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Topic:
Is it just me...?
This thread has 32 replies. Displaying posts 16 through 30.
Post 16 made on Wednesday July 13, 2016 at 01:38
greenstarfish03
Lurking Member
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November 2011
9
Well I floated around awhile back when I first got my MX-450 but I never really got much help. A few people tried but I got a lot more answers like check out the control room which at the time just confused me for a while. I finally got my remote programed via other sources and I had no need to come back. I recently got a new cable box and am having issues so I figured I would give it another try but Im not going to hold my breath. For me if I didn't have this URC and if it didn't work I would go a different direction just b/c the downloads, updates, and information is so hard to get if not impossible. That is just me a normal DIY'er POV.

Thanks
Joe
OP | Post 17 made on Thursday July 14, 2016 at 12:51
Control Remotes
Super Member
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August 2003
3,434
Joe,

The manually programmable remotes are less frequently used by installers, and as a result, less answers to be provided by the installers here. I haven't installed a manually programmable remote in about 10 years, because the PC programmable models are much faster to program, easier to adjust programming on, and are easier to update. Nothing against the MX-450, of course. Everything has it's place.

That being said...have you tried learning the commands from the new cable box remote to the 450? That's one of the major selling points - it doesn't become "obsolete", since you can always teach new commands to it that aren't in the database.



Damon
Remote Programming Services for URC Remotes
http://www.PremierAVDesigns.com - 914-509-5360
Follow me on Twitter @HomeTheaterNY
Post 18 made on Thursday July 14, 2016 at 17:46
Darnitol
Universal Remote Control Inc.
Joined:
Posts:
June 1999
2,070
I've been here since Pronto was an up-and-coming thing, and I think there are a couple of reasons all forums are seeing declines. First, the technology requires a lot more knowledge to install and program these days. That barrier to entry cuts out a lot of DIY people in the first place. Second is that URC has definitely put a greater focus on 2-way technologies. Again, you have to know more to get started. And yes, URC decided to get out of the DIY market mostly. Although it's not the primary reason for focusing on pro installers, it's much more cost effective to send one person to training so he can answer his own questions than to staff 100 extra phones to painstakingly diagnose and solve software and hardware issues over the phone. One long call like that can eliminate the profit margin for an already-sold device.

Anyway, no matter what I say on this subject, someone gets angry at me and I end up not posting again for months. And honestly folks, I really do believe that's been a big part of the decline too. It only takes a few hostile voices on a forum to make the whole place sound hell-bent on running you off. Even if you're not the one they're mad at, you still have to wade through the arguments to find useful or entertaining content. Heck, at a former company I was in charge of the technical support department. We had to have one of our customers arrested because he made repeated death threats on me... because our software didn't have a feature that he had seen in a competitor's product. People get passionate about technology.

I've been using online forums since dial-up BBS days at 1200 baud, so I knew when I joined URC over 11 years ago that I'd end up becoming an outsider here online in some ways. I was bummed, but I was prepared for it. I'm still here. I still send occasional PMs to folks whose questions I'm able and allowed to answer. One guy got a battery in the mail he wasn't expecting. Another got a spare cable I had at home. I do what I can when I can.

The more we're human, the more humane the world becomes.
I'm a member of the Remote Central community, just like you! My comments here are my own, and in no way express the opinions, policies, or plans of Universal Remote Control, Inc.
Post 19 made on Thursday July 14, 2016 at 19:58
goldenzrule
Loyal Member
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July 2007
8,470
Good to see your still around Dale. Hope all is well with you.
OP | Post 20 made on Friday July 15, 2016 at 10:52
Control Remotes
Super Member
Joined:
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Well said, Dale! Nice to see you around!



Damon
Remote Programming Services for URC Remotes
http://www.PremierAVDesigns.com - 914-509-5360
Follow me on Twitter @HomeTheaterNY
Post 21 made on Monday July 18, 2016 at 08:38
Total Control Remotes
Super Member
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July 2006
2,987
Hi Dale, glad to see you are still following. I think many DIY around here (and I have spoken with and met many of these guys - they are incredibly smart and technical) feel like URC did it to be pro-integrator and am glad you explained it. By selling to a focused audience you can not only service your product better, but get your culture, and best results to your clients. Glad you brought that up.
Post 22 made on Tuesday July 19, 2016 at 13:44
Ernie Gilman
Yes, That Ernie!
Joined:
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December 2001
30,104
Yes, Thanks, Dale.

I always saw it as URC's reasonable lack of willingness to have people staff the phones and answer questions for people who were only ever going to program one system. It's just not something a company can afford to do.

Nice to see you're following things still!

By the way, if you think posts have dropped off here and in the Custom Installers forum, you should check out HDTV, that is, the one where people used to talk about TV antennas. That entire segment is WAY DOWN! Aside from the stickies, the last four posts are from July 18, July 15, July 4 and May 11. Now THAT is fewer posts!
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything.
"The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
Post 23 made on Wednesday July 20, 2016 at 10:49
dtc
Long Time Member
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March 2004
155
On July 19, 2016 at 13:44, Ernie Gilman said...
Yes, Thanks, Dale.

I always saw it as URC's reasonable lack of willingness to have people staff the phones and answer questions for people who were only ever going to program one system. It's just not something a company can afford to do.

Harmony has developed a model for dealing with single users. It includes an online programming model and personal support as needed. URC could have done something similar, it just was too different a model for them to pursue. Sales revenue for Harmony remotes is, I believe, several times URC's revenue.

I completely understand URC's decision not to pursue this market, but that does not mean that others cannot be successful in it.
Post 24 made on Wednesday July 20, 2016 at 12:38
Darnitol
Universal Remote Control Inc.
Joined:
Posts:
June 1999
2,070
It's absolutely possible to be successful in the consumer space. It just requires a different business model.
I'm a member of the Remote Central community, just like you! My comments here are my own, and in no way express the opinions, policies, or plans of Universal Remote Control, Inc.
Post 25 made on Wednesday July 20, 2016 at 15:16
SRTShaker
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
June 2016
55
@Darnitol

I wish that URC would include the software and just offer pay support for the tech challenged. You underestimate what the DIY crowd is capable of. I am a huge fan of your remotes and in under three hours I had a good grasp of what needed to be done to program my MX-1200 and MX-890. I am/was very familiar with the Pronto Edit and CCP is pretty straight forward. It is not that difficult to do. Anyone looking at your remotes should be capable of programming it, if not then they can pay for support. Harmony remotes are garbage compared to your product and I wish your company would embrace the DIY crowd. Pronto left a big void that someone needs to fill. Harmony like Apple offers too much hand holding for my taste. I prefer Android and the freedom it brings much like your remotes.

Last edited by SRTShaker on July 20, 2016 15:57.
I've paid for my sins. We're even!
Post 26 made on Wednesday July 20, 2016 at 18:20
mdavej
Active Member
Joined:
Posts:
December 2002
627
JP1 is an excellent option for the DIY crowd and a very inexpensive one. Our software (born right here at remotecentral back in 2000) is over 15 years old now and very mature, supporting over 100 remote models with some very sophisticated functionality normally found only in high end remotes. Long gone are the days of managing JP1 remote configs in Excel and needed a degree in computer science. You can drag and drop to program or twiddle bits like in the old days if you prefer. Easily convert pronto codes to JP1 codes and vice versa. Many JP1 remotes now even include a USB cable, so no hardware expertise is required anymore either.

The Nevo C3 is a very inexpensive higher end remote still available on ebay, similar in many ways to the MX-890 and many older Pronto models. For IR only, the Nevo C2 is only $16 and a joy to program using Remote Master. The average DIYer should definitely give it a look.

Check out my write up here:
[Link: hifi-remote.com]

Yes, Nevo is the same as the Xsight which was given a lukewarm review here (still on the front page) years ago mainly due to the poor programming software from UEI. But since we've added support to Remote Master, it has a new lease on life and is worth serious consideration now.

As for URC and others not wanting to bother with DIY, I can understand that. It probably costs Logitech a lot more money to support their product and its millions of end users than URC supporting a relative handful of integrators. We JP1ers support each other for free since we wrote the software. UEI benefits from all the free work we've done without spending a dime.

Last edited by mdavej on July 20, 2016 19:03.
Post 27 made on Thursday July 21, 2016 at 09:59
SRTShaker
Long Time Member
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Posts:
June 2016
55
^^^^ Does this software support URC Remotes?
I've paid for my sins. We're even!
Post 28 made on Thursday July 21, 2016 at 10:10
mdavej
Active Member
Joined:
Posts:
December 2002
627
On July 21, 2016 at 09:59, SRTShaker said...
^^^^ Does this software support URC Remotes?

Only UEI. Here's a fairly complete list of supported models:

[Link: hifi-remote.com]

Last edited by mdavej on July 21, 2016 11:44.
Post 29 made on Thursday July 21, 2016 at 14:58
BobL
Founding Member
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March 2002
1,351
SRT,

I understand your frustration but I would say youare the exception an not the rule. Many DIYers would require some support. I come from an engineering and programming educations and have programmed about every control system as it comes easy to me but I have found that is not true of everybody.

Our small company has given out the URC software on occasion and usually to very intelligent people like yourself with EE, IT, programming, etc. backgrounds. EVERY one of them has called with various questions and needed at least 15 minutes of help to accomplish what they were trying to do. Some a lot more time.

We have spent a lot of time helping them and have never charged the for the time. But, it has made us change our policies on giving out the software when asked.

There are a lot of DIYers that are capable of programming these remotes, especially ones like yourself that have programmed prontos and other remotes. These remotes are not extremely difficult to program but if you have never done one before it is not intuitive like the Harmony's wizard based approach. Most DIYers would not even be familiar with terms like 'punch through' or 'macro'. I think you underestimate the amount of tech support that would be needed if these remotes were marketed to DIYers and the general public.
Post 30 made on Thursday July 21, 2016 at 16:15
SRTShaker
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
June 2016
55
^^^

I appreciate your honest response. In my business career I have only dealt with contracts and my company has always maintained what we designed and installed. "Uncle Sam" has very deep pockets, so our systems were always "maintained" regardless if they needed maintenance or not, especially after 911. Even my IT business has contracts in place and no one touches the networks or equipment but myself or my people.
In my personal world though, I have never had to call Phillips or URC for tech support. There are quite a few very knowledgeable and helpful forum members who are eager to help with any questions or issues that I had come up. I guess I am blinded by dealing only with professionals in my current and former business life. I am naive to how challenging dealing with an end user can be. Most of the people I run with with are EEs, Military officers and very tech savvy. Our conversations would bore most people but we always try to out do one another by coming up with some new tech idea or device.

Slightly off topic... A good buddy of mine. former Helicopter Mechanic.. Just installed NOS in his Hellcat... 1012 HP... That's for another forum. Breathless under acceleration.

Last edited by SRTShaker on July 21, 2016 16:31.
I've paid for my sins. We're even!
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