I am glad that Tweeter went out of business if only to show URC their faulty logic when it comes to their customers. I liked tweeter and went there to buy my TV and receiver. Gosh, if choosing Tweeter is not a well-thought out choice in installers – what criteria does URC propose.

The problem with URC is that they think of themselves a Prada, or a Ferragamo – in other words a luxury item. The problem with this idea is twofold: 1 - a remote is not something of style or conspicuous consumption which will be seen by others and wanted. 2 - the service and support when buying a genuine Prada or Ferragamo item is outstanding in their stores or the other high end retailers. Electronics dealers are staffed by teenagers making minimum wage and all of it is sold with a degree of DIY no matter how much you pay an installer. Additionally, unlike an article of clothing; a remote will constantly need tweaking and the end user should have the option of doing that once they buy it.

In addition to this, please add the experiences of a whole host of new owners sharing my experience of my dealer going out of business and that pretty much left me out in the cold.

So, I would love the expansion pack - but will not get it from URC. I would love the updated software - but will not get that either.

Just like I would never buy Prada shoes if I could not walk in them; just like I would never buy a Ferragamo belt if I could not wear it; I will never buy a Universal Remote Control product again.

Maybe in this downturned economy URC will decide that having customers who would like to use and explore their products is not such a bad thing.

Until then, I wait for the day that URC goes out of business and is bought up by a more reputable management team.

Oh, and after programming the remote to work better than the teenage installer who the company sent to my home, this DIY/ owner says the MX-980 is not all that they try to make it out to be for the price paid in patience and dollars. No wonder the dealers are going out of business. The MX-980 is certainly not a luxury item to me.

Funny... I've had a few people come to my home and end up putting the 980 on their wish list.


Of course you'd get laughed out of the store if you walked in complaining that you couldn't work the button snap holding the purse closed. Which is what would be on par with operating your 980. Comparing the necessary hand holding for the diy and the support of electronics to swapping out a piece of leather is not really a apples to apples arguement. I have zero experience with Parda, but I doubt they make something I couldn't figure out how to open.




And this Diy'er says you probably did the programming just a as well as the teenage installer. The 980 is an incredible remote. All it takes is the ability to configure it correctly. I guess it should be said that if all you have is a VCR and TV I would imagine any experience would be lack luster, but that would have nothing to do with the remote.

Your above experience just hammers home my statement of choosing your dealer wisely. You're not going to tell me that you didn't know inexperienced kids worked at Tweeter are you...?

So if we show up to an install wearing Prada shoes and a Ferragamo belt, will we be more or less respected as far as install/programming skills go? I wonder if we can get Versace polo's with our company logo on them?

You can. It goes against everything that Versace stands for, but to hell with them. Step 1, buy the shirt. Step 2... start sewing.

For everyone looking for this software, it took me about 5 minutes to find it after I read through all this drama. When you register your remote on Universal Remote's site, you get to download a file called MX950Setup.exe. That's, of course, not the right file.

But...

If you google MX980Setup.exe you should be pleasantly surprised.

I'm still not sure why Universal Remote hates their customers, but nevertheless their remote is pretty good. Service blows, though...

sorry guys, but I'm a bit confused in all these debating going on.....are you saying that those who are currently buying the remainder MX-980's from Tweeter, are NOT getting the software from URC?

Now that's a good question.

Has anyone contacted URC in this regard...?

I just so happened to go to the going-out-of-business-sale at Tweeter here in Virginia on Sunday to ask that very question.

Yes, they will sell you the MX-980 remote for a pretty good price.
Yes, they will sell you an MSC-400 for a pretty good price.

No, they will not give you the software to actually use those devices.

The guy who sold it to me however, did give me his home phone number with the offer that for $300 cash he would program it for it. But, still not ever give me the software. I guess since he was about to be laid off he was trying any way he could to make a buck.

This is the real-world model for dealing with this URC remote.

Does anyone know the filename for the expasnion pack so that I can search for that?

So you bought it knowing full well that you would be at this guy mercy for programming...? If you lose this guy's number are we going to hear you complain about policy/support again...?


Whether you consider it right or wrong, you have no reason to complain. You knew better and did it anyway.

Hopefully this guy you're counting on can dial it in for you. It's a fantasic remote. Paired with MSC, the possibilities are countless (fanboy gushing sorry).

Good luck

I didn't buy it then, I just asked what anyone would normally ask and that is the model of URC service that I got.

I would never have an unbonded/ unlicensed/ guy into my home - hence the need for them to sell the software with the device. That was my only point.

Sorry about that. When you mentioned "the guy who sold it to me", I thought that meant you bought it.

Doesn't Tweeter sell anything other than URC...? How do you know it was the model of URC's service and not LG's, or Pioneer, or Harmony, or .......?

I don't get it. You said "the guy who sold it to me..." and then you go on to ask for the filename of the expansion pack. So did you or did you not buy one and from whom?

smoke...twtr sold urc, pronto and crestron for control.

Thanks Tweet... Not that I knew that, but I was only trying to raise a vague point.

He keeps talking of "URC's service model" because of the service he got at Tweeter. Well, Tweeter sold a lot of things, so I can't figure out for the life of me how he condemns URC as a company, because of service he gets at a BB store, which (using his logic) represents a lot more than just URC. Makes no sense to me...

Right on. There are many things you and I see eye to eye on and this is one of them for sure.

I just don't get the logic behind some of these posts either.

BTW, to the designer clothing fan...we stopped in at one of the stores you mentioned over the weekend...service was absolutely horrible :-)

Just my story...

Well, I purchased a MX-980 from the before mentioned going out of business company. I had the same problem as most - got a great deal on the remote but no software. At first, they were going to sell it to me without even mentioning the software issue. Right before I went for my wallet, I asked if the software was going to be included, knowing that this could be an issue. The sales agent was not a CI but the other guy who was there was, and had access to the software. He stated that the software was for dealers only and if I wanted it program I would have to pay him to do it. I mentioned that I have a MX-700 and would be fine programing the remote and even brought up the fact that they were going out of business but that did not sway him - still no software! Unlike most, I told them to hold it until I was sure that I could found the software myself and then came back the next day to buy it.

Frankly, if it wasn't for the fact that I have had a MX-700 and was very familiar with the programing style (although the 980 was some enhancements with the GUI) I would have gone another way. Too much BS if you ask me... If URC does not want to deal with the end-user then that should be their choice althouigh it is the end-user who pays and uses their products not the CI. If they want to crack down on internet selling, then crack down on the distribution/dealer network. I know a lot of people who don't have the time nor inclination to program such a remote even it they had the software so I think the CI business would be just fine. Just my 2 cents...

Ask Dale/Darnitol for it, since he pretty much put it together. I am curious how that will go.