I just purchased an MX-780 off of Ebay for $5.  I should get it delivered tomorrow. The remote won't turn on for an unknown reason.  From what I can from the pictures, the case and buttons are in great condition.  I am hoping to salvage them (as a minimum) for spare parts in case something happens to my wife's remote.

I have disassembled an MX-500 and MX-850 in the past.  I ended up breaking most of the tabs on the MX-500 and had to toss it.  The MX-850 went better and I only damage a couple of tabs.

Anyone have experience with disassembling the MX-780?

Mike

In case anyone was interested:

I am happy to report that the MX-780 is very easy to open and reassemble without any damage.  It took me about a half hour to take the remote completely apart and put it back together.

Unfortunately, I didn't see any obvious reason for why the remote doesn't work.  I am guessing a bad circuit board.

For 5 bucks I now have a spare case and spare buttons if I ever need them.

Mike

Hi Mike,

Could i ask you how you got your MX-780 apart? My R40's OLED screen has been getting dimmer and dimmer over the past 3+ years and it's now so dim that i can barely see it to re-configure the remote, but i also have a 2nd R40 that's defective (forgets learned commands) but the screen on this one works and while it's still not as bright as when new, it's still brighter than my good R40 and i'm hoping that i can detach the screen then transplant that brighter screen into my dim remote - hopefully without wiping out the 12 devices i have programmed into it and the tons of macros.

I tried to twist and pull and push on that spare R40 but i can't get the halves to separate and i'd like to practice on this 2nd one without breaking it before opening my primary unit. What's the trick?

Thanks for any help,

Randy

You will have to separate the shell with a thin flat head screwdriver, butterknife, or preferably a watch opening tool used to change watch batteries. You will have to continue up the remote and keep twisting whatever tool you use to separate the shell. It might help to insert a second tool or knife to hold the shell from closing as you go.

This is the method I used for the MX-780.  Required very little prying and I used a plastic razor blade to keep from doing any damage.

Thanks guys, that was a big help. I twisted it firmly which popped it loose near the Light button, then stuck a nail file in there and started working my way around the remote and it came apart without damage.

Unfortunately the OLED screen is attached by a wide flex ribbon that bends 180 degrees and disappears underneath the screen holder and seems to be soldered inside there. I tugged on it in case it just plugs in but it doesn't budge.

My friend also has an R40 that has dimmed considerably over time (seems to be about half as bright as it was when new). I'm concerned that these OLED screens don't maintain their brightness over time so i'm very hesitant to upgrade to an MX-780 now if the screen is going to go dark in a few years.

Hey Randy,

just out of curiosity, have you tried to readust the brightness on the mx780 with the dimmed screen or it will simply have no effect on the display ?

I am asking this because I am watching a used mx780 which is said to be extremely dimmed so I was wondering if resetting or re-adjust the brighness would solve this issue ? or the display (or driver) is really bad ?

Thanks

The display is bad - adjusting the brightness doesn't help since the OLED screen itself loses it's brightness over time.

I would completely avoid buying any used MX-780 or X-7. Even if you only plan to use the hard buttons, once that OLED screen gets too dark you won't be able to access or see the remote's system settings menus. My own MX-780 has gotten so dim it's virtually useless now since we can't see the Activities macros i've placed on the screen. I know them by memory, but the wife doesn't.

I have switched over to the much better MX-890 which has an LCD screen that won't get dim over time.

URC is aware of the MX-780's dimming screen problem and new ones are now made with an LCD screen instead of OLED.