hey I just bought the harmony 890 RF and I don't like it. I don't know it's just the shape, the keys location and it stop charging for no reason. I'm going to return it. I'm now lookin toward MX-980 or MX-810. I need a remote that would be use with;
tv: sharp lc52d82u
receiver: yamaha htr 6060
cable box: hdpvr explorer 8300
hd-dvd: toshiba hd-a30
blu-ray player/gaming: ps3 80go with nyko bluwave IR remote
dvd-r upscaler: samsung r160
cd player: sony ce215
dvd player: toshiba sd-430v
home automation: 14 x10 modules with IR-543 controller
I want to set macros involving specific x10 modules in some activities. so MX-980, MX-810 or do I wait for the replacement model of harmony 890 RF ¨harmony two¨ or wathever they will call it. (RF version of the harmony one)
the only thing missing now is a decent remote that will replace my piece of crap one for all remote and nextgeneration ovni shape RF transmitter. (I'm not keeping the harmony 890 it's allready back in it's box)
anyone can help me ?

You didn't mention if there were any issues in the programming aspect of the Harmony 890 with all these devices. If there were issues, I don't know that waiting on another Harmony product will solve your problem. For that matter, the URC MX810 may not be suitable either if you are looking for a remote to control whole house applications. My suggestion would be a URC MX980 and MRF350's (based on 9 devices, you would need 2 RF receivers or 1 RF receiver with double-headed emitters).

I wouldn't recommend Harmony or the URC 810 for your applications. They are fine for simple systems. Once you try to do anything custom compared to what the 'wizard' was designed to progam, your frustrations will increase. It is easier to spend a little more time and learn the architecture of a 980 and then your programming will not be limited by the 'wizard' based remotes.

Bob

Based on the information given, I would say definitely go with a URC MX product over the harmony remotes.

Even if the 980 is more than u want to spend on a remote, you'd be better off picking up an 850 or 900 than using a harmony.

Are you willling , or better stated, can you program your own repote? The MX-980 is a serious upgrade from any Harmony remote. The MX-810 is comparable to the 890.

The 810 is easy to program, but is too much like Harmony for me. The 980 is much more powerful and requires a more manual effort in programming, but is way more customizable and allows for porogramming logic that is not supported by the 810.

While I like the button layout of the Harmony One better than the 880/890, I don't get the reasoning to make it a touchscreen. At CES, Logitech told me that they had no current plans to make an RF Harmony One, but that might change by the fall. Even with the current software issues, I would still take an MX-810 over an RF One. The MX-980, as mentioned above, is in a totally different league.

Mike

All right guys I will wait for my dispute to get over on e-bay and I will seek on some MX products again...

How long will it takes for a carpenter to learn the architecture of the MX-980?
I found harmony easy to program but not really reliable to me... I'm not stupid but I'm no programmer. I have time but I just got a MX-980 returned to some e-bay seller who did'nt have the software. So can an average can guy learn to their macros statements? (toggle, if/else, etc...)

The MX series of software is only available to authorized dealers or agents. URC will not allow the software to be sold with the remotes or given to clients. So no matter who you buy from, as long as they are a legitimate reseller of the URC products you will still have to work with a dealer to program it. The MX 810 software is better than the traditional URC software but there are still limitations.

Toggle, If/else are more advanced commands and not needed to get the remote working properly for your system. You can add those commands later to refine the remote. The Mx-900 doesn't have any of those commands and it is a very functional remote so don't let those functions concern you at first.

There are internet dealers that will sell the software with the remote. If you really get stuck there are services that will program it for you. Just like carpentry, some people can do fine work themselves, others start a project and realize they are over their head before they call a carpenter, and of course you have the guy that has no desire to do the work himself and calls a professional from the start. It is not as easy as the Harmony but once you understand it you'll be fine and if you have trouble there are options. So, it is not like you are stuck with a non-functioning remote if you can't program it or do not want to spend the time learning to program.

Bob

Mike,

Do you know if they're working on addressing some of the issues people are having with the limitations of the mx-810 wizard. That is, are they thinking about expanding some of the options for users who want a little more manual customization?

I really now what you mean by ''Just like carpentry, some people can do fine work themselves, others start a project and realize they are over their head before they call a carpenter'' I see a lot of peoples call us to fix a disaster they made in their house. Those people usually got no love or passion for what they doing and others do just great. I got the passion for HT as a matter of a fact I'm addicted... And as for the poster who said ''URC will not allow the software to be sold with the remotes or given to clients'' I know some authorized dealers will sell the software with the remote I found some. I was talking about the toggle. if/else statements but I meant all those statements use by the remote. (jump to, alias, delay, etc.)

I'm willing to spend time learning that remote but has I said I'm no programmer and I can't use a proffessional installer from where I from, so if I do buy an MX-980 I got to program it myself.

thanks
Gui.

Gui,

There are online services that will program the remote for you. You don't have to use a local installer. They will send you the program file and you download it into the remote. Given your passion I doubt this will be an issue with you but it is good to know you can fall back on something if needed.

Bob

>>> If you really get stuck there are services that will program it for you

I live in Canada (Quebec) just to let you know. I called coolbuy and they said there's no installer covering my area, I guess if I get stuck, I can send it to someone but nobody's could program it from my home...

thanks Bob your help is appreciate.