It is a waste of time Dale. People just can't get their heads wrapped around that fact. I (a diy'er) for one appreciate URC's efforts and allowing dealers to right to choose whether or not to provide software.


Right back at ya Dale :)

Not so sure about that.

I went through 2 MX 500s and 1 MX 700 where the light switch went after one year.
And now after one year, I have an MX 900 that has one hard button that no longer works.

So I just bought a Harmony one and time will tell if it lasts any longer.







x

Allowing dealers to make that choice is fine. Each dealer should do what they think is in their best interest.

The problem I have is that they have restricted my choice of dealers. So now I am stuck finding a local dealer that may or may not be willing to do what other dealers may based on my location on a map. So I am stuck with a local dealer who doesn't even know if they can get the software. (They sell the MX-500).

So someone living within 200 miles of San Clemente, CA get to purchase from a dealer that I can't. What makes this person so special in URC's eyes.

So as a result, I went "black market" and got the remote I want and the software to program it. So I ask how that works with URC supporting their dealers?

And somehow I thought this thread would be locked by now...same old bull shit for 7 pages now...get over it people.

Oh and merry christmas to Dale and the others that "get it"!

Perhaps you should read my post again. I never stated that the Harmony is superior to the MX-3000 or 980.

I did express my displeasure with URC's policy on the "Complete Control Suite", and the stated reasons for why they made the change.


LOL!!! That's funny. I program microcontrollers for a living. I write the kind of code that runs in the URC remotes. I simply stated that the way Harmony has approached variable use makes it very easy for even a novice to get a toad working. I didn't even have to think about it, as someone at Logitech had done the work for me. I chose the component, and it worked. It would have taken me at least several minutes to click several places to create the variable to watch, and watch it in the correct place in my MX-3000 macros. All this at a price point well below the URC remotes that will handle variables.


In this economy, seems like consumer electronics manufacturers need to keep their customers, but if URC doesn't want me in that group... I'll be happy to take my business elsewhere.

If they are built to 1/4 the quality of the URC remote, then I can replace it 3 times, and still be ahead, as I'm paying for new remotes in inflated dollars, and been collecting interest on the other money I didn't spend on the URC.

But after owning both, the plastics are the same general type. They could both very well be assembled in the same plant in China.

Please point out which "quality standards" the URC achieves, that the Harmony does not. It wouldn't surprise me if Logitech has a team of designers that do nothing but perform drop tests on their remotes, temperature cycle them, subject them to humidity extremes, etc. From the size of URC, it wouldn't surprise me if they skip many of the tests a large consumer electronics manufacturer performs. Don't get me wrong, I don't know what URC does... but I don't think you do either.

Dale,

I understand that URC has made some business decisions. It is your/their right to do so. It is my right to decide they are not in my best interests.

I also believe the thinking is flawed;

In my opinion, I can understand why URC would want to protect their remotes in the distribution channel. But since I can go to any number of sites on eBay, or elsewhere and buy the remotes, It doesn't seem like URC is very serious about protecting the distribution channel. Seems more like they want to "look like" they protect the distribution channel. In my opinion they've put some fairly ineffective software distribution measures in place.

My question was why bother with such measures? They don't attack the problem, distribution outside their channel. They only make it difficult for some of the very users they courted with their contest here at Remote Central, to use the remotes, they helped URC to sell. And URC did change their policy, after collecting my money for my MX-3000.

My guess is that they like the incremental revenue from the out of channel distribution, and just want to publicly denounce it.

Authentication technology is available and at very reasonable cost to achieve the stated goal. They could trace remotes serial numbers in the distribution channel. There would be no ability to delete the serial number, as it would be encoded within the remote. If the serial number device within was deleted, the remote would be unprogrammable, and hence be unsellable.

But instead URC has chosen to make it difficult for me to get software updates for my MX-3000. So, I've done what any reasonable red blooded free market thinker would do. I voted with my wallet!

I used to have Harmony remotes. So lets see, there was the 676 that the off button stopped working, there was the 880 that was so sensitive to how it was placed on the charging cradle, that it became almost unchargable, and there is a second 676 that the volume buttons would stick against the side of their opening.

All my URC remotes have been flawless.

I think we have a winner here folks. Publically denounce the sellers on ebay selling remotes below other dealer's cost, yet for some reason keep selling the offending dealers remotes.

I'm still looking for the expansion pack for the MX-980. Any advice/help would be greatly appreciated. If you want to entertain this post with more whining about how I don't "get it", go ahead. You're just making yourself sound more petty. A helping hand would be greatly appreciated.

Two points:

1) There is technically still a ban on software policy discussion. Prior discussions have never gone anywhere useful, and kept repeating themselves in an endless loop. Search for the 3,600+ post in the other forum for more. Tempers get hot, mud and insults get thrown. That will not be permitted here, and I will re-enforce the ban if this thread turns that way. I should note that things are not looking good based on the most recent posts.

2) Please do not use the forum to ask for software or items to be sent to you that URC (or whomever) will not themselves send you. Everything "has value" and it is up to the owner of that item to decide how it should be licensed or distributed.

Thank you for your understanding!

Maybe not, but you certainly implied it with your Harmony One gushing while at the same time knocking URC. Sorry I miss understood you.



struggle   –verb (used without object)
4. to be coping with inability to perform well or to win; contend with difficulty:
9. a task or goal requiring much effort to accomplish or achieve.

You can blame yourself for your choice of words. If one uses the word "struggle" it implies that they had a hard time, and/or difficulty. I replied based on the use of that word.


Ok, grab your sign on the way out.

Um...

Merry Christmas.

:-)

Dale

i was reading these latest posts thinking its more of same whining and crying, but i had to chime in to say one good point made against URC's policy is the 200(?) mile radius rule.

due to my area i had to reach outside of this radius to find an authorized dealer that would provide full SW and gave word to give access to any extras if needed etc. so while i bought the remote quite legitimately (paid full MSRP), this dealer, whom has been excellent in every way from a consumers perspective, had to "break the rules" in order to provide me with service. this leaves me feeling like i've done something wrong, but the only other option would have been to buy from a dealer that doesnt provide SW, so i couldnt program it in the EXTREMELY meticulously way i want, and would have to PAY SOMEBODY everytime i want to add a device etc. add to fact i'm in canada so would have had to pay a signifigantly inflated price! and now of course the dealer i did buy from misses out on word of mouth business as i have to refrain from mentioning or recomending them to anyone else.

i dont mind at all URC's policy to leave it up to the dealer wether to provide SW, as i can understand a CI wanting that return business from a client that he's set up a system for. and at the same time not wanting said client monkeying around with it and messing things up, then demanding a free service call or whatever. i think the dealers that dont want to provide the SW are most often not the type of dealer that is out to sell just remotes anyways, they want to sell systems and service to wealthy clients.

however, at least give the DIY consumer the ability to find a dealer that can sell them what they want without feeling like they're breaking policies or doing something wrong in doing so. especially given the fact when you go to URC's website there is NO MENTION of SW being an issue, it just states its PC programmable. so it would be quite easy for some one to stumble accross their site, see an mx-980, read all the selling features and fall in love with it. then go to ebay, see one and buy it, not knowing any better. (i dont think the average consumer signs into forums to read about every product they buy - i think they would feel confident they are getting all the details from the mnfctrs website)

so to sum up my blah blah, i think URC should be very clear on their website and packaging (it may already be on the packaging, i cant remember, but i just went to URC's site and there is no mention of it there-i had always ASSumed they did) that SW is not provided and it is up to the dealer to make it available. aswell drop the 200mile radius rule, as its not fair that a consumer be forced to get "ripped off" or stuck dealing with a place that has a policy against providing clients the SW because (he thinks) he cant get the product anywhere else.

sorry, i know its redundant now, but i just had to throw in my 2 bits.

MERRY XMAS!!!

I have to agree with you Stealth. Although I have zero issue with SW policy, I do think it slightly unreasonible to put in place the 200mile radius restriction along with it.

The website I don't believe is misleading though. You do have to hit the "professional" link to get to the protected models. Everything under that part is gauged to the professional. Unfortunately the masses seem to misunderstand that part.

It may relieve some confusion if they removed access to the pro model part of the site to the enduser but, I for one think it a bonus to those trying to research what their CI is trying to sell them.

Happy Holidays bud...!