Xantech 490-85 User Manual 2

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

490-85

CLF / LCD Friendly Micro Link IR Receiver

DESCRIPTION

The 490-85 is a CFL (compact fluorescent light) / LCD (liquid crystal display) version of the 490 Micro
Link series IR receivers. It is specifically designed to have greater immunity to high frequency
ballasted CFL and overhead fluorescent type infrared inference and to have exceptional IR reception
range.

These small IR receivers have been designed primarily for mounting in panels, doors, cabinets, etc.
for control of A/V equipment behind closed doors. They may be mounted in walls, ceilings, wall
speakers, etc. - anywhere an inconspicuous appearance is desired. Their high sensitivity allows
placement behind speaker grilles and still receiver IR commands up to 20 feet away.

FEATURES AND SPECIFICATIONS

 IR carrier frequency reception bandwidth: 30 to 60 kHz.
 IR carrier adjustment: 32 to 56 kHz (allows output carrier frequency to be matched to a

controlled component for optimum performance).

 IR reception range: > 50 feet
 Dimensions: 2.75” Length x 0.75” DIA. Bezel is 0.90” DIA.
 Works in normal 3-wire mode (12VDC, IR, GND).
 Red talkback LED for system verification.
 RF Grid included for EMI interference reduction.
 Includes 3-Terminal Block for easy extension of 7 foot ribbon cable.
 7 units may be powered by one 781RG power supply.
 Normal Operating Power: +12VDC, 20mA.

Note: The 490-85 will not operate in 2-wire Phantom Power mode.

INSTALLATION

This unit is meant to be interfaced to Xantech Connecting Blocks, such as CB12, 789-44, 791-44, etc.

MOUNTING

1. Drill a 3/4” hole in any flat surface, such as a cabinet panel. Pass the cable and body of the
490-85 through the hole and secure from the rear with the nut (supplied).

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IR CARRIER ADJUSTMENT

The 490-85 is factory set to an IR carrier repeat frequency of 39kHz. This will be correct for the
majority of installations. However, some manufacturer’s components that you wish to control may use
different carrier frequencies (such as RCA DSS satellite receivers that use 56kHz). If sure carrier
frequencies fall within the range of 32kHz to 56kHz, you can adjust the 490-85 to match them for the
best range performance. The adjustment can be made through the small opening on the rear.

To adjust, proceed as follows:

1. First, try the 490-85 in a repeater system. If it works well with good range, do not make any
adjustments!

2. If it does not work or has poor range (less than 15 feet), determine the IR carrier frequency of
the product you wish to control. Contact the manufacturer of the product, if necessary, to
determine this frequency.

3. Using a small blade type screwdriver, rotate the adjustment shaft until the slot lines up with the
desired frequency.

4. If you have products in the same IR system that have different IR carrier frequencies, you will
have to adjust the 490-85 to a midway position. For example, some may operate at 38kHz and
others at 56kHz. In this case, set the adjustment to approximately 47kHz, a midway position.

Note: Some products are more tolerant of compromised frequency settings that others. You may
have to “fine tune” the adjustment to “favor” the least tolerant component for the best performance
of all units in the system.

Clock-wise (CW) Increase carrier frequency
Counter Clock-wise (CCW) Decrease carrier frequency

490-85 CABLE CONNECTIONS

The 490-85 may also be used where the 7-foot lead is not long enough. In this case, simply cut off
the mini plug, strip the leads and connect them to a 3-terminal block. For correct color identification of
wires, refer to the following tables and diagrams:

PLUG CABLE LEADS DESCRIPTION

RING BLACK GROUND
TIP WHITE IR OUTPUT
SLEEVE RED +12V

Ring

Sleeve

Mini Plug

(3-Conductor)

Tip

Insulators

490-85

WHITE

See Tables for

Wire Color

7-Foot 3-Conductor Cable
with Mini Plug removed

OUT

+12V

GND

3-Conductor

Wire to

Controlled

Equipment

3-Terminal
Block

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APPLICATION WIRING

A typical system, with a 490-85, 781RG Power Supply and 283M Emitters plugged into a 791-44
Connecting Block, is shown in the figure below.

1. Plug the 3.5 mm stereo mini plug from the 490-85 into the 791-44 connecting block labeled “IR
RCVR”.

2. Plug in the 3.5 mm mono mini plug from any of the 282, 284, 283 and 286 series Emitters into
the jacks labeled EMITTERS on the 791-44 Connecting Block and affix the opposite end of the
IR Sensor Window of the controlled equipment.

3. Plug in the 2.1mm Coaxial power plug of the 781RG Power Supply (not included) into the jack
labeled 12VDC on the 791-44 Connecting Block.

4. Plug the AC end of the 781RG Power Supply into an ‘un-switched’ 120VAC outlet.

490-85

IR Receivers

1 7/8"

Series

0.469"

490-85
(mounted on or
near cabinet in an
inconspicuous
location).

Hand Held

Remote

Controlled Equipment
(mounted behind
closed cabinet doors)

7 Foot 3-Conductor
Cable with Quick
Connect Mini Plug

781RG

Power Supply

120 V AC
(Unswitched)

791-44

Amplified

Connecting Block

OUT

IR

HI

RCVR

+12 VDC
GND

STATUS
IR IN

AMPLIFIED

CONNECTING BLOCK

XANTECH CORPORATION.

SYLMAR CA  MADE IN U.S.A.

MODEL 791-44

12 VDC

EMITTERS

Satellite Receiver

283M

Emitter

Cable Box

283M

Emitter

AV Receiver

283M

CD Changer

283M

Cassette DecK

283M Emitter

Emitter

Emitter

08905105A - 3 -

IR Troubleshooting Guide

NOTE: Due to the many variables in a given installation, the troubleshooting countermeasures you will
have to take may vary from job to job. Each installation is different due to the number of IR receivers in
use, length of wire runs, type of wire, amount of ambient IR noise present, etc…. Therefore, your
countermeasures for a particular job will range from nothing at all, to any combination of the solutions listed
below.

IR Receivers: Model #’s 291, 480, 490, & 780 Series

Model #’s

Symptom #1:

Cause:

1.

Weak Batteries in Transmitting Remote.
Bad Emitter or no emitter plugged into

2.

DIM or NO Talk Back LED during IR Reception or reduced operational range

connecting block.
Signal wire between IR Receiver and the

3.

Connecting Block is open.

4.

Power Supply not putting out proper voltage.

Output from the IR receiver/connecting block

5.

is connected to a high impedance IR input jack
on a component.

6.

IR Receiver is inoperable.

Solution

Replace batteries.

Test emitter and verify wiring.

Recheck wiring.
Verify supply is a 12VDC regulated

supply reading between 11.5 to
13VDC under load. Should be using
Power Supply Model 781RG
(12VDC Regulated, 200mA) or 782­00 (12VDC Regulated, 1.2A)

If you are using a passive
connecting block, such as a 789-44,
and the system is not working, try
the amplified connecting block,
model 791-44. Put one of the small
plastic case jumpers supplied with
the block on the pins next to the
emitter jack. This will provide the IR­in jack on the component with a
hotter signal.

Replace Receiver.

(XTRALINK Only) RF Amplifier is being used

7.

on same COAX Line anywhere between the
Coupler (CPL94) and Injector (INJ94).

Need to use a Bypass Kit (model
BYPASS94 Kit) to route the IR
control signals around the
amplifier(s).

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Symptom #2:

Cause: Solution

Signal and ground wires are reversed or

1.

shorted either at the connecting block or IR
receiver.

2.

Defective emitter.

Relatively high levels of ambient noise. This

3.

can be due to any of the following: Sunlight,
florescent Lighting or Plasma Displays.

EMI induced noise. This can be due to light
dimmer controls or other radiating electronic

4.

devices (PC’s or any poorly shielded electronic
device).

5.

Plasma Interference

TB LED on IR Receiver (and/or Emitters) Dimly lit or flickering

Recheck your wiring.

Replace Emitter
In this case use either a SUN filter

(SUN480, SUN490, SUN780), or
any of our ‘CFL Friendly’ IR
Receivers (291-80, 480-80, 780-80).
For Plasma Interference use the
490-90 or 780-90 ‘Plasma Friendly’
IR Receivers. These can also be
used in direct sunlight and in the
presence of ‘tube style’ florescent
lighting.

Reposition IR Receiver and/or
cabling away from emitting device.
You can also place a 470Ohm
resistor in parallel with the IR Signal
and GND connections on the
connecting block. This will also help
alleviate any stray capacitance in the
cable.

Use a 490-90 Plasma 'Friendly' IR
Receiver. If already using a 490-90
unit, please note the Plasma
interference can be reflected off of
any item it comes into contact with
within approx. 3ft. From the front of
the display. Keeping this in mind,
make sure that the 490-90 is free
from any obstruction that might
reflect back into the receiving eye.

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Symptom #3:

Cause: Solution

1.

Plasma Interference

TB LED on IR Receiver (and/or Emitters) on solid

Use a 490-90 Plasma 'Friendly'
Receiver. If already using a 490-90 unit,
please note the Plasma interference can
be reflected off of any item it comes into
contact with within approx. 3ft. From the
front of the display. Keeping this in mind,
make sure that the 490-90 is free from
any obstruction that might reflect back
into the receiving eye.

2.

Voltage and Ground wires are reversed at
the connecting block or IR Receiver

Relatively high levels of ambient noise.
This can be due to any of the following:

3.

Sunlight, florescent Lighting or Plasma
Displays.

EMI induced noise. This can be due to light
dimmer controls or other radiating electronic

4.

devices (PC’s or any poorly shielded
electronic device).

5.

Power Supply not putting out proper voltage.

Recheck your wiring.

In this case use either a SUN filter
(SUN480, SUN490, SUN780), or any of
our ‘CFL Friendly’ IR Receivers (291-80,
480-80, 780-80). For Plasma
Interference use the 490-90 or 780-90
‘Plasma Friendly’ IR Receivers. These
can also be used in direct sunlight and in
the presence of ‘tube style’ florescent
lighting.

Reposition IR Receiver and/or cabling
away from emitting device. You can also
place a 470Ohm resistor in parallel with
the IR Signal and GND connections on
the connecting block. This will also help
alleviate any stray capacitance in the
cable.

Verify supply is a 12VDC regulated
supply reading between 11.5 to 13VDC
under load.

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Symptom #4:

1.

2.

TB LED on IR Rec. blinks but 283M or 286M 'Blink' style Emitters do not

Cause: Solution

There may be a short, such as a staple

Recheck your wiring.

driven through the Signal and GND wires of
the IR Receiver and/or the emitter.

Emitter may be shorted internally

Replace Emitter or use TEST EMITTER
to check circuit.

(XTRALINK Only) TV on same splitter with

3

no IR Receiver installed

Symptom #5:

Cause: Solution

1.

Plasma Interference Use a 490-90 Plasma 'Friendly' Receiver

Relatively high levels of ambient noise.
This can be due to any of the following:

2.

Sunlight, florescent Lighting or Plasma
Displays.

Long Wire Runs – shielded wire typically of
100 feet (30 meters) or longer causes a filter

3.

effect due to accumulated capacitance of the
wire. Intermittent, or no IR control, could
actually be because of the longer wire runs.

Place a DC Blocker (Model 203-00) on
any TV Leg without IR Receiver

Intermittent IR control (I.e. buttons on remote need to be pressed multiple times)

In this case use either a SUN filter
(SUN480, SUN490, SUN780), or any of
our ‘CFL Friendly’ IR Receivers (291-80,
480-80, 780-80). For Plasma
Interference use the 490-90 or 780-90
‘Plasma Friendly’ IR Receivers. These
can also be used in direct sunlight and in
the presence of ‘tube style’ florescent
lighting.

Putting a 470-ohm resistor in parallel at
the connecting block between signal and
ground will effectively discharge the
capacitance of the wire. This will allow
the signal to travel farther on shielded
wire. Adding a resistor between the
input and ground of the connecting block
will drop the IR level down somewhat.
Passive connecting blocks, such as the
789-44, may not have enough signal
output for consistent control of the
equipment. You may have to upgrade to
an amplified connecting block to bring
the IR level back to normal. In these
cases, the 791-44 would be an ideal
connecting block for single zone
systems while the 795-20 would work
best for a 2-4 zone system.

08905105A - 7 -

Symptom 6:

Emitters function but some (or all) components do not respond.

Cause: Solution

Reposition the Emitter so that it is
directly over the components sensor

1.

Emitter placement is incorrect.

window. Consult the components
owners manual of the unit for the exact
location of the IR Sensor Window.

Reposition the Emitter to a position that
is suitable for the unit. Use a 283 or
286M Blink style emitter (they have a
lower output than non-blink emitters 282
and 284M). If the components do not

Emitter placement is correct but the signal is

2.

overpowering the unit or there is bleed­through from other emitters close by.

need to be controlled directly without an
IR Repeater system (components are
located in an equipment closet), place a
Mouse Emitter Shield cover over the
Emitter (PN#MS1). The rounded (non­stick) side of the emitter is a hi-output
side and can reflect off other devices
and overpower some components IR
Sensors. If using a CB12 connecting
block, try a 789-44 connecting block.
This has a series resistor at the output,
which will limit current to the Emitter.

If you are using the 291-80 or 780-80
CFL Friendly receiver, locate the Carrier

Frequency Adjustment on the unit and
Using a CFL-Friendly IR Receiver (291-80,
480-80, or 780-80) and trying to control a
unit with a carrier frequency greater then

3.

40kHz (I.e. RCA DSS, Scientific Atlanta,
Jerald, and General Instruments Cable or
DSS Set Top Boxes).

using a small blade screwdriver, (3/32"

blade width max.) rotate the adjustment

for best performance of all the units in

the system. Note: The 480-80 version

does not have this feature; you will either

need to change the unit to a 291-80,

780-80 or the 490-90. The 490-90 is a

wide band unit and will not require any

frequency adjustment.

08905105A - 8 -

Symptom #7:

Step: Component to Test Instructions

1.

Absolutely No Functionality (How to determine which component is at fault)

With a Multimeter, measure the DC
Voltage of the supply while it is
connected to the Connecting Block. Put
the Negative lead of the meter on the
terminal marked GND and the Positive
Lead on the terminal marked 12VDC (or
V). You should get a reading between

11.5VDC and 13.0VDC. If not, remove
the supply from the Connecting block
and measure again this time directly on

Verify Power Supply

the 2.5mm Coaxial plug. If it reads
between 11.5VDC and 13VDC, power
supply is most likely good. Reconnect to
the Connecting Block and proceed to
step 2. NOTE: In most cases this will

indicate the supply is good but in
some cases the supply can still be
bad (i.e. reads good when not
plugged in but may not be able to
handle the current load of the
system.)

Verify Emitter. (283M or 286M Blink

2.

Style ONLY)

Verify Emitter. (282M or 284M NON

3.

Blink Style)

Remove the power supply from the
connecting block and all Emitters from
the output. Place a jumper wire on the
connecting block between IR and +12v.
Reconnect the Power Supply and one
emitter. The Emitter should Light bright
and solid. Repeat for all emitters.

Use a diode tester to verify proper
Emitter operation. Remove Emitter from
Connecting Block. Place the Positive
Lead of the tester on the TIP of the
Mono Mini Plug and the Negative Lead
on the Shield of the Mono Mini Plug.
Meter should read a voltage. When the
leads are reversed (Positive lead on
Shield and Negative lead on TIP) you
should not get any voltage reading at all.

08905105A - 9 -

Remove the power supply from the
connecting block and all Emitters from
the output. Place a jumper wire on the
connecting block between IR Signal and

4.

Verify IR Receiver.

GND. Reconnect the Power Supply.
With a known good hand-held remote,
shoot a constant IR Command at the
receiver and verify the TB LED on the
Receiver lights.

Xantech Corporation

13100 Telfair Avenue, 2/F

Sylmar, CA 91342

Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]

Instructions, 490-85 © 2007 Xantech Corporation

This document is copyright protected. No part of this manual may be copied or reproduced in any form without prior

written consent from Xantech Corporation.

Xantech Corporation shall not be liable for operational, technical, or editorial errors/omissions made in this document.

08905105A - 10 -