Hi,

i have researched for a while now what remote to buy, and i am pretty sure now i will end up buying one of the cheaper URC remotes.

I am leaning toward buying an MX-500 that i can get for $87.

Before i do so, could someone explain in few words what would be gained (besides RF) if i bought the MX-600 instead?

For the same price i as the MX-600 i could also get an MX-350. What besides being able to control equipment such as light etc. differentiates the MX-350 from the MX-600/500?

I will be using the device to control my Panasonic plasma tv, my Marantz amp, Sony DVD recorder, Samsung HD decoder and a Squeezebox 3.

I would like to record macros that could be for example "Turn on all devices", "Turn off all devices", "Play movie from DVD harddisc" etc.
As i understand having researched the subject i understand that to be able to turn on/off devices i need to send discrete on/off commands (so that "turn on all devices" really turns devices on, and not just switch the state of the devices so that an already turned on device is turned off instead).

Does the 3 mentioned remotes support this? If so is there a way to get the discrete codes for my devices?

Lots of questions! Hope some of you got an answer or two :-)

regards
AndersR

ps. plz dont suggest buying MX-950 etc. Yes, they are nice, but they are also way over my budget ;-)

If you want discretes in these remotes, you're going to need to learn them from a different remote. Often cheap One For All remotes have them.

If you could step up your price a bit, definitely get a PC programmable one. The discretes are usually in the database, if not you can import them from elsewhere. It's also a lot easier and quicker to program them on a computer.

I'm not saying go buy an MX-950...that certainly would be expensive. However, something like the MX-850 or MX-900 might work. Email some authorized dealers (www.surfremote.com and www.proremotes.com), and ask for unadvertised specials.

Hello,

thanx for your reply!

its true that its annoying to program the remote "by hand" but since its something i only need to do once or twice a year at most i can live with that... especially if it means i can save +$300!

I probably could justify offering the $249 that the MX-650 costs, but AFAICS all i get more from MX-350 to MX-650 is the ability to control some more equipment, more macros etc. witch i dont need at all.

So my question stands:
Does anyone know the difference between MX-600 and MX-350 -is it just the ability to control more than just HI-FI?

Also i would really like to know if there is some database over discrete codes for devices, so that i can find out the On/Off codes for say my Sony DVD.

regards
AndersR

Thing is...you can get an MX-850 for cheaper than the $249 MX-650 if you ask.

Anders,

I've used an MX-900, MX-600, and currently an MX-350.
This may be a mindblower, but of the three, I like the MX-350 the best.
Here's why:
The MX-900 has software issues and poor tactile key feel that results in a lot of "fat finger" errors when pressing keys.
Also, the ultra tiny rectangular keys are scrunched together making this remote very ergonomically unfriendly.
After a few days, I couldn't stand using this remote.
It can do an amazing amount of customizing by computer, but the software has some peculiar bugs.
It has very good backlighting on the LCD and keys, much better than the MX-600 or MX-350.
It's either the software, or the poor tactile key feel that results in errors when pushing buttons.
I suspect the new style keys and making it too complicated are not a good combination.
The MX-600 has a great keyboard layout with great tactile feel to the keys.
In fact, I think the keyboard is identical to the MX-500.
The gemstone "gumdrop" keys are very user friendly, and I can pretty much find the keys by feel in my darkened home theatre room.
The biggest flaw with the MX-600 is the lack of switching between IR and RF.
It transmits both IR and RF, and it cannot be programmed for IR only, or RF only.
If you're using the MRF-100 that comes with it, it causes a lot of double IR signal conflicts, as the MX-600 and the MRF-100 will both send the same infrared signals throughout the room to your devices.
It would drive my Favorites function nuts, causing the channels on my Panasonic Projection TV to have fits.
The MX-600 has 10 keys which means most of your learned or custom commands, or multiple devices, can be all placed on one page, without scrolling.
If you plan to use the MX-600 strictly IR, without the MRF-100, it is awesome for the money, and my pick, as long as you're not doing anything fancy that would require computer programming to do it, like moving functions and pages around.
But if that's the case, you might as well go with the MX-500, as the MRF-100 would be a useless paperweight, which it is anyway, as it has a lot of RF interference issues by nature of its design.
It works flawlessly, with no key input errors like the MX-900.
With the gemstone keys, you know when you've pressed a key, as it gives very positive feedback feel.
I'm currently using the MX-350, and I absolutely love this remote.
Of the three, this is my top pick, with the MX-600 a close second, under the conditions mentioned above (IR only).
You may think going from an MX-900 to an MX-350 sounds like a drastic downgrade, but for my use, it's not.
I've learned the hard way, that simple performs better, most of the time.
Both the MX-350 and MX-600 can control 10 devices.
The MX-600 can do it all on one screen, the MX-350 requires scrolling through two screens.
However, the biggest advantage the MX-350 has over the MX-600 is the ability to program IR and RF control independently.
It can be set for IR and RF, IR only, or RF only.
I love the gemstone keys, and I think it's a big mistake that UR is getting away from it.
It has basically the same great ergonomic user friendly keyboard, and the same reassuring tactile feel of the MX-600.
I use it strictly on RF with an MRF-300, and it blows the MX-900/MRF-300's performance away.
It never has any key press sending errors, and is lightning fast.
The MX-350 and MX-650 have acceptable backlighting, but no where near the clarity of the MX-900.
I consider this relatively minor, as in the end, the keyboard feel and layout is much more important to me than the fancy bling and sophistication of the MX-900 that also seems to bring with it more problems and issues.
The sleek, European, high tech look of the MX-900 grows old quickly as the unfriendly keyboard and keys become a major frustration, and remind you of it every time you use it.
The whimsical, colorful, gumdrop keys may not look as sophisticated, but they grow on you like your favorite computer keyboard.
My acid test is a remote that literally disappears when you use it.
It does everything you want it to do, and you don't even realize it's there when using it.
When using it day after day, month after month, year after year, you want a remote that you never even think about, rather than one you curse every time you use it.

Wow! thanx for a very detailed answer :-)

I think you are on the right track when you think the MX-500 will be best for my needs.

The programming i need to do, i can do with a OFA remote with JP1 interface to the PC (i got one for $19 + interface $15!) and transfer the codes to the MX-500.

A comment on your frustration regarding MX-600 sending both IR and RF: did you try to simply mask up the IR sender on the MX-600? That would certainly stop the IR from getting sent but not the RF. A simple solution :-D

Mr. Buffalo: ok i did not know you could get half price on those remotes. But it doesnt matter since neither Surfremotes or Proremotes ship to Europe (Denmark) where i live. AFAICS the only online shop that i can get to send me the Universal Remotes are www.bluedo.com

regards
Anders

Blue Do is pretty good...they often will lower the price if you ask.

Taping it up may or may not work. You'd be suprised how strong the emitters in the URC remotes are.

Definitely get the MX-350 between the two of them. The addressable IR is a huge feature. Not only do you specify IR and RF, but you can pick different addresses (channels), as well as routing IR outputs.

As OTAHD mentioned, the URC remotes have an extremely powerful IR blaster on the remote unit itself.
I even tried placing a folded towel in front of the IR window, and it still transmitted signals with no problem!
Masking the IR window would not be practical, unless you want to tape a small pillow to the front of the unit.
The MX-350, although the runt of the litter (the lowest in the Professional line) is the sleeper of the bunch.
Don't let it fool you, it's much more flexible than the MX-600 and MX-500, and has some of URC's newer features in it.
It is a full functioned, very powerful remote, and hard to beat for the money.
Should your system grow or your needs change, you can add an RF base station later, something you can't do with an MX-500.
If you have the need for constant upgrading of the device database, URC now makes the PCL-300 which allows you to update the database and save your programming by software into a laptop or home computer.
It is IR/RF switchable, and addressable, making it compatible with the MRF-200, 250, 300, and even 350 (without the narrow band RF feature).

Oh well... ended up purchasing an MX-850. I got a deal that i just couldnt refuse from BlueDo :-)

You won't be sorry.