If you have been lurking here for 7 years, I find it hard to believe you were totally unaware of this situation. This topic appears every week and its the same story.
 
I agree with everything you are saying (basically), and I even posted my own "WHY" thread about it at one time.

These posts and threads always end up going nowhere.

Find a new URC dealer, buy something else they sell, and ask for the software.
I'm sure a smart, good looking guy like yourself can think of something.
OR 
Continue to beat your head against a wall.

Doesn't this belong in the software thread?

It should.

I can't believe how civilized this thread is. Usually by now everybody is screaming and yelling and calling each other retards.

It's the season.

Check out the Global Warming thread.

The war is raging over there.

ALL the Super Powers have their keys inserted and their fingers on the buttons.

Open the Silos. Birds Away!

I looked at it when it was still a couple of posts old, and haven't read any more since.

It's not the season there. Must be to warm.:)

I'm afraid I have to side with URC on this topic. I am a professional installer, so I am sure most of you will say that I am siding with URC because its how I put food on the table. But actually, I truly believe that this is simply a matter of quality control. Like all universal remotes, these remotes are only as good as their programming. If you have a remote that is not programmed to its full potential, and you have company over, that company (who might have been in the market for a new remote) may decide they do not like MX-980s, based solely on your programming. Don't get me wrong, I am sure you can program the remote to control your system. But that does not mean you have programmed the remote to its full potential. I have been programming these remotes for years and still always learn new tricks when I attend a training (and I have been to several from URC). Many features of the remote do not really stand out until you have had a trainer teach you the full potential of those features.  The use of variables and IF ELSE statments seem to be endless.  Even if you were able to create an excellant program on your own, which for all I know, you can, URC simply can not pick and choose which customers to provide the software to on an individual basis.  Imagine the complaints that would fill the forums from those not chosen.  They have to restrict the software to those professionally trained in order to maintain the quality of their product.  I really do feel your pain, but I have to side with URC.  The real crime here is that you were not explained all of this before you bought the remote.

I'm confused. I thought that URCs policy WAS to provide software to end users. Unless there has been some change in policy, all you need is the serial number on the remote. The controversy was (or is) over the access to "live updates".

As far as I can tell, any end user can get the software from the dealer or URC, but can only get "live update enabled" versions from their dealers. Am I wrong? If I am right, all the posts about tech support overload seem off the mark.

That is the policy for some their remotes. Mostly the lower end models and the ones that they were already selling when they made the policy change. For the other remotes you have to get the software from the dealer. It is a up to the dealer to decide if he wants to give you the software.

Being an installer I might have a biased view as well but here is my experience with giving the software to clients. Some background, I come from a programming background back in the days we used to write in machine/ assembly language, then RPG, fortran, cobol and C. So programming these remotes by comparison is very simple for me.

I've had a few customers ask me for the software and tell me they are software engineers, system designers, etc, blah, blah, blah. I'd think to myself that these guys should be more than competent to program their own remote and in some ways they were. So I sold them the remote and supplied the software.

In EVERY case I've had to spend AT LEAST 2 hours on the phone with them answering questions on some aspect of programming or user interface. I might only spend 15 or 20 minutes at a time but they call multiple times, some email me their remote files to look at and help with a problem. Often many of their problems could be solved if they RTFM ot they just aren't as experieced as they claim to be.

I've never charged them for my time as I feel when someone buys something from you they deserve a certain amount of support But with remotes that time can easily be excessive trying to walk them through a problem. I learned my lesson. If I don't know the inidividuals capabilities I don't give them the software.

This has been a sticking point with a few enthusiasts that want to do their own remote. In those instances I recommend one of the internet companies that provide the software and make it clear that if they have questions that is who you call.

I'm sure this is the reason that URC made it a dealer option as they don't want add the support staff necessary to deal the the general public.

Bob

I really don't know how another debate over URC's policies helps the OP. As to the original question, the OP has a legitimate gripe. An authorized URC dealer has folded and URC has been less than helpful in response. That should never have generated a series of posts about why your dim view of non-CI's is justified.

Yay....

Yet another, "I'm a SW programmer/engineer and URC is stupid" thread.

Exactly. Everyone saw through that long-winded story. 7 years on Remote Central and technically proficient too. Yet, so oblivious to what is basically overposted topics here.

How come RTI is not stupid. No one but dealers are going to get close to that software but dealers.

Just be glad you can get what you get.

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