Not sure if this is the right place for the question or the consumer area. Trying to setup the MRF-260 to allow RF control of my Integra 80.3, Plasma, Sony bluray and Cisco 8642 PVR.

The Cisco PVR and Integra both have IR input connections via 3.5mm cables. But if I plug in a cable from the MRF to the IR ins of those devices, nothing works at all. Ie, pressing buttons on the remote does nothing at all. If I unplugs the 3.5mm cable and point the remote again at the unit everything works fine.

Are there settings in the source devices I need to change as I didn't see any in the Cisco manual or settings ( going through the Integra manual now).

Thx

What are you using to control the MRF-260?

Did you take the MRF-260 off channel 0?

Do you have the remote configured to send RF for that device?

Do you have RF routing setup correctly for all your devices?

If you turn off IR on the remote will it work if you use an emitter on the same port?

MX-780

Set to channel 1. Though I don't see any option in the CCP software to select the Receiver ID # as per page 9 of the MRF manual?

Configured the remote to send IR&RF for the device vs just RF. Can try just RF if that is the issue but I also have some of the same components upstairs (just the bluray player and Cisco box) that I won't be using RF on, hence the IR&RF selection.

I have setup the 4 Ports on the MRF to the devices properly (e.g., Port 1 is set to the Integra for instance), if that is what you mean by routing.

Didn't try the last one yet.

Thanks for the quick response!

Looking at the MRF-260 manual, I think I had the Cisco Cable box IR in connected to the fixed IR output on the MRF instead of the variable (though the Integra was connected via the variable one). I assume both should be connected to the variable ones for the IR ins to work on the components?

Surprised that I couldn't operate the components at all with the 3.5mm cables connected to their IR ins, even with their OEM remotes?

To set the RF id, go into "configure home" click on the mrf-260 in the left pain and click properties at the bottom.

You can turn IR and RF off an on per device. So if you want IR on your TV and RF for your integra you can these individually under "Program" and then "RF Control" using the "Signal" dropdown.

I would definitely test using an emitter first if you are having problems because the emitter will light up when you send a signal to let you know you are routing to the right ports.

I would think using fixed ports would be fine for this but I haven't used an MRF-260 in a long time. I vastly prefer the 350's

Thanks, turns out it was already set to 1.


Yes, but doesn't "IR&RF" permit either signal which is what I'd prefer?


Didn't realize the emitters should light up, will check that.


Was looking these up but it seemed from what I could find online that these were somewhat overkill for my application.

Thanks again for the help!

There's no industry standard for the IR plugs on the backs of devices to insure they play nicely with anyone's control gear. Sometimes the polarity is reversed, sometimes the voltage is different, sometimes they have proprietary commands. If it doesn't work, move on and use the IR Emitter or maybe look if it has either IP or RS232 control instead.

The Integra is now working via the 3.5mm IR in plug. But the Cisco 8642 just doesn't seem to want to, so that's what I did (just using the emitter), though ideally I'd prefer to have used the IR in.

Mind you, I even find that the Cisco box doesn't like the emitter much either, not sure if this is because of where I placed it. But I found even my previous SA8300HD box similar in this regard with IR repeaters. Probably too easy to overload it??

IR&RF does BOTH. This is rarely a good thing. You run the risk of sending the same signal twice and having erratic performance issues. IR bounces all over the place, especially if you have the blaster on the mrf-260 turned on.


If you think it is being flooded, put it on one of your variable ports and turn the output down.

Thanks, all is good. Turns out I had the IR Emitter on the wrong side of the Cisco unit! Figures!

Switched all to RF as well. Now off to create some graphic files for the MX-780, seems to be a real dearth of those.