- What is it that you are controlling? (Type of setup)
InFocus TD40 LCD TV
Siemens Scaleo E HTPC
Panasonic DMR-EH-80V
Onkyo TX-NR801E

- What do you expect of this remote your asking about?
- Activity-Based control, high WAF

- Description of the ideal remote
- Ideally I would like a mixture of hard buttons and programmable LCD screen, which can be programmed via PC using Pronto codes and offers RF support.

- Hostile environment (little kids, messy/wet area, outdoors, etc) that would indicate a more "durable and tough" remote?
- The environment is quite benign.

- Programming via PC, Wizard, or by hand?
- PC is ideal. I would like to have complete control.

- Would you consider hiring a professional integrator to program this remote for you with custom graphics (if applicable) or to your specifications?
- Not necessary, I am an IT professional.

- Discuss what you have now or what you like/dislike about types you have seen or came into contact with.
- I used to have a very reasonably priced device that had a mixture of hard and programmable (LCD) buttons, as well as (433 MHz) RF repeater support, but it didn't have enough hard buttons, had only 2 programmable (macro) button sequences and ultimately became unreliable, probably due to static discharges. I am currently using an old Compaq iPaq with Pronto emulation SW but am not completely happy with the almost pure touchscreen interface, not to mention the extremely limited IR coverage and lack of support for RF repeaters. A real Pronto would presumably address the last two objections, but I am reluctant to spend so much money for something with so few hard buttons. The reviews I have read of Harmony RCs leave me unconvinced.

- What is your budget? (use a $ measure if you don't want to talk prices)
- I am willing to spend up to $500, but the price/performance ratio has to be convincing.

Well, since you are an IT Professional and don't need a professionalwho has the training and experience to program a custom remote, then I would recomend you look into Harmony's line of remotes. They are made for clients just like you.

You gotta love the "IT proffessionals". They can figure out anything. While us poor integrators are spending our days in classes, attending webinars in our free time and spending our weekendsreading manuals and programming just to get better we could have just worked in IT for a few years and bypass the entire learning curve for all future applications... Shame. Ironcally, my IT professional clients are by far the neeediest of my clients.

Unfortunately rsbrux it will be very difficult for you to score a remote unless you buy it used, on Ebay or whatever other way. But then you run other risks. The best remote for you would be the TSU9400 with the RFX-9600 if you like technology and want to program yourself. Otherwise you could go with an MX-3000 with MRF-350. Again, out of the $500 range but WAF = $$$.

Otherwise, as anyhome suggests, give in to the dark side and go Harmony.

I guess I'm an IT professional too.
I prefer do my own work as well.

It's not meant as any indication of disrespect for any professional in the field.

Some of us are naturally curious, and succumb to a strong desire to "figure things out for ourselves."

We're the ones who took Dad's radio apart when we were 8.
We're the ones who took Dad's radio apart and put it back together when we were 11. ;)

I have a Harmony 785, am not very impressed, am now looking at the NXG nx-rm820 or the URC mx-700 to 850 range.

The mx-700 only second hand now it seems, and the mx-850 is a little over MY budget, but well within yours.

:)

To all,
Many thanks for your feedback! The TSU9400 looks really nice, but is too expensive and short on hard keys for my taste. I'm also still not convinced by the Harmony offerings: the 1100 seems like the only one with the features I want, but it also doesn't have enough hard keys for my taste, and looks impossible to operate with one hand. The URC products look promising, but the reviews of the MX-850 are mixed (see [Link: remotecentral.com]). IAC, the high-end URC products don't seem to be available in Switzerland, where I live. All I can find are the OneForAll products. I found something similar to the MX-850 from Denon, the RC-7000CI. Since there is nothing in the reviews here about Denon, I have to wonder if it is a rebranded URC.

The OneForAlls and the Denon RC-7000CI are made by UEI, so stay far away from them. The Denon especially is a turd in a pretty dress.

That seems to leave RTI as the only alternative. They seem pricey too, but I have found a local distributor in Switzerland and will contact them.
Thanks again for your advice.