They definitely could and should. The policy basically throws dealers under the bus and creates negativity towards us. The simple fact is I and pretty much every dealer like me is simply not set up to take tech support calls. I'm sure you can handle it, but others who boasted about their engineering degrees and computer savvy have come in and asked how to do some pretty remedial tasks. It's not about difficulty and more about training and experience. I do feel bad for those that get caught in the middle, but I myself just have to bow out after the influx of people that felt the need to go on the attack for simply doing my job while I was going above and beyond to help people here as well when I could.

Custom Installers don't sell remotes. They sell "systems". A programmed remote is part of that system. The idea that if i sell someone a system that has a URC remote in it...and i fail to give the client software...i am a scam artist...is absolutely ridiculous.

If i give the software to the client who is responsible for teaching the client to use it? How much should i charge for this? $100 an hour sound fair? How many hours do you think it will take for me to learn to be a teacher and then actually teach the client? Should the client pay for my time learning to be a teacher?

Who is responsible if the client mucks up the program and doesn't save a backup? Is it okay for me to charge the client for a copy of the program that he screwed up? Can i charge him for the time i spend emailing him about this potential issue?

The bottom line here is that Custom Installers are not Remote Sellers. URC remotes programmed in CCP are not consumer products. Consumers who purchase these items should not expect to have access to programming software. URC does not have consumer support available. Custom Installers are not interested in supporting DIY programming.

Having said that...i have no problem selling a remote and providing the client with software. Once they get it they are on their own unless they want to pay me $100 an hour to teach them how to program it over skype...assuming i have time.

Mac, what is the advantage of using CCP to program? Why not just release more DIY programming remotes? I'm assuming there are some powerful advantages inherent in using CCP to makeup for the headaches it causes with not being able to sell to consumers etc.

When you say more DIY remotes what do you mean? Programming via PC software is the only way to do it in my opinion. I won't even touch remotes that force you to punch in buttons to program them. Even Harmony has software for programming.

There are no headaches. It's just a different business model. Of course McDonalds could sell $20 steaks but that isn't the market they are after. If a burger patty spoils they dont care because it probably costs them 10 cents. If a $20 steak spoils it costs them more than 10 cents. The mcdonalds business model targets cheap fast food.

URC's professional product business model targets Custom Installers...who will take it out of the shipping box and handle everything else. I don't know why this is their business model. Maybe because 20+ years ago there was barely a consumer market for $500-5000 remotes so they relied on Custom Installers to sell them. I am sure they would love to put their stuff on Amazon and have people order packages with prime shipping and figure it all out on their own. The problem right now though is that if they flipped a switch and listed all their hardware for sale on amazon and gave away the software to everyone...their phone would start to ring...and ring...and ring...and never stop ringing from the thousands of calls like...

End User: This remote is junk and doesnt work
URC Tech: Did you turn your computer on sir?
End User: No.
URC Tech: Thats probably why you cant see the software on your screen,
End User: Whats a screen?
URC Tech: Please hold sir....(gives boss middle finger, runs out of the office and keeps running until the soles of his shoes have worn through.

The big difference between CCP and something like the MX-450 is speed. It is the difference between typing with a keyboard and typing on an old flip phone. It would cost more to program an MX-450 than an MX-780 including that the MX-780 is $50 more expensive.

Now CCP does have other features like variables, if/else, toggles, graphics and sounds for those remote capable, sleep timer for remotes capable, a few other goodies like button changing to a variable on some remotes. Also if using the KP-4000 keypad, phone or tablet then you have RS-232, IP and sensors. Simple things like moving buttons around is a lot easier.

If you choose your equipment wisely, meaning equipment that has discrete codes, you can have excellent reliability with an MX-450. It is a very nice remote and for 95% of the systems out there it will be more than adequate and what CCP offers over it is not needed.

The biggest difference is speed in programming. If you plan on programming multiple remotes for various systems in your home or for friends and family then it might be worth the time to learn CCP. If you plan on just a couple remotes for your home, your time would be better spent programming an MX-450.

Some installers are very successful using the MX-450 for their remotes, especially if they sell systems. They get a few basic systems set up on a 450 and then just use its archiver to download to the remote for whichever system they are installing. It's also nice to not need a laptop to make some changes.

I know our company also gave out the software to people that asked. Every one of them said they are a programmer of some type and it should be easy for them and every one of them would call and ask questions on how to do various things with the remotes. Some of them think tech support should be free because we sold them the product.

It is not that the software is that hard but it does have a learning curve and it is something if you don't use it that often you will forget how to do various aspects of it. Like I said there online companies that sell these if you would like one, just make sure they provide the software.