Hey yall (I am from Los Angeles)!!!

Okay... So I have sold and programmed 3 Q50's... All of them using Onkyo rs-232 capable receivers. I love how they work... to know that I am not reliant on just IR is comforting. I did one system about three months ago and my client called and stated that the iPOD (DS-A2) no longer displays on his television. I programmed two new systems about the same time he called with the new Onkyo (707 and 807) and no display... Just took a check in the manual (haven't done that one in years) and saw that you have to tell the input (in my case, the GAME input) that it is now an iPOD dock... k my dumby mistake... but will that ensure that On-Screen info always is present when my clients select iPOD? Does anyone know what discrete rs-232 command is the right one? All RI -iPOd commands start with "CDS". I do have the Onkyo/Integra official protocol for rs-232 codes, but cannot find a "CDS" display or osd command...

My other issue is that the Q50 is having connectivity issues... Yes they had a baby monitor and I disconnected it seemed to work okay but range is not what is should be....still have drop problems... updated software moved the NC-Connect so that it is not behind a cupboard... Like the remotes... for the most part... going to start replacing stuff... don't want to do that if I do not have to...

Any loose advise would be welcomed... Thanks

cant help with the rs232 for the ipod...but

make sure the antenna is very tight on the NC50.  i have seen more range issues from the antenna being loose than any other.


i have also extended the antenna away from the cabinet the nc50 was in, using 50 ohm cable and SMA connectors, and that seemed to really help on that particular job. 

how far is the nc50 from the area that the customer is using the remote?  

Second the antenna. I have seen them screwed in incorrectly and no range.

Well good thing is unlike most of my other installs, the gear and nc connect are in a built-in television cabinet in the living room. The home has a very open floor plan. So the idea is to use the remote for a minimum of 50 feet each way... Its location is roughly centered with the lower level... currently I am getting about 15-20 feet before it forgets it purpose... Really frustrating. Tried tightening antennae. Going to bring out a new one today... Other installs have not had this problem. So maybe that is the fix?

another way to increase the range is to add another nc50. all you do is plug it into power and add it to the configuration.

Hi,

For you iPod question.
I think this is only available with the new Uni-Port devices. I will ping Integra to confirm this for you. The DS-A2 does not support some of the features that the new UP-A1 supports. So I would recomend changing to a UP-A1.

As for the range issue...
I strongly recommend the 900x from wi-spy.

We had a job that made no sense. Good range in the lounge but no range in the bedroom 5m away!

After using the 900x I found that my Cat5 to component converter box had a RF noise spike at 921.5MHz. Aust z-wave runs at 921.45MHz.

We put the converter box in a lead lined container (extreme I know :) ) and the problem was solved.

It paid for it's self on the first job.

D

Welp!!! bad news... I walked into the door of my client with a new nc-50 in hand and laptop bag on shoulder, ready to put my four hours of Saturday night researching and programming instead of hanging with a hottie would work... and my client and his wife decided that they no longer wanted the remote... I agree with them. There should be no issues with a $1000 remote like this... their main frustration was that it continually dropped. I am returning the last of my stock and think I will just stick with Universal and RTI... Never had to refund anyone money and $1200 at that... Good news!!! Hottie is coming over and she is bringing pizza!!! That cheers me up a bit...

Okay last stab at this... I picked up this job after they saw the job I did across the street... (New construction... Really big so using RTI). They did not want to go crazy with the budget... I went to install speakers on this new job and ran into the wife... I offerred an ultimatim of sorts... I will install another NC-50 to see if it fixes the problem. IT DID!!!! I got range all day long... Remote stopped dropping worked in front patio and back yard... Thank you guys for your help... I am going to change my contract with clients now about remotes and the physical attributes that their property impeding operation. Now just need to get that iPOD fix...

I wonder if you could use a Nevo video sensor to tell you when the onscreen display is working.  this way, even though you only have a toggle code, you could send it only when you need to.  The video sensors are pretty inexpensive and very easy to wire/configure.  They work with composite video, or the green wire of component video.

Oh no... I used a toggle code for the Onkyo "stack"... (TXNR-707 avrec and the 507 blu-ray player)> I looked everywhere for discrete power codes for the Blu-Ray.. tried Integra even ... no luck... but the video sensor works beautifully. I am impressed with the system... Unfortunately even after the fix client is not... So tomorrow I am going to take the remote system and iPOD dock back... I really feel there were issues within their home (baby monitors, cordless phones) and the original NC-50 (weak output maybe) that caused a nightmare. At this point... what can I do... I am up to my ass in alligators with other projects... Yet have tried to be most accomodating... I am doing a fully automated RTI system across the street... I know that they will see that system... Maybe in a couple of months after they see that system they might go for RTI... Nevo is a good product. I have used it before and am impressed with it... but you can't win them all... I take my losses and just keep walking...

what is the client unhappy with at this point?  is the remote still having range issues?  or is there something about the system that they just dont like?

They love the system... I installed a 5.1 Phase-Technology speakers system with a Toshiba Regza. A Onkyo "stack" and even incorporated thier old functioning equipment into the system... They liked the layout and design of my interface... It came down to the remote dragging after you gave it a command... The remote continually dropping off... I went back after I spent time three hours making sure it worked... When I left if worked fine... to come back a couple of days later and still have issues... Hmmm maybe it is my fault .... but I tried everything... I even GAVE my client another NC-50 to attempt to correct the problem... that did not work either... I have programmed hundreds of remotes and never encountered these kind of problems... I do like the product it is cool... but it has bugs that I am just toooo buzy to figure out...

It is strange. I have done probably 40-50 Q50/NC50 setups with very few issues.  Nothing that wasnt eventually fixed.  I hope that you don't install a new system only to find that there was a major source of RF noise causing your problems.