I have a customer who is proficient at wiring who owns a dedicated theater with an RP-6 / T3. Today out of the blue he contacted me and told me that his theater is not working. The control processor is basically not illuminating when he sends commands. I had him check the wiring between the control processor and RM-433, even re-wire it with a short run Cat5 with no luck. I had him resync the remote with the software which he has on his PC due to the distance away he lives. Still nothing. I had him check most if not all of the connections physically and there is no luck. Anybody know of anything else that can be done? Major sympton is that the remote is not communicating with the RP-6. All lights on the RP-6 are on for power, but not when you press the RF commands on the remote. Anyone have a simlair experience?

Thanks
Vincent

PS - I just sent him a simple test config for him to load up and test and awaiting feedback.

...and you're sure he has not messed with the file and reloaded it (RF channel, standalone settings, etc...)? ...and the USB cable has been unplugged from the processor? ...and the remote has a reasonable charge on it?

After the basics I can't think of anything outside of methodical troubleshooting on site.

I've had an RM-433 go bad on me before. I would swap that out first if possible.

Check all connections between RP and RM. They can pop out. Service call buddy. I have had a remote stop transmitting RF too... that was a fun one.

I have to go out and check out a system where to have a buch of dead spots. The first 8 months everything worked just great. I swapped out the T3 and added a RM 433 for a average size family room. Worked fine when I left, now they are having the issues above.

I am working through my 3rd straight weekend just rying to catch up. So these service calls are killing me. Not to mention Direct Tv swapping out the new boxes means reprogramming new remotes...

Did you ask him to stand right beside the RM433 with the remote. I've had a few instances where I had to be around 3' away but anything further than that and it stopped working. I then replaced the antenna and it was fine.

Vincent, I will second this suggestion.

Is the RM433 lighting up when he presses buttons?

Had this exact same problem. Called my integrator, and he came out to take a look. IR worked, RF did not. I got barely any signal over about 3 feet. My friend brought over his T2-C and it worked without any problems. We thought for sure, it was bad RF from the T3. Integrator called back in a couple of days and explained RTI thought it was a bad RM-433 module. He was there with us when the other remote worked without problem, but would not do anything except swap out the RM-433. Ugh. When that finally showed up, we swapped it out, and nothing had changed. Still no RF from the T3. Called back and went through the whole ordeal again. This time, they had us send in the T3 to look at. Weeks and weeks went by, and we finally got word that they would be sending out a replacement T3. Problem was solved. Sounds like the same thing...and I think I read about other issues here as well.

I'll third the RM433 as the potential problem. Replaced 2 in the past 3 weeks, one of them my own. It had been acting up for weeks, it would be fine for days, then I'd have to disconnect/reconnect (which worked for a while) several times in a single night, then sometimes fine for a few more days. Both that failed were about two years old; I'm hoping it's not a trend.

According to him, no.

ok not that it matters. but on all systems that have rp-6's i intall at least 2 rm433"s. it seems that that was the only way to get the rf to work reliably. no biggy i guess, its just a few extra bucks that i charge the client. it is now s.o.p. for us now. it also helps in hi-rise or densely populated areas with all the stray rf.

depending on residence it is installed at i like to have one in or near the room and the other near the rack or on the other side of room. basically i want 20 feet or so between the rm433's

I had no idea that the RM-433's were proving to be unreliable. It seems like most people that have responded suspect that the 433 is the culprit. I am hoping that is the problem. I have to go there tomorrow to see the client. I would hate to tell him the T3 is the problem , and the RP-6 will be a pain in the (#* as well.

Perhaps RTI should improve on the antenna?

Other than the problem tabascojunkie has experienced, and there are enough T3s out there that the 'law of averages' says that sooner or later you're 'gonna have some problems', RTI did have at least one run of bad RM433s.

To finish up this thread, the verdict is in after the service call tonight.....

BAD RM-433.

Great call guys, thanks for your direction.

Vincent