Hi,

Can you please clarify the differences in capabilities between the MRF-350 and the MSC-400.

I will be buying the MX-3000 and do not understand the pros and cons between MRF-350 and MSC-400.

I welcome clarification.

Thx for your feedback/

I think these two links will help for starters

[Link: universalremote.com]

[Link: universalremote.com]

Thank I already reviewed these linkes before posting my message. I just don't get the main differences between the two units. I need clarifications on pros and cons of the capabilities of each unit when used with the MX-3000.

Thx again for your help.

Total difference. The MRF-350 is simply an RF base station...it is used to receive and route IR commands. The MSC-400 is more of a control center...you program it. It has triggers, power/video sensors, etc.

Thanks OTAHD.

So if want to control from another room all my hifi-video system units and beeing able to use macros to automatically turn on all appropriate units and automatically select the right setting with the push of only one macro button which one should I go with the MRF 350 or the MSC-400.

For instance, I would like to create a macro so my nanny can just click on "Watch DVD" and the rceiver, TV, DVD player will all turned on and selct the sources from each component automatically.

Thx again for your feedback

You should be able to do something like that with either one IF your equipment has discretes or sufficient workarounds. Post the model numbers of your equipment so that you can find out if they have discretes.

Here is my system:
Surround amp & receiver: Arcam AVR200
Integrated Amp: Primare 130
CD Players Arcam CD 73 & Primare CD31
DVD Player: Oppo 981HD
LCD TV: Samsung LN-S4095D
Cable box: Scientific Atlanta Explorer 4250HD
Power Conditioner: Monster HTS 2600

How can I make sure that elements will be compatible with the MX-3000 and that I will be able to create macros to cover some of their capabilities?

Thank again for your feedback

All your equipment is very controllable and will be easy to setup macro's for. Everything but the Cable box has discreet on and off commands.

The decision between MRF-350 and MSC-400 is not a question of need. The benefit of the 400 will be increased reliability, the ability to track the power state of your equipment and deal with the cable box's lack of discreet power.

Either system will work.

You can just leave the cable box on all of the time (draws the same amount of power whether on or off), so the MRF-350 should really work fine there.

I've had great success with the mrf-300 over the years.

The mfr-350 offers narrow band RF to help eliminate RF interference.

With the 300 or 350, the macro's are fired from the remote. 99.9% of the time all of the commands will reach their destination.
If you happen to experience any RF interference while the macro is in progress, some components may not respond.

The msc-400 stores all of the macro's, the remote mearly sends a 'trigger.

If the 400 receives a trigger, it will send ALL of the comands, reguardless if the remote experienced rf interference during the macro sequence.
It received the command or it didn't.

The 400 requires more effort to program than the 350.

Essentially you are programming a remote and an rf 'control' device.

With the 350, you program the remote, set the code for the base, and your done.

With the 400, you program the remote, then program the base station, then program them to work in unison.

The 400 also offers 232 control, video sensing(to tell if your cable box is on or off) and a multidude of other options that make it a GREAT control center.

It does require more effort to make it work properly.

I have great success with Scientific Atlanta boxes discrete power by doing the following:

- Press Settings Twice
- Scroll down to Power
- Select "Power and Numeric"
(This will allow you to power on the cable box if its off by pressing any number
on the keypad)
- Set your on Macro to be 0,0,OK
- Set your off Macro to be 0,0,delay,ok,power

Works PERFECT. Make sure you use zeros as channels because if the box is on it will ignore the invalid 00 channel and not mess up the program your watching.

So I guess ALL of your equipment is easily controlled.

Vincent

If you want reliable control every time a button is pressed you must use the MSC400. Most critically since the remote will be used in other rooms, where visual confirmation of equipment status is not possible.

The MRF-350 is pretty darn reliable. I have one set up and it hardly ever drops commands.

And vbova is right about the SA boxes...but I use on as 0-exit and off as 0-exit-power.

Some reason I was thinking of a Motorola box... :)