This might be an odd thread (maybe even offensive?) but bear with me (or move it to the correct forum :))

What alternative is there to the MX-3000?

The reason I ask here is because I currently own a MX-3000, but since it's very hard to get any support for it (apparently buying it on eBay is "forbidden" and living in Sweden doesn't make it very easy to come by it in any other way) I'm starting to look for a replacement.

Don't get me wrong, I really REALLY like my MX3000, but it has some quirks...

- Crackle and pop when lighting the screen (a feature)
- Lack of response from hard buttons when not awake
- Horrible RF system (which I didn't know until I burned money on the MRF-350)
- Revives the whole "battery memory" issue from the old NiCd era

But the biggest issue by far is the lack of official support (battery, software, upgrades, etc). It's the main reason for me to start looking around.

I don't want a new remote where the company that makes it shuts you out because you didn't know better, nor do I want a remote with lesser functionality (especially the variables are important to me).

Any suggestions?

I'll be very interested in the responses you receive since I'm considering the MX 3000 and looking for alternative comparisons. I've looked at the NevoSL and Pronto Professional TSU 9600 so far.

I'm curious about some of your comments since you have "hands on" user experience with it. The RF of the remote interests me but I'm concerned about your comment. How bad is the RF for this remote? (I've read where you have to take the setting of the MRF-xxx receiver off the default setting of 0; did you try this and did it not work?)

How long before the battery went bad? Is there not a standardized replacement for it?

Thanks

I played a lot with the RF but it was a hit or miss. In most cases a miss. The default setting is the first thing you change since it will never work otherwise. Basically, the IR blaster in the front of the MRF unit was worthless (less power than a regular remote) so you have to use the smaller IR heads. The commands from the remote were received 70% of the time, but only 5% of the received commands would result in a correct IR transmission.

We tested the RF at work (we have a lab for testing RF since we work with bluetooth and the likes) and the signal is far from clean. The RF signal spreads about 20Mhz +/- from the 418Mhz signal which explains why the remote would be able to control some of my 433Mhz equipment (lights, etc). Weird!

As for the battery, it worked about 3 days per charge (no big deal, had it in the charger when I wasn't using it) but lately (approx 1 year after purchase) the battery lasts a couple of hours if I'm lucky. No matter of rebooting and/or disconnecting/reconnecting the battery fixes this.

And replacement... I have emailed them but gotten no reply (unless my spam filter chewed it), but even if I did get a replacement, it would probably cost me quite a bit of money since I'm not a "valid" user and since I'm not a US resident, I'd be taxed and whatnot.

Apparently, the battery should be a standard battery and thus possible to buy elsewhere but good luck finding anyone who sells PowerCard batteries ;)

But as I said, I can live with all but the lack of support. Having to buy a new battery each year would also get tiresome the second time :(

Thanks. That is unfortunate. As I said earlier, the RF issue concerns me quite a bit as that was one reason for upgrading to the MX 3000. However, if the RF does not work well, then I guess I may be back to the drawing board on what remote to get. I'll follow your thread and hope you have good luck finding a decent replacement.

The RF problems are not in the remote themselves, rather in the MRF base stations. There's a couple threads in this forum on how to improve their performance...one using ferrite cores and one using decoupling capacitors. You may be able to use one of them to improve the RF performance.

The newer MX-3000s (Built after April 1 2005) have a more narrow band transmitter which is what makes them work MUCH better with the MRF-350 and MSC-400 (Specifically the RFX-250 antenna).

The older remotes were a little "sloppy", but that has been resolved. I have had much success with MX-3000s and MRF-350s/MSC-400s. We've done many of them and the reception was exceptional.

Ah, yes, d'oh! They were measuring the outputs of the remote, therefore it has nothing to do with the basestation. Well actually it does. But that's a different sort of problem.

Just ignore me and read Ericjb's post.

i have had a GREAT number of successfull installs with the mx-3000 as well as the mrf-300,350 and msc-400...

Wow!! what an idea..buy something thats supposed to work and then you have to mess with it to get it to work. sounds like a design flaw

We gave up after numerous failed installs or installs that were intermittant.

as a DIY I wouldnt mind messing around withit to make it work better, but as a CI, having to fix it in the field on my dime to get it working to keep the client happy wont fly.

the MX3000 was the only remote we had RF issues with...I havent done a 900, 950, 1000 as we had to move on..to much lost time in messing with the 3000

although its been reported that many have had no issues with any install they have done

Okay, so apparently the RF issue is fixed (how do I check the exact date? Mine is 2005 something). Back to the main question...

Is there an alternative?

Maybe a Pronto. There's other touchscreen remotes out there, but I've yet to find one that I like better.

I have only used Universal Remotes in the past and today with all the problems I had and have had in the past I will NEVER use another URC remote.

Almost every install I did with URC needed tweeking and although in the end it was good, the frustration was high.

Just today, after using the new Suite of programs, my computer hung up...(fixed that) and then the RF will not work...and on the phone with them for over an hour and they could not even fugure it out.

I was so angry and frustrated that I bought another BRAND NEW computer and that did not solve the problem.

Find out later that there is a bug in the new Suite of programs.

I am off of URC!

DAMN, I am so frustrated with manufacturers that sell gear that has no discretes, remotes with no real fix to RF and remotes that cost so much money and just do not work.

I just got home and need to have a beer and a good supper and then figure out what I am to do. But I can tell you that URC is out.

What are my choices? Forget Harmony...I hate Pronto and most customers do as well, and RTI..???

Good thing about living out here in the jungle - not a whole lot of RF interference and so far I've had no problems with my MX-3000 & MRF-250. Combination works well without any problems. I might be speaking too soon, mind you. Guess one bonus of the new Pronto [TSU9600 & RFX9400] is that it uses WiFi instead of RF. Sounds a whole lot more reliable to me. Also, they have a far stronger network/supply chain than URC will ever have.

We changed over to RTI about 2 years ago from URC...I still hate the URC service calls, as I know I will be there for the day just to add a few buttons because the RF will quite working when Im there and I will waste the day trying to get it back.

We have had no issues with RTI, the RF has been 100% on all of our jobs, easy to program and they just work.

was at a job yesterday looking to upgrade a media room and client asked if we could fix the billiard room remote...was a MX900 and MRF350.....some lazy ass did such a crappy programming job on it..he has no audio..but all the buttons were there, and all watch buttons were scattered on the screen and no macros..had to select each device individually to power them on, then select tv and then input, then source to get it all working..would have been better with all of the remotes....I told him we could replace it with RTI and he should take it back to who ever sold it to him...I think it was CC...was a nice install too...looks like they busted a hole in the wall with a hammer to pass the wires through the wall..no cover plate, power cord dropped to the wall outlet below and had extra slack to the floor

I wouldn't mind a pronto (had one of the older models with 16 grayscales or something) which worked fine (but lacked in programability) so if there is a pronto which supports variables, I wouldn't mind switching back.

As blakrj said, they have a much better network of suppliers

However, if no such pronto exists, the only alternative is RTI, I guess...

But how well does their support work (especially if you're not an installer, just an enthusiastic home user). I don't want to get stuck with a remote where I can't get new software updates and if part X fails (battery, RF station, whatever), it cannot be replaced.

Which RTI model would equal the MX-3000 in functionality? A T3 or T4 seems logical but I can't see if any of the remotes support variables.

Also, how would I buy it? Preferably somewhere close (sweden :)) but any eu country would suffice.