I had some questions regarding obtaining a software update from the URC site by registering the product. Is this a one-time update and once performed, the software cannot be updated again? Or, can it be updated periodically in the future?

Also, does the IR database get updated, or only the software?

I have noticed some (at least to me) unusual things about the IR database. I downloaded the MX-850 editor software in January of 2007. The IR database contains equipment that does not seem to be in the MX-950 software that came with the unit I just purchased in December, 2007 (specifically, the Mitsubishi WD-62827 TV and Scientific Atlanta Explorer 3250HD cable box). Are the IR databases for all remotes the same, or do they vary by remote model?

Thanks,

Doug

The "updatable" version is NOT the version from URC's site, it is the version you can get from your dealer.

Also, the codes for the SA3100, 3100HD, 3250, 3250HD, 8300, and 8300HD are the same, so choosing any of those codesets should work.

When URC posts an update you can go through the registration process again and download the new (non-updatable) s/w. I believe that the new releases may contain IR database and/or firmware updates. Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

Could I ask when a prosumer might find a non-updatable version of the MX-980 editor available for download? I've asked Tweeter to provide something but I expect little progress there, and I don't see any options to get what I need and comply with URC licensing other than face to face within another dealer's store out of travel range.

Tweeter doesn't sell the equipment I use, I would have to spend considerable time teaching them how to macro for it all, so there is no programming upsell potential from them as the authorized reseller. If I have missed an option to comply with licensing and authorized reseller requirements, please feel free to PM me and I'll gladly give a professional my product purchase business rather than their corporation. I do still intend to program it myself, I am not nor ever will be in the market for someone to program a remote for me.

It is my understanding that URC is not going to release a non-updatable version. If Tweeter will not give you the s/w I would return it and purchase from an AD that will.

So true. The mattress police showed up at my house after a tip that my wife had removed the mattress tags.

They informed me that the law is clear you can not remove the tags. Showed me the big bold letters " Tags must not to be removed Under penalty of Law".

Well as they were hauling her away in handcuffs one of the guys took a look at my MX-900 remote removed the battery cover and found the serial number had been removed.

Well you guessed it they handcuffed me and we were both off to jail.

Anyway back to the URC software I was on another forum and some guy is going to set up a server outside of the US and give URC owners access to live updates.

Looks like the software problem will be solved.

I believe the mattress tags say they can only be removed by the end user.

Although I'd have to check.

Okay, maybe I'm missing something, but I just opened a new MX-980 (from an authorized dealer). No CD included, but no worries, right? I'll just go to URC's web site. But on the registration/download page, the drop-down menu doesn't have the MX-980. I tried selecting the MX-900, but it didn't accept my serial #.

How can I get the software required to program my new remote?

Contact the dealer where you purchased the MX-980 and ask them for the software.

Here’s my take on URC policy, I will never buy a URC remote control again, in fact, I’ll recommend to everyone that they do *NOT* buy a URC remote control.

I went to go and try to download the software to update my MX-700 and I can’t seem to download the software. I have a ver 1.1, I bought it in 2002 or 2003. I know I got it from an authorized dealer then, because it was this website that I read the review on and went with a recommendation for purchasing it.

Anyway, back to my point, I wanted to update my MX-700 and I stopped at remotecentral.com before the URC website to take a look at what the latest products are from URC. Then I saw the MX-980 and I was really considering purchasing it since I figured my MX-700 is getting long in the tooth (I’ve had it for about five years). After I finished drooling over the MX-980 I went to bed still considering the MX-980.

This evening I stopped back at remotecentral.com again to droll over the MX-980 and I was like, “Well, should I? Maybe? Well, I did get some cash for Christmas, so it’d be a nice Christmas present”.

Then I thought to myself, “Well, I better get my MX-700 updated for tomorrow (I’m getting a new HDTV receiver tomorrow)”. Stop at URC’s website to download the software for the MX-700, I find I have to enter the serial number, the serial number doesn’t work. I stop back here at remotecentral.com try all of the suggestions, still no dice.

Then I start getting teed off, so I decide to register an account and vent.

URC can pretty much kiss that sale of MX-980 goodbye, had I known five years ago they would have some lame policy like this I would have never bought the MX-700 in the first place.

I could probably sit on the phone and beg URC for the software or whatever, but the point is I shouldn’t have to, and I want to update my remote *NOW* (its 10:50 pm).

In the end, I’ll be sure to recommend to my customers that they do *NOT* buy a remote from URC and get something else. I don’t do professional installs, but I do own a computer consulting firm, and I do cross paths with customers who want the Plasma/LCD in their conference rooms. When I see the quotes they pass me, if I see a URC remote on it, I'll tell them not to buy the remote and get something else.

I’ll also phrase it like this to the customer, “You know when you buy a Dell computer? You can go to their website, enter in the model of the computer you have, then select the operating system you have, and download the drivers?”… “Well, with URC, if your product gets old enough, they can’t seem to keep track of their serial numbers, so at some point you’ll end up with an unsupported product and have to jump through hoops to get the “drivers” for the remote”. – I recommend purchasing something else.

marly

I have to ditto Marly's comments. The retroactive nature of applying this policy is the problem. With new devices coming out almost every year, just what level of damage would URC have really suffered if they had drawn a line in the sand and said "from here on out, only dealer purchased units will be supported"? They only had a few devices at the time with PC programing. Those should have been left with software accessible via the URC site, and going forward the new policy enforced on all new devices.

I've recently run into the same problem. I have MX-800's and a MX-700 that I haven't had to reprogram in some time. I had a computer crash which meant I lost the apps and files for both. New equipment put me back in the position of needing to update my remotes. While I was able to get the URC site to accept my serial number for the MX-800 and download that software, it did not accept my MX-700 number.

Luckily, the MX-800 software seems compatible and able to program my MX-700. But live update is now gone. It seems from reading this thread, the versions downloadable from URC's site do not include this feature. Another mistake....

It appears that URC made a decision to cave to pressures from their dealers. I actually accept this, because I respect the importance of a strong dealer network. But there is no justification for heaping added punishment on former customers with a retroactive policy. Both customers and dealers could have been more fairly treated.

Does anyone know whether this policy has affected URCs' revenue one way or the other?

Who knows how much in revenue it cost them, but I do know that they lost a sale on a MX-980 from me. Today I had two people over that were impressed by my MX-700, but after I finished bashing URC on their policy, they lost at least a sale or two there.

Let’s chalk it up to three lost sales in two days so far.

marly

I seriously doubt that the policy has created very many sales for dealers on the remote.

I own my own computer consulting firm and I’ve found there are two types of people.

The first type, are the ones who balk at the cost of whatever product you’re selling them. “Well, I can get that on the Internet from no name place for XXX cheaper than from you”. These types you make more money on than if they would have bought it from you in the first place, because by the time they’re finished screwing it up, you get to charge them extra to fix it, plus you get to charge them again to install it (plus a little extra because they didn’t buy it from you in the first place).

The second type, are people like me, who do audio/video in their spare time or have the experience to make a pretty nice system without wanting to bother going to some place to setup your system, plus you can probably do a better job yourself.

marly

Warning Programing of a URC Remote Control should only be attempted by a trained professional installer, or an twelve year old child.

I tested my my 12 year old program my MX-900 remote control from a blank screen.

The kid worked on it and was able to set up all of our equipment and made a macro for each piece.

He got it working the same as I had with no problems. No he never attended the URC programing class.

Now if I can only get him and his Wii off my 50" LCD.

So what is URC worried about? He did not hurt himself in the process.

Back in 1983 the company I was working for installed a computer system and gave me a treminal. The guy installing it placed it on my desk and said he would be back to finsish later. Well I pluged it in, fired it up then I tried user Admin, password Admin and I was into the system. While I was checking out payroll he came back and was like who did this. I told him that some other guy from his company was working on it cause I did not know anytin about thses fancy machines.
He was happy someone else did his job, turned it off and went to the next terminal.

Guess he knew you had to be a professional installer to get this sytem to work.

Maybe URC is looking to save the jobs of these highly trained installers.