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Topic:
How do you properly connect an MRF-350 to a Sony XBR-65Z9F TV?
This thread has 15 replies. Displaying all posts.
Post 1 made on Thursday January 2, 2020 at 17:08
Loraquest
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I ran a cable from port #6 on the MRF-350 to the "Remote IR In" jack on the back of the TV, but it is not working. I know I have the right codes because it works fine if I use an IR blaster or the remote itself. I am using a mono cable. Is this correct, or do you need a stereo cable?
Post 2 made on Friday January 3, 2020 at 08:57
gbrown91
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The TV side needs a stereo connector
stereo 1/8” connector: tip = signal(+), ring = nc, sleeve = ground
OP | Post 3 made on Friday January 3, 2020 at 12:09
Loraquest
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On January 3, 2020 at 08:57, gbrown91 said...
The TV side needs a stereo connector
stereo 1/8” connector: tip = signal(+), ring = nc, sleeve = ground

Thanks! So something like this should work?

[Link: amazon.com]
OP | Post 4 made on Saturday January 4, 2020 at 00:28
Loraquest
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I went out and bought a stereo cable today similar to the one that I linked to above. It didn't work either, however, I was able to get it to work by only plugging the cable halfway in to the jack on the back of the MRF-350. I'm happy that it's working, but I'd prefer to have a more solid connection that won't accidentally fall out. I don't know much about this kind of stuff, so I'm not sure what exactly is going on with the signal and why it works when I only plug it in halfway. Is there some kind of adapter I can buy? Would something like this would work?

[Link: amazon.com]
Post 5 made on Saturday January 4, 2020 at 13:17
Daniel Tonks
Wrangler of Remotes
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I've tried using mono adapters, they don't seem to work at all.

So far, the only thing that's worked for me - and this is going from the X850B 5 years ago to new X850G / X950G models this year - is not pushing the cable in all the way. Judging by not having any issues using this with the X850B over those 5 years, the connection will be fine.

Back when I discovered this issue with the X850B, I suggested for others that if they were concerned they could try to find some plastic/nylon washers they could install on the cable end to use as spacers.
OP | Post 6 made on Saturday January 4, 2020 at 13:53
Loraquest
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On January 4, 2020 at 13:17, Daniel Tonks said...
I've tried using mono adapters, they don't seem to work at all.

So far, the only thing that's worked for me - and this is going from the X850B 5 years ago to new X850G / X950G models this year - is not pushing the cable in all the way. Judging by not having any issues using this with the X850B over those 5 years, the connection will be fine.

Back when I discovered this issue with the X850B, I suggested for others that if they were concerned they could try to find some plastic/nylon washers they could install on the cable end to use as spacers.

Thanks for the response, Daniel. I guess I'll just have to deal with the cable only being partially inserted. It's no big deal, since the MRF-350 is in a cabinet and won't get jostled very often. It's just kind of annoying that Sony has to do it differently than everyone else. I'm controlling my Denon with a direct connection from that same base station, and it has always worked fine without any kludges.
Post 7 made on Sunday January 5, 2020 at 18:34
mhe4
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Just trying to be helpful, but would this work?

[Link: amazon.com]

You could choose where you plug a mono lead from the MRF to the adapter and only have signal going to the TIP or RING on the stereo (ie. TV) end.

Last edited by mhe4 on January 6, 2020 12:03.
-Mark
OP | Post 8 made on Monday January 6, 2020 at 12:30
Loraquest
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On January 4, 2020 at 13:17, Daniel Tonks said...
I've tried using mono adapters, they don't seem to work at all.

I just tried a mono to stereo adapter, and to my surprise, it worked perfectly. I fully inserted the adapter into the IR port on the MRF-350. I then used a normal stereo cable and fully inserted it into both the adapter and the jack on the back of the TV. Works like a charm, and only cost two bucks! Hopefully this information will be helpful to people who find themselves facing a similar conundrum in the future. :)

Here's a link again to the adapter I used ...

[Link: amazon.com]
Post 9 made on Monday January 6, 2020 at 21:06
anicely
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On January 6, 2020 at 12:30, Loraquest said...
I just tried a mono to stereo adapter, and to my surprise, it worked perfectly. I fully inserted the adapter into the IR port on the MRF-350. I then used a normal stereo cable and fully inserted it into both the adapter and the jack on the back of the TV. Works like a charm, and only cost two bucks! Hopefully this information will be helpful to people who find themselves facing a similar conundrum in the future. :)

Here's a link again to the adapter I used ...

[Link: amazon.com]

Loraquest, thanks a lot for posting the results of your research. I recently bought one of these Sony TVs and was disappointed that it does not accept an ordinary mono 3.5mm cable. I looked at the manual, and it states that you need an RS-232C cable, which also is how the female input is labeled on the back of the TV. When you go into the setup menu on the TV, you have to select RS-232 control.

I have an MRF-350 and it's my understanding that this unit does not send out any RS-232 signals; only IR commands through the cables. So I am confused about why you are able to use the MRF-350 to control the Sony TV using a stereo cable (with or without the mono adapter).

I tried connecting the MRF-350 to my TV using a 3.5mm stereo cable, plugging it in only part way, and it does not do anything for me.

I have an MRX-2 coming on Thursday, and that does have RS-232 dedicated outputs, so maybe I will have better luck with that.
Post 10 made on Monday January 6, 2020 at 22:32
gbrown91
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I usually working with products that have a phoenix connector for the output and have never had an issue with the plug all the way, the few times I’ve needed with urc I just cut a stereo cable and wire it to a mono and no issues that way either.
OP | Post 11 made on Tuesday January 7, 2020 at 08:22
Loraquest
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On January 6, 2020 at 21:06, anicely said...
I recently bought one of these Sony TVs and was disappointed that it does not accept an ordinary mono 3.5mm cable. I looked at the manual, and it states that you need an RS-232C cable, which also is how the female input is labeled on the back of the TV. When you go into the setup menu on the TV, you have to select RS-232 control.

I have an MRF-350 and it's my understanding that this unit does not send out any RS-232 signals; only IR commands through the cables. So I am confused about why you are able to use the MRF-350 to control the Sony TV using a stereo cable (with or without the mono adapter).

I tried connecting the MRF-350 to my TV using a 3.5mm stereo cable, plugging it in only part way, and it does not do anything for me.

I think I understand your confusion. The TV actually has two different jacks on the back for external control. At the bottom, there is a "RS-232C" jack. This is not the proper jack to use with the MRF-350. You want to use the one all the way at the top right labeled "Remote IR In". Try plugging a stereo cable all the way into this jack and then partially plugging the other end into the IR port on the back of the MRF-350. It should work.

Last edited by Loraquest on January 7, 2020 13:40.
Post 12 made on Tuesday January 7, 2020 at 18:20
anicely
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Thanks again, Loraquest! I did not realize from the Sony instructions that there was a removable panel on the back that was covering more connections. I had searched through the instructions but did not find any reference to an IR input, so I am glad that I saw this thread and you called my attention to the IR input.

I experimented with inserting a stereo cable all the way into the IR input on the TV and various depths into the MRF-350 but could not replicate your finding. The stereo cable that I used has a "bulbs" in the cable a few inches before each plug, so perhaps they are limiting the signal in some way.

I also tried a special cable that I bought with an eye toward establishing an RS232 connection to the TV from the MRX-2 that I expect to receive on Thursday.

This cable has a 3.5mm plug on one end with three stripes on it, and a plug on the other end with two stripes (a stereo plug).

[Link: homecontrols.com]

I plugged the three-stripe end into the TV and the two-stripe plug into the MRF-350 and found that the TV was getting a signal with the plug partially inserted into the MRF-350. I assume the TV is just ignoring whatever its coming through the extra stripe (if anything).

I am hopeful that the cable will work for RS232 control through the MRX-350 so that I don't have to buy any more cables or adapters.
Post 13 made on Sunday January 12, 2020 at 16:20
anicely
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To close the loop on this, I wired up my second-hand MRX-2 into my system today and connected the RS232 cable between the MRX-2 and the Sony TV's RS232 input port. I then changed the setting on the TV to receive serial (as opposed to HDMI) RS232 control. Unfortunately after experimenting with several cables, the MRX-2 was unable to control the TV at all through the RS232 output. I did not see any way in CCP to configure the RS232 output so it could be that RS232 on the MRX-2 only can be used when the device is set up in a Total Control system.

I had a cable with a mono 3.5mm plug on one end and a (now) useless receptacle on the other end so I decided to cut the mono plug off and connect it to a stereo cable with a 3.5mm stereo plug on one end (because the Sony TV for some reason requires a male stereo plug, while the MRX-2 and other URC devices require a mono plug for IR output). Fortunately I was able to wire this up correctly the first time and it works fine.
Post 14 made on Tuesday January 14, 2020 at 05:28
MrVideo
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I opened one of my MRF-350 units to look at the wiring of the IR output jacks. All of the 3.5mm jacks are 3 conductor (tip, ring, sleeve). But, only the RF jacks use the ring, i.e., the RF output has 5v on the ring. The IR output jacks have the ring connected to ground. So, the IR outputs are really mono. Inserting a plug part way into the jack isn't going to get you anything.

In the case of the Sony TV, which appears to use the stereo ring for signal, one has to either wire a cable whereby the URC tip goes to the Sony ring, or you use adapter cables to achieve the same result.
Post 15 made on Tuesday January 14, 2020 at 12:12
Ernie Gilman
Yes, That Ernie!
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30,104
This comment is only about IR control.

The descriptions in this thread seem to indicate that the proper IR connection is the ring and sleeve of a stereo connector.

This is going to sound silly-obvious, but go with me here:
Think for a moment about a stereo plug that's all the way in.
The sleeve (ground) is connected to the chassis ground.
The ring is connected to something I'll call ring. Note that the ring is a portion of the plug that's not all the way in.
The tip is connected to something at the end of the plug that I'll call tip. The tip of the plug is only connected to anything in the jack when the plug is all the way in.

When someone plugs a stereo connector in NOT all the way, the sleeve is connected to the ground and the tip of the plug is at the jack's ring position. If you get IR control this way, then the two things to connect to are the sleeve and the ring.

So try connecting sleeve to IR ground and ring to IR hot, then push the plug all the way in. Please tell us what happens. Based on what everybody has said about IR control, this should work.

By the way, why is it that this question and discussion comes up once or twice a year?
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything.
"The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
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