I purchased some nice Hampton Bay ceiling fans that all work off remote control. The fans all came with remote control units that are just fine and serve the purpose just right. I wanted to program my MX-700 to learn the ON/OFF frequency but it doesn't recognize the signal at all. When I hit the LEARN button the remote indicates "ready" and then I hit the power button on the fan remote control and nothing happens. I've done this with other fans (floor models) in the past which worked just fine. Are there any other ways to program some thing you can't learn? Also, why wouldn't it learn if it's RF signal? Just curious. Thanks!

I have read more on these forums and found out that this remote uses RF and not IR. My MX-700 is IR not RF. Hence, it will never be able to use with my ceiling fans. Not a big problem, I was just getting lazy and wanted more access to control my ceiling fan/lights. That only prompts me to ask...I have the MX-700 and love it. Is there a model that is the same exact thing that Universal Remote makes but uses RF instead of IR? I love the format and feel of the 700 and don't want to use any other. Also, what sends/receives better....RF and IR? My ceiling fan adapter had an antenna built onto it which was a 6inch 18guage wire. Since I never see IR equipment with antenna's I am guessing IR sends/receives better?

The 700 is an IR remote. The fan is probably RF.
Unfortunetly no one makes a remote that can 'learn' RF codes.

Just for the record:
IR= infrared
RF= radio frequency

Maybe someday! :)

Infrared is line of sight.
With RF, it will transmit through walls, your feet, etc.

The MX-700 is an excelent remote!!! It opened my eye's to what a remote should really be capable of!
I recently upgraded to an 850 with an MX-250 because of my wife! She would never 'aim' the remote at the equipment long enough for my 'off' macro to turn everything off!
The 850 is basically the same as a 700 with a better select button on the 'thumb pad' and better LCD backlighting.

I would say RF has me spoiled!

The IR performance of the 700 is amazing, you can 'bank' it off walls! But, RF goes THROUGH walls.Even outside!

There are no universal RF remotes. The reason is due to FCC regulations and license requirements for each RF frequency. Having a single frequency for one component (like your fan) is not a problem but it would be a nightmare (as well as very expensive) to create a universal RF remote.

Mike
www.SurfRemoteControl.com

On most fans, you can wire the fan and light fixture on seperate circuits. If this is the case you can install a IR controllable Lutron Spacer SWITCH and control the power on/off for the fan...
You would still have to control the speed with the wall control or the remote, but if you don't mind that, you can at least get some control of the fan.

Also, if the fixture can be wired independantly, you could possibly put in a Lutron Spacer DIMMER for the light fixture.
If there is a multi-level pull switch, leave it on the highest setting. If there is an internal dimmer, set it at the highest setting and dim with the wall dimmer. If you dim a dimmed signal, you can damage the dimmers and pretty much count on a burned out bulb.

All of this advice comes with a HUGE caveat...
Call or write the fan manufacturer and tell them you wish to use an external dimmer and get their advice...

Also, do not let the person doing the wiring connect the dimmer to the fan, it can cause damge to the fan and possibly cause other problems (the worst case would be fire).

Let us know how it goes...

2nd Rick,

Clever! A nice 2 gang setup - one for the light and one for the fan. Very cool. :)



Thank you,
Damon DG
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Control Systems Consulting, Sales & Remote Programming