Your Universal Remote Control Center
RemoteCentral.com
URC's Consumer Remotes Forum - View Post
Previous section Next section Previous page Next page Up level
Up level
The following page was printed from RemoteCentral.com:

Login:
Pass:
 
 

Page 1 of 2
Topic:
MX-350/RF-20 same remote for programming?
This thread has 20 replies. Displaying posts 1 through 15.
Post 1 made on Saturday May 26, 2007 at 11:43
vretone
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
April 2007
21
Are the URC MX-350 and the RF-20 the same remote?

Last edited by vretone on May 27, 2007 22:39.
Post 2 made on Monday May 28, 2007 at 15:20
Surf Remote
Loyal Member
Joined:
Posts:
July 2001
5,958
If you're using it with IR only, then they are essentially the same. If you're using RF, the MX-350 can be used with the MRF-250 and 300 base stations, allowing for individual device assignment. The RF20 simply sends IR and RF all the time and to all components.

Mike
www.SurfRemoteControl.com
www.SurfRemoteControl.com

THX-certified video calibrator and contributing writer, ProjectorReviews.com
OP | Post 3 made on Tuesday May 29, 2007 at 21:06
vretone
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
April 2007
21
Mike, thanks for your input/suggestions. I have done some research of all these remotes out there for customers relief of eliminating their use of multiple ones to one. I would appreciate your suggestions of which 2-3 remotes you would reccomend for me to add to my services of current business. Have you heard if URC is going to eventually have the MX-350 revised as the 700, 850, 900 etc. to setup through the pc instead?

Thanks!
Post 4 made on Wednesday May 30, 2007 at 15:34
OTAHD
Super Member
Joined:
Posts:
October 2005
4,679
What buisness services are you using these for?
LET'S GO BUFFALO!!!
Post 5 made on Wednesday May 30, 2007 at 16:48
Surf Remote
Loyal Member
Joined:
Posts:
July 2001
5,958
The MX-350 is what it is. As with their other models, it may be replaced by a PC-programmable remote some day, but there won't be an upgraded version. As far as other models are concerned, I'd ask the same question OTAHD did.
www.SurfRemoteControl.com

THX-certified video calibrator and contributing writer, ProjectorReviews.com
OP | Post 6 made on Wednesday May 30, 2007 at 17:09
vretone
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
April 2007
21
My current services consist of calibrating Video Systems and Consulting customers with upgrades for their HT Systems. I am interested in just starting out with 3 remote options being maybe the RF-10, MX-350, MX-900. (I am using these remotes as possibilities, so your suggestions of others recommended would be appreciated)

Thanks!
Post 7 made on Thursday May 31, 2007 at 11:30
Surf Remote
Loyal Member
Joined:
Posts:
July 2001
5,958
Those wouldn't be bad choices, although I find the need for the RF10 rather limited. I like to stay away from RF solutions using the MRF-100 (like the RF10), as it's the least reliable of the RF base stations. The RF10 would be fine for a few devices not using RF though. I generally keep the MX-350 as the low end remote, then going to an MX-900 and then an MX-950 or 3000. It all depends on how you're using the remotes and what you need them to do.
www.SurfRemoteControl.com

THX-certified video calibrator and contributing writer, ProjectorReviews.com
OP | Post 8 made on Thursday May 31, 2007 at 12:59
vretone
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
April 2007
21
Mike,
Thanks for your input. Your experience programming the MX-350, are you using the learning mode from original remotes for most of your setups? I have heard to even get a MX-700 or MX-850 to program for customers setup to the MX-350 saves alot of time?

Thanks!
Post 9 made on Monday June 4, 2007 at 21:33
Joe-CI
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
May 2007
183
Whle the MX350 is a nice remote, the labor into programming it basically closes the gap between it and the MX900?
You should also look at Harmony for the replacement of the MX350 and an 880 in between the MX900. The MX900 works and RTI covers that area and up.
Support Your Local Dealer.
Stop Buying From the Online Guy and Ebay.
Post 10 made on Tuesday June 12, 2007 at 22:05
patsat
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
March 2005
14
trying to program a MX-350 with a Harmon Karden AVR240 remote. New Batteries. Cannot get the volume to work right. only steps up and down instead of linear. Probably a common problem with a simple solution, but I am in a bit of a rush to read all these forums. Can anyone help?
Patrick Young
Post 11 made on Wednesday June 20, 2007 at 10:35
raneil
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
June 2007
14
On June 12, 2007 at 22:05, patsat said...
trying to program a MX-350 with a Harmon Karden AVR240
remote. New Batteries. Cannot get the volume to work right.
only steps up and down instead of linear. Probably a common
problem with a simple solution, but I am in a bit of a
rush to read all these forums. Can anyone help?

I found the same thing while trying to control a Pioneer Elite A/V receiver. I currently cannot get the MX-350 to accept any codes, so I was just testing it's learning ability. It learned everything from the Pioneer remote just fine, but like you, the volume only works in steps, not continuously.

Did you ever find a solution?
Post 12 made on Thursday June 21, 2007 at 10:59
raneil
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
June 2007
14
On June 20, 2007 at 10:35, raneil said...
I found the same thing while trying to control a Pioneer
Elite A/V receiver. I currently cannot get the MX-350
to accept any codes, so I was just testing it's learning
ability. It learned everything from the Pioneer remote
just fine, but like you, the volume only works in steps,
not continuously.

Did you ever find a solution?

Now that I have located a MX-350 that I can actually configure with manufacturers' codes, I have made an interesting discovery. If I configure the remote using the correct code for my Pioneer A/V receiver, the volume buttons work as expected. That is to say that if you press and hold them, the volume smoothly goes up/down until you release the button. Having previously tried to "learn" the same functionality from the original Pioneer remote, I get the stepping behavior mentioned above. Odd. Anyway, it works fine for me now so I'm satisfied.

These were my only two complaints with the MX-350 and now that they've both been resolved, I must say I'm very pleased with it. Granted, I've only had it for a day but I'm sure we pleased with it for years to come.
Post 13 made on Thursday June 21, 2007 at 11:27
raneil
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
June 2007
14
On May 26, 2007 at 11:43, vretone said...
Are the URC MX-350 and the RF-20 the same remote?

Going back to your original question: I purchased the MX-350 as a replacement for a RF-20. The main reasons:

1. The backlighting on the RF-20 is terrible. It's red, it's uneven, and it's dim even with brand new batteries. The light (such as it is) shines through just the text that is etched into the buttons. There simply is not enough light coming through to make the text legible in the dark. To me this essentially defeats the purpose of backlighting. On the MX-350, the buttons are completely illuminated, and the text stays dark. As such, the text is actually back-lit, making it far more legible in the dark.

2. The 4-way controller on the RF-20 has a mushy, cheap feel to it, with much less tactile feedback than the same control on the MX-350. Also, it's shape is completely different. On the RF-20, it is kind of scalloped (for lack of a better word) and it forms a sharp edge that is uncomfortable on the thumb after a few successive uses. It's made of hard plastic unlike the rest of the RF-20's buttons which are the soft rubber, and this only makes it worse. The same control on the MX-350 is far more comfortable to use, and it make the entire remote feel like a much higher-quality unit.

3. We prefer the gemstone buttons to the soft rubber ones.

4. We like that you can have separate macros for each device on the Power On and Power Off buttons.

Also, we will probably never take advantage of it, but the MX-350's code database can be updated and it's programing & configuration can be archived and later reloaded using the PCL-300 ([Link: universalremote.com])

For us, it was no contest. The MX-350 is well worth the price difference.
Post 14 made on Thursday June 21, 2007 at 17:13
Joe-CI
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
May 2007
183
On May 28, 2007 at 15:20, Surf Remote said...
The RF20 simply sends IR and RF all
the time and to all components.

Mike
www.SurfRemoteControl.com

Piece of tape fix.
Support Your Local Dealer.
Stop Buying From the Online Guy and Ebay.
Post 15 made on Friday June 22, 2007 at 13:10
Surf Remote
Loyal Member
Joined:
Posts:
July 2001
5,958
On June 21, 2007 at 17:13, Joe-CI said...
Piece of tape fix.

Sending IR and RF at the same time usually isn't a problem, but sending the commands to all components can be if you have two identical components.
www.SurfRemoteControl.com

THX-certified video calibrator and contributing writer, ProjectorReviews.com
Page 1 of 2


Jump to


Protected Feature Before you can reply to a message...
You must first register for a Remote Central user account - it's fast and free! Or, if you already have an account, please login now.

Please read the following: Unsolicited commercial advertisements are absolutely not permitted on this forum. Other private buy & sell messages should be posted to our Marketplace. For information on how to advertise your service or product click here. Remote Central reserves the right to remove or modify any post that is deemed inappropriate.

Hosting Services by ipHouse