My ancient Pronto TSU-2000 finally gave up the ghost, so I bought a new MX-450 to serve as my system integration remote.

I am having issues programming it though and finding it VERY limiting. Of course I only have access to the archiver app and cannot get through the screening for a registration # so I can use the better software (if anyone can help me out nod nod wink wink I would appreciate it). I am a programmer of 30 years ;)

What is killing me is that the basic setup makes me configure apparent match after apparent match very slowly for each component. For example I have a Viera TC-P46G15 that does my video and audio swicthing for a couple of HDMI sources (cable, blue ray etc), but as I go through the panasonic codes I keep getting ancient ones that barely let me navigate enough to manually select an input.

Also how do I get discrete codes into this thing? I used to use disscrete codes on the Viera to switch inputs?

Is there a place where I can find out what the various codes give you without trying each one on the dadgum device? THis is very frustrating and I am very much regretting my purchase...

Thanks in advance,
Frustrated in Florida

There is no advanced software for the MX-450. Only the archiver which will update the remote with the latest codes. It is not a remote programmed with a computer like the Pronot or other URC remotes. Many of us look up the codes in one of the other URC programs since the device numbers are the same. If you give us the model numbers of your equipment we might be able to help you out with the codes.

Your TV is code 524 but only has discretes for on/off. Panasonic Discrete codes are number 377.

In our area Motorola cable boxes are 110 or 152 for the VIP series, Scientific Atlanta explorer series is 043.

Hope this helps.

Thanks Bob- looks like I will be returning this thing soon. I mean what a POS for $200 - and to think I have been an embedded programmer for 25 years, lol!

What is the magic incantation so I can lookup which codes would be appropriate for my devices? I also have:

Yamaha RX-V3300 AV
Settop Cable is Moto DCT3416 I
Blueray is Panasonic DMP-BD60

My major problem at the moment is the dadgum MX-450 will not let me setup the PowerON and PowerOff buttons to my preference.

I can make a macro button/device called ON that turns on the audio,delays,turns on the tv, delays, then turns on the cable. It works fine only I cannot use it unless I powerup the remote then press the assigned button. Same for an OFF button.

So I figured hey, lets assign this macro to the main power ON button per the instructions. So I try and try and it wont do it - finally figured out it was because my button on the MAIN menu was named ON. So I deleted my ON and OFF devices and their associated macros etc.

Now it lets me define the macros, I can even test them and they work perfectly. However if I am not on the edit/test macro page the buttons will not engage the Macros. I truly am about to take this thing out and drive over it a few times with my truck ;)

The people at URC that designed this and the software must be totally out to lunch. My ancient pronto with prontoedit (which I bought the second ancient one for $50 on ebay) KILLS this URC device for programmability.

Make a device called power and put your system on and off macros on the on/off buttons (not screen) in the power device. Then use copy and paste to have the on/off macros used for the devices you wish and the main/ favorites pages. The remote does have a little different architecture and takes some time to get used to it. But it is more customizable than a Harmony.

Anyway, your codes are:
Cable box #110, no discretes but their are work arounds depending on your cable system.

Panasonic #346, no discretes but comes on with play command. You can also try #285 which has discrete on/off for an older model. Sometimes the older model codes still work with the new players even if Panasonic doesn't list discrete codes when they give them to URC.

Yamaha - not sure if all these codes will be in the MX-450 but I'm pretty sure the main one will be.
Main #436 (Discrete on/off and inputs)
Zones #437 (zone commands)
Discrete 1 #578 (triggers, speakers, input modes, multi ch input)
Discrete 2 #579 (pure direct on/off, listening modes, some tuner functions)
Discrete 3 #580 (system and volume memories)

 you bought a non-pc programmable remote and expected it to be as powerful as a pc programmable remote? 

My thoughts exactly. The MX-450 is a very powerful remote for what it is. It will do everything you are looking to do, you just have to know how to program it correctly. It can get frustrating being that it is an "on-remote" programming device, vs. a pc-based remote. If you wish to have the functionality along with the ease of programming on a computer, return the MX450, spend a little more and purchase a MX900 or MX880. They are essentially the same remote except for the MX900 is a text based lcd screen and uses 4 triple A batteries. The MX880 has a color screen and used a rechargeable battery. Both will cost more then the MX-450, but you will have to pay extra to get the ease you are looking for. MAKE SURE you purchase from an authorized retailer or you will not have access to the software.

Thanks for the replies gentlemen. I finally got it together. Just surprised the MX-450 is such a POS for its price point. Seriously when a remote control moves into the price range of a laptop or tablet it seems more than absurd to me, especially when it does less than a 6 year old legacy device like a pronto tsu-2000.

I guess I was mistaken - I thought MX-450 would be programmable. After all it has a USB port!

Anyway something was amiss internally from my initial foray into getting the power buttons happy. I reset the device to facotry defaults and started over, and was able to get the macros for Main power off/on to do what I want.

BTW since I was able to make the old pronto work I got it to spit out the discrete codes for directly switching inputs on the Viera TV, learned them into the MX-450, and built my proper switching controls on the menu. There are discrete codes for input switching on the Viera family Bob ;)

The sad thing is I looked on eBay and could have just purchased a NIB TSU-2000 for $70, blasted it with my existing setup w/prontoedit and been on my way.

I'm going to keep the MX-450 for now but just barely ;) Sad to see state of the art has really not improved over a 6 year old device unless you want to pay a laptop price premium...

The problem is that you bought the wrong remote. The remote is very powerful and is an excellent piece. You have zero training with the programming of this remote, and are bashing it because it doesn't work the way YOU wanted it to work. You didn't do your homework. Its really as simple as that. I could program that MX-450 to do everything you want, with proper discreets and macros in about 20 minutes. I could do it even quicker with a pc programmable remote. It's like buying a Corvette in Alaska and getting pissed that you keep getting stuck in the snow. The Corvette is a great car, but not best suited for an Alaskan winter.

I gave you the codes for Panny discretes, #285, they are just not in the regular codeset for that model #.

And for $200, what did you expect?