Thats not a comute, that's a road trip!

Yeah...I've cancelled two service calls today because of the road conditions here in colorado...

Don't mean to hijack the thread but...since everyone here is all riled up about RTI...

Who honestly makes the best RF system? I have been using URC and in most areas along the front range that are close to the foothills we get tones of crippling RFI. I even tried the new "narrow band" reciever from URC and it is still hopelessly flooded with interference...

Troubleshooting that crap is costing a boat-load in employee cost and I keep reading about RTI's reliability in this area.

From those of you who do both URC and RTI, which has the best RF functionality?

If strong interference exists at the frequency of the remote system you are using then you are going to have a problem no matter which system you use.

A goof RF spectrum analyzer would help identify problem frequencies in your area. Unfortunately, they can be expensive devices.

I suggest calling both manufacturers and get a hold of someone knowledgeable and see if they can work out your problems. I think as time goes on were are going to see increasing problems with interference and manufacturers are going to have to come up with better solutions.

Bob

But what about Crestron? We've switched to Crestron ML-600s in place of MX-850s that would not work with RF. They both worked on the same frequency in this case but to different outcomes. But the Crestron of course utilizes a seperate processor, the CP2e. The Crestron worked flawlessly.

I was wondering if it had more to do with *what* information is being transfered over RF instead of *how* it is transfered. For instance the trigger macros in which the macro is stored in a processor and is merely triggered by the remote, instead of the whole macro stream comming directly from the remote.

We got lucky then since not everybody can drop an extra $4k on top of what they already paid for the control system just so they can get the convenience of RF operation. So is the RTI a viable option for when URC won't work but Crestron is too expensive?

There are a couple factors for the Crestron working better. Having all codes and macros stored in the receiving unit definitely decreases the chances of a code not being received. A good example is channel macros which tend to miss a number. So it avoids macros missing a step. It will fire or it doesn't but it doesn't get just part of it. Also, the crestron unit is only +/- 100khz, and receiver is narrowband as well, which helps decrease stray RF pickup. The Mx-850 is a little more broadband.

I'm simplifying things here but the strength of the RF interference has a lot to do it with it as well. You'll see this situation when the remote works very near the receiver and has very limited range asnd misses more as you go out. With Crestron you add gateways to increase reliability. I'm not sure if this was the case but I know a lot Crestron systems use multiple gateways. And, I don't think there is a limit like antennas with the MRF.

Bob

Is this Robert Ridenour?

Other than the name screened on the front there is know difference between a MX-850 and a ML600. You hit on why the Crestron works better, sending just a trigger code to a processor is more reliable than sending a macro over the air.

The RTI works the same way as Crestron, sending trigger codes to a processor. I would guess that if Crestron works fine in your area, then RTI will work as well.

For what it's worth RTI remotes also work fine with Creston when using a CNRFGW.

No.


I didn't know if the ML600 and the MX-850 were the same but 850 seems to bleed more RF than +/-100khz the ML600 specs state.

Bob

That's what I thought. Thanks for all your advice!

And no, I'm not Robert. Funny though, I don't usually see many other Ridenours around that I'm not related to...

Really sorry this is getting a bit off-thread, but I'm interested. How does the central Crestron controller make any sense of the messages from the RTI remotes, i.e. how do you get the T2 to talk Cresnet?

I ask because my next job is Crestron infrastructure with loads of beloved T2s. My proposal was to get all the T2s to talk to an RP6 then via RS232 to the Crestron controller, but if there's a simpler way...

For what its worth, in the UK, I have found the RTI RF operation to be 100% reliable.

Yan

Sorry guys.. got the answer.. found the relevant thread.. gone to the dealer site.. I'll get my coat.

Yan

Another guy trying to sell a "new" T3 on ebay...

[Link: tinyurl.com]

Question, how good are these remotes? I just acquired a box of 10 brand new ones, but havent really seen any reviews on them. I got them to make a fast buck, but not sure people are going to buy them if there are no reviews. Help a brother out...

Which models?

t3

How did you just acquire 10 of these?