That sounds pretty cool, Arjen. That much macro capability on a sub $200 remote may be too much to ask for though. I also agree with you about the "System Off" name. I'm impressed that URC has changed the things they have so far, even if some of them were ill-advised to begin with. Thanks to Greg and everyone's ideas, this has become the "Remote Central Build-your-own-remote" project.

Just my 2-bits...

1) As far as naming the buttons, we have to think of the average Joe too. Power on and Power off may be very confusing for someone who does not have discrete codes for their device and doesn't even give two hoots what a discrete code is. So, for their device, they might be pushing the Power Off all day wondering why the power does nothing. However, us remote junkies WILL know what that button is for, no matter how it is labelled. Just my thoughts......

2) About the NO SEPARATE MENU & GUIDE buttons, etc. Yes, I agree, that would have been great. But, this remote will most likely be compared with the Marantz RC200MKII, and correct me if I'm wrong, but from any photographs I have seen of it, it doesn't have ANY of those buttons. I assume they must be on the LCD screen. Plus the RC2000 is higher priced. And the IR on the MX-500 will be the same "killer" strength as on the SL-9000 and the MX-1000. I've seen that the RC2000 doesn't have as much strength and is fairly directional.

3) Again, I submit to you that any of the most used functions that are not directly named on the remote, should be put on the bottom two buttons of the LCD screen, within reach.

4) And, don't forget, many of the pre-programmed remotes (learning or otherwise), use the CH UP/DOWN button to change tracks for CD and titles/chapters for DVD. Easy to program on the MX-500.

5) And, that wonderful thing we call a "joystick", programmable!


A perfect remote? No? The best button remote in its price range... dare I say in any price range? I'd say yes!

... Greg :-)

OK, leaves me with a few questions:

1. If I understand it correctly, the device buttons can send out macros by holding the button (right?). What do you intend to use it for, input selection only? I would think also to make sure that all required devices are on. E.g. for watching a DVD movie, holding the DVD device button would turn on the TV, DVD, receiver, subwoofer, and do the input selections. But what to do when the movie is finished, how do you turn all that equipment back off? (forget M1-M3)
Note: in my case I would turn everything off except the TV. Can't do that with the System Off button if that is programmed to turn EVERYTHING off.

2. Suppose you use the System Off button to turn everything off. Fair enough, I can see that happen when I finally decide to drag myself to bed. But what is the point of a system wide Power On button? I never turn EVERYTHING on. (BTW, is this button actually system wide or device specific?)

Oh well. Can't have it all. This remote is already a killer in my book!

Oh yes...that reminds me of another feature request. Hopefully this is already covered: the ability to jump to a different device page in a macro....

Arjen -- well, there's only two pages. :-)

Arjen:

1) Quote: I would think also to make sure that all required devices are on. E.g. for watching a DVD movie, holding the DVD device button would turn on the TV, DVD, receiver, subwoofer, and do the input selections.

Holding down the device button sends out the macro. The macro can contain commands from any device.

2) Quote: But what to do when the movie is finished, how do you turn all that equipment back off? (forget M1-M3) Note: in my case I would turn everything off except the TV. Can't do that with the System Off button if that is programmed to turn EVERYTHING off.

Because there will be no "reverse macros", the only thing I can advise is using the FAV channel pages (of which there are 5 now) for those "shutdown macros". Even though you only have 10 commands for macros on these pages, that should be more than enough to turn your equipment off. You would only need to use the first page. A workaround, yes, but nevertheless, workable!

3)Quote: But what is the point of a system wide Power On button? I never turn EVERYTHING on. (BTW, is this button actually system wide or device specific?)

System wide. And you could program this to do anything you want, not just to power EVERYTHING up. Use this macro for X-10 to dim your lights, close your curtains, etc. to get ready to push that DVD device macros!!!

Use the System Off one to do the reverse! Hey, I'm just throwing out ideas!!! :-)

Hey, it ain't "poifect", but it sure is a killer remote in my book for sub $200.

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And you can use M1-M3 for your kids to turn on a specific channel on the TV??? ;-)

With the lowly macro cabilities we had in the beginning, we are in macro heaven in comparison. Go here and see what the MX-500 started out as!!!

Cheers, kids!!!

...GregoriusMX

Guys, please be patient with me, but I'm trying to digest all you've been talking about with macros(I've never delt with them before). So if you're wanting to turn everything on, plus set inputs etc., is this a Device macro or a Power On macro, or a combination of both? For instance what would be the procedure for doing:
1.Turn On Preamp-Processor
2.Set Input TO DVD
3.Set to Surround Sound
4.Set Volume
5.Turn On DVD
6.Turn On TV (if needed, it's usually on)
7. Set Input To 2
And then when I'm done turn everything off but the tv?
Mike

Mike: You would set up a macro under the DVD DEVICE button on the MAIN page using the Setup Menu. Info on programming macros will be provided in the manual. It is very easy.

A 2-second press of the DVD DEVICE button (on the MAIN page) will send out the macro as you described (obviously after you have set it up).

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Each device can have one macro. So, to do a macro for the CD player to listen to music, you would go to the same Setup Menu and program a macro under the CD DEVICE button on the MAIN page.

Hence, there are 10 DEVICE macros that can have up to 20 commands each. You can only put ONE macro on each DEVICE button on the MAIN page.

If you only give the DEVICE button on the MAIN menu a "quick press" (under 2 seconds), it will take you to the first page of that device, where you can store any single function on any button. So, 2 pages X 10 buttons equal 20 single functions.

That is simple enough.

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There are 5 other macro buttons:

M1, M2, M3, POWER, System OFF. Each of these can have up to 20 commands assigned to them. How you use them is up to you.

I haven't confirmed this, but I assume that the 2-second push will apply to the POWER and System OFF buttons as well (at least the POWER button), because you will need to control the Power for each device singly when you are in that particular device's 2 pages. (I have just emailed HTM, and will get an answer quickly).

Still with me?

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To turn the exact components OFF that you want, you would need to create what I am calling "reverse macros", except in your case you want to leave the TV on.

The only other place to put "macros" is in the FAV Channel pages, of which there will now be 5 pages, for a total of 50 buttons. As I advised above, to turn off your system in a certain way, use the first (or any pages) of the FAV Channel pages to use as macros. Here you have up to 10 commands.

Or if you generally use 3 configurations most often, program the M1 - M3 buttons as SHUTDOWN macros.

Not perfect, but again, as I said above, a heck of a lot better than we had, and I believe, better than most, if not all, button remotes on the market.

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One other idea. If you only have 7 components, you could set up the other 3 devices as 2-second hold down POWER DOWN commands.

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So, in conclusion, you have the following macro ability:

Each DEVICE button on MAIN page: 20 commands with 2-second press.

M1, M2, M3 buttons: 20 commands - one push.

POWER button: 20 commands - will establish how implemented and post tomorrow hopefully.

System OFF button: 20 commands - again, will establish how implemented and post tomorrow hopefully.

FAV Channel: 50 "macros" with up to 10 commands each. Can be used for ANYTHING you want. Obviously, some of these FAV Channel buttons will need to switch devices i.e SAT to CABLE, etc. in order to tune in the channel you want. That is why they upped the number of commands from 4, then to 5, and then to 10.

But, again, these FAV Channel buttons really have macro capabilities to use as you feel...... in your case, to shutdown whatever you want to shut down.

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Anything else that you aren't understanding right now, just let me know!

Cheers!

... Greg :-)

P.S. The POWER and System OFF buttons will not be device specific.

P.S. The POWER and System OFF buttons will not be device specific.

With regard to the macros, right? These buttons will still be usable when in a device page to independently turn the device on or off, wont they?

Are you sure you're not holding one in your hand right now?
Maybe they should just call it the GMX-500.

Enjoy!

Wow Greg! That's a lot of typing on a Sunday!

Anyway, like you said, lot's of macros available. Turning stuff on with the Device button and Off with an LCD button is workable. An I can use the Power On and System Off button for e.g. my TV only. Or something. Not poifect indeed, but the GMX-500 is mighty fine nonetheless :-)

Wait-a-minute Greg....after re-reading your post, I noticed this little sentence tucked away:

"I haven't confirmed this, but I assume that the 2-second push will apply to the POWER and System OFF buttons as well (at least the POWER button), because you will need to control the Power for each device singly when you are in that particular device's 2 pages."

Now THAT would make all the difference to me as far as the usefullness of these two buttons is concerned!!

And I know this is a futile remark....but I would still MUCH rather see some of that precious macro memory devoted to device specific Power On and Power Off macros, instead of a whopping 50 Favorite channel macros.

Arjen

Greg,

Could you please ask URC again to make all buttons (including Power On and System Off) device specific? This would add so much flexibility for power users! And if the macros (for 2-second presses) would all be device specific too, this remote would be absolutely fantastic. Maybe that's a lot to ask for a $200 remote, but on the other hand, this would all just be a matter of software and maybe a little memory, and how expensive could that be?

Thanks,

Frasier

Greg,
Thanks a lot!!!
I'm sure I'll have more questions as time goes on or when I have a MX-500 in my hands, but in the mean time could you just move next door to me??!!! I gotta go watch that "little football game"! Thanks again!
Mike

Friends, Romans, countrymen! Lend me your ears!

1) Apparently it would require a real rework of the programming to make the M1 - M3, POWER and System OFF buttons device specific. So no go.

2) All of the other buttons ARE device specific. They control the device you're in, with the exception of the ability to PUNCH-THROUGH the VOLUME and TRANSPORT buttons to other devices.

3) And obviously the device macros ARE device specific. They can, however, have commands from all device included in the macro.

Anything I've missed?

Arjen: I'm sure the POWER BUTTON will be device specific, but not the macro assigned to it, no doubt with a 2-second push.

But, stay tuned, I'll know on Monday!

... Greg :-)

P.S. I'll get this all sorted out for you. So far the only thing we don't know is how the POWER button; and POWER and System OFF macros will work. Again, Monday!

:-)

Greg and Daniel

I want to thank both of you for the time that you are putting into this thread and to also thank the folks at Home Theater Master for listening.

The best remote for controlling a complex home theater is one that is intuitive for a person who did not program it (wife, children, friends).

Although I have an HK and a Pronto and I am very good at programming them, I don't like them. The touch screens are worthless and if something gets out of sync it is very difficult for others to figure out how to correct the problem.

The top of the line One for All remotes with 8 or so macro capable buttons are very good remotes for the money. But are only good for the person who programmed them and thats assumming that that person can remember what button controls a particular macro (since there is no way to identify it on the remote).

With the changes that HTM seems to be incorporating into the 500, especially the labelable device specific macros on the first screen, it will be the best remote on the market. This function alone (along with a little ingenuity from those of us who will set it up)will allow virtually any system to be controlled with one remote and with minimal training for the wife and others.

It appears that the most important aspect of the initial setup will be for each buyer to analyze their system inorder to determine which components have discrete on/off and input commands and which do not and at that point to configure the main screen/device buttons accordingly. The remote seems capable of doing everything else in an intuitive manner.

Thanks again for all the time you guys are putting into this and to HTM - I will be one of your first customers.

Ron