this is probably a dumb question, but no matter what search combination i tried, i couldn't find an answer to this...

i would like to get a mx-850 or mx-900 so that i can use the pc programming...

all of my "stuff" is in the same room, with the components on 2 racks about 10 feet from the tv set (on adjacent walls)... it's a small room, the remote won't be used any farther away than 12 feet from anything...

my question is, will the ir "flood" the room enough so that i can just use that, or will i have to use rf on either the tv or the components? it would be a pain to have to build in enough pauses to "re-point" the remote during macros...

i fought with a harmony for awhile trying to get it to do this, and it just never would. i'm hoping that (what appears to be) the stronger ir signal of the 850/900 (or even a 500, if i feel brave enough to try to program it without software) will get the job done.

thanks in advance for helping a newcomer.

I would use one of the RF extenders, this makes the system so much more reliable. I am not a URC guy so other will recommend the right RF unit.

But I do remotes for a living...

It generally should work, but if you don't point it right your macros are going to drop commands and confuse people. I'd throw the RF in to be safe.

Oh, and go with an MRF-350 for RF.

I'd go RF if you have any doubts.

The 850 really floods the room, the 900 seems to have a little less output, but works well.

Personally, I hate to have to tell clients that they have to point the remote at the 'center point' of the equipment to have the macro's work.

I would have to pass on the 500.

It was a great remote in the day, ffwd a few years, and it is extremley dated compared to the newer remotes.

You could always purchase the remote and add the mrf later if needed.

I've become spoiled by not having to point period!

thanks! rf it is...

now to figure out where to put it...

also, if i should be considering a different model, feel free to point me in the correct direction... :)

I'd recommend a 900 (narrowband antenna for RF) with the 350 base station (also narrow band).

RF always beats IR when using macros, and the Narrowband RF system is just plain better than the wideband stuff (850 is wideband).

The 350 base station also has very adjustable IR emitters so you can tune the IR to the equipment and not overdrive the sensors.

If you want to do it right, this would certainly be my preferred method.

The 850 is a good remote, but it's not wideband so RF issues can crop up depending on your location.

yes, i want to do it right, and do it right the first time... one thing about getting older, you learn it's worth the time/money to do stuff right the first time rather than do it all over again...

the way i'm interpreting the documentation is, i can mount the antenna anywhere i want and hardwire it to the base station? this is an old house, with plaster and metal lathing, so it would be really good to be able to do this...

also, are there ir flashers that come with longer than 10 ft wires?

You can extend the flasher wires with a 3.5 mm mono extention cable.

Or even a stereo one if you can't find a mono easily. ;-)

Mike
www.SurfRemoteControl.com

geez... i should have thought of that... that's pretty obvious...

the assistance is GREATLY appreciated...