i am interested in controlling two cable boxes that run two tvs at the same time. one is in a kitchen and the other in a game room near kitchen. would like to be able to change to the same channel on each tv with MX-850 using RF receivers connected to each cable box.

any ideas?

There's no reason you can't program both IR codes into each button. Each button would then contain a macro, where step 1 sends IR for the first TV and step 2 sends IR for the second TV. The RF address on your base stations will prevent any crosstalk.

but i can only do macros on the LCD window, i cant macro the channel buttons, numbers etc. any work around?

Ah... good point. I'll have to stew on this one a while....

Are the cable boxes the same model?

This can be done by making a new device, then on the device lcd you make a macro then go to the channel + or - and in the right side of your file you will see a window that says "edit and label buttons", in that window there is a smaller tab that says "device" click on the arrow on the right and choose your new device. The window that is right below that says "ir code" click on the arrow on the right and choose the macro that you just made. Click save and you are done with that one. You can make almost any button on the MX850 into a macro this way.


Hope this helped

J.Todd

Yes, and it's quite easy. Macro an LCD button, it can be on a hidden page if you wish. Then click it and press control-c on the keyboard. Then click the button you want to macro to and press control-v. You've essentially copied and pasted, or shortcutted, the macro. Just don't delete the original.

This is a simpler method of what's described above.

I think you guys are over analyzing this. James Paul asked the perfect question: are they both the same brand cable box? If so, create one Cable device, set the IR routing to ALL and both boxes will change at the same time.

The second solution would to be just to distribute the video from one box to both TV's.

If running wires is impossible and you can't get the IR emmitters to one basestation or you can distribute video from one cable box, install two RF basestations and set them both to the same ID

they are the same cable box and i am using two RF receivers. if i put the RF receivers on the same frequency then both tvs will always be controlled together. also i have created a new device on the LCD window called both and i was hoping in the RF window to group both RF receivers but you can only do one or the other. ill try the method above and thank all for your help

Are you saying you want to control the boxes as:

Box 1 only
Box 2 only
Box 1&2

If so, you might be able to set both RF receivers to the same channel (say 1) and install 2 emiters from RF base to each cable box (it may be ugly unless you buy the really small ones).

Then
Emitter1 is only on cable box 1 -- Control via RF Channel 1 Emitter 1
Emitter 2 is only cable box 2 -- Control vai RF Channel 1 Emitter 2
Emitter 3 is on cable box 1 and 2 -- Control via RF Channel 1 Emitter 3

yes that is exactly what i want to do. that is a good idea to use dual emitters, one cable box is working great but the other one is running into the issues many people have. both cable boxes are the SA 8300HD's why cant we use the IR port on the back of the cable box for one lead?

The IR port on many cable boxes is an output port.

Put both basestations on ID1. Plug both cable boxes into the same port number (1 for instance), plug TV A into output number 2 on basestation A and plug TV B into output number 3 on basestation B. Then you can route your TV commands without affecting the other tv.