And the hours melt away. Using a Gefen GTB-MHDMI1.3-441 4 HDMI in, 1 output. Switches manually fine. Switches with Gefen IR remote fine. URC database has codes that don't work with an MX880. Learning seems to take, but the learned codes do nothing.

Gefen tech support was readily available and very helpful; apparently the frequency of the codes make them unable to be learned. Their website has hex codes that would take care of it. Copy n pasted the codes directly to CCP; no go. Copy n pasted to ProntoEdit; dragged the codes thru the universal browser to CCP; no go. Well, actually, input 3 worked IR only fairly well, but not at all on RF to an MRF350; 1,2, and 4 unresponsive.

Both Gefen and URC techs say it should be working.

Any experience with this Gefen switch and URC?

[Link: gefen.com]

How could it be working when "We've never heard of that before!" ? ?

Its a URC issue and the RF not working could the emitter over or under driving the IR.

I always have an old Harmony 880 for times like this. For some reason the Harmony will usually do a good job at learning codes and then I can use the harmony to learn the codes into other control systems.

So I learn it into another remote, then...?

URC with Gefen via IR is very hit and miss. As noted above, learn from Gefen to a pronto or harmony then from pronto/harmony to URC. Or better yet forget that IR headache and use the 232 control on the Gefen with an MSC...more control options including power on/off and far more reliable.

Just for grins, I loaded the hex into the RTI library manager; it indicates the frequency at 40.2 kHz. This is not high (55k or above) that I understood used to be an issue for some controllers.

Wonder if the hex can be tweaked by someone who understands it.

Funny thing is, about a year ago, I used the hex from Gefen's website to paste into an MX5000 file, using an MRF, to control an older HDMI switch (2x1). No issues on that one.

Going to try the two step learn now. Haven't done that in 5 years or more, and forgot all about it... I won't use a harmony though :^)

What's the two-step learn? I wrote the following about three hours ago but didn't hit post, so I know the frequency now; also, I found that the only method of teaching to an MX-980 involved learning two successive commands, so that might be what you mean by two-step learn... however, I found no one-step learn, so I'm not sure we're talking about the same thing.



Which is what?

I've found that an old Pronto TS-1000, a Marantz RC5200, the Crestron learner, and the RTI learner are about equally perfect in learning commands. I was intrigued the other day when finally learning into a URC MX980 to find that the process had me push the button twice, which I'm guessing means that URC, like the Crestron, can learn toggling codes. The others can't, as far as I know.


make them unable to be learned. Their website has hex codes that would take care of it. Copy n pasted the codes directly to CCP; no go. Copy n pasted to ProntoEdit; dragged the codes thru the universal browser to CCP; no go. Well, actually, input 3 worked IR only fairly well, but not at all on RF to an MRF350; 1,2, and 4 unresponsive.

After much effort, I have the MX880 working fine with IR. But add the MRF to the equation and there is no response. The emitter is flashing, adjusted the output min to max and in-between... nah. I'm ready to get my black tape and try a DirecTV pinhole try-out.

I suppose URC is at fault if I finally get the controller to work with IR but it is unable to do RF. Or is it Gefen?

It's your fault because you decided to use gefen in the first place

+1

(Wait a second...)

I can get input 1 and 4 to work consistently...

2 and 3, forget it.

Gefen, forget it.

I have not speced a Gefen piece since HDMI extenders came out and when I called support I got the... Uh, it is supposed to work and nothing else besides send it back.

If it will work when you point the mx880 at it, but not with the mrf350, try loosening the emitter so it hangs a little off the face of the switch. I've done that with some legacy equipment that wouldn't work when the emitter was fastened but when 1/4-1/2" off the faceplate it worked. I could see the ir receiver inside too, so I knew it was in the right place. It might help.
G

I have never had a Gefen piece that worked. EVER.

If it works from the remote but not the MRF here is your solution. Plug the MRF into a different circuit than the equipment and be certain the power cable is not near any of the emitter wires.

Did you install the MSC400 yet, or are you waiting to burn few more 'unbillable' (presuming here) hours trying to get IR to work?
Everything I've heard about Gefen HDMI tells me to run away from it, but if you have to use it, at least use it with serial.
Are you really OK with maybe getting the commands to work only to be responding to service calls in few days/weeks/months?