Ok, goldenrulze and others have really illuminated some things about variables lately. I've been getting my feet wet doing things with some variables that utilize direct RS-232 status queries of various gear and then reacting differently based on the response back. That's great and all, and working well.

I have a use case I'm trying to get my arms around before going further with Variables for power tracking of devices that DO NOT have discrete on/off. A couple of things to better understand the use case:

1. All my Audio/Video gear is centrally located in Zone 1. All source equipment is in one large rack, everything. So the ONLY thing in each of the other zones is a display (TV) and the speakers (typically wall-mounted).

2. Each of my URC remotes is basically designated to ONLY control the zone in which it sits. So, the MX-5000 for Zone 1 has extensive macro's and all programming with the intention that it controls all switching for Zone 1 only. Likewise, the MX-6000 in Zone 2 is programmed to control Zone 2 primarily, with no real interest in mixing its functionality with the remote for Zone 1, etc. etc. Same with Zone 3, dedicated remote for it. But all wiring goes back to the central rack in Zone 1, where I have among other things, a 3-zone pre-amp/processor (the Anthem D2V).

So the question is this - if I construct straightforward, simple Power-status tracking True/False Variables for 2 source components that DO NOT have discrete on/off, will the "awareness" of their current power state only work within the particular remote that is being used to control them at the time, or can the knowlege of their power state be somehow made aware to the other remotes in the other zones???

So, in other words, someone in Zone 1 may choose "Listen" to "Sirius", which of course would turn on the pre-amp Zone 1 power, turn on the Sirius tuner (setting its variable state to "On"), and set the pre-amp to the input for the Sirius tuner. All is well. But then someone in Zone 2 decides "hey, I'd like to listen to that Sirius that dad is listening to in Zone 1"...so he grabs the remote, an MX-6000, and hits "Listen" to "Sirius", and of course the macro turns on Zone 2 power on the pre-amp, switches the Zone 2 input on the pre-amp to Sirius device, and then what? Powers on the Sirius tuner would normally occur...but again, the Sirius tuner is already on, because it's being leveraged for Zone 1 already, so is there a way for the MX-6000 in Zone 2 to know that the Sirius tuner is already on, and not try to toggle the Power on it???? And then likewise know the situations in which it's Off, and will then power it on?

Sorry for the rather lengthy explanation, but I'm just trying to make sure the use case is understood. Hopefully it's clear. I suspect the answer to my question is a loud "NO CAN DO", but I'm hoping I'm wrong. I guess the real question is "are variables that track things like power status shared across different remotes, or are they only useful to the extent their knowlege and tracking lives within a SINGLE remote"???

Thoughts? Thanks as always.

There is no way for the remotes to know. You're setting a variable on the remote, you need a base station where you would set the variables. That way when someone tries to run the same macro, it's running from the base station, not the remote. The MSC-400 can do this.

Got it. Yeah, I was kind of expecting that was the answer. The MSC-400 would store the macro's locally, so that inter-zone awareness of all components' power state, etc. would be maintained. Damn. My MRX-2's are not worthy it seems.

Well, at least I now know what I'd have to do to dial it up a notch. Thanks for the clarity on that.

The only problem is the MSC-400 can't be programmed with a 64bit OS so you have to have either an older computer running a 32bit OS or XP mode installed.

Interesting. Not a problem in my case, but good to know. The other thought I just had would be to avoid the purchase of an MSC-400 entirely, and just use the "Voltage Sensor" ports on my MRX-2's (1 on each device) to control the 2 source components that don't have discrete on/off. In particular, I'd really like to have power status knowledge of my Sirius satellite radio tuner, the old but trusty SR-H550. Anyone know which Voltage sensor would work and how to connect it to my dead simple Sirius tuner component?

You could try using the Xantech SMMAGO1 with the CBCSM1 Connecting block. Don't know if the tuner is going to draw enough power but about the only way I can think of.

Hmmm, I'm reading up on the CSM1 without using a CBCSM1 at all. Seems it *may* be possible...I'm over my skis a bit on this, but I'll keep looking into it. Thanks!

Or you could do what everybody else does and just leave the tuner on.