1-5 got it out of the endless testing looping so that a download was possible.

It is worth documenting that my MX-850 got into this state because of an aborted download. After spending several hours making my Mac able to download to the MX-850 - I was "close" in getting it to work (using KeySpan, SerialClient, on an MacBook Pro running Leopard with Parallels running Win XP)... but the "close" was that it could read firmware, get programming from the unit, but when loading software into the MX-850 it would give the error "unknown protocol [dltr-4]" at 25% (when it usually tests the unit) and at 50%, halting at 50% the download. This seemed frustrating enough... and I was able to go to a natively running Windows and upload/download flawlessly with the same KeySpan (US-19HS) and MX programming cable (I only have one such setup). So I *knew* the issue, solvable or not, was with getting the MX programming software to work on the Mac. Well, I was stubborn and suddenly found myself with a TEST LOOPING MX-850, and wondering if I had to send it in for a factory flash re-do.

I was thrilled to find your note - but it didn't work for me... but it led me to the MAIN-STOP button combo which did work.

I won't be continuing my experiments in getting the Mac/Parallels combo to work. I'm interested if someone gets a solution, but nervous at continuing experiments with the firmware can get FUBAR.

The above solution worked for me. I recently took over an account with several poorly programed mx-850's. One of the remotes had bad RAM and had to be replaced by URC. The new replacement mx-850 got put into the test loop when I first connected it to my keyspan serial adapter and tried to downland programming to remote. I did the above directions and it put remote back to default program. I have had several issues with keyspan usb to serial adapter. What works for me (usb to serial adapter problem) is to close and reopen mx-850 editor every time I download programming to remote.

The usb to serial adapter loss of communication is what put my new remote into test loop.
Post 21 made on Tuesday July 16, 2013 at 08:54
mike191
Lurking Member
Joined:
Posts:
June 2011
3
On January 20, 2009 at 01:55, James Renders said...
My MX-850 looped endlessly in test mode - reporting "RAM FAIL" - so I could NOT download to the unit.

MAIN and ENT together didn't work for me (tried it many times) - but I found this (in Google's cache, the original page is no longer available) and it worked for me:

Try this:

1. Take out one Battery
2. Press the LIGHT button.
3. Put battery back.
4. IMMEDIATELY press the MAIN and STOP button until the little guy disappears.
5. Connect Remote to serial cable
6. On the Editor: Click on File>New>10 devices> Partial Download.
7. On Remote: Test Mode appears> Main Page

Now if the Test screen displays the RAM as EMPTY, call the Technical Support department for further assistance.

Now... for steps 6-7, I actually download my download file (from a Windows machine) with no issues. Steps 1-5 got it out of the endless testing looping so that a download was possible.

It is worth documenting that my MX-850 got into this state because of an aborted download. After spending several hours making my Mac able to download to the MX-850 - I was "close" in getting it to work (using KeySpan, SerialClient, on an MacBook Pro running Leopard with Parallels running Win XP)... but the "close" was that it could read firmware, get programming from the unit, but when loading software into the MX-850 it would give the error "unknown protocol [dltr-4]" at 25% (when it usually tests the unit) and at 50%, halting at 50% the download. This seemed frustrating enough... and I was able to go to a natively running Windows and upload/download flawlessly with the same KeySpan (US-19HS) and MX programming cable (I only have one such setup). So I *knew* the issue, solvable or not, was with getting the MX programming software to work on the Mac. Well, I was stubborn and suddenly found myself with a TEST LOOPING MX-850, and wondering if I had to send it in for a factory flash re-do.

I was thrilled to find your note - but it didn't work for me... but it led me to the MAIN-STOP button combo which did work.

I won't be continuing my experiments in getting the Mac/Parallels combo to work. I'm interested if someone gets a solution, but nervous at continuing experiments with the firmware can get FUBAR.

I found this fix thread when my 850 started cycling. Nothing worked as described here. I took the batteries out and figured I would send the unit to URC in a day or two. The control sat overnight without any batteries and I decided to try one more time. This time when I put batteries in, the RAM said EMPTY instead of fail. I pushed MAIN and STOP to freeze the action and get rid of munchie man. I did the partial download of 10 devices and EVERYTHING now works. My original problem was probably triggered by letting the unit sit and the batteries ran down, a couple weeks with no use. Possibly the system did not drain with the light button. The no power for the extended time did the trick however. Worth a try if your unit does not respond to the normal cycle above.
Post 22 made on Thursday January 30, 2014 at 21:48
gduren
Lurking Member
Joined:
Posts:
April 2011
3
I had the same experience as Mike191. My MX-850 had a "Fail 5!" code show up during a download, then I tried taking batteries out to reset and the unit started cycling in test mode over and over whenever I hit a key and said RAM "empty". I tried all of the above...hold main+enter, hold Main+stop, take out the battery and hit light button repeatedly, try loading blank program, load minimal program with 10 devices, etc. Nothing worked and I kept getting "Fail 5!" and test cycling. So I took all of the batteries out and left it a couple of nights and this cleared up the issue just like it did for Mike191. When putting the batteries back in Ram tested as "good" and the remote took the same program it had "Fail 5!" on earlier and is now working fine.

Thanks Mike! I was about to toss it and was shopping or a new one.
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