Hi All,

My setup has been going great for years, until I decided to add my new Amazon Fire Stick and accidently pulled a emitter wire too hard!!!!

I suspect the broken wires shorted my RFX9600's emitter outputs as if the RFX9600 is connected to my Xantech block, none of my IR emitters operate.

If I connect an emmitor directly to the unit, it does flash however fails to control anything!

Has anyone tried to repair a RFX9600 board?

Any help would be appreciated.

Many Thanks
Daniel

I had an IR output on one of my RFX9600's stop working. I bought a used RFX9600 for $30 off EBay. Problem solved.

Yes, I agree, I thought it would be hard to track down in Australia, however I brought a unit for $50 AU today.

Just want to make sure everything is OK prior to installing.

For others out there who might want to avoid this issue. Here is the cause and a recommendation that will save you this headache. It only takes 1 time of not following these procedures to encounter an issue..

There is now a blown/melted a transformer on the RFX9x00 emitter port that was connected to the Xantech block. In cases where the transformer is melted and not blown, you will still get some voltage output from RFX9x00, but the current is not enough to drive an emitter.

Note that repairing the RFX9x00 emitter port is possible if you can find the transformers. I tried it thanks to GoPronto but was unsuccessful. Hence, I have a RFX9x00 sitting in my garage with 1 fried IR port.

When this happened to me (still kick myself about it) this is how my setup was connected.

1. The usual cable between RFX9x00 and Xantech connecting block is 3 wires and has a stereo plug on one end and a mono plug on the other end.

2. The Xantech block has a 12VDC supply via a barrel plug and Wall-Wart which is connected directly to the block.

3. The Mono plug of cable is connected to IR emitter port on RFX9x00.

4. The Stereo plug of cable is connected to Xantech IR Receiver Input.

If you remove the stereo plug that is connected (#4 above) prior to removing the mono plug that is connected (#3 above) to the RFX9x00 emitter port, while pulling stereo plug out of the jack on the Xantech (#4 above), there is a VERY GOOD chance that you will send 12VDC back into the RFX9x00. This will VERY LIKELY cause a very small surface mount transformer on the circuit board to blow. Might even hear a puff of smoke.

To avoid any issues. I recommend the following order for disassembly.

Step 1 - Remove the Barrel Power Plug from Connecting Block (#2 above) (Xantech no longer has 12VDC).
Step 2 - Remove the mono plug from RFX9x00 emitter jack.(#3 above)
Step 3 - Remove the stereo plug from Xantech emitter input jack (#4 above)

Reverse this procedure for reassembly.

Great info Lyndell. I've got a RFX9600 that must have suffered the same exact fate as yours. The situation you described is identical. The unit is sitting in my closet now with a post-it note on it that says "IR Input 1 broke". :-P No chance I'll ever see a rinse and repeat of that scenario thankfully. Down to just one RT8 now which I use with my Sony DVD changers. I was using 2 RT8's, 3 RS2321X8's and 2 RS422232's with my Blu-ray changer setup until just recently. Replaced all that (along with the 7 power supplies) with a single RS232 switch and power supply which I talk about here. Has been working out beautifully.

Great to hear you were able to find a replacement for a decent price. Excellent!

Lyndel McGee, Great writeup!!! and totally agree.

A trick that Xantech told me years ago was to use a Mono Jack into the RFX9600 however on the Xantech block go into the screw terminals IR / GND.

I have since realised that its also a good idea to protect the device (RFX9600 in this case) by adding a 1N4001 (or equivalent) diode in case you accidently short another part of the Xantech circuit..

Just a question can emitter suffer from Plasma interference?

During my elaborate testing I discovered that an emitter install on the front of a plasma causes the Zone to light up like a Christmas tree.

Emitter is brand new and tests OK with a multimeter.

If it is connected into the back of the new RFX9600 it is OK, so I have done this as its in that zone. Just curious to ascertain the cause.

Not sure I follow this...

During my elaborate testing I discovered that an emitter install on the front of a plasma causes the Zone to light up like a Christmas tree.

What was the emitter connected to when this occurred. You mention RFX9600 IR port later in the post.


Yes, emitters can suffer from Plasma interference. I've also heard that early generations of LED light-bulbs would also interfere.