OK. After spending the past two days trying to program and get the T2 to work with my TiVo and Pioneer Elite RPTV (model Pro-118), it just cannot send the signal to more than 8 feet away from the sensors. I've never had this problem with my Marantz RC2000, Pronto, nor the Denon AKTIS with any of this. Between the T2, IRF-6, and SPS-1, I've spent almost $1000 for it. Shouldn't be having this kind of problems. Needless to say, wife is very unhappy with this purchase. Ready to send it back unless anyone has any suggestion.

I wonder if your unit is defective? I can bounce mine off the walls.

Do you have the problem with both batteries? Were they fully charged to start with? Does it happen with all devices? Are the devices behind smoked glass?

Check the repeat count for the commands. More may not necessarily be better. I use the minimum I need, usually 1 or 0. A few need 2.

When learning, did you use the alignment test procedure? That will ensure a good learned code, though some tweeking of the repeat and sustain parameters may be needed.

Have you used any of the available libraries?

Sorry - just trying to cover all the bases here :-)

DJ

DJ:

Wish I can chat with you on this. I have done everything according to the manual. I charged both batteries fully for 12 hours, before using (never even tried to play with it until after 12 hours). I used brand new batteries for my "donor remote(s)". I aligned all remote(s) first, even in between learning each function, if necessary. I tried changin Repeat count and Frequency setting. I just can't get it too work for more than 6-8 feet. Don't know what to do.
Hate to have to return it , but afraid I will have to.

P.S. My equipment, except for my RPTV, is in a closet. But I have an IR sensor outside, with an IR receiver inside the closet for the TiVo. None of the other remotes I mentioned (e.g., Pronto, Denon AKTIS) have this problem.

Joe,

Are you you have problems with IR range, or with RF range?

If RF, did you mount the antenna inside or outside your closet?

If IR, how far is the effective range if you leave the closet door open and send IR signals directly to your equipment sensors? If that is better, the T2 may for some reason not like the IR receiver outside your closet. If that does NOT make a difference, I would suggest to ask for a replacement T2 before giving up on it.

Arjen's advice sounds good -- see how good the range is WITHOUT using the powermid.

Actually, I have gotten around the TiVo IR range problem by moving my "Pyramid" IR sensor closer. I've also resolved the problem using RF for the TiVo. However, I still have a problem with the Pioneer Elite TV. The RPTV is about 13 ft., right infront of me,but the IR signal won't reach it. I have to move to about 8 ft. for it to get the signal. Now I want to try something, please let me know if this will work.

I found a "low level voltage" wire that has an IR emitter which is place in front of my RPTV IR sensor window. This wire must have been placed there by the custom installer, but it is not used. I know this because I traced this wire to the other end and it is not connected to anything. It just has 2 smaller wires coming out of the single wire (Positive and Negative, I guess). If someone can instruct me how to make this two wires (+/-) and turn it into a plug that will go into the IRF-6, then my problem should be solved. I won't have to use IR anymore for the RPTV but the RF instead. Can anyone advise me on this? May be there something that I can buy at Radio Shack or something.
Thanks for all your help and support.

I think you found the problem :-)

Should take no more than a simple 3.5mm mono mini-jack. If you buy one at Radio Shack, ask 'em if they have one that does not need any soldering (sp?), unless you are equipped to do that.

As an alternative, you could buy a new IR-emitter for less than $10, from many places (e.g. www.smarthome.com or www.xantech.com).

Problems solved!!! Yeah!! Now everything is working great using RF instead of IR (atleast everything that I have programmed so far, not all the devices are programmed yet). I'm sure the problems with IR distance still exist with this remote, but I'll just have to live with it. Don't want to return it, now that's it's working with RF. Thanks again for all your help guys. Kept me from pulling my hair out a few times.