Hi All, would love to get some help on setting up my new 980.

I had used an MX-850 for years but decided to upgrade when my RF base station crapped out for a variety of reasons.

I figured I could navigate my way through the setup much as I had done with the 850 but I'm hitting numerous roadblocks.

Setup entails only the following required components all in the SAME room/cabinet (think Sportsbook rather than home theater): 1 DTV HR34-700, 3 H21 Dtv receivers, 1 Epson Home Cinema 8100, 2 Panasonic 32" LCDs, 1 Polaroid 19" LCD, Marantz audio receiver which controls video switching between Epson, PS3 and a Roku.

I would like to add the Roku and PS3 to the remote, too, but those are secondary.

Here are the problems I'm encountering:

1. The multiple Dtv receivers. I was able to switch the 3 H21 receivers to "0002", "0003", and "0004" respectively using the Dtv settings and have confirmed that I could control them independently of one another using the factory Dtv remotes by switching to AV1, AV2, etc. I also programmed a Harmony to control them independently using IR, though I had to "teach" the commands to all but the original HR34.

I see that the IR database has codesets for running multiple Dtv receivers - Dtv 1 - Dtv 10 for example. I thought that if I used the codeset 1, 2, 3 or 4 respectively for each receiver it would control the right one. It did not.

It worked for the HR34 and Dtv 2, but 3 and 4 (and 5-10) do not even have a power on/power off in their code set which really threw me off.

What would be the best way to set up the multiple receivers without using a base station and IR flashers?

2. If I have to "teach" the commands for 3 of the DTv receivers that's fine, but the "Learn IR" programming box is empty and I can't drag anything to it. Am I doing something wrong here (see also #5)?

3. I got the majority of my components to work when I set them up using the pre-programmed IR database and had the remote connected via USB using the "Test" button. But then when I downloaded to the remote, none of the commands worked. Why?

4. There is a section in the manual which talks about using the IR Navigator to make sure the right IR codes are mapped to the right buttons and to open up the Navigator and drag the code onto the appropriate button. I can't drag anything from the Navigator pane.

5. The "templates" don't appear to me on the "Create button Layout" step. This isn't a huge deal but would be nice. There is a thread someone started on it years ago that I bumped as I'm having the same issue. Any ideas? (thread: [Link: remotecentral.com])

Some help would be greatly appreciated. Heck if anyone wanted to help through this with screen sharing or something I would be happy to compensate them. I just don't like the idea of sending it to the store to get programmed because I want to know how to make changes and I enjoy playing around with these gadgets.

Thanks much.

-Baboon

Here is another question. Is it easier to program with the 980 Editor or CCP? I might be able to get the CCP software if it would make things easier.

Thanks again.

As for the Directv receivers, I mentioned this two weeks ago:

[Link: avsforum.com]

Ah, ok. Thanks. I had forgotten about that when I focused on the Harmony. Now that I'm back to URC and saw all of the codes in the database I assumed I could do 4 unique Dtv codes. So back to teaching for 2 of them.

Any insight into the Learn IR tool in the editor or any of the other questions?

Never seen, nor used the 980 editor. If theres simulator view of the 980, you might have to enter a device on it, highlight a key, before the learn box shows up?

I looked at that. Doesn't appear to be the case. 2 screenshots below, first from the Learn IR screen, 2nd from the Layout templates screen. Is this the way the program is supposed to work? There just aren't any actions I can seemingly take on either of these pages.

I don't think anyone cares but I will update anyway.

I was able to get the CCP software and it was indeed loads better than the 980 editor software. Pretty sure that I was having some glitches due to the Win 7 64 bit issue I had seen mentioned.

I have everything mostly up and running and I'm pretty happy with it.

I have each of my Dtv receivers set up and working independently on IR (2 of which I had to use the IR Learn functionality for - thanks Edmund). I have a macro set up for turning the entire system on and another for turning the entire system off.

My only real outstanding items at this point are customizations for graphics/templates/wallpapers and setting up favorites for channels on each of the respective Dtv pages.

If anyone has any suggestions in regards to those items I'd love to hear them. Thanks!

For custom graphics and icons try:

Blackman Signature Designs - blackmancustoms.com
Guifx.com
Satlogo.com

There are many threads here talking about customizing layouts, logos, etc. that go into using the graphics from the above websites and incorporating them into your remote control. There are some that are a few years old, but a search should be able to get you started.

By the way, why did you abandon your MX-850? I guess to each his own, but personally, I prefer the 850 to the 980, especially when it comes to controlling multiple TVs. Sure, the 850 is not in color and is not as fancy looking, but the form factor just seems to fit my hand a lot better than the 980. (We do also have an MX-3000 that controls the entire system, as well. But that rarely gets used. Touch screens may have the "wow" factor, but are a pain to actually use, if you want to surf)

I have 6 main TVs in my den, along with two others to the side and behind me, being fed by 6 DirecTV HD DVRs, 1 DirecTV HD box & 1 Time Warner Cable box, all being controlled by an MX-850 - Plus RF Base Stations.

It's a sports book of sorts, just like you have, along with an AVR, Blu-Ray, CD/DVD, Projector, Drop-down screen, iPod, baby monitor, and front door camera monitor. (All controlled by the same MX-850)

With all the juggling required to jump from controlling one device to the next, I find that the MX-850's buttons and layout make it so much easier to navigate around using only one hand and without looking at the remote.

Thanks SportsFan! I'll check it out.

I abandoned the MX-980 mostly because I was sick of the base station, software, and the trouble with finding a version that would work on newer Operating Systems. I had trouble getting it installed and working on Vista and didn't want to go through the same ordeal with Win 7. When my system stopped working a few weeks ago I had no way to check and see if the programming I had set up was erased or still set up correctly, etc because the only laptop that I had the software on had crapped out since the last time I replaced it. I figured it was probably the base station but couldn't really verify and I decided I was sick of running wires and IR flashers to everything.

The funny thing is I decided on a Harmony because they were easier to program, easier to get the software, easier to teach IR to, etc so I bought the 1100 and absolutely hated it. Thus....I came full circle back to URC and was already kind of enamored with the color LCDs and wanting to upgrade the 850.

In retrospect I probably could have made the 850 work if I could have gotten the software but I'm pretty happy with the 980 so far. I find the usability to be very similar to how I had the 850 set up and it's very intuitive. No problems on that end at all. The CCP interface is loads better than the standalone editor for the 850 (or 980 for that matter), I do like the customizable display and graphics, and for the time being anyway I'm happy that I got rid of the base station and all of the IR flashers. BTW the 980 isn't in fact touch screen - or if it is I haven't figured out how to use it! The LCD screen at the top just displays the icons and each one corresponds to a hard button on either side of the remote. Similar to the 850 - just that the 850 was text only.

I would love to see some pics of your setup - are they out there on this site anywhere?

Mine is pretty junior as I only have a small wall to work with in my basement but I'm pretty happy with it!

Yes. I know that the 980 is not a touch screen. It's just that the button size & placement (thinner and longer remote) made it a bit uncomfortable - at least for my hand- to navigate, compared to the 850. The buttons were just a bit out of reach for me and were harder to pinpoint without having to look at them. The buttons on the 850 have greater separation and are raised more, giving me a better feel to navigate without looking.

I guess it's just preference. Similar to a Mac keyboard and your conventional PC keyboard. I feel that I can type much faster on a conventional keyboard, compared to the "modern" style of the Mac.

I never had pics posted on this site, but I just took some pics from my phone. I am trying to attach them to the post, but am having no luck.

There's is 60" in the middle and 40" TVs around it. The cabinetry was custom built with an integrator. The top 3 TVs, the drop down screen, projector, in-wall & in ceiling speakers, the racks (frames) and in-wall wiring were done by an installer. All other components, wiring, and programming were done/installed by me.

I've had this setup for about 5 years now (The TVs look a little dated)


EDIT: Can someone direct me on how to attach pics? The advanced preview pane says to just drag them onto the message, but that doesn't seem to work. How can I upload them to this site? Thanks.

SportsFan....if you can upload them to Flickr or tinypic or something similar you can post them by going to "Advanced" mode, clicking the picture icon and entering the url of where teh pic is hosted.

I misread your post above, I see that you were referring to the MX-3000. Again, so far no real issues with using the 980 but I've only been using it for 1 night. I'll let you know how I like it after a few weeks.

I found some icon packs, even some in the Files area of this board. How the hell do I navigate to or use them in CCP? The Fusion 2.0 one downloaded as a Program and the ones on this site are all .zips. When I open the image gallery in CCP there are only a few default options I can select from. Any ideas? Any help appreciated. Thanks!

The images (icons/button elements, etc.) in CCP are located in a Folder called Complete Control Program. Try to locate that in your computer. Then, within that is a series of subfolders. Open MX-980, then Images.

This is where you would then have to create a new "Theme" folder (Alpha 2, for example, or Fusion) You create this new folder by copying the folder that you found online and copying and/or renaming its contents to your liking and placing it in the images folder.

There are many threads here that show you step by step on how to do that.

As far as backgrounds and wallpapers, you can just insert any image you want. You just have to make sure that the image size of the picture is 240 x 320 pixels, which can be created or re-sized using the tools found here, as well.

Be careful to always practice loading your new graphics into a "copy" of a folder first. You don't want to accidentally tamper with the default files with CCP. Might be better to just create new folders and themes as you make your modifications rather than running the risk of messing up the existing ones.

That is pretty awesome. Where does your projector screen drop? In front of all of that?

Thanks for the tips, I appreciate it. Mostly figured out now.

Thanks.

It's about due for an upgrade. Like I had mentioned before, the TVs are very dated. Look at the thick bezels. Uhg!

The projector and screen are fairly new, though. We got them in 2010.

The screen drops right in front of the TVs and cabinetry and stops just above the center speaker.

We wanted to have the screen retract from inside the ceiling, but unfortunately, there is a support beam that runs perpendicular. So, we ended up getting a Stewart Filmscreen Cabaret - it was the most aesthetically pleasing retractable screen case available, in our opinion (had to please the wifey).

The projector is mounted on the ceiling above a pool table and sticks out like a sore thumb. Eventually, we want to build an enclosure to house it in to make it look a bit neater.

I was thinking of putting it inside a giant scoreboard, like the ones you see in a sports arena, to go with the sports theme we have in the room. It's kind of funny, because after browsing the internet a couple years ago to look for some ideas on how to go about fabricating a scoreboard enclosure, I ran into this...

http://www.electronichouse.com/article/hockey_themed_theater_serves_up_jumbo_fun/

It's exactly what I had envisioned. Soooooooo awesome!

One day, I'm gonna have a scoreboard above the pool table that's gonna look just as cool.