With my MX-980 (and MX-880) plus MSC-400 and RFX-250, how can I tell if I'm too far from the RF antenna?

I'm having a problem where some commands do not register and I have to hit the button several times.

However, it seems intermittent. For example, every command will work fine for a while then all-of-a-sudden it will stop receiving commands for a minute. Afterwards it's fine again.

Could this be because I'm too far from the RF antenna? How can I tell?

sounds like a interference problem.

It's hard to tell whether its because the transmitter isn't transmitting right or the receiver isn't receiving right. I'd have someone look at the RFX-250 lights as you back away while pressing buttons and see if any interference is indicated.

The only way I found out I had a weak MX-980 was to use another MX-980 programmed exactly the same way to compare the two.

Thanks for the replies.

The problem is that it's intermittent and only lasts for a few seconds so I doubt I can catch it in time to run downstairs and have my wife press buttons, etc.

Although, the problem seems to exist on both my MX-980 and MX-880 so I don't think it's the remote controls. It's either the MSC-400 or RFX-250, I think.

If it is interference, could adding another RFX-250 upstairs (closer to my remote location) help?

EDIT: Also, should I use shielded CAT5 or unshielded to add another RFX-250?

How far away, specifically, have you experienced this and do you know what RF ID# the MSC400 is set for?

I'm about 50' from the RFX-250/MSC-400 and the RF ID is 1.

When I'm downstairs (~10' from the units) I don't remember having as many problems (I still had a few but nothing like this).

Now that I'm further away it will fine for a while but then stop processing commands for a minute or give duplicate commands, etc. Typically it will just stop receiving commands though for a minute.

I wish the MSC-400 could provide a log file so I can analyze it remotely (ie. upstairs). It's hard to diagnose if you need two people and it only happens intermittently for a minute or two. :(

The other problem (?) is that I have the MSC-400 and RFX-250 in a cabinet along with my other equipment:

A/V Receiver (older - Non-HDMI)
Playstation 3 + IR adapter
X-Box 360
Dish Network Receiver (uses RF for remote #2)
Wii + External USB HDD
Ethernet Switch
USB Hub
Fans
HDMI splitter + HDMI switch

I've done my best to route the cables neatly and I made sure not to zip-tie anything together (except for the IR emitters, which are grouped in a bunch, I think but I could be wrong). However it's still awfully crowded in the cabinet.

Any chance you got a RFX250i?

I'm 95% certain it's not the "i" version.

What is the best way for me to diagnose this? It's the intermittent part that's killing me.

(Maybe it's the Dish Network DVR HDD spinning up? I have absolutely no idea...)

Go back to what ALK3997 suggested regarding looking at the RFX250 lights both when pressing and not pressing to insure you don't have interference. Also, how is the RFX250 wired back to the MSC400 (what type of wire, are all wires in the bundle being used?).

OK - I'll give that a try when I get home. How will I know if there is interference when I'm pressing the buttons?

When I'm looking at the RFX-250, the RF light is off. If I press a remote button it blinks for a second and then goes off again.

If there is interference I thought it would flicker regardless of pressing buttons.

How would it matter if the remote is far away? Will each button press flicker the RFX-250 if there is interference?

Also, right now the RFX-250 is connected via the mini-mini plug and is sitting directly on top of the MSC-400. I'd have to check if the mini-mini wire is zip-tied in a bundle or not...

The point is you don't want ANY RF light flashes looking at it for at least a solid minute when you are not pressing a button. You are correct, there really is no way to tell if you have interference when pushing the buttons.

Also, the point of having the RFX250 as a detached antenna is to isolate it away from other equipment (especially anything with a hard drive), so my first thought would be to un-bundle it from the mass-o-wire. insure the plugs are firmly seated on both ends, and move it away from the cabinet

Is it worth it to buy shielded CAT5 or CAT6 to replace the mini-mini cable and so I can move it even further away?

Are you an installer? There is a good tech bulletin in the URC control room about troubleshooting interference. If you can move that antenna further away and you have exhausted all your options some shielded cable is in order but it may not solve the problem.

- Unplug each of the components (from power) to determine if one of them is causing the interference.

- If you can't make it better try to make it WORSE. That will prove there is an issue that exists and may even identifiy the problem. Move the antenna CLOSER to the equipment. Observe the light for flashes while moving.

- Determine if one device or all devices are acting like interference is present.

Thanks for the advice.

Is there any chance you could post that technical bulletin that you mentioned? I don't have access to the URC Control Room.

The difficulty is that it's so intermittent but I like the idea of trying to make it worse.

Anyways, last night it happened again where my MX-880 was sending signals (ie. I was pressing buttons) for about 10 seconds and nothing was happening. Then, all-of-a-sudden it "woke up" and started responding instantly to every command.

So annoying... :(

I've purchased another RFX-250 and connected it using CAT 5 from my MSC-400 to my upstairs family room.

The RFX-250 is now about 7 feet from where I use the remote control.

However, I'm still having intermittent issues with signals. For example, it will be working fine then stop processing (?) signals for several seconds.

The RF light (on both RFX-250) does NOT indicate any interference (ie. no flickering). It also still blinks for each remote button press even though no IR is sent.

This is happening on both remotes (MX-980, MX-880) and multiple devices all connected to my MSC-400.

Can anybody give me any more advice? :(