I have a new MX-500 working with an IR543 without any learning. Under the batteries it shows MX-500-N and VER: 3.09.007.

It seems that URC has changed how AUX code 183 is mapped to the buttons. Numeric, CH +/- and VOL +/- buttons do nothing (which allows punch-throughs to be used, if desired).

My AUX 183 buttons work as follows:

1. The SYSTEM OFF button turns all devices OFF.
2. The POWER button turns all devices ON.
3. The first 16 soft keys (next to the screen) select X10 devices 1-16.
4. Soft key 17 turns ON selected device(s).
5. Soft key 18 turns OFF selected device(s).
6. Soft key 19 dims the selected device(s) (if lamp modules).
7. Soft key 20 brightens the selected device(s) (if lamp modules).

Good post nomad8201 - that seems to explain a problem a lot of people have been asking (me included). I've got an MX500 on the same version and it behaves the same way.

My problem now is that although I can control my X10 IR receiver(actually an IR7243RF but I think it must be basically the same as an IR543) using P-PRO 183, I can't teach the codes to my MX500 from another remote, to allow me to put them on to different buttons. I've not had a single problem learning codes up till now but there's something about the X10 codes it doesn't like - it appears to have learnt the code ok but when I try it out it is not recognised by the receiver 95% of the time. I've tried 3 other learning remotes and they can all learn and transmit the codes ok.

Has anyone else had this problem? Are there any tips for improving the learning of 'difficult' codes?

Thanks lbushby. I had read this thread prior to getting my MX-500 and IR543 and was a little worried, so I was glad when it just worked!

Regarding teaching the codes from another remote, are you using another MX-500, or something else. If you know someone with another MX-500, I suspect the teach / teach-back method would work.

Another possibility is to get an ActiveHome Professional box from www.x10.com, which they are currently selling for $49.99 (or $99.99 with lots of extras).

The ActiveHome box can be programmed by your PC (via a supplied USB cable) to do almost anything with your X10 modules, using extensive macros. After you have programmed your ActiveHome, all of the MX-500 X10 function buttons become home automation macro buttons!

(Before someone asks, no I don't work for X10. I do work with a couple of other geek engineers like me that have been using a lot of X10 stuff, including ActiveHome for quite a while.)

I'm using non-MX500 controllers to try and teach my MX500. So far I've tried teaching with:

- two different remotes that also have presets for X10 (and work fine with the IR7243RF)
- a PDA running PDAWin remote control (basicallya pronto emulator) with a variety of X10 CCFs from this site (all of which work fine with the IR7243RF)
- a learining remote that I have taught from the MX500's P-PRO codes (which are learnt fine by the other remote but not by the MX500 when it is taught back)

All of these produce the same 95% failure rate. The 5% of presses that work seem to be direction dependant as well - I have found pointing the MX500 in directions other than directly at the receiver (somtimes in the opposite direction) can be more reliable. I just don't understand why the other remotes work flawlessly.

ActiveHome: I bought my X10 stuff in an older version of an Activehome package so I already have a computer interface module (albeit an old serial version). I knew I could download macros and timers to it but I think I missed the point here - I didn't realise that i could run macros using a remote control :-) Thanks for the tip! I'd still want to get the X10 codes onto more accessible keys on th MX500 but the added macro ability will be very useful.

"There are few problems that can't be fixed with money." (Boy that sounds pretty materialistic, doesn't it.)

I've seen a lot of posts on this Home Theatre Master forum about using cheap remotes from One-For-All or Radio Shack (which private labels One-For-All) to teach X10 codes to the MX-500. You might want to do a search for IR543, and follow a few threads to get some reasonably priced ($10-$25) remote model ideas for this purpose.

One suggestion would be the One-For-All URC-8811, which seems to have the best price / IR-code-set ratio. You can pick one up from www.bluedo.com (incidently a great place to buy a remote) for $24.98 including shipping.

Also, for another $15, you can get a JP1 cable (or you can build one yourself, if so inclined). You can then download free software and use the JP1 cable to program the URC-8811 from your PC and tap into a large user-supported IR code data base available on the web. BlueDo has a package deal containing both the URC-8811 and a JP1 cable.

lbushby - One more thought...

When you are teaching the MX-500, make sure you follow the Points to Remember instructions exactly, especially the following...

"Some buttons require a single, short push of the original remote’s button, other "repeating" buttons, such as the VOL button, require that you "press and hold" the original remote's button until "Good" flashes twice on the LCD screen."

This one bit me the first few times I tried to teach my MX-500 a thing or two.

Thanks for the tips. I've been trying out all the different IR learning methods on this site ([Link: remotecentral.com]) - now I'm a master of 'Duck blinds' and 'Flutter Effects'(!) Using a lot of duck blind attempts I have now successfully learnt 2 codes reliably so I guess if I stick at it long enough I'll get all the ones I need in.

Hi all, very frustrated here. I have an older MX-500 (no DVR button by default). I bought an IR543 to control X10 modules via IR. I did the P-Pro process for the Aux button, entered code 183... and whala, I was easily controlling my X10 modules (1 for unit one, channel up to turn on, channel down to turn off, dimmer via volume). A couple hours later, I'm getting zero response from the IR543. I can use the buttons on the IR543 itself to control the modules fine, but the IR543 unit is either a) not receiving the IR codes from the MX-500, or 2) the MX-500 is not transmitting properly. I've tried unpuggling the IR543, relocating to another outlet, but no luck. I've reprogrammed code 183 for X10 several times. No luck. The LED on the IR543 will not light up for ANY IR signal sent from the MX500, including the Power Off butotn. Any ideas here?

-Scott

spjinseattle,
If the talk-back LED on the IR543 is not coming on it could be defective. The LED will not light unless it accepts the IR signal specific to the IR543, so first make sure the MX-500 is generating IR. I use a separate IR receiver with talk-back LED to test but others have used a camcorder or maybe a digital camera will work.