If you haven't already done so, you should download the software and programming manual and play around with it. You can program the entire remote (except for any learned commands) without even having it. It's a great way to try out the remote's capabilities without spending a dime.

Mike
www.SurfRemoteControl.com

Thanks for the tip...looks good. This looks very similar to the 500.

Are people sacrificing buttons such as numbers to execute macros? This is what I was planning to do, but what happens in the rare event that I want to use the numbers? I guess I could program the to the LCD pics.

I like keys to be properly labeled as to their function (the main attraction of the URC remotes over many others), so I usually have macros on the LCD-labeled buttons for anything other than the On/Off buttons.

Hozer, i don't know if you got a satisfactory answer, but what you are trying to do is definitely possible, and I do it all the time.

LCD buttons on MAIN simply set the remote up for the device to be controlled. Then after it 'flips' to DVD, VCR, Cable control etc. I use the top few LCD buttons to perform macros (such as setting reciever inputs, TV inputs etc.) - a lot of time I just use the ON button for the one macro needed to set the system up for the device I selected on the MAIN page.

This lets me select CD player, press ON (now I hear CD sound) then go back to MAIN and press CABLE and then I can flip through cable channels while listening to CD. If I want to hear the CABLE sound, I just press ON.

Tom's right, the 850 is a powerhouse compared to the 500. They basically got rid of the 'macro' buttons and made them all macro buttons.

RobZ

Hozer,

If you're still looking around, I would be happy to give you a free consultation. You can call me at: (914) 509-5360.

Just because you don't see the prices advertised lower, doesn't mean I can't give you an unadvertised deal. My company also offers programming services.

By buying from an eBay seller, you are helping to shut down the very resource you turned to...Remote Central. We (Authorized Dealers) pay good money to advertise here and most of us are even willing to spend time with you to help you make the right choice. Try getting that from an eBay seller who is only interested in making the sale and getting you out of the way as quickly as possible. That's not the kind of service you deserve...you deserve quality pre-sales and post-sales support, don't you?



Thank you,
Damon DG
= = = = =
http://www.ProRemotes.com - Authorized Dealer & Programming Services

Jon


On 07/07/05 16:18 ET, Control Remotes said...

Thanks for the help...and I will give you a call to see. As an engineer, I am a DIY'er and I will end up programming it myself regardless. It looks pretty simple...just mainly wanting to know if it can do what my current remote does.

One thing I like about the bottom macro keys is that they are easy to punch and locate. I really dont like the lcd keys and avoid them as much as possible. They are hard to find my hands are big. The bottom macro keys are nice because they are seperated and you can push them without looking. So I still like that idea and am not convinced the 850 is better than the 500 in that regard.

if you hold the main button while you press the device button it will not send the macro
also on the bottum of the 850 there are a +10 button on the left and an ent button on the right you can use there like m1 and m3 on your mx500. and if you dont use the # buttons you can use the 0 as m2. the rf is great and it makes for flawless macros without pointing. Just keep the base station away from cable and sat boxes and try not to plug it into the surge protector the equiptment is plugged into. The macros also transmit lightning fast.

This message was edited by Vincent Delpino on 07/10/05 09:49 ET.

I have been using the MX 500's for years and love them. I have 3. In my main system I have a 62 inch Mitz DLP(cannot tell you how much I dislike Mitz), a Hi Def Direct TV Tivo, a Sony T-60 Tivo, a RCA Tivo, a Phillips DVD, my antenna Rotator(for off the air HD), a Parasound C1 Preamp controller, a Parasound A-1 amp. The Mx 500 controls all perfectly with full pic in pic support for all inputs. I also use Pic in Pic for viewing of my Parasound preamps screens while continuing to view any of my sources. I use the M1,2,3 buttons for selecting the proper Tivo inputs. I use the DVD(10 button) as a Macro to select it(I do not use near as often as various Tivo's. My HD cable is handle via a card in my Mitz monitor and is selected via the 10 Key button for TV. I also have another Tivo in another room, so am running basically 8 sat receivers from my dish.

Each and every device can play audio thru either the TV speakers(when I do not wish to burn excess electricity and am watching say 60 minutes) or thru the Parasound Preamp and Monitor Audio Speakers. In other words, basically a 10 key selector for each input device in either Pre-Amp mode, or a 10 key selector in TV speaker mode. I also control my remote control antenna rotator perfectly. And my wife can run everything.

My question is this. I purchased an 850 for only one reason(its IR support). I have several TV's thru out the house that are supported by one of my Tivos(the T-60 Sony). I take the Coax output from it, send it thru the wall to the garage where there is a distribution amp. I then send this signal to the master bedroom, the garage tv, and the kitchen tv. I remote control via the pyramid type remotes and works perfectly, using additional Sony T-60 remotes in each room serviced. However I felt that running the kitchen TV would be easier using an RF remote as would not need to point directly at a pyramid.

The problem is this. I had previously tried the battery remote extenders in my T-60 remotes. They worked ok, but as the Mx500 would not support these extenders, this forced me to maintain two(2) IR eyes to look at my Stack(one for the remote extenders and one for the Mx500 that still relied on the pyramid system). This created a conflict for my devices as two different eyes were looking at them and created a hit or miss response to remote control commands. I finally removed the remote extenders and all was well.

The big question is this. Will the 850 EYE created the same problem, as I will still need the pyramids(which means its EYE also) for the T-60 remotes(I do not wish to buy 850's or their junior members for my garage and bedroom--and I believe still that the T-60 remote was the finest designed remote ever to be included with a consumer product so even the 850 would be a lesser solution for running Tivo).

Also on the 500's, I love the ability to quickly do a remote to remote "learn" and also the cloning to have a hot backup in case of problems with one of them. I think the 3 key macros missing is a big mistake. I do have IR Clone.

Can I take my IR Clone upload to my computer, and use it as a basis to program the 850 easily. I have a quite complex Mx500 program and would hate to start from scratch programming the 850.

I have not yet opened the 850 box, so have not read the manual. If all does not look like it will do what I need, I will sell and an unopened box will command a better price.

I realize this is a long rambling question but did need to get all background info. If anyone has the stamina to work their way thru it and give me some tips I would be grateful.

Roger Schaaf

Roger, if you had gotten the mx-600, you could have just cloned the mx-500 to it, and there's very good chance it would have communicated directly with pyramids already in place. No need for extra IR cable.

Aha! Does this imply that using an Mx-600 in my kitchen, that I would not need to point it at a Pyramid in order to relay to the Pyramid at my HT Stack? And I could just clone it from the Mx 500 to boot. I think that I now have an Mx 850 for sale and will be looking for/at 600's.

As some people(such as this old Dino) love the Mx-500, I am amazed that Universal never elected in their 850 to continue all the 500 facilities when they created the 850 ugraded product. The 500's rock and even with IR Clone I still do remote to remote learning.

In fact just yesterday I helped a friend set up his 500 which I had suggested he buy 2 years ago. Instead he opted for a 2000 dollar Niles system that basically sucked(2 handed operation, could not program himself--had to hire some dope at a 100 per hour who could not give him what he needed and would be required for any system additions-- could not begin to run his Tivo's and on and on) Never did get it to do what he needed.. He now has his Mx500 in operation and is thrilled. The Niles will end up in his closet with his 20 thousand dollars worth of 35 mm cameras and developing equipment. He may upgrade to an 850 for remote RF support(Tivo outputs in other rooms such as I do) but I do not think that he should as all is well now for him. Perhaps a 600?

I also tried some P-pro with his programming. Found that it sucked, and just did remote to remote learning for all his requirements. Took about an hour and another hour to set up some good macros. Did not use Ir Clone either. In fact all I use it for at my home, is backup in the event that both my Mx 500's should fail at the same time.

Thanks
Roger

Yes to no need for pointing. Your mx-850 will probably work as well. But you will need to program it via the PC, no cloning. If you want to trade a mx-600 for a mx-850, I'm your man. : ) I upgraded one of my two mx-600's to a mx-650.

On your advice, I did pick up a couple of 600's and love them. In fact I recommended to a friend who has now dumped his 2000.00 Niles system(about time) and went to a 500 and now has a 600, both of which I set up for him. He and his wife hated the Niles, spent a lot of money in programming services, could not even add a device without calling the programming tech, could not run their Tivo's etc. Loves the 500 and 600 and his wife can run their entire system.

I still see no reason to run the 850. I have a rather complex system with 3 tivos, parasound, pic in pic, run all inputs using either the parasound pre-amp or thru the tv speakers(save power), my choice, etc etc and have found nothing that I cannot do and do well. In fact if I were to give up the 600 and go to the 850, the lack of the bottom 3 macro buttons would be a killer. I use everyone of my page 1 buttons for my Tivo's controls. To merely hit a M1, 2, or 3 to go to another Tivo without returning to main is great. Cable and DVD I select thru LCD buttons(but are seldom used so returning to main for them is not a problem). In fact with 600's, I have added support for the Sony TV systems in my master bedroom and garage. The same with no changes also controls my central system in the family room where my Parasound, Mits Tv, antenna rotator, 3 Tivos, and DVD are located. 2 of these Tivo's outputs are sent to the garage and master bedroom via coax and are controlled very well remotely from these rooms by the Mx-600. Was using unreliable pyramids before.

Also love remote to remote learn(also have IR Clone but do not use except for backup, and I have been a computer professional for 40 years) and Clone. The 500/600's rock. I have a brand new, never removed from box, 850 and 250 that I will be selling.

Thank you Edmund for the 600 tip. Shame on you, Universal for dropping the 600 or not fully incorporating its cool features in the 850.

Roger
Silicon Valley, Ca

Why the heck would you sacrifice your numeric pad for a macro, the LCD screen has more then enough space for anything you may want. I am confused, someone needs to draw me a graph I think.

If you're thinking Roger is using keys 1, 2, 3 for macros, he isn't and he can't. The keys he is using are M1, M2, and M3, only available on mx-500's and mx-600's.