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Topic:
Need a Remote That Works...Consistently
This thread has 17 replies. Displaying posts 1 through 15.
Post 1 made on Saturday December 25, 2010 at 12:40
willriker01
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3
Yeah, I know, wishful thinking. Here's the thing:

1. I am not a pro installer so go ahead and flame me now.
2. I purchased a Pronto TSU-9600 about 3 years ago and it has done the basics with my limited abilities at self-taught programming, screen building, etc.
3. Upgraded to Windows 7 and there went the Pronto Editor - Phillips will not even return my emails on how to get a Win7 version of the editor.
4. Upgraded my hardware and now the Pronto TSU-9600 is out of date so back to using multiple remotes.
Purchased a Harmony 100 with RF extenders - after a waste of 2 hours (includes repackaging time) I am returning next week - what a POS!

Okay, whining is over. I want a remote control that is RF or WiFi (I have setup a conventional Win7 network on an Apple Time Capsule Router set up between 5 computers at home), has no greater signal to execute delay than my RF DirecTV wand controller (which works great by the way) and works consistently. I only have a DirecTV HR22-100 box, Pioneer SC-07 AV, Sony 52" Bravia and a home-built Movie Server with 24GB RAM and 24 TB of drives with 1400 movies so far that I would like to operate.

Any ideas on what device? I don't mind paying a pro to set it all up but I do want the ability to tweak things on my own - so long as it's not so complicated I'd mess it all up, in which case I'll leave it to the pros. By the way, IMHO GEEK Squad are not the pros for this operation.

Appreciate your time.
Larry C
Post 2 made on Saturday December 25, 2010 at 14:44
JoeFlabitz
Select Member
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1,517
Well, now that Pronto and Harmony are off the list, you're essentially down to RTI and URC. Do you have a style preference (wand vs. tablet) and a budget? Don't overlook the RF aspect as well, so be prepared to pay a little extra for that.
OP | Post 3 made on Saturday December 25, 2010 at 17:03
willriker01
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3
No form factor preference, though would like something with an LCD for when lights are off are very dim to see control options. I was thinking of an iPAD as a remote but the device has no IR so would have an issue there. Most RF to IR conversion hardware have tried are not particularly functional.

I am using a combination of RF / IR right now. The DirecTV remote is RF / IR cpable and sends out both signals so I can turn on / off all devices and surf the channel guide, adjust volume, that sort of thing. I am using a Niles remote IR emitter to capture IR to the Piooneer uni, the Sony TV is on the wall so no biggie there.

Again, paying more to get it right is not an issue - you always pay for what you get and I have no issues with that.

Any ideas or options appreciated.
Larry C
Post 4 made on Wednesday December 29, 2010 at 22:24
anyhomeneeds
Super Member
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Look into the Redeye, the iPad app is pretty sleek.
"You can't fix stupid."
Post 5 made on Wednesday December 29, 2010 at 22:53
KVH
Advanced Member
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December 2006
911
URC MX-980 or MX5000 with MRF350 or MSC400.

Using an iPad/iphone is cool... for the first 20 seconds, then you'll realize if the device leaves the room, you now have no remote. Also there is a "wake up" delay for using the idevice. Not ideal when you need to mute the volume "now" for when the phone rings or whatever. Something to think about.
All high's, all low's, it must be.......
Einstein @ URC Control Room forum
www.einsteinaudiosystems.com
Post 6 made on Friday December 31, 2010 at 00:01
Fiasco
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On December 29, 2010 at 22:53, KVH said...
URC MX-980 or MX5000 with MRF350 or MSC400.

Using an iPad/iphone is cool... for the first 20 seconds, then you'll realize if the device leaves the room, you now have no remote. Also there is a "wake up" delay for using the idevice. Not ideal when you need to mute the volume "now" for when the phone rings or whatever. Something to think about.

Have you actually used an iPad or iPhone for a remote for more then 20 seconds?

You listed a bunch of non-existent issues.

We have been iPhone/iPad only for remote control for over a year and would never go back. I'm biased but my wife isn't and she would never go back either.
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Post 7 made on Monday January 3, 2011 at 09:24
rknecht
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90
On December 31, 2010 at 00:01, Fiasco said...
Have you actually used an iPad or iPhone for a remote for more then 20 seconds?

You listed a bunch of non-existent issues.

We have been iPhone/iPad only for remote control for over a year and would never go back. I'm biased but my wife isn't and she would never go back either.

Are you using Redeye? I presently have been using a Pronto 7000 since 2003. I really like the Pronto and the freedom the RF base affords, but I am always looking at new toys. I thought about an iPad and the Bitwise products, but I am still wondering if such an investment would an actual "upgrade".
Post 8 made on Monday January 3, 2011 at 23:55
Fiasco
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I'm using commandfusion. No infrared, everything is ran via RS232 w/ two way feedback to the iPad or iPhone.
Pump House on Facebook: [Link: facebook.com]
Post 9 made on Tuesday January 4, 2011 at 08:28
AspenTechDude
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January 2011
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I have an RTI T3V and an RTI RP1 Processor like new I will give you a great deal on, I can also do the base programming for you.

Send me an email and we can take it from there.

[email protected]

AspenTechDude
Post 10 made on Tuesday January 25, 2011 at 21:22
KVH
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On December 31, 2010 at 00:01, Fiasco said...
Have you actually used an iPad or iPhone for a remote for more then 20 seconds?

You listed a bunch of non-existent issues.

We have been iPhone/iPad only for remote control for over a year and would never go back. I'm biased but my wife isn't and she would never go back either.

So when your iphone and ipad leave the room what do you use? (very relevant)

When you do have one or both available, do you leave them on and never put them to sleep? (also relevant) Because if you do let them go to sleep, you then have to press the home button, enter your password (if setup this way) then select the app you want. wait for the app to open, now use it. That sequence (if applicable) are long delays just to use the device and should be thought of before choosing an i device to be the sole control for a system. If that is not a concern, then more power to you.

If you never take your iphone and or ipad from the room, then this senario works for you. Some/most people when they leave a room or the house they can and will take their iphone or ipad with them leaving no control for the system.

These senarios should be considered before choosing an i device to be the only control.

Oh, and no I've never used one for a control longer than 20 seconds because I have a MX-980 sitting next to me that has less than a second wake up delay.
I do however use it to control my itunes when I'm either in the house or outside on the deck.
All high's, all low's, it must be.......
Einstein @ URC Control Room forum
www.einsteinaudiosystems.com
Post 11 made on Wednesday May 25, 2011 at 18:07
Ranger Home
Super Member
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3,486
ipad is great as a back up, secondary solution. i prefer not to look at remote most of time as you one eventually remembers the layout of a hand held wand remote. The ipad SUCKS for this. you MUST look, you MUST have app open, it MUST be in the room, it MUST connect, it MUST not be the ONLY remote, IMO and again its just opinion.

My go to remote that works EVERY time is the MX-980. Cant go wrong. iPad is "cool" and great for the intial start of something, then it gets set done and the wand it used. again, just OPINION.
Post 12 made on Saturday May 28, 2011 at 19:24
Lowpro
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If I already owned a TSU9600 that's what I'd be using. Not sure what your computer related issues are, but ProntoEdit Professional will install and run perfectly fine on Windows 7. I'm running PEP v1.1.20 and PEP v2 on Windows 7 Professional 64-bit without issue. The TSU9600 has been my only remote solution here at the house for a number of years now, since it was even available for purchase in fact as I was a beta tester for Philips. The solution has been so dependable for me and enjoyable to implement and use that I have no intention of moving to another remote solution just because Philips Pronto has closed up shop. With my current setup here at the house I only really need one TSU9600, RFX9400 and RFX9600. I've stocked up however in the event years down the road I find I'm still using my Pronto equipment and have a remote or extender fail on me with no option to get it repaired or replaced. In any event, as you have a solution right now that is perfectly capable of providing you a consistent solution I'd suggest figuring out why you're having issues getting the editor installed under Windows 7 if that is in fact your issue. If it's the installation program that you need the files section here at RC offers the latest version of PEP v2 going back to PEP v1.1.20 which is the version I use primarily.

Last edited by Lowpro on May 28, 2011 21:47.
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Post 13 made on Wednesday August 17, 2011 at 02:18
ianrob
Long Time Member
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June 2008
24
Something that's still available and will do everything you want with proper software and library support and 50 mS wakeup time:

[Link: commandsystems.com.au]

I've had 2 of these at home for about 5 years now, both with the same programming but the ability to choose between bedroom or lounge room setups. They use 4 x AA alkalines - I use AAs that no longer work in my digital camera and I get about 3 months from a set.

The colour LCD is backlit but it's only 8 colours. Despite this it still looks good, doesn't pull lots of power and doesn't need a docking station to charge it.

The software's WYSIWYG and quite intuitive - you can make it do pretty much what you want with nested menus etc. but it can take a lot of mouse clicks because it doesn't make any assumptions about how you want it to work.
Post 14 made on Tuesday August 23, 2011 at 08:05
TRCGroup
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ianrob...you should be more truthful, less spamful. You aren't just an end user recommending a product 3 months after the last post and 8 months after the original post, you work for the company and are just trying to sell your product.
"You can't fix stupid."
Post 15 made on Saturday February 4, 2012 at 11:42
cconner
Lurking Member
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January 2012
6
My 2 cents:

I am a CI Company in Dallas/Ft Worth, and we have installed my different remote/control systems for clients over the years. We have used the iPad in conjunction with a traditional remote for clients. We have also used iPad's as standalone home controllers, but not single room solutions. Most of our clients want hard buttons (at least vol/mute and channels), and a dedicated remote for the room.

I have personally used in my home a Harmony 1100, MX-3000, MX-900, MX-5000, MX-6000, T2Cs+, T3V, and RTI iPad.

That list was the order that we went through them, We have used the iPad App for 4/mo now and absolutely love the extra real estate. This remote is what controls my theater room, and was only chosen as the only remote because we were going to put a RTI T4 in that room. So this made since to go with the iPad, due to the lower cost of equipment and I would end up with an iPad if we decided to change remotes instead of a T4 that I would need to sell. When we made this decision, we decided to buy another iPad so this could stay in the theater as a dedicated remote. We could never use this as my family room remote to channel surf, for that we use a RTI T2C+ for the hard buttons.

So long story short, I would recommend an iPad remote system in a Theater environment (movies) and a traditional remote for everyday TV watching. If the appeal of the iPad Remote is still present, I would definitely pair it with a basic universal remote to get you by when you crave for hard buttons and a braille system for channel surfing.
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