Your Universal Remote Control Center
RemoteCentral.com
Philips Pronto Professional Forum - View Post
Previous section Next section Previous page Next page Up level
Up level
The following page was printed from RemoteCentral.com:

Login:
Pass:
 
 

Page 1 of 2
Topic:
IR issues with Niles ZR6 via Global IR Input
This thread has 16 replies. Displaying posts 1 through 15.
Post 1 made on Sunday May 31, 2009 at 22:14
GreenBayTheater
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
April 2009
71
For those unfimiliar, the Niles ZR-6 has a "Global IR Input" port and an RS-232 port.

I have RS-232 working fine from the rfx9600, but I can not get any of the IR commands to work via the IR ports and the Global IR Input.

Niles tech support suggested that perhaps the rfx9600 isn't putting out enough voltage. I tested the IR port and read between 2 and 2.5 volts.

Niles swears up and down that the code set is fully tested and works rock solid, so has anyone else seen a situation where the rfx9600 isn't putting out enough voltage for an IR input on a source component?

Yes, I tried both the "Normal" and "Low" settings on the IR output of the rfx9600.

Oh, in case you're wondering why I care about IR when I already have RS-232 working, Niles saw fit to release extra functionality via IR that they have not made available via RS-232 yet. Doh!
Philips Pronto TSU9400, TSU9800, Nevo S70, Nevo Q50
First U.S. Certified Philips Pronto Level III Installer
http://www.greenbaytheater.com
Post 2 made on Sunday May 31, 2009 at 22:46
Peter Dewildt
Loyal Member
Joined:
Posts:
July 2001
6,307
Have you tried increasing the duration of the IR codes?
Peter
Pronto 1000 (retired), Pronto TSU7000, RFX6000 (retired)
Pronto 2xTSU9600, RFX9400
OP | Post 3 made on Sunday May 31, 2009 at 23:09
GreenBayTheater
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
April 2009
71
On May 31, 2009 at 22:46, Peter Dewildt said...
Have you tried increasing the duration of the IR codes?

Good suggestion. I just tried it though and no luck. I increased to .5 seconds and still no joy.
Philips Pronto TSU9400, TSU9800, Nevo S70, Nevo Q50
First U.S. Certified Philips Pronto Level III Installer
http://www.greenbaytheater.com
Post 4 made on Monday June 1, 2009 at 03:41
Guy Palmer
Active Member
Joined:
Posts:
June 2008
648
On May 31, 2009 at 22:14, GreenBayTheater said...
has anyone else seen a situation where the rfx9600 isn't putting out enough voltage for an IR input on a source component?

Yes, I had exactly this problem with my Aton speaker selector which requires 5 volts. I had to buy a powered IR receiver, which I hooked up to receive the signal from the extender using a stick on emitter and boosted it before input to the speaker selector. Now works 100%. Both Aton and my local wires shop fully understood both the problem and the solution.
OP | Post 5 made on Monday June 1, 2009 at 08:17
GreenBayTheater
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
April 2009
71
Thank you Guy. That will be my next test then. I believe Niles said 5 volts was what they required as well, so I am assuming that is the issue.
Philips Pronto TSU9400, TSU9800, Nevo S70, Nevo Q50
First U.S. Certified Philips Pronto Level III Installer
http://www.greenbaytheater.com
OP | Post 6 made on Monday June 1, 2009 at 10:48
GreenBayTheater
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
April 2009
71
Niles Tech Support suggested I put a 150ohm resistor across the data and ground to increase the output voltage.

I'll give this a try also.

Anyone else ever tried this?

Last edited by GreenBayTheater on June 1, 2009 12:15.
Philips Pronto TSU9400, TSU9800, Nevo S70, Nevo Q50
First U.S. Certified Philips Pronto Level III Installer
http://www.greenbaytheater.com
Post 7 made on Monday June 1, 2009 at 21:23
Danny Suarez
Founding Member
Joined:
Posts:
May 2002
21
I have a RFX9400 connected to the Niles global ir input with no problems except the bass and treble codes don't work. I'm using the mini plug cable that came with the philips rfx9400.
OP | Post 8 made on Monday June 1, 2009 at 21:55
GreenBayTheater
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
April 2009
71
Danny,

Which codes are you using? Those supplied with the O1R1 database or those from Kelly at Niles tech support.
Not that it really matters. I can not get this to work at all.

Tonight I tried connecting two 150ohm transistors in line. Contrary to what Niles told me, I did not see an "doubling" in output voltage. It was still about 2.5 volts. Tried it anyway to the Global IR input and it did NOT work.

I then connected the output from the RFX9600 to the input from a Niles MSU140 and measured a good 5 volts of IR signal. Plugged it into the Niles ZR-6 and no joy again. What was odd with this method is that the signal light on the MSU140, which should flash as an IR signal is passing through it, turns solid when I plug it into the Niles ZR-6. As if the Global IR input is shorted out internally maybe? But, could this be possible on the first two units I've received?

Short of trying a completely different remote system, I've run out of options for testing this.

Last edited by GreenBayTheater on June 1, 2009 23:22.
Philips Pronto TSU9400, TSU9800, Nevo S70, Nevo Q50
First U.S. Certified Philips Pronto Level III Installer
http://www.greenbaytheater.com
Post 9 made on Monday June 1, 2009 at 23:22
Danny Suarez
Founding Member
Joined:
Posts:
May 2002
21
I pasted some of the hex codes from niles tech support, and also from 01R1, in addition to codes from the zr4, they all work.
Sorry for asking, are you using a mono mini plug or a stereo mini plug and have you tried changing the cable.

OP | Post 10 made on Monday June 1, 2009 at 23:23
GreenBayTheater
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
April 2009
71
Using a mono mini plug and I have tried a couple of different cables and two different ZR-6's on two different RFX9600's.

I'm at a loss
Philips Pronto TSU9400, TSU9800, Nevo S70, Nevo Q50
First U.S. Certified Philips Pronto Level III Installer
http://www.greenbaytheater.com
Post 11 made on Tuesday June 2, 2009 at 00:13
Danny Suarez
Founding Member
Joined:
Posts:
May 2002
21
I'm assuming the rfx9600 does control other components thru IR. That would rule out a defective rfx9600 unit.
Getting back to the msu140, you should'nt have a solid blue light. Try changing the polarity of the wire and also try using a IR receiver with the msu140.

Danny
OP | Post 12 made on Tuesday June 2, 2009 at 07:46
GreenBayTheater
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
April 2009
71
Yes, the IR port on the rfx9600 is able to control other devices without issue.
Tried changing the polarity of the wire. No blue light at all and nothing read on Volt meeter.
msu140 was pulled from a working IR repeater system to use in this test and it was put back in place when test was completed. It does work perfect with it's own IR receiver and flashers.

I think you're wanting me to use the IR blaster from the TSU9400 through an IR receiver on the MSU140 and out to the ZR-6 from there. Yes, this would eliminate one more factor, but will take a little time to set up an environment like this. I'll test this next.

Thanks
Philips Pronto TSU9400, TSU9800, Nevo S70, Nevo Q50
First U.S. Certified Philips Pronto Level III Installer
http://www.greenbaytheater.com
OP | Post 13 made on Friday June 5, 2009 at 11:44
GreenBayTheater
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
April 2009
71
Okay, I got time to run a new test today. I’m mixed about the results.

I removed the rfx9400 and rfx9600 from the equation and used just the pronto TSU9400 through a Niles MSU140 and IT WORKS!

Knowing this, why wouldn’t this work when I connected the IR Flasher on the rfx9600 to the input on the MSU140? Shouldn’t the MSU140 take that signal in amplify it for the ZR-6?

This solution isn’t going to work unless I can get the signal from the rfx9600 to work with the ZR-6 somehow.

Last edited by GreenBayTheater on June 5, 2009 13:33.
Philips Pronto TSU9400, TSU9800, Nevo S70, Nevo Q50
First U.S. Certified Philips Pronto Level III Installer
http://www.greenbaytheater.com
OP | Post 14 made on Friday June 5, 2009 at 13:47
GreenBayTheater
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
April 2009
71
Continuing testing.
Connected rfx9400 in network mode. Measured output voltage to be the same as the rfx9400, between 2 and 3 volts. Connected to ZR-6 and it worked.
Connected rfx9600 again and measured voltage to be between 2 and 3 volts. Tested again and it worked. Why? Very odd, this has never worked in the past.

What was different this time? Well, I removed the ZR-6 and rfx9600 from my rack to move into the room where I had an IR repeater system set up for testing.

I moved the ZR-6 and rfx9600 back to the rack and reconnected everything.
Tested again and the global IR would no longer work. Hmmm. Okay, has to be something connected in the rack that was not connected when it was out of the rack. (Remember, I had the same problem at my customers house with his ZR-6 not accepting codes from the Global IR input and I changed his configuration over to RS-232 to resolve the issue.)
I disconnected the RG6 from the FM antenna input and tried again. IT WORKS! Connected antenna back up and it stopped working again.

I tested both the codes from the O1R1 database and the ones Niles tech support sent me. They both work as long as the antenna is disconnected.

Has anyone seen this? My antenna is a simple antenna coming from my attic, but is split off about 8 times for ATSC tuners throughout my house. Mostly Tivo Series 3 boxes. I have no in-line amplifier of any kind. My customer has a dedicated antenna, but it is amplified because he lives way out in the country.

Ideas?
Philips Pronto TSU9400, TSU9800, Nevo S70, Nevo Q50
First U.S. Certified Philips Pronto Level III Installer
http://www.greenbaytheater.com
Post 15 made on Friday June 5, 2009 at 14:16
Lyndel McGee
RC Moderator
Joined:
Posts:
August 2001
12,992
May I suggest a cable ground loop isolator (ebay). I suspect that is your problem. It is very likely that you are getting ground into the circuit from both the rack-mount of RFX9600 (chassis ground) and from the cable. May be just enough interference to cause this. If you have any mono-cables plugged into extender, this could cause problem as well.
Lyndel McGee
Philips Pronto Addict/Beta Tester
Page 1 of 2


Jump to


Protected Feature Before you can reply to a message...
You must first register for a Remote Central user account - it's fast and free! Or, if you already have an account, please login now.

Please read the following: Unsolicited commercial advertisements are absolutely not permitted on this forum. Other private buy & sell messages should be posted to our Marketplace. For information on how to advertise your service or product click here. Remote Central reserves the right to remove or modify any post that is deemed inappropriate.

Hosting Services by ipHouse