Home Theater Master MRF-250 User manual

Multi-Room “No-Pointing” RF Control of
Audio/Video Components
MRF-250
INSTALLATION
MANUAL

MRF-250 Installation Manual © 2004 Universal Remote Control, Inc.
The information in this manual is copyright protected. No part of this manual may be copied
or reproduced in any form without prior written consent from Universal Remote Control, Inc.
UNIVERSAL REMOTE CONTROL, INC. SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR OPERATIONAL,TECHNI-
CAL OR EDITORIAL ERRORS/OMISSIONS MADE IN THIS MANUAL.
The information in this manual may be subject to change without prior notice.
Home Theater Master is a registered trademark of Universal Remote Control, Inc.
Entertainment Made Simple is a trademark of Universal Remote Control, Inc.
All other brand or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective
companies or organizations.
500 Mamaroneck Avenue, Harrison, NY 10528
Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone]

TTAABBLLEEOOFFCCOONNTTEENNTTSS
Introduction 1
Features and Benefits 2
Parts Guide 2
Front Panel 3
Mounting Plate 3
Power LED 3
Status LED 3
Front Blaster 3
Rear Panel 4
Flashers 4
Power Supply 4
Bottom Panel 4
Receiver ID# 4
A Standard MRF-250 System 5
Standard Installation — Step by Step 5
Front Blaster Overload 7
Disabling the Front Blaster - Step by Step 7
Controlling An Array of Identical TV’s 8
Identical Components - Step by Step 8
Programming For Multiple Equipment Locations 11
Frequently Asked Questions 12
Specifications 12

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Introduction
The combination of the MX-3000 with it’s companion MRF-250 base station
will enable you to place your audio/video components out of sight behind
closed doors and/or in another room of your house. The MX-3000 sends
radio signals to the MRF-250 throughout your house (50-100’ away, indoors or
outdoors). The MRF-250 converts your commands to the infrared signals that
control your A/V components.
3. Self-adhesive “Flashers” affix to the
Infrared sensors on the front panels
of your components. The Flashers
relay commands to components out
of sight of the MRF-250’s Front
Blaster. The flashers plug in to the
MRF-250’s rear flasher line outputs
via their 10 foot cables.
2.The MRF-250’s built-in Front Blaster sends commands to
components in the same cabinet space as the MRF-250.
1.The MX-30000 remote con-
trol sends radio waves in
every direction, so you don’t
have to point the remote any-
more!

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Features and Benefits
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The MRF-250 receives the RF signals of the MX-3000 remote control from
any direction. You no longer need to point the remote control at any of your
A/V components. You can also place the components distracting blinking lights
and displays behind closed doors and/or in another room!
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The MRF-250 receives RF signals from your MX-3000 from within a radius of
50 to 100 feet enabling you to control out of sight audio/video components
behind walls and closed doors. Range depends on the structure of your home
and the amount of interference generated by computers, microprocessors and
other devices within and nearby your home.
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Each MX-3000 can be programmed to operate equipment placed throughout
the house, by installing an MRF-250 base station at each location. Each MRF-
250 is assigned one of 16 unique ID#’s. In operation it’s simple: when you
select a device located in the Den, the MX-3000 only talks to the MRF-250 in
the Den. When you select a device located in the Family Room, the MX-3000
only talks to it!
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You can opt to control a multi-room or multi-zone system via RF remote con-
trol by placing an MX-3000 in each room of your home.
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The MRF-250’s unique assignable IR flashers enable your installation to control
up to six identical TV’s. The intelligent routing of the MRF-250 will send your
commands only to the TV you select on your MX-3000. The other identical
TV’s will not receive commands. Of course, if your system utilizes identical
satellite receivers, cable boxes, VCR’s or disc changers you can utilize IR rout-
ing just as easily for them. If you have more than six identical components, up
to 16 additional MRF-250’s can be installed to control them (thus allowing up
to 96 identical components in one house).
Parts Guide
The MRF-250 RF Base Station includes:
1 - MRF-250 Receiver with integrated antenna
1 - Mounting Plate for wall mounting the MRF-250
4 - Screws for wall mounting the mounting plate
1 - 9V-300mA Power Supply
6 - Flashers with 10 foot plug in cables.

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The MRF-250’s slots enable the
Mounting Plate’s matching guides
to slide and “snap” into place for
mounting on the wall.
Using the four enclosed
screws, you can choose to fix
the mounting plate to a wall or
the back of your component
cabinet.
Front Blaster sends Infrared com-
mands to all A/V components in
the same cabinet space.
The MRF-250 Mounting Plate
MRF-250 Details
Red POWER LED lights when the
MRF-250’s power supply is plugged
into an active AC outlet.
Red STATUS LED lights when the
MRF-250 receives an RF signal
from the MX-3000.

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Six Plug-In Flashers are supplied
with 10 foot cables and six extra
self-adhesive pads (in case a flash-
er has to be repositioned).
Bottom panel Dial sets the Receiver ID# when
more than one MRF-250 receiver is used.
Included 9V power supply
plugs into the MRF-250’s
power connector.
Integrated Antenna
swings in any direction
to optimize RF recep-
tion and range.
Six Rear Flasher Line Output Jacks
connect flashers for control of A/V
components out of sight of the MRF-
250’s Front Blaster.

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A Standard MRF-250 System
A standard system utilizes no identical components and only one equipment
location. However, you can add any number of MX-3000 remote controls to
your home! MX-3000’s are available as an accessory purchase without an
MRF-250 for standard system installations that already have an MRF-250.
You can add any number of MRF-250 base stations in a standard system as
well. If you need more than six flasher outputs you may add additional MRF-
250 receivers as needed by ordering an accessory MRF-250 base station.
Do not change the factory default settings in RF Control section of MX-3000
Editor when you download to your MX-3000’s. You do not need to utilize
MX3000 Editor’s Program Step 9 (RF Control), since the factory settings will
work fine!
Standard Installation — Step by Step
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Connect your MX-3000 to your PC and program the IR commands and macros
as you like. Since your MX-3000 sends both IR and RF, you can test your pro-
gramming as you go by pointing the MX-3000 at the components and using MX-
3000 Editor’s TEST and Macro Play features if you place your laptop PC in the
same room as the components (with the cabinet doors open and in line of sight).
For a detailed explanation of how to program, use the downloadable
Programming Manual or the animated Tutorial. Both are available as free down-
loads from the www.hometheatermaster.com website.
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tteessttyyoouurrIIRRccoommmmaannddssaannddMMaaccrroosslliinneeooffssiigghhttvviiaaIIRRoonnllyyaatttthhiissppooiinntt!!
Once you have completed and downloaded your programming to the MX-
3000 remote control, you are ready to test RF operation via the Front Blaster
and (if necessary) the self-adhesive flashers that connect to the MRF-250’s
flasher line outputs.
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The MRF-250 should be placed so that the Front Blaster will control as many
of the system’s A/V components as possible. If you are connecting the out-
board flashers to the rear Flasher outputs only, the MRF-250 may be con-
cealed and mounted to the rear wall or back of the system cabinet.The

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mounting plate slides apart from the receiver, screws to the wall or cabinet
with the enclosed screws, then the receiver is slid back into place.
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Connect the 9V power supply to an active UNSWITCHED AC outlet. The MRF-
250 must always be powered up to operate.The red POWER LED should light.
Insert the batteries in the MX-3000 remote control.
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Observe the MRF-250’s STATUS LED blinking while you press and hold a pro-
grammed button (one with an actual command).This tells you that the MRF-
250 is receiving the RF commands of the MX-3000. However, if the LED con-
tinues to flicker after you release the button, you are receiving RF Interference
and you must move the MRF-250 to another location.
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If you need to extend the range of the remote, try adjusting the angle of the
MRF-250 receiving antenna via it’s pivoting ball mount.
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With the MX-3000’s IR output blocked by a jacket or pillow, test the control of
your components using just the Front Blaster. In most cabinets, the MRF-250’s
Front Blaster will control any A/V components in the same cabinet space by
reflections from the cabinet walls and doors. Make sure that the components
operate with the cabinet doors closed or open. If a component is placed too far
away from the front blaster, you will need to utilize the included Flashers plugged
into the MRF-250’s rear Flasher Line Output jacks.
If you have problems with components that are close to the Front Blaster, see
the next page and the section on Front Blaster Overload.
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IImmppoorrttaannttNNoottee::TTeesstttthheeooppeerraattiioonnBBEEFFOORREEssttiicckkiinnggtthheeffllaasshheerriinnppllaaccee..
Use a flashlight to identify the correct location of the component’s IR sensor,
then try a few commands while moving the flasher around the face plate of
the component. The most reliable operation typically occurs a half inch or so
away from the IR sensor.
Once you have found the spot that gives the most reliable operation, peel off
the protective backing of the self-adhesive tape on the included Flashers and
stick them in place.
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Front Blaster Overload
A few models of audio/video components can be OVERLOADED by the Front
Blaster. If you are having intermittent or inconsistent results with a particular
component, try repositioning the MRF-250 and facing the Front Blaster in a
different direction. If this improves the situation but is impractical, it may be
necessary to utilize the self-adhesive flashers only and follow the steps below
to Disable the Front Blaster. This will limit the number of components your
MRF-250 can control to six. If you have more than six components you can
purchase an additional MRF-250 (available as an accessory alone from your
Home Theater Master dealer). Do not change the receiver ID# (use the same
ID # as the first unit) then follow the steps on the following pages:
Disabling the Front Blaster - Step by Step
Plug the MX-3000 back into the PC. Open your saved configuration and follow
these steps to turn off the front blaster:
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The RF Setup window opens after selecting RF
Control from the Program Menu.
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Extend the RF Setup window by click-
ing on the Receivers button.
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Click on the cell in the IR Blaster
column.A list box will appear. Select
OFF from the list.
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SAVE your changes using File|Save and DOWNLOAD to the MX-3000.
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cchhaannggee..

Controlling An Array of Identical TV’s
(or VCR’s, Receivers, CD players etc.)
There are several considerations to take into account when you are installing
an MRF-250 to control an array of identical components:
1. You cannot use the Front Blaster to control identical components. You
must use Flashers instead. You can still use the Front Blaster in a cabinet
that is out of sight of the identical components to control the rest of your
system.
2. Each identical component must receive IR commands ONLY from a dedicat-
ed Flasher affixed to it’s front panel. The IR output of the MX-3000 should
be disabled for each identical component. It can still be utilized for the rest
of your system!
3. You must note the NUMBER of the Flasher Output you have utilized for
EACH of the identical components.
NOTE: If the identical components are near each other the Flashers and the
actual sensor window of the component should be blocked with black
electrical tape (sometimes more than one layer is needed).
Identical Components - Step by Step
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The MX-3000 can control up to 20 devices. You must create one device for
each of your identical TV’s.
In this example, six iden-
tical TV’s are utilized in a
Media Room array.
The programmer has
created devices for all of
the equipment in the
cabinet on Main Page 1.
On Main Page 2, he/she
has created a device for
each of the TV’s.
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Using either the IR Database or Learning, program one of the identical devices
to operate one of TV’s (leave the others powered off right now).Test all com-
mands and Save your work.
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In tree view, right click on the device you programmed.
From the context menu that appears, select COPY.
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In tree view, right click on the first device that is NOT
PROGRAMMED. From the context menu that appears,
select PASTE.
Repeat this PASTE on all of the other identical device. Save
your work.
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The RF Setup window opens after selecting RF
Control from the Program Menu.
The RF Setup window is composed of a “spread sheet” of options for EACH
of your devices. By looking at the Signal column, you can see that the factory
default programming sets all of the devices to send both IR and RF commands.
If you look at the column for Flashers, you can see that the default sends IR
commands for all devices to ALL of the flashers. Both options must be
changed for identical components.Additionally, if you are not using it, you may
wish to disable the Front Blaster (see page 7 for directions).
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The RF Setup window enables you to adjust the Signal output by the MX-3000
for each device individually, by clicking on the intersection of a row and a col-
umn and then selecting RRFFfrom the three options shown in the pull down list
box .

Click on the “cell” for the first
identical TV, by crossing the
device row with the Signals col-
umn.
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The RF Setup window enables you to adjust which Flashers output by the MX-
3000 for each device individually, by clicking on the intersection of a row and a
column and then selecting 11--66from the seven options shown in the pull
down list box.
Click on the “cell” for the first
identical TV, by crossing the
device row with the Flashers
column.
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First click on the OK button of the RF Setup window. Next, Save your work.
Finally, download to your MX-3000. When you select TV1 with your MX-3000,
commands are only sent to it. Likewise for the rest of your identical TV’s!
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Signal Column
TV1 Device Row
Flasher Column
TV1 Device Row

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Programming For Multiple Equipment Locations
You can operate up to 16 different equipment locations, each with an MRF-
250 assigned a unique Receiver ID#. You program each of your MX-3000’s to
talk to the equipment locations you want by assigning each of your devices to
a receiver. First, you must add and name your receivers for the locations they
are placed in:
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The RF Setup window opens after selecting RF Control from the Program
Menu.
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Extend the RF Setup window by clicking on the
Receivers button of the RF setup window.
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Using the controls at the bottom extended portion of the RF Control win-
dow, add new receivers and rename them for the
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You may rename the
Default receiver to
something more
descriptive by clicking
on the Rename button.
Add new receivers
by clicking on the
Add button.
Delete receivers by
selecting them first
by clicking on their
Name, then clicking
the Delete button.
Assign the correct Receiver
ID# for each LOCATION by
clicking on the desired CELL
and selecting the ID# you
want from the pull down list.
Each LOCATION should have
a unique ID#. It is ok to
install multiple MRF-250’s in
one location.

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Frequently Asked Questions
CCaannIIuusseeffllaasshheerr//eemmiitttteerrsstthhaattIIhhaavveeaallrreeaaddyyiinnssttaalllleeddiinntthheessyysstteemmttooccoonn--
nneeccttttootthheeMMRRFF--225500??
Yes, the flashers are compatible, however flashers from other companies are equipped
with a mini plug that is too large to fit the MRF-250’s flasher jacks. Use Radio Shack
part # 274-327 to convert 3.5mm plug Flasher/Emitters to the MRF-250.
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33000000EEddiittoorr,,yyeettwwhheennIIsseennddaaccoommmmaannddttoooonneeoofftthheemm,,tthheeTTVVnneexxttttootthhee
sseelleecctteeddTTVVaallssoorreessppoonnddss..HHoowwddooIIssttoopptthhiiss??
Use an opaque material like electrical tape to cover the flasher and the front panel sen-
sor of each of the TV’s. Sometimes several layers are necessary.
HHoowwccaannIIiinnccrreeaasseetthheerraannggeeoofftthheeMMXX--33000000??
Often, you can increase range by repositioning the MRF-250 and/or by re-orienting the
antenna. Try to avoid placing the MRF-250 directly adjacent to satellite
receivers, personal computers or any other component using high speed
microprocessors if possible.
Warranty
The MRF-250 is covered against any manufacturers defects or workmanship
for a period of one year from the date of purchase if purchased from an
authorized Home Theater Master dealer. Units purchased from online auction
sites or other unauthorized resellers have no warranty.This warranty does not
cover the following items:
-Damage from misuse, neglect, or acts of nature.
-Products that have been modified or incorporated into other products.
-Products purchased more than 12 months ago.
-Units purchased from unauthorized dealers or companies.
Specifications
MMRRFF--225500
Power Supply: 9V 300mA
IR Flasher Line Outputs: 2.5mm Mono Mini Jack
RF Frequency: 418MHz
Size: 5 1/8” x 3.5” x 1.25” (4.5” antenna up)

500 Mamaroneck Avenue, Harrison, NY 10528
Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone]