I have the typical MX remotes using RF to MRF units to convert to IR.

Has URC come out with anything where you can program on your iPhone/iPad and buy some hardware module to use with your existing hardware? If not, heard of any plans for them to do so?

Their MXhomePro series is web based and can be programmed from any device. You can also make updates to a customer's file from offsite. It does not work with any of the CCP hardware only the MXHomePro hub for the base station and MXhomePro remote. The remote is not needed if the customer wants to use a phone or tablet for their remote. The hub has 4 IR ports and a blaster but devices can be controlled IP with it as well.

The MRX-2 & CCP Mobile card is still an option. Not 2-way, but it will work nicely with an existing CCP stick remote if you add the RFX-250 to the system as well.

If you are replacing a mrf300 or 350, you can just use the RFX from that and connect to the MRX2.

What is the difference between MRX2 and MRX1?

the MRX2 is newer.  I believe it also has capability of doing 2way RS232, but only with Total Control.

The difference is 1 :-D

I wanted to summarize:

My goal is to integrate iPhone and iPad into my existing RF system. I want to program the iPads and iPhones myself

I can use the mrx1 (less expensive) to do this?

What is the software you use to program iPads and iPhones? Can you use CCP or do you have to use total control? I have CCP, bit as I understand it Total Control is not available to end users.

you can use the mrx1 and it programs with CCP.  You add an iphone and/or ipad to the file.  You just need to get a license from URC.  Once you have a license, it ties to the mac address of the mrx1/2.  This is done in the CCP software.

There is a separate license for iDevices and Android devices so if you need both types you need 2 licenses. Each has a retail of $199 plus the MRX-1/2 ($399 MSRP), so this could cost a lot to add that functionality to your system. Although, I am sure you can find them discounted somewhere.

Please don't take this post as a complaint. I actually am looking for your opinion. I have 3 MRF base stations that would have to be changed. So the ability to add my iphones to control everything would be over a $1k investment. Probably not worth it.

I have to admit, part of the reasons was convenience and having lots of iOS devices around all the time. But a part of me just wanted to learn something new and program iPhones as remotes :)

Learning CCP has been kinda fun...

You only need the license on 1 of the MRX1/2 basestations.

So if you found some MRX1/2 used on ebay, you should be able to get this done for less than half of the 1k you mentioned.