Panasonic DVD-S77 vs. Home Theater Master MX-600

[HaneyRM]

Guys, I just got through troubleshooting a very frustrating problem. I replaced my old Sony DVD player with a new S77. I set up my Home Theater Master MX-600 to control the new DVD player. The first thing I noticed was that the remote would only control the DVD player for a few moments and then nothing. The only way I could get it to work was to reprogram. The other oddity was that none of the Panasonic codes would work with the S77. The S77 would work fine with the factory remote so I knew it was not a DVD player problem. Changed the batteries in the MX-600 and nothing. Checked all of the connections from the RF base unit to the IR floods and everything was fine. Finally I noticed that the status light on the RF base unit was lit and remained lit. Typically this light only comes on when the base unit is receiving a signal from the remote. I decided to take the base unit out of the rack and give it the once over. When I moved the base unit a few feet from the rack, the status light went off and everything worked normally. To make a short story long, I ended up having to relocate the RF base unit 6 feet from the S77 to get it to work. Anytime the RF station was within a few feet of the S77 you could turn the DVD player on and the remote would stop working, turn it back off and everything was fine. I never had any of these problems with my old DVD player.

What is it about the S77 that is interfering with my MX-600 RF base station? I am baffled.

Mike

[MikeSRC]

Components with microprocessors (usually PVRs, cable and satellite boxes) emit RF that interferes with the operation of the MRF-100 (or other RF base stations) if they're close by. Apparently, the S77 does as well. The rule of thumb when setting up any RF base station is to check the status light to make sure it's not receiving anything it shouldn't and moving it away from any components that do interfere. Also, removing the antenna from the MRF will also often solve the problem by reducing its sensitivity.

[HaneyRM]

Mike, Thanks for the reply. I am glad to hear that there is not something wrong with my system and that this is somewhat normal.

Thanks,
Mike

[Paul Bigelow]

Switching power supplies (used in *lots* of consumer electronics) are also RF trash generators.

Paul

[jigesh]

The only way I could get it to work was to reprogram. The other oddity was that none of the Panasonic codes would work with the S77. The S77 would work fine with the factory remote so I knew it was not a DVD player problem.

If other RF emissions were a problem, why would it work with the factory remote but not with MX-600?

[MikeSRC]

[QUOTE=jigesh]If other RF emissions were a problem, why would it work with the factory remote but not with MX-600?[/QUOTE]

Because the MX-600 is using RF to communicate with its base station and that's what's being disrupted. If the MX-600 was used without the base station (just using direct IR), it would work the same as the factory remote.

[jigesh]

I see. Thanks, Mike.