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MX-990 and MRF-350: Inconsistent Response by Receiving Equipment
This thread has 12 replies. Displaying all posts.
Post 1 made on Saturday April 13, 2019 at 16:37
wessleym
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Our MX-980 and MRF-350 combination has served us well for years. But the MX-980 started to have screen problems, requiring taking out the battery and putting it back in. So I upgraded to an MX-990.
Converting the CCP file to the MX-990 was pretty easy, and the new MX-990 (with the original MRF-350) can operate all of our equipment--sometimes. The system is set up to use RF only, and for purposes of my troubleshooting, each emitter is turned up to full intensity using the dials on top of the MRF-350.
When I push buttons on the remote, I consistently see the IR emitters light up, so I know the MRF-350 is receiving something from the remote and relaying it to the equipment. But it seems like I often (maybe 75% of the time) have to press buttons multiple times.
It doesn't matter what equipment I'm operating. I press a button and watch the IR emitter light up, but nothing happens. Then I press the button again and watch the IR emitter light up again, and the equipment responds.
I've tried skipping RF altogether by using IR only. All equipment seemed to operate normally.
This is confusing because the MX-980 could operate this equipment flawlessly (when its screen was still operational). Also, when I use CCP to use IR only, all equipment responds normally. So my issue only occurs with the MX-990 in conjunction with the MRF-350.
Can someone please suggest some troubleshooting steps? Thank you.

Last edited by wessleym on April 16, 2019 09:50.
Post 2 made on Monday April 15, 2019 at 11:18
JoeFlabitz
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On April 13, 2019 at 16:37, wessleym said...
Our MX-980 and MRF-350 combination has served us well for years. But the MX-980 started to have screen problems, requiring taking out the battery and putting it back in. So I upgraded to an MX-990.
Converting the CCP file to the MX-990 was pretty easy, and the new MX-990 (with the original MRF-350) can operate all of our equipment--sometimes. The system is set up to use RF only, and for purposes of my troubleshooting, each emitter is turned up to full intensity using the dials on top of the MRF-350.
When I push buttons on the remote, I consistently see the IR emitters light up, so I know the MRF-350 is receiving something from the remote and relaying it to the equipment. But it seems like I often (maybe 90% of the time) have to press buttons twice.
It doesn't matter what equipment I'm operating. I press a button and watch the IR emitter light up, but nothing happens. Then I press the button again and watch the IR emitter light up again, and the equipment responds.
This is confusing because the MX-980 could operate this equipment flawlessly (when its screen was still operational). Also, when I use CCP to use IR only, all equipment responds normally. So my issue only occurs with the MX-990 in conjunction with the MRF-350.
Can someone please suggest some troubleshooting steps? Thank you.

Likely a RF interference issue. Also, what is the RF ID set on?
OP | Post 3 made on Monday April 15, 2019 at 18:29
wessleym
Lurking Member
Joined:
Posts:
March 2014
9
The RF light on the antenna unit does not light up until I press a button. And only when I press buttons do the emitters light up. They seem consistent. (In the past, when I've had RF interference, the emitters only lighted with occasional button presses since the interference was preventing proper communication. But that is not the case in this scenario. Currently, the emitters light up with every button press.)
The RF ID was originally set to 9. It's now set to 1.
Post 4 made on Monday April 15, 2019 at 19:02
punter16
Active Member
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594
On April 13, 2019 at 16:37, wessleym said...
Our MX-980 and MRF-350 combination has served us well for years. But the MX-980 started to have screen problems, requiring taking out the battery and putting it back in. So I upgraded to an MX-990.
Converting the CCP file to the MX-990 was pretty easy, and the new MX-990 (with the original MRF-350) can operate all of our equipment--sometimes. The system is set up to use RF only, and for purposes of my troubleshooting, each emitter is turned up to full intensity using the dials on top of the MRF-350.
When I push buttons on the remote, I consistently see the IR emitters light up, so I know the MRF-350 is receiving something from the remote and relaying it to the equipment. But it seems like I often (maybe 90% of the time) have to press buttons twice.
It doesn't matter what equipment I'm operating. I press a button and watch the IR emitter light up, but nothing happens. Then I press the button again and watch the IR emitter light up again, and the equipment responds.
This is confusing because the MX-980 could operate this equipment flawlessly (when its screen was still operational). Also, when I use CCP to use IR only, all equipment responds normally. So my issue only occurs with the MX-990 in conjunction with the MRF-350.
Can someone please suggest some troubleshooting steps? Thank you.

Is this with all components? If so, set the remote on IR. Point at the components and see if you are still having the issue. If not, try turning down the emitter strength to about 50% (just do one component at a time) and see if the components still have problems.

We've seen issues when emitters are at 100%.
We've seen issues when converting a remote from the MX980 to the MX990.
See our Youtube page for info about smart homes, great audio and more.

[Link: youtube.com]
Post 5 made on Tuesday April 16, 2019 at 08:16
JoeFlabitz
Select Member
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1,517
Software was reset to ID1 and downloaded to remote?
OP | Post 6 made on Tuesday April 16, 2019 at 09:48
wessleym
Lurking Member
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Posts:
March 2014
9
Punter, yes, I observe the problem with multiple components. I've tried varying emitter strengths. I've also tried IR only, and IR seems to work fine. After this, I plan to edit my original post to indicate that.
You said you had problems with converting from the MX-980 to the MX-990. How did you get around that? Did you create a new file?
Joe, yes, I did set the RF ID and transfer the change to the remote. It does work 25%-50% of the time, so I feel confident I've done that correctly. I'm familiar with that process.
Thank you, Joe and Punter!
Post 7 made on Tuesday April 16, 2019 at 11:46
punter16
Active Member
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594
Normally you get an indication on the MRF if there is RF noise that is affecting the components. However, I have seen 2X where the MRF didn't light up and RF performance was spotty. Try moving the RF antenna and see if it works better. ALSO, make sure that the RF brain isn't on top of any WiFi device such as a BD player or Roku. If it is...move the RF brain to another location.

If the above elements don't work, reprogram the remote.
See our Youtube page for info about smart homes, great audio and more.

[Link: youtube.com]
Post 8 made on Tuesday April 16, 2019 at 13:04
Duct Tape
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5,295
can you post the two files? 
[Link: facebook.com]
OP | Post 9 made on Wednesday April 17, 2019 at 10:58
wessleym
Lurking Member
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Posts:
March 2014
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punter16, I tried what you suggested.
1. I saw no difference in performance after moving to several different locations, far away from other equipment.
2. We use an MX-980 for a different television in the house. I copied the file for the broken MX-980 to this remote. Then, on the new MX-990, I made a simple file with only working volume up, volume down, and mute buttons. I set both of them to the same RF ID. The MX-980 operated the equipment perfectly. The MX-990 continued to have the same issues.

Duct Tape, here's a link to the file I made for the #2 test above.
[Link: 1drv.ms]

Because the MX-980 works so well and the MX-990 does not, I'm starting to wonder if it's a problem with the MX-990 in general or with this particular MX-990.
Post 10 made on Wednesday April 17, 2019 at 14:13
Duct Tape
Loyal Member
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Posts:
November 2008
5,295
On April 17, 2019 at 10:58, wessleym said...
punter16, I tried what you suggested.
1. I saw no difference in performance after moving to several different locations, far away from other equipment.
2. We use an MX-980 for a different television in the house. I copied the file for the broken MX-980 to this remote. Then, on the new MX-990, I made a simple file with only working volume up, volume down, and mute buttons. I set both of them to the same RF ID. The MX-980 operated the equipment perfectly. The MX-990 continued to have the same issues.

Duct Tape, here's a link to the file I made for the #2 test above.
[Link: 1drv.ms]

Because the MX-980 works so well and the MX-990 does not, I'm starting to wonder if it's a problem with the MX-990 in general or with this particular MX-990.

The only thing I notice that I'd try, (though it really shouldn't matter) is to assign the IR data to a specific emitter port in the RF control tab.

and here's a dumb question.  The MX990 wouldn't happen to have an "i" at the end of the model number, would it?
[Link: facebook.com]
OP | Post 11 made on Friday April 19, 2019 at 22:54
wessleym
Lurking Member
Joined:
Posts:
March 2014
9
Unfortunately, assigning specific IR ports had no effect. Equipment still responded inconsistently.
And no, there is no i at the end of the MX-990 at the bottom on the front of the remote.
Thanks though.
Post 12 made on Saturday April 20, 2019 at 09:05
JoeFlabitz
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On April 19, 2019 at 22:54, wessleym said...
Unfortunately, assigning specific IR ports had no effect. Equipment still responded inconsistently.
And no, there is no i at the end of the MX-990 at the bottom on the front of the remote.
Thanks though.

Most likely if it was an "I" series remote, it would be indicated on the sticker inside the battery compartment.
OP | Post 13 made on Saturday April 20, 2019 at 13:29
wessleym
Lurking Member
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March 2014
9
I can confirm that there is no I. Thanks for the tip though.


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