Mike at irclone.com let me know via e-mail that they have no plans to support the URC series. I was hoping since the URC-200/300 appears to have more features than the MX-500, and are targetted toward consumers, there might be more potential customers. I guess time will tell. After looking at the 500e software demo, I can see that it is coded specifically for the MX-500 feature-set, and would probably be a lot of work to update it to work with the URC remotes.

That's unfortunate. I was planning on purchasing the URC 200/300 if IR-Clone started supporting them. But I am spoiled and like the PC support for my MX-500. I don't think I will ever go back to manually programing a remote again.

Looks like my only choice now if I want to upgrade is to go to the MX-700/800. I don't think I would like the pronto or Harmony remotes.

Maybe someone else will come up with a way to support the URC line via PC interface?

I'm kind of surprised that Mike and Dave won't further their product to include the new remotes. This would open up a whole new customer base for them.

But I'm also not about to deny that changing the software might be a huge undertaking not worth the time of "hobbyists" like Mike and Dave. I don't know if the IR signals are even compatable with the existing IR-clone.

Perhaps Mike and Dave should sell this concept to HTM for them to market as an add-on.

I'm thankful that they did what they did and I know I'll be using my MX-500 for many more years than I might have because of it. Thanks guys!

Guys, Mike and BlueDo have nothing to do with it. HTM has positioned this new line of remotes as a consumer only piece. Therefore, not only are Mike and other authorized HTM sellers not permitted to sell them, nor am I or any other custom installer that sells and programs hundreds of their remotes each year. As an authorized reseller to my clients, I have gone all the way up the food chain at HTM to the top and discussed this with them. There is no changing their mind either. See all those Harmony remotes in Best Buy and other places? Well, pretty soon you'll see a URC200 there too.

E. J.

I think eakf was referring to Mike and Dave at "IR-Clone" not Mike and Dave at Surfremotecontrol.com and Bluedo.com.

But I'm sure you’re right about HTM not being willing to incorporate this concept as it is a different market. But I also feel that it's very unfortunate that they don't realize that there are a great deal of people, like myself, that would benefit from having computer programmable remotes.

I also understand that they are probably skeptical that by adding this additional function also adds additional costs in tech support. But let's face it! We live in a world of technology that is ever increasing in scope and product.

Are they concerned that they might loose the custom installer base if they offer all their products with PC programmability? Do you know what there thinking is?

Why not target the home user market and offer an alternative for the more advanced user? It seems they already realized this once when the MX-700 was initially only available to custom installers. Now it's available to everyone.

Educate me! What am I missing here?

I've been a professional Windows programmer for 12 years. I'd be willing to help them out with the software programming. I would enjoy it, and ultimately it would help me program my URC-300 more easily. However, I know nothing about IR hardware signals, so someone else (Mike?) would have to decipher the changes in the URC "clone" protocol and memory layouts.

Anyway, Mike, if you're around, this is an option to consider.

Man, too many mike's around here, thanks for the straightening out Mitch. As to your question, I have NO IDEA why HTM wont make these new remotes available to custom installers. I can only speak for myself when I say that the 500/600 is WAY to limited and the new URCs would fill the gap perfectly - computer programmable or not.

E. J.

The really odd part is that distribution of the URC line, which is their Consumer line, is far more restricted than the MX series, which is the Custom line.

we should thank urc for this - it keeps clients from having EASY access to hi end remotes. Keeps us pro's in demand (For a while anyway)

oex, it's the Custom line (MX series) that's widely available anywhere. That doesn't keep your clients from having easy access to these remotes. It's the URC line that's far more protected.

I agree with Mike (SRC Mike) here. HTM is totaly backwards on this. The 700/800 is available everywhere at less then my clients pay from me while the new URCs are impossible to find.

I think HTM needs to regroup and then take a big whiff and smell the coffee! Are they in business to sell products or are they just manufacturing these remotes to show a few of them off to limited distributors to prove what great products they make?

Hi,

Mike@irclone writing. It is true that we do not have any plans at this time to support the URC remotes. Dave is not willing to spend many hundreds more hours developing software which is what he has put into the 500e editor. After all one needs a good return on an investment like that. As a result I have not checked out whether the remotes are compatible with Irclone or whether changes are necessary. This is a chicken and egg kind of situation.

Toximan thanks for the offer. If you are interested in spending many hours without a guaranteed return please email me at, [email protected]. For the record we have sold nearly 1200 Irclones!!

Mike

Mike,
Congratulations on the IRClone sales numbers. I hope that it has been worth your and Dave’s while, financially and otherwise.
I, for one, am very appreciative.
Chip

I am also disappointed that there will be no irclone support. I have recently purchased the URC-200 and hoped that irclone coming which would have been a bonus. Although I have not used an MX-500/600, the coding in irclone should not be too different for the URC. I suppose 3 versions would be required, i.e. URC-100/200/300 which complicates the situation.

The alternative to irclone is a less elegant solution and involves using an OFA or RS to “learn” those special or discrete codes not found on the original equipments’ remote control. A more involved process involves use of JP1.

Here is an example of where it would help me. I have a Sony TV and Receiver and a remote controls for both. The TV remote control has a single on/off button, no discrete. The Receiver remote control knows the discrete code off code for the TV, and uses it as part of an internal macro to turn everything off. The sequence is long and cannot be learned by the URC-200. I need to program this code into a remote and then learn it to my URC-200. This is going to get worse when I get my Denon 2805 and Samsung HLP.