I really need some help in choosing the right remotes for 3 rooms. Since I need 3 remotes with probably 2 of them requiring RF capabilities I would like to get the biggest bang for right price. All 3 remotes do not have to be the same, but it might help with my wife using the remotes. I have read many reviews by Daniel and tons of post. I am so over loaded with data that I can't make up my mind. Maybe if I mentioned what equipment I have in each room and what function I would like the remotes to perform I can get some good recommendations.
I am not a custom installer, but most of the AV wires, speaker wires, and extra phones wires were installed by me before the builder put up the sheet rock in my house. All of the electronic components below thus far have been installed by me. I am an electrical engineer so most things electronic I understand or can catch on faster than the typical consumer on how things work or are connected.

Family Room
60" Mitsubishi TV
TIVO / SAT receiver combo by DIRECTV
CableTV connected directly to the TV
Denon 3803 Reciever
2 Sony DVP-CS777ES Mega changers
Escient DVDM-100 (This is a DVD & music manager that controls the 2 Sony Mega DVD changers)

Bonus Room
32" TV
SAT receiver
Single DVD player
VCR player
Philips Audio/Video Switchbox With RF Modulator ( No remote control)
Sound and video signals from Escient in family room is also sent to TV
NOTE: Plan to add a Denon receiver in room along with speakers and maybe install
DLP with screen sometime next year.

Master Bedroom
TV
SAT receiver
Radio Shack remote controlled A/B switch
Sound and video signals from Escient in family room is also sent to TV


The remotes that will be in the bonus room and master bedroom will probably have to be RF to control the Escient which is in the family room.
Right now I am looking for a setup which will not confuse the heck out of my wife who is non-technical. My wife needs 1 push macro buttons that say Watch TV, Watch DVD, Listen to Music, etc.
This is what I envision. The remotes in the bonus room and family room will be setup so that it controls all equipment throughout the house (interchangable). That means equipments in other bedrooms as well. The remote in the master bedroom should be able to control the TV, SAT receiver, A/B switch, and escient manager at a minimum. I am not that interested in it controlling the other equipment in the house. Macros should do the following:
Family Room: Watch SAT, Watch Cable, Watch DVD, Listen to CD, Listen to Radio,
TIVO control, Additional Denon Control (Multiroom, speakers, etc)
Bonus Room: Watch SAT, Watch DVD #1 (single player), Watch DVD #2 (escient),
Listen to CD #1 (single player), Listen to CD #2 (escient),
Listen to Radio, Additional Denon Control (Multiroom, speakers, etc)
Watch VCR
Master Room: Watch SAT, Watch DVD (escient), Listen to CD (escient)

The Harmony remotes looked good but they have no RF extender so I don't believe they will work. The URC remotes look interesting as well as the new Sony Navitus remote, pronto/marantz. I just can't decide. Any help would be approciated.

Thanks,
Bigdm

Check out the RTi remotes as well. Easy to program, easy to use. Awesome RF capabilities.

MX800 and MX 3000 are also worth a look. I would recommend sticking with a hard button remote for the TIVO areas.

bob

I would use the URC MX-850 with the MRF-250 RF base station in the Family Room. The base station will allow your other rooms remotes to control the Fireball via RF.

In the Bonus Room I would use an MX-850. The Bedroom could get another MX-850 or a less expensive MX-350. The trade-off for the MX-350 is no PC programming and a smaller LCD screen (which will probably be fine for the few sources to control in the Bedroom). The MX-350 does have the same button layout for consistency from room to room (easier for your wife).

All MX remotes will transmit IR for the components in line of sight and RF to any equipment connected to the base station. The master keys (DVD, TIVO, etc...) and base station IR ports are totally addressable. For example, in the Bonus Room you want to control the Fireball in the Family Room but not the Denon reciever in the Family room you can send RF just to the Fireball. The Bonus room remote would send IR(and/or RF) only to the Denon in the Bonus room but nothihg to the Denon in the Family room. This would normally be a conflict because the two Denons use the same IR codes. No problem for the MX remotes.

I would strogly recommend you contact a URC dealer to do the initial programming and RF setup. This can be tricky and a dealer will likely have additional codes and tricks to automate your macros.

Hope this wasn't too confusing. Good luck!!

rlustig,
Thanks for the reply. This is exactly the type of information I am seeking. I have not considered the RTI but will look into it.
DDeca,
I thank you also for your reply. Should I wait on the MRF-300. I thought I read that there were some issues with the MRF-250. Will I be able to get the MX-350 and MX-850 without the RF basestation since I only need one.
Any comments on the Sony new remote. Are the suggested remotes good for operating DLPs and drop screens (Looking ahead)? Don't want the wife to have a fit by me asking her to learn how to use another remote 6 months from now.

Bigdm

This message was edited by bigdm on 12/23/04 18:18 ET.

We just finished our beta test of the MRF-300. I'd advise waiting on it if you go with a Universal Remote product.

It was still way too sensitive (hopefully they will address that), but otherwise worked quite well.

Warren,
When you say way too sensitive are you talking about interference from other equipments?

Oh by the way would the URC remotes be good for TIVO.

I like Pronto remotes. Also you can easiy set it up to work all the rooms at once. If it is you and your wife and you watch TV together one remotte might be all you need. Press the room icon, press the activity...

If you have the money go with the 7000 you can also mix and match (i.e. one 7000 and one 3000)....

Mx-850s all around. DDecca is right on. Two systems will have identical models in them. 850s will let you assign ir emiters to each of the identical models. Result,
no conflicts in controlling those identical pieces

Does anyone have a recommendation on where the best price are to buy remotes? Also DDecca mentioned have a URC dealer setup your remote. Is he referring to if the remotes are bought locally?

this is an installer's lounge, meant for people who's job is to set up systems in people's homes. So yes he meant the local installer.

bigdm,

the MX remotes should operate any future product (like a DLP or drop down screen) that are IR controllable. I wouldn't wait for the MRF-300, the 250 been very reliable. You could always upgrade later.

As far as the best price, you would have to seach the internet. As far as the best VALUE, I would find a local dealer. Your system is somewhat complex and the money you spend in getting your system set up by a pro should save you ALOT of time and leave you with a very seemless remote control system. At the very least, a good dealer would be there to assist you if you get in a jam.

I would use three Pronto TSU 6000's with RF. Create a very similar graphic interface for all three rooms so that there is only one learning curve and only one intuitive thought process when using any of them. Another reason for this is that if one of the remotes goes down, you can easily download the CCF's into the most important one until the least important one is repaired. For that matter, you could create three separate sub pages for each room on all three remotes. This way each remote would have the capability of operating any of the three systems.

You can do the same with the MX-850 and the MRF-250 and be sure that is going to work the 100% of the time not that way with the RF in the Pronto.

Unless you are a computer nerd or work with computers, I would say away from a touchscreen.

I would like to thank everyone for their opinions and inputs. There were very helpful. I will check with a local installer to see how difficult my system is and what deals they can offer me. I guess I did not think my system was that complex, but as you mentioned the pros may put together a better system and time is of value to me.
I do work with computers on a regular basis so I am not scared away by the pronto having touchscreen buttons. I was staying away from the Pronto somewhat because I thought the price was too high when considering 3 remotes. What RF problems are their with the Prontos?
DDeca, thanks for the advice on the MRF-300, I was considering to wait knowing my wife would not mind another month. Right now URC is my 1st choice with the Pronto coming next if the price is right.


Thanks