Isn't antenna element encased in plastic?

That is, make the antenna totally ineffective by shorting it to ground and all the other places where poor design allows RF to leak into the 260 will let in enough signal.

Someone else suggests moving the 260 as far as possible from the equipment.  Since the 260 has both the antenna and the IR outputs, this means the placement of the antenna is determined by the length of the IR emitter wires.  That is too dumb to live.


Reacting to a magnetic field is not the definition of a magnet; having a residual magnetic field is the definition of a magnet. A magnet would impress a constant magnetic field on this entire situation; a ferrite core does not do that here and cannot do it anywhere.

A ferrite core has magnetic properties involving energy at some frequency of alternation; the frequency of a magnet is zero Hz.

It works as a magnet in this situation any more or less than a piece of aluminum -- definitely NOT a magnet! -- would.  My slight addition to your text below explains a bit why.


You missed a detail; add a phrase: The high permeability of the ferrite provides a path of lower resistance for the voltages induced in the ferrite by the magnetic flux of the signal in the antenna as compared to if it was surrounded by air only.


I agree that it can become a magnet.  That does not make it a magnet.


I don't think so. First, the problem with the 260 is too much RF, not too little, so if this works, it's because it lessens the effectiveness of the antenna.

Second, my added phrase illuminates the fact that some energy in or around the antenna is shorted out; that means that not all the RF energy exits the antenna, thus it behaves as if it is less sensitive.

Use a MRF-350. Place the Antenna in an attic above the room desired to control. problem goes away.

I always found down load to have less interference. We go in the basement or crawl when possible.

The last two replies make sense... move the antenna away from the equipment, for less interference from equipment. Move the antenna away from the sky for less interference from adjacent homes, airplanes, unmanned drones, TV stations, etc.

"Move the antenna away from the sky for less interference from adjacent homes, airplanes, unmanned drones, TV stations, etc. "

It's got pretty good range, so neighbor's could be an issue with similar RF ID's. Basement or crawls as previously mentioned. Up to 3 RFX-250's they say.

The consumer goods (RF20/RFS200) don't have RF ID, so they are WIDE OPEN 418Mhz).

I wish we had basements or crawl spaces here. We don't. I like to put the antenna mounted on the joist where the rear speaker in a surround sound might me. So if it is a 2 story, I can take the speaker down to service the antenna if needed. Never had to do it though. This puts the antenna directly above the main room and we find that the interference goes away. if you mount the antenna too high in an attic or too close to a gable with an attic vent, you will see interference. Mounted on the joist in the speaker cavity seems to make our headaches of interference go away.

418 MHz, that's garage door opener freq. and a ton of stuff.

Ever wonder why the cable companies want you to cap off unused cable outlets in the house? The frequency of these remotes, 418 mHz, is in the range of frequencies that make up cable channel 56. I remember one guy about eight years ago whose Sony AV receiver volume would not work when his TV was on Cable 56.... It's better to put the RF devices lower rather than higher as there's less likelihood of signal being down low.

My apologies in reviving an old topic, but this thread saved my a** today.

MRF-260 showing RF interference, sometimes not. 890 button presses not even showing status blinks intermittently. No sweet spot within length of emitter cables.

A ferrite core placed on the MRF antenna and all problems disappeared.

This is a one room theater. Thanks!!!

If I have interference, I usually remove the antenna. Never tried an FC, but maybe I will next time

Does the LED on the 260 flash or stay on all of the time? What channel are you using?

Dang if I could get the antenna to come off!

It's one screw. That's all. Takes 5 seconds.

The IR emitters can carry the interference back to the MRF260 no matter where it is located. I changed a setup to replace a bad Panasonic BD player with a new sony BDP3500 and the MRF260 started having issues controlling the DVD and Dish box.
This will get a MRF350 when I get back there.