» URC Professional Line MX-900 - Universal remote control - infrared/radio

URC Professional Line MX-900 - Universal remote control - infrared/radio Reviews

Customer Rating:
Summary: Best for Button Lovers
Comment: As a long-time user of the MX-500, this is a superb replacement and has all the technology and features to make a complex system easy to use (says my wife.) It's ergonomically friendly, the price is right (and great service) from Electronics Expo via Amazon, the programming is very complete IF you are technically inclined. If you can't program devices easily on a PC, them maybe another remote is more sutable for you. I really like this one to properly control all the video and sound functions from 4 TiVo's, a Blu-ray, another DVD, and an HTPC. Just register the device to download the software and database of devices.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Best Remote and company support BAR-NONE
Comment: I have been drooling over this remote for sometime based on every review i have read on the net, and there have been plenty.

First of all, I didn't buy it on Amazon, so that will clear the air for my story. I first bought one on the net, and it never shipped. I then purchased one from a seller who purchased bulk from a major department electronics store and it looked brand new with all the tags and stickers still on it, but it arrived DOA..sheesh...it appeared that my dream remote would never happen. The seller told me to return it for a refund but they stated they did not have anymore in stock.

I decided to call Universal Remote at the main office and explained my story to them. I fully expected them to say sorry you should just return it to the retailer where you purchased it...but instead, they told me to ship it to them (universal) instead.

Within a week a brand spanking new one arrived in the mail. I immediately took it out of the box but not sure if I understood the way it worked, so I called Universal for some tips and with no waiting on the phone, their wonderful technical department gave me a couple tips and within minutes my remote was fully operational, with all electronic equipment I wish to install on the remote. The nice serivce rep also told me to email them my configuaration which was very easy to do and he made a few adjusments and emailed me back within a couple hrs (he said he had to go to lunch, otherwise he said it would have been sooner). I felt I really didn't need the added macros, but it was nice of him. Oh..yes, this remote control is everything it is professed to be. Super solid quality and works flawlessly. I have dumped the 5 remotes I was using for one super convenient, good looking and quality remote control. Dare say, as you can guess I highly reccomend this remote to anyone looking for something better and never have to worry about buyers remorse for paying a bit more.

I was slightly intimidated by the setup at first glance, but I think that seed was planted by the audio visual industry online comments. It was so much easier to setup and has lots of room for growth with your system. I do believe this is the last remote I will ever buy, and that is saying a lot. Sorry if I seem over enthusiastic with this remote, but as you can see I am pleased as all heck with this buy. The company customer service...absolutely the best I have ever experienced and a fantastic remote. I would give this 100 stars if the Amazon rating sytem allowed it, and thanks for letting me share my wonderful experience :-)

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Customer Rating:
Summary: The best Universal Remote!
Comment: First off, all you have to do is register the remote at the website. You can then download the software. And URC stated that while they figure out the best way to provide the "live update" feature, they temporarily disabled it. But if you periodically register it, you can grab the later IR databases. Not a huge deal.

This remote did what no other programmable remotes have been able to do. It actually got rid of my other remotes! The Macro ability is FANTASTIC. I have mine, a) turn on the Marantz AVR b) turn on the TV c) turn on the cable box, and set the right input on the TV. I've tweaked my macros from time to time to make it as easy as possible for my wife. My 4 year old son knows how to turn every thing on now!

This is a fantastic remote. I have Harmony 890 and I can't stand the button layout on the Harmony. It's so hard to push the little buttons on the Harmony. It's annoying! MX900 *FEELS GOOD* in your hand. It has the right heft, feels rock solid, and the buttons have a great feel.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Warning URC will not update Software for Consumer!!!!!
Comment: I purchaed this remote in August 2007. I installed the software and did a live update all was fine. In October 2007 after purchasing some new equipment I did the live update and got a message saying URC was no longer supporting this software. How can this be. URC stated when I called them that if I purchased it from and Authorized Dealer to contact them to get the updates. Well I did and Amazon sent me to 6th Ave and 6th Ave sent me to URC.

Why? Well they will only let PRO Installers have the updates what am I going to hurt myself?

I feel that AMAZON and 6TH AVE should not be selling these unless they inform the customer up front that they are purchasing an expensive piece of soon to be obsolete equipment seeing as you can not get updates.

I guess I should have checked on the live update before the thirty day return policy expired.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Highly customizable, but know what you're doing
Comment: OVERVIEW: A compact, very well thought out remote, offering more than enough features and versatility than the majority of home uses are likely to ever need. It defaults to IR mode, and can be switched to RF.

If you're a technophobe, want things straight and simple, and expect them to work hassle free right out of the box, then it's probably best you look at other remotes.

Should you be more technologically savvy and don't mind some trial and error and desire a high level of customization jump right in. This remote gets better the more you know what you want and the more you know your equipment.

So to begin, my setup:
*60" HD Sony XBR with 7 video inputs.
*Motorola Digital cable box with HD recording feature.
*Hamon/kardon receiver used for audio input (not video ) switching, and FM radio.
*Dennon DVD for NTSC.
*Phillips DVD for PAL DVDs and other video formats.
*CD player.
*Game console.

***NOTE**** You MUST connect the remote to a PC/Laptop PHYSICALLY located in the same room as your components***************
You certainly can program it in a different room, but you'll have to run back and forth to test any changes.

First, download the software (MX-900 Editor) from the manufacturer website after simple registration. The serial # is a bit tricky to find inside the battery compartment. You connect the remote to the PC via the included USB cable.

Now the fun begins (it sounds more complicated than it is): Almost any button is programmable and assignable to do whatever function you want. The included templates seemed thorough to me; (there was even one for my rather obscure Harmon/kardon.) So you scroll through the templates, find your match. If your specific model is missing in their database then try some of the plentiful generic templates for that brand. Once loaded, you can judge for yourself if you like the default button assignments for that particular component.

Programming the remote is a visual process. An interactive and exact image of the remote is placed in the center of the MX-900 Editor. The right pane lists all possible functions of your component template. You simply click on the button you want to edit, then drag a specific function onto that button and it's done. You can test any settings you've made directly from the Editor before you load it to the remote.

The screen itself is rather small, so you must scroll through different pages to see all the functions for any specific component. For each page there are six buttons on the right of the screen. The good news is that you can change the order of functions as they are listed on any page, so on the first screen page I have only my most used functions listed the way I want. Rarely used functions are set farther down.

Most of the buttons below the screen (VOL, GUIDE, MENUE, EXIT, etc) can also be programmed to do different things for each device.

Best to give EXAMPLES :

One button turns everything ON. The TV defaults to the CABLE BOX input, the RECEIVER switches to the CABLE BOX audio outs, the CABLE BOX turns on a specific channel!
The remote itself defaults to the CABLE page with the most used functions for the CABLE box right there.

Next I want to watch a DVD. I programmed a single button to 1) Change the TV input to DVD 2) Switch the RECEIVER channel 3) Automatically open the DVD tray. 4) The remote defaults to the specific DVD player mode.

I've set it up so that no matter what "page" the remote is on, the VOLUME and MUTE buttons stay assigned to the RECEIVER. This way I don't need to toggle or press other buttons just to get to the audio section.

The above are accomplished via Macros, meaning that several distinct functions from different components are all assigned in sequence to one single button.

And so on. An ALL OFF button does what it says. I've had no problems with any component not receiving the IR signal as I did with the Comcast remote.

QUALITY: Feels sturdy and solid in the hand, with good quality plastic casing. Haven't dropped it yet. The numbers buttons at the end are too small and almost impossible to use with one hand. So it's a bit too long for me. Nice blue backlight. Oh, and you can program how long the light stays on.

SERVICE: The template for my Sony TV was missing the VIDEO 7 (digital) input which I needed. I called Universal and was told that all the included templates are provided from the manufacturers. They did however have a fix and updated template for my model which was emailed to me within an hour.

ADDENDUM: Purchased this few weeks back for $224 through an Amazon seller

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