Odd one here.

For over a decade I used an MX850 and 950 perfectly with MRF200, 250 etc.

A couple of years back I had to change the remote to an MX890. I found it impossible to get the remote to work with the basestations. The basestation would blink to say it had received a signal, but never send it to the device.

I tried EVERYTHING, different RF channels, several post here, post on av forums, URC support, USA, Europe and UK, test files from other users here. I got the same result with MX890I and MRF350I. I eve bought a few used base stations on Ebay as well.

As it was useful but not vital to use the basestation I gave in.

I just aquired an MRF-100 basestation returned from a system I had set up for my sister ages ago.

Just for a laugh I treid it with the MX890 and it worked perfectly !

So I wonder what it it is with the MRF-100 that the MX890 likes but hates with the later basestations and if this might suggest a way to the the MX890 to talk to the other basesstations ?

The old MRF-100 was a "wide band" RF receiver. It didn't have the channel selection dial on the bottom and it responded to "ANY" RF signals in the 418MHz range.
Installers hated this piece of crap, because it would pickup any RF interference that was nearby. So it had a LOT of problems working in some environments.
If it was installed somewhere out in the country with no neighbors, it could work great.
The other problem however - the IR ports are all 2.5mm. Again, everyone hated URC for using a device with non-standard IR ports. Regular IR emitters would not plug into the device. You either had to use URC's special 2.5mm IR emitters or get a bunch or 2.5mm to 3.5mm adapters.

To your issue = If the MRF100 is working with the MX890 but won't work with other base stations, then only 2 things are possible.
1) You have a bunch of defective base stations.
2) You are not programming it correctly. You HAVE to set the channel dial on the bottom of the base station. Then set the remote to transmit on that channel in the software. It will not work unless that is done.

Thnaks, exactly what I would say except I have half a dozen base stations that show the issue but half of which I used with the MX850 etc. so they cannot be faulty.

I know how to program them (setting the channel number in CCP and on the base station). I have also proved its not this, as say when both the remote and CCP are set to channel 1, the base station blinks when I send it a command, if I then change just the base station to another channel and send a command it does not blink.

If you get a blinking light on the base when sending RF commands from the remote, then that means the base station is receiving the RF signals.

That only leaves the RF routing in the software.
1) Is the device trying to be controlled selected to RF (or even IR & RF) in the base station menu.
2) What port is it selected for or is it selected to 'All'

I suppose you could have a defective MX890. One that is transmitting the RF code but not the preamble for the routing, which would make the signal go nowhere in the base. That also would explain why the MRF100 works, since it doesn't use preambles.
But in all my years, I have never seen a URC remote fail in that manner. That would be a first.

The other thing I noticed is you said you tried an MX-890i & MRF350i and got the same result. Meaning it would blink the RF light on the base but not send out the codes? Was the RFX-250(i) antenna that came with the MRF350i, also labeled as an "i" model? Because the antenna has to be the same as well.
If so, I don't mean to pick on you but you HAVE to have something wrong in the programming. There is no way you could have 2 remotes that are defective in a way that has never been seen before.

Either that or you need to call a priest to the home. It needs an exorcism. :)

Thanks for the input, my replies below


Agree

IR & RF All ports. I even put a remote eye in a back port and see the red flashing out of the end !

Both remote, antenna and base unit were all the I veriety and give the same issue.

I also got an MX900I for a song on ebay and it does the same thing with the MRF350I.


I would agree. I use a Win 7 pc to edit the CCP files, but despite the helpful threads on this forum could not get it to talk to the MX980, so I move the file to an XP pc for that. Thought it could be that, but a kind person here created me a very basic file to test, put that directly on the XP PC and same issue !

I think it must be this !!! Or perhaps the 100 will stop working after the Christmas period !

Seriousley and putting aside supernatural issues, I can only assume either something in CCP or the local RF environmet is messing up the RF Preamble. No idea what / how though.

Note: the fact that a 'blink' IR emitter was working on the output of the base station (it blinked when a command was sent), means everything is working correctly on the URC system (including routing/preambles).

So now we need to turn our attention to what it is you are trying to control.
1) Can I assume that when you use the URC remote in stand alone (IR being sent straight from remote without base station), that the devices you want to control work?
2) How many emitters do you have and where did they come from (brand)? Have you tried them all? What about the IR blaster that is built into the RF base station?
3) What are the devices you are trying to control?

Should have said thanks before for the help over the holiday period.














Yes








I have only used emitters to 'see' that a signal is being sent, but I only use the front blaster in normal use.




Various, inc Denon 8500, Oppo 93, Samsung 4k TV, Sky+HD.

If they are the URC IR emitters, they had an issue several years ago where the housing was built mistakenly with non-IR transparent material. So the IR emitters could not send out IR signal on the correct side (some IR could leak out the back where the blinker was). URC sent tons of replacements out to dealers but if you bought an older RF base station then....
Testing with new URC or any 3rd party IR emitters would be preferred. (or pop open the IR shell to expose the naked emitter and test with that).

Something I would try with the built-in IR blaster =
I never use the IR blaster on my customer's systems, so I'm not 100% about the behavior. But looking at the selection for "IR Output" on the RF programming tab - it seems to suggest that you have to select the "Blaster 1" if you want the IR blaster to work. It can't be on a port# or even "ALL Ports" for the IR blaster to work.

Again, the MRF100 doesn't have these selections. It is everything all the time on it. Which is why it wouldn't be affected by these programming settings.

THANKS it was blatser 1 issue, not an option on MX850 editor !!!!

URC support (USA, UK, )had looked at the file and not spotted it.

I would like to say thanks to you for your help and effort. Is there a charity or good cause close to you heart I can make a festive donation to ? I would need to be able to pay via from UK (paypal or similar).

Forums are meant to help people.
I'm glad I was able to help :)

OK but MANY thanks again