I saw the MX3000 at a party at someone's house and decided it was cool so I ordered one via the net. I knew nothing about the controversy about software updates and MX Editor etc. I just went to the web and found a place and bought it as I have done with hundreds of items during past several years. NOW I find out that I am screwed becuase 'I didn't do my homework'. In the aforementioned hundreds of items, I was NEVER put in this position...I am screwed.
From most people's perspective, the main puropse of the web is commerce, pure and simple. URC is doing what it can to protect its channels and elevate their channels partner's profits. I appreciate that...but the real money is selling lots and lots of units and they made a marketing decision. My feeling is they should have 'sold' the support for those who did not buy the product thru one of their official resellers , using an 'open source' model. This is how companies like Lynux, MySQL Mozilla etc make money...and lots of it.
Heck, I'd pay money for their support and updates at this point but they shut that off completely.

So I am now stuck having to search for 'bootlegged; edition of MX Editor. What else can I do? I am open to suggestions....

Did you go to their website and input your serial number to get the software? That works for most folks. Have fun with that remote - we'll help you get it singing!

Return it and buy it from a real dealer.

What I dont understand is, this is a product that one wouldnt just buy on the internet without doing any research. I mean what did you know about it?

Did you expect that it would come preprogrammed?

Did you expect that the programming would be self explanatory?

How do you buy something like this, just because a friends was cool? Its not like a TV or a piece of art?

I am not suggesting that you couldnt figure it out.... Im just curious how you expected to get it working without any knowledge about the product. I have seen Crestron products I like, but I didnt just sign online and order one.


Anyways that curiosity aside.... as Tom said above, once you get the software we can help get the remote up and running.

I find this logic flawed....most products come w/ the software needed to program or set it up and all the documentation needed to configure it. If not in the packaging at least through online documentation. There are many far more complex products sold online that do not require you to have full knowledge of the product pre-purchase.

Exactly and there's nothing in the advertising that'd scare anyone off.

It does talk about features for professional installers, but what techy wouldn't want to purchase the "pro" model of something?

Hey when I bought my "XP Professional edition" computer I sure would not have expected it to have been only for professional installers.

I see the professional edition URC line as a "top of the class" high quality line of remotes, but certainly not something that needs professional programming for MOST users. Software and an instruction manual should work fine for MOST people shopping for a High End remote.

Yes it's true that you should have computer experience and some knowledge of computer software but I figure that is expected with a "computer programmed remote purchase". If you have no computer experience yes buy a remote that does NOT use a computer to program it!

yeah but, what if you wanted the xp pro to be a client on a windows server 2003 infrastructure with active directory....you would need a professional to set up your server and client....that is one of the main uses for win xp pro....the vast majority of end users will be fine with just home edition...hmm

I have one computer with XP Home edition, one with XP Pro and I do prefer the Pro edition. The vast majority of remote users would be fine with one of URC's consumer line of remotes but the professional line is nicer, one of the main reasons the mx 850 is nicer is because it is so much easier to program.

I am a webmaster and web designer for several web sites, about 50% of my income comes from this, I leave my web servers to the pro's but I (like most people) prefer to program my own remote controls.

I have had PC programmable remotes for 11 years. Have done JP1 remotes and have an MX850 which I had hoped to reprogram with three new Home Theater components. I can guarantee you that my macros are superb for my home theater. Never read one page of the manual for the MX850, messed with the software before I purchased years ago.

Now what?

PM if you have new software. I have hosted Remote Control programs before and can certainly do it again.

Rich Guy and Jon -

You are simply comparing the wrong products. The man saw a touch screen remote and thought he could "figure it out". I mean this product obviously isnt a gameboy or something. Correct most products come with manuals and can be figured out, like tricycles or ikea furniture.

I saw a nice Tacoma truck today with a 4 inch lift and custom exauhst so I bought the part online for my Tacoma and now I cant fugure out how to install it! Damn Toyota and their customer service!

Come on guys......Quit hi-jacking every thread with your nonsense. How about staying in the other forum and mix in something positive.

I suggest you first contact who you bought it from. The word is that most of the internet sellers will give you access to the URC dealer website, and you'll be able to download the software there.

If the seller says they can't get you the software... Go ahead and return the remote. There are several other sellers who will cut you a great deal, are authorized dealers, and will supply you software capable of live update.

If you need to find authorized dealers willing to give you a deal, just post a message in this very forum. You'll get several reply's.

Don't put up with URC's nonsense. Get a version with live updates, a little more hassle right now, less hassle in the long run!

Well I do feel programming a URC remote is not very complicated to learn to program, and I feel they are fairly similar to assembling some products like at ikea. MOST people just need good instructions, some won't even need the instructions but I highly recommend reading them and yes for some that will not be enough and they will need help. If you can figure out a gameboy you can probably figure out a URC remote, it's not hard.

The original poster ldp1953 was not looking for help programming he was looking for his software so he could program things himself.

I am sorry if it upsets you CI's but I don't feel URC is making the right move with this policy, I want to see software available for all and with updates. I want to see more availability of URC's products. I think URC got tired listening to CI's crying that too many customers were going else where and not buying through them.

I do mix in some positive posts in some other threads, I can't help it if this topic is what is the most important to me but I do feel it is important. I have nothing against CI's making a living but I am very against CI's telling everyone we have to have them, the truth is most people don't, yes some do, but most don't.

Toyota is doing things the right way, you buy those custom parts anywhere if you can install them fine, if you need help it's available, so don't compare them to URC's new policies, Toyota did not uninstall your braking system because you did not buy that 4 inch lift kit from an authorized Toyota dealer.

I am a software developer by trade so programming the device should not be a problem.

Exactly. The device isn't programmed anyway. It's configured. Piece of cake.

And by the way, I personally wouldn't call a "professional" if I wanted to set up a windows server 2003 infrastructure at my house either. I *might* read some articles on MSDN or other spots on the web. But that's hardly the only reason to run XP Pro. Even if you don't need to access a domain server from your home VPN, XP Home is crippled in various ways, not the least of which is the way it handles network file sharing.

XP Home cannot host terminal services, does not support dual processors, does not have a backup utility, no dynamic disks, no IIS, no web server, no IPSEC, no SNMP, no Simple TCP/IP services, no Netware Client, no Network Monitor, no roaming, etc, etc.

There's a lot of reasons to run XP Pro, and you dont need a professional to decide for you. It just takes experience or a simple search on the web.

The only person hi-jacking anything around here SOUND, is you by treating every new poster on this board as if they've done something wrong.