Having just joined this forum and having read several posts related to this, I am fully prepared to be flamed...

I have a home theater with an MX-980 remote. It has worked extremely well for a decade, but the current remote screen is cutting in and out. Even when the screen cuts out, the buttons still do the appropriate commands, but I'm the only one in the family that knows them all by heart. I bought it and the whole system from the long bankrupt Tweeter.

I found a used MX-980 on ebay and bought it. It is in perfect condition.

What I'd like to do is simply port over the data from my old MX-980 to this replacement one, and I need the software to do it, ideally copying it to my computer from the old one then to the replacement remote.

As an aside, we are moving in less than a year, so spending $50 on a replacement remote is not an issue - starting over with a new remote is not going to happen.

If someone could point me to a reliable source to obtain the software, I would greatly appreciate it.

[Link: remotecentral.com]

Thank you so much. Not a DIY shopper. Hired a professional firm. Paid for professional setup and configuration. Now have an issue that the professional can't help with having gone bankrupt.

But thanks.

How about hiring a new professional?

I wouldn't think that, if the original programmer was still around. he would fix it for free...

Ditto.

Find a new pro, it would cost you a service call to upload your old configuration and transfer to your new device. Inexpensive and you will have a good resource to call on.

You’ve prob read already, but there’s not a legal way for you to get the sw.

As already mentioned, find a local guy. You are NOT going to get the software here. You should know this already since you said you read the forum.

If you take the remote to a local installer, I can not imagine he is going to charge you much to swap the programming over. If it were me and you brought the remote to me at my office, I wouldn't even charge you to do it - takes less than 5 minutes.
If I had to drive to your house and do it (costing me time and gas/mileage), then it would be a standard service call. For me, that's $75 to $100 depending on distance.

There has got to be someone local to you that can do this, especially if you use to have a Tweeter nearby. Check around.
If you give us the city you live in (or near), someone on here might know someone local to you.

Thank you for the replies - I have searched to no avail. I live about 90 minutes outside Chicago. If anyone on here knows anyone near DeKalb (closest city to where I live) or Geneva Illinois (where I work) that would be great.

Thanks again.

Magnolia (Best Buy) have stores in both markets.

So what happens if someone gives out the software? Do the URC police come knocking on your door? I've never seen so many people sticking up for an unfair corporation without getting paid.

Unfair Corporation. What a joke

Crestron, RTi, C4, Savant do any of these give out their proprietary software? No

I don't really care who has the software, it's not going to affect my business in anyway. If you really want the software it can be found.

I have the software. I just find it hard to believe that so many people stick up for URC and won't share the software.

Because all of us are professionals. We have agreements with the manufacturers to NOT distribute the software. If we do, we can lose our access to the products. Not worth it.

The other issue is 100% of all remotes I've looked at that were programmed by their owners SUCKED. The worst programming I've ever seen. Of course you're probably an expert because you've programmed ONE remote. Not worth the hassle because all it leads to is numerous calls with "I have just a quick question" and then we have to spend hours listening you have issue with stuff that is way to F'N easy.

I've had urc remotes for approx. 12 yrs. starting with a mx-500. I've always programmed them myself and liked the job I did. I've got 2 mx-980's and 2 mx-3000's. Approx. 3 yrs. ago I downloaded the icons, etc. offered at blackmancustoms and used it with success. Took a little while to figure it out but it wasn't that difficult.
I just can't figure out why people that aren't dealers are so loyal to a company that doesn't treat the public fair(in my opinion).

How many people are loyal to Apple?  Will they provide you with software to program their devices?  I get that there is a difference in that an Apple device is usable out of the box (barely), but the fact still remains there is no way in hell that anyone outside the walls of Apple is getting their hands on that.  It's the business model.  Like it or hate it, it is what it is.  I believe that someone with intelligence can figure out how to program a URC remote.  It may take a little more time, but no reason it cannot be learned.

With that said, there are not many pro level offerings in the remote world that are not network connected, and offer a simple remote that will control a wide range of things.  RTI is another that will never give out the software as well.  The difference between the two is that they have a clear cut policy, unlike URCs ridiculous one that at least one member here, that is secretly a URC employee, likes to argue with me about.  The list basically stops at those two companies at this time (in the pro world). For me, its not about not wanting a diyer to have the URC software, it has everything to do with the fact that I don't have time, nor want to support that person if/when questions pop up.  Everyone SAYS they won't need help, but there is no way to know who will and who won't.  I simply do not offer the software up and solve that issue.  I feel for people that purchased remotes back in the day when URC provided software who got a new computer and lost the software.  I don't feel as bad for people that bought a remote recently that wants to program it themselves.  The reason being is the only place to buy a remote without a dealer is from unauthorized channels.  If a person calls me and asks for the remote but without programming, I thank them for reaching out to us, but respectfully decline to sell them the hardware and explain why.  If they are angry, there is nothing I can do.  I say again that the anger needs to be placed on the ones who created the issue, URC and not those that are simply trying to run their legitimate business.

There is a legit repair guy based in NY that took Apple to court and won over whether or not he could repair Apple computers, phones, etc. Then I've also seen the ways that Apple screws their customers over with ridiculous repair charges that the repair guy has fixed for free or next to nothing.