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Just bought a MX-900. Don't care for it.
This thread has 31 replies. Displaying posts 1 through 15.
Post 1 made on Friday September 22, 2006 at 15:53
sparky3
Lurking Member
Joined:
Posts:
January 2004
6
Hello, I've had a few URC products over the last few years, including a MX-500, MX-350 and MX-650.
I bought the MX-900 to control:

Marantz SR7400 receiver
Sony 50" Grand Wega RP LCD
Sony Tivo SVR-2000
Sony DVD/VCR combo
Shuttle PC in the basment (learned commands through a IR keyboard)
Phatnoise Home Digital Media Player
Voom Satellite receiver (for OTA HD, since Time Warner doesn't get Fox/ABC in HD)
Scientific Atlanta 8300HD

Well, I'm a firm believer in hard buttons, and the fatal flaw in my opinion with the MX-900 (and 950 IMO) is the lack of the central "gemstone" keypad in the center. With any of my other URC remotes, I had FF and Rewind mapped to the "Right and Left" keys on the URC, and the "FF and Rewind" keys function as "Right and Left".

We're heavy Tivo/HD fast forwarders / rewinders, so we never needed to look at the remote to FF/RW Tivo or 8300HD content. Now, with the MX-900, I find myself constantly feeling for the FF/RW buttons and have hit "skip" on accident many times. If I map the central keypad to FF/RW, then there's no logical buttons to replace "Right and Left".

Problem #2 - I have a pc in the basement with VGA 15 pin out, which goes to a RGB -> Component transceiver, then to an audio/video balun which takes component + digital audio across UTP (Ethernet). Upstairs, there is another exact dongle which takes it back to component + digital audio. Works great. I control the pc with a small IR keyboard with a built-in mouse, and blast the IR to a little Radio Shack Triangular receiver, and the transmitter is in the basement blasting to the IR reciever that came with the keyboard. Works great; I can surf the web, play downloaded movies etc. to the big screen upstairs. But the key thing I like to do is run winamp, and have the ability to load various playlists with the remote control. For example, I'll have a predefined playlist with Big Band songs. In Windows XP, I have that .m3u playlist file setup to execute when CTRL+ALT+9 is hit. The MX-350 and MX-900 had trouble learning these types of IR sequences, but the MX-650 (and MX-500) learned them without a hitch.
I have a macro that executes CTRL+SHIFT+K (This starts the visualizations), then a pause, then F2 (Displays artist/song info), then F3 (Displays song time elapsed).
At any rate, the MX-900 absolutely refuses to learn some of these codes. I've tried it many different ways, and the MX-650 seems like it will learn anything where the MX-900 fails.

#3 - I hate the "Learn" and "Watch" Buttons. Perhaps in time I'd get used to this, but for now it feels like I have to remind myself to hit that button first. With the MX-650 I have 10 hard buttons and the top and it's easier for my wife to hit "AM/FM" from the main page than "Listen"..."AM/FM". It's just an unnecessary extra step.

#4 - More on the FF/RW - with the buttons being that low on the remote, it's awkward on your thumb to hold the remote if you're fast fowarding through a long movie or sporting event.

#5 - No hard "Favorites" button. What a mistake!

#6 - No hard "Record" button! Sure, I can add this to the LCD menu, but with all the Tivos and DVRs these days, what a hassle!


I will say the programming sofware is very slick, but once you program your remote they way you want it, what's the point? It's not worth the extra $$$ to me for this feature. I don't change components often enough to justify the extra cost.


So anyway, I'm selling the MX-900, complete with box, manual, etc. Email me ([email protected]) if you're interested. I would take a MX-650 + cash, provided everything works on it.


Shawn
OP | Post 2 made on Friday September 22, 2006 at 16:31
sparky3
Lurking Member
Joined:
Posts:
January 2004
6
Oh, I forgot one more thing I hate. I cannot, in the MX-900, adjust RF On or off for a device or modify the "ID" number on the remote itself. I have to walk back downstairs and plug it back in and load the software to do it. Sucks.
Post 3 made on Friday September 22, 2006 at 16:37
Surf Remote
Loyal Member
Joined:
Posts:
July 2001
5,958
#1 - The different layout does take some getting used to, but as a heavy Tivo user myself (I have two in the same rack being controlled by the MX-900), I like having the separate Skip hard buttons. We also use the channel guide a lot, so having the laft and right buttons not function that way would be a big problem.

#2 - If you haven't done so already, you might try the standalone learning feature (push and hold LISTEN and ENT at the same time).

#3 - Again, takes some getting used to. You could also put AM/FM under LISTEN if the extra step's a pain.

#4 - One more time, takes some getting used to.

#5 - The idea with Favs is that they can be accessed (via an LCD button) from any page of any device and you can use "Navigate -" tpo go back wherever you came from. The ability to have two macros on a button can mean that you can have FAV access as a secondary function.

#9 - The 650 doesn't have one either as you typically use the "Stop" button for "Record". You can do the same with the 900, but it is labeled incorrectly rather than having an incorrect symbol.

Just a few ideas. ;-)

Mike
www.SurfRemoteControl.com
www.SurfRemoteControl.com

THX-certified video calibrator and contributing writer, ProjectorReviews.com
OP | Post 4 made on Friday September 22, 2006 at 16:43
sparky3
Lurking Member
Joined:
Posts:
January 2004
6
I didn't realize I posted this in the custom installers area. I'm going to repost in the main URC area. I appreciate your response, but the remote for me is all about function. The MX-650 just functions better for me IMO. I like the dedicated FAV buttons myself, as does the wife. It's better for her and I to see 10 available favorite channels all at once instead of 6, too.
Post 5 made on Friday September 22, 2006 at 16:58
Surf Remote
Loyal Member
Joined:
Posts:
July 2001
5,958
That's okay. I was just trying to help with a few things you might not have tried or known about. You'd get the same response in the other forum. ;-)

Everyone has different likes and dislikes and you should get what works best for you.
www.SurfRemoteControl.com

THX-certified video calibrator and contributing writer, ProjectorReviews.com
Post 6 made on Friday September 22, 2006 at 17:13
JonW747
Active Member
Joined:
Posts:
September 2006
621
It's not easy for a fan of the older MX series to like the MX-900 series. I think it's meant to be classier looking and more attractive to Harmony fans since it supports activity based functionality.

I just wish they'd add some of the new programming features to the older models, and the MX-700/800/850 would be darn near perfect. Specifically I want variables.
Post 7 made on Friday September 22, 2006 at 19:30
GregoriusM
RC Consultant
Joined:
Posts:
December 1999
9,807
sparky:

This area is not only for custom installers. They have their own "Lounge" which they might kick us out of, ;-) , but this forum is for products that are normally sold and/or installed by custom installers.

The Control Remote series by URC is intended for this market, and therefore any questions, comments and concerns about the Control Remote line is best kept in this area.
When ignorance is bliss, ‘tis folly to be wise.
Post 8 made on Friday September 22, 2006 at 19:37
SOUND.SD
Loyal Member
Joined:
Posts:
April 2006
5,523
On September 22, 2006 at 15:53, sparky3 said...
Hello, I've had a few URC products over the last few years,
including a MX-500, MX-350 and MX-650.

I bought the MX-900 to control:

Marantz SR7400 receiver
Sony 50" Grand Wega RP LCD
Sony Tivo SVR-2000
Sony DVD/VCR combo
Shuttle PC in the basment (learned commands through a
IR keyboard)
Phatnoise Home Digital Media Player
Voom Satellite receiver (for OTA HD, since Time Warner
doesn't get Fox/ABC in HD)
Scientific Atlanta 8300HD

Well, I'm a firm believer in hard buttons, and the fatal
flaw in my opinion with the MX-900 (and 950 IMO) is the
lack of the central "gemstone" keypad in the center.
With any of my other URC remotes, I had FF and Rewind
mapped to the "Right and Left" keys on the URC, and the
"FF and Rewind" keys function as "Right and Left".

We're heavy Tivo/HD fast forwarders / rewinders, so we
never needed to look at the remote to FF/RW Tivo or 8300HD
content. Now, with the MX-900, I find myself constantly
feeling for the FF/RW buttons and have hit "skip" on accident
many times. If I map the central keypad to FF/RW, then
there's no logical buttons to replace "Right and Left".

Problem #2 - I have a pc in the basement with VGA 15 pin
out, which goes to a RGB -> Component transceiver, then
to an audio/video balun which takes component + digital
audio across UTP (Ethernet). Upstairs, there is another
exact dongle which takes it back to component + digital
audio. Works great. I control the pc with a small IR
keyboard with a built-in mouse, and blast the IR to a
little Radio Shack Triangular receiver, and the transmitter
is in the basement blasting to the IR reciever that came
with the keyboard. Works great; I can surf the web, play
downloaded movies etc. to the big screen upstairs. But
the key thing I like to do is run winamp, and have the
ability to load various playlists with the remote control.
For example, I'll have a predefined playlist with Big
Band songs. In Windows XP, I have that .m3u playlist
file setup to execute when CTRL+ALT+9 is hit. The MX-350
and MX-900 had trouble learning these types of IR sequences,
but the MX-650 (and MX-500) learned them without a hitch.
I have a macro that executes CTRL+SHIFT+K (This starts
the visualizations), then a pause, then F2 (Displays artist/song
info), then F3 (Displays song time elapsed).
At any rate, the MX-900 absolutely refuses to learn some
of these codes. I've tried it many different ways, and
the MX-650 seems like it will learn anything where the
MX-900 fails.

#3 - I hate the "Learn" and "Watch" Buttons. Perhaps
in time I'd get used to this, but for now it feels like
I have to remind myself to hit that button first. With
the MX-650 I have 10 hard buttons and the top and it's
easier for my wife to hit "AM/FM" from the main page than
"Listen"..."AM/FM". It's just an unnecessary extra step.

#4 - More on the FF/RW - with the buttons being that low
on the remote, it's awkward on your thumb to hold the
remote if you're fast fowarding through a long movie or
sporting event.

#5 - No hard "Favorites" button. What a mistake!

#6 - No hard "Record" button! Sure, I can add this to
the LCD menu, but with all the Tivos and DVRs these days,
what a hassle!

I will say the programming sofware is very slick, but
once you program your remote they way you want it, what's
the point? It's not worth the extra $$$ to me for this
feature. I don't change components often enough to justify
the extra cost.

So anyway, I'm selling the MX-900, complete with box,
manual, etc. Email me ([email protected]) if you're
interested. I would take a MX-650 + cash, provided everything
works on it.

Shawn

I hate hearing this! Knowing how great a remote the 900 will be proven to be I wish you would give it another try.

I would even be willing to send you a 900 file I have done so you can see how the buttons layout and how favs are used with nav/returns.
Bulldog AV - San Diego, CA
www.bulldog-av.com
[Link: facebook.com]
Post 9 made on Friday September 22, 2006 at 20:41
Rich_Guy
Advanced Member
Joined:
Posts:
May 2006
978
Sparky I have to agree with you, personally I don't care for the mx 900 or 950. I really don't like the styling and I prefer a "Main" page and not the "Listen / Watch" layout. I also don't care for the mx 3000 at all, I would never use one at any price. Personally I think the mx 800 or 850 are URC's best remotes to date.

Last edited by Rich_Guy on September 22, 2006 21:03.
Post 10 made on Saturday September 23, 2006 at 16:26
vwpower44
Super Member
Joined:
Posts:
August 2004
3,662
I hate to say it, but i agree, the 850 IMO was a better build/layout. I have been using the 900 for about 6 months, and still have som issues. I agree that only 6 favs per page sucks. I have found that customers like the watch and listen buttons. I do like the programming, and it does look better than the 850. I was actually going to be reprogramming mine this weekend. Later

GO BUCKS!!

Mike
Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish...
Post 11 made on Saturday September 23, 2006 at 16:28
GregoriusM
RC Consultant
Joined:
Posts:
December 1999
9,807
The 800 and 850's are definitely great remotes. I've used my 800 for 2 or 3 years now and love it.

But, I'm am really getting used to the 900, and am starting to prefer it over the 800, apart from the issues it is having on some of the remotes with having to push a button twice to have it output the IR code.

I would take Corey up on his offer to send you a file to see if you like his layout, and think strongly about Mike's (Surf Remote) comments since he is using TWO Tivo's and I know how much he loved the old layout of the 700, 800 and 850's.

Greg
When ignorance is bliss, ‘tis folly to be wise.
Post 12 made on Sunday September 24, 2006 at 07:15
Jervis961
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
June 2006
22
I had the mx-500 before the mx-900 and it is had to get used to the new buttons but after a while I've gotten used to it. My biggest gripe is the buttons not responding all the time. I can't wait for the new firmware update to fix it because my wife is ready to toss the remote out the window.
Post 13 made on Sunday September 24, 2006 at 10:42
Caffeinated
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
August 2003
361
I think the 850 is a much better remote for experienced users.

But the programmability and simpler screen , and buttons w/ words not symbols. (((you have no idea how many times i have to explain the stop , play, pause symbols to people with 700's/850's))) This makes the mx900 more suited to the casual inexperienced home theater user. / wife & kids. IMHO
Post 14 made on Sunday September 24, 2006 at 11:30
JonW747
Active Member
Joined:
Posts:
September 2006
621
Not necessarily kids ... kids who can't read yet, learn the symbols easily.

But my biggest issue with the mx900 is that it only has 6 programmable buttons, and the mx950 is too expensive.

I also think the buttons are better spaced out and differentiated on the 800/850. The 900/950 would be drastically improved if they'd kept REW AND FF to the sides of the thumbpad.

Skip forward and Skip back are nice additions but they use up prime real estate on the remote, and are primarily used on DVRs. I have them programmed on the lower right side of the programmable buttons of the MX-850, so I can still find them by feel - and - they only use up space on my DVR screens.

What would be cool is if tapping FF/REW sent a Skip FWD/BACK, and holding them down did FF/REW, but a hold down macro would always send a skip first ...
Post 15 made on Sunday September 24, 2006 at 12:15
Rich_Guy
Advanced Member
Joined:
Posts:
May 2006
978
On September 24, 2006 at 10:42, Caffeinated said...
I think the 850 is a much better remote for experienced
users.

But the programmability and simpler screen , and buttons
w/ words not symbols. (((you have no idea how many times
i have to explain the stop , play, pause symbols to people
with 700's/850's))) This makes the mx900 more suited
to the casual inexperienced home theater user. / wife
& kids. IMHO

Those symbols are pretty universal, I think if they do not know them maybe they should learn them. Someone very old OK give them a break but anyone else this is basic CD, VCR, DVD stuff maybe it's time they learned, especially the kids ;)

Last edited by Rich_Guy on September 24, 2006 13:13.
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