Hi. I just bought an Omega MX-650 at a garage sale, and have successfully downloaded the users manual, reset it to factory settings, and programmed my dvd player. But what I can't figure out is, Can I turn the remote itself on and off? I'm trying to figure out if this thing is operating properly, and simply pressing the "off" button from the main menu does not turn the remote off, but makes a "sending" signal as if it is trying to turn off another device. What gives?

No, the remote never goes off.

Thank you, that explains it! How long do the batteries last? I guess an LCD screen doesnt use much juice. Also there is something rattling around inside, and I wanted to open up the remote to take a look....Does anyone know how you might open up one of these things?

Do a search on these forums...there's been a way posted to open them up. It involves twisting the two pieces of the remote somehow.

The batteries should last a few months. LCD screens don't really draw much power unless they are constantly changing what is being displayed. What will eat up power is the backlight.

I couldn't find many other posts that gave explicit instructions...just one guy who had the exact same problem as I did.... Got it open by twisting both sides, starting at the light button though...turns out there's something that looks like a capacitor that came off the board..from the C2 position to be exact. The remote was functioning without this part connected, so I don't know what function it was serving. I'll try soldering it back on and retest it. Thanks for the assistance!

Does the MX-650 have a motion sensor in it? Most remotes that have this feature make a rattling sound that might make a first time user think there is something wrong with it.

My Harmony 720 and MX-3000 both make a rattle sound which is just the motion sensor.

Nope, no motion sensor.

you open it by inserting something small and pointy like a small flathead or steak knife at the opening where the light button is or next to the ir window.

then take another flathead and gently start moving down the side of the remote and you will see it start to unlock.

go gently and slide along the opening all the way around and it will open completely.

if there is something that looks like a small cap loose and there is a space marked c2 that is missing a cap then safe bet thats where it came from and you should replace it even if the remote seems to operate fine without it.

just press the 2 halves together to reassemble.

Prying seems like it would leave marks on the casing. That's probably why people try to twist it apart.

When searching for the instructions here, you may want to look for the MX-700, I think that's what the description is for. They would open exactly the same though.

The best method that I've found is to grip the lower half in your left hand, the upper half in your right hand with the screen facing up, and twist your left hand away from you and your right hand towards you. It should start to separate around the LIGHT button.

Once it starts to open enough I suggest working a finger/fingernail into the crack so it doesn't snap shut if you relax your grip. With both hands begin working the case open around the top of the remote and down the side opposite the LIGHT button. The bottom half is a little trickier to separate, so you may need to use a little force - but not too much, it's easy to damage the plastic snaps down there (but don't worry if you do, I've damaged two on my worn out MX-700 after about 8 openings and it still closes tightly).

Once open remember to pay attention to how the LIGHT button and IR shield fit in.