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Topic:
URC MX-950/980 Opening Case / Water Damage
This thread has 7 replies. Displaying all posts.
Post 1 made on Tuesday January 8, 2013 at 14:32
WDCherrington
Lurking Member
Joined:
Posts:
September 2010
7
URC MX-950 Opening Case

After having the need to open the case of my own MX-950 (980 is likely the same)I have found some useful threads regarding the matter, most of them referring to twisting the unit to release tabs between the front and back cases. After a bit of interpreting of a number of post, the twisty refers to holding the top and bottom of the unit in separate hands and twisting back and forth through the longitudinal axis. The objective is to release the tabs which are part of the front face from the tab slots in the back cover.
Frankly I did not have a lot of success with this method but it did help me understand the general principle of separating the cases which I thank everyone for.

The method that I used is as follows:

1.With the remote facedown in using a very small flat head watch screwdriver, starting at the bottom (see 1st photo) I push the screwdriver down between the front and back of the case, wedging them apart slightly and then rotating the screwdriver widening the gap slightly until I could see the tabs (approximately 3/8” inch from each edge of the bottom. The next set of tabs are on the sides about ¾” up the sides.

2. I then gently plied the back case upwards with the screwdriver until the tabs released, working my way around each corner. Once you have released three or four tabs you can get your finger between the back and front case applying a little tension pulling the back away from the front while moving along the sides pushing the screwdriver in and slightly rotating it to release the tabs. You will find that the tabs are spaced approximately 1 ¼ inch apart.

I was able to use this method to separate the front and back case without causing any real damage the case half’s. I am attaching some general photos as an example.

With the case open, I can now get on to my primary problem of trying to dry out my unit after it was run through a wash cycle of a front end washing machine, along with a load of clothes (don’t ask!). thankfully this is just one of three MX-950 I have to run my home.

For anyone wondering, when I opened the washer I found the remote with the battery cover and battery separate. My intentions are to try to dry the unit thoroughly before reinsert the battery. To do this I have split the case, pulled out the PCB and Screen out (remove 4 screws in PCB & speaker plug) and placed them on top of a piece of A/V equipment that runs 24/7 that generates a small amount of rising heat (a technique I’ve used to dry out mobile phones). After a couple days of drying I will reassemble the unit, reinsert the battery and pray for the best.

By the way for any of you posting about Sticky Keys after something has been spilled on the remote, once the case is split, the keyboard (which is a rubber pad with all of the keys) can be pulled out in one piece and cleaned (photo attached). Be sure to clean the back of the keyboard as well, as that is where the contact points are. I will use alcohol in a sray bottle to clean everything prior to reassembly.

FOLLOW-UP
Amazingly enough after allowing the PCB and screen to dry for a couple of days this unit fired right up with no problems despite 45 minutes in a front load washing machine...lol. Lucky

Last edited by WDCherrington on January 11, 2013 11:53.
Post 2 made on Wednesday January 9, 2013 at 08:29
comet
Active Member
Joined:
Posts:
September 2004
527
Some good info there...thanks
Post 3 made on Saturday January 19, 2013 at 16:49
nickamex
Lurking Member
Joined:
Posts:
March 2006
3
These MX 950 's are bad ass little machines! I have had mine for IDK how many years , but the rubber has been "picked at" (We have kids too). The LCD screen is broken and it still changes channels. We know where every function is, so we can operate our remote " blind".

I am really having an issue trying to Program this Old remote. I know they will only communicate with Windows XP, but then W7 has the virtual XP Machine, and I got the remote to be seen with active Sync 4.2 like everyone says, but for what ever reason the new error I get is 'Unable to connect [EX-FI]' What is that supposed to mean ? Even a Google search just brings two results. How do you program and communicate with yours? Maybe I will bring home my XP machine from work. You just gave me a new Idea.
OP | Post 4 made on Tuesday January 22, 2013 at 13:02
WDCherrington
Lurking Member
Joined:
Posts:
September 2010
7
When using virtual XP each time you hook the remote into the USB, be sure to go to the top/center of the virtual page, click the USB, click your device ( in my case my MX-950 shows up as unknown device). After clicking the device in the USB pulldown box you can download and upload into the remote. As soon as you click the device in USB pulldown if the remote is plugged in, it will start its connection jingle signaling it’s link.
Post 5 made on Saturday November 15, 2014 at 08:18
washerebefore
Lurking Member
Joined:
Posts:
April 2006
2
Took mine apart,now battery won't charge and unit only works when in cradle. Luckily I have a hardly used MX-950 backup, next time I'm going to wear gloves just in case that caused the issue, this is the best way too clean the unit
Post 6 made on Saturday November 15, 2014 at 12:15
JoeFlabitz
Select Member
Joined:
Posts:
December 2008
1,517
Takes a licking, and keeps on ticking!
Post 7 made on Tuesday November 18, 2014 at 07:44
skynyrdfan
Active Member
Joined:
Posts:
March 2006
666
the current production will never take that abuse.. quality has gone way down...
Post 8 made on Tuesday November 18, 2014 at 08:14
edmund
Elite Member
Joined:
Posts:
April 2002
13,838
With ribbon cable that attaches LCD to board paper thin, and glued to board, there's no give and take, so it rips easily. :( Unlike remotes of old, where the ribbon was thicker, and it was held in place by pressure. If dropped it would come unseated, easy fix.


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