the 880's setup is unmatched. it is amazing how easy it is to setup the remote. that said, i have had some annoying problems with it (slow transmission time even with new learning, can't sense that my tv is already on, etc).

i have been recommended the mx-850 and the 900. good choices?

I want to stay as close to $200 as possible (i can get the 900 for $200 from my dealer friend).

any other choices in this price range? i really haven't looked at touch screen...seems harder to control and it would get dirty/smudgy.

Both good choices.

Is your dealer friend a CI or authorized? Make sure he is so you can get the SW.

Both do RF and are great remotes. The 900 is a step up, obviously, but chances are the 850 would be fine, depending on what you want to do. Both are PC programmable.

However, "can't sense that my tv is already on" refers to variable programming. The 850 most likely has discretes for on and off, but you seem to desire variable programming, which the 850 will not give you. I can't remember if the 900 does. You may have to go up to the MX-950 for variable programming.

The 900 doesn't have variable programming yet. I hear it is in the works. Hopefully, soon:-)

interesting, thanks for responses. =)

i know you can spend months trying to figure out your remote setup. I just hope 900 won't bet that much harder to program and it will hopefully be "just stronger' than 880

why would your dealer friend let you buy a harmony POS. consider him now your mortal enemy! Get the 850.

brian @ connect source

haha...i didn't tell my dealer that i was going to buy the 880 but when i did he was less than pleased! made fun of me. =)

but i'm gonna fix it with a 900.

i just want to make sure there are no other/better choices around $200.

Also, I can't seem to find a review of the 850 or 900...any of them around there?

also, do i need that "RF" receiver that URC sells? do i need that if i don't want to control from around the house?

nope, the RF extender is for controling devices that are out of IR range...

For info, you can fix the slow transmission on the 880, and the URCs won't sense that your TV is already on either.

Once set up properly, the 880 will work at least as well as the 850 or 900.

If you want to try persisting with the 880 a bit longer, I'll be happy to help you with the setup...just ask in the Harmony forum, I don't look in on this forum very often.