Is the MX850 and MRF-300 system difficult to install and program? Can a normal non-techie end home user install and program the system without the additional cost of a professional? My home theater system installer only puts in RTI systems, and I am having difficulty personally justifying the expense of the RTI T2+ system, when it appears that I may be able to put in an excellent URC system at half the cost or less. I do prefer an RF system, since my components will be hidden (except for the 50" DLP HD Samsung tv above the fireplace), and I have wired ceiling speakers throughout the house. My components are/will be as follow:Samsung HLN-5065W, Denon AVR-2106 (with built-in XM tuner), Denon 755S or Panasonic S77 DVD player, and Sony 300cd megachanger, and will have XM satellite radio service. I know I could simplify all of this by just settling for an IR system and going with the Logitech Harmony 880, but am still hanging in there for an RF system. Your thoughts will be much appreciated.

Not really.


I don't see why not. As I tell customers all the time, if you want to find out whether it's right for you, just download the software and programming manual. You can program the entire remote without having one, so it's a "no cost" way to find out if programming one yourself is right for you.

Mike
www.SurfRemoteControl.com

I agree...it's about as simple as hooking up a DVD player and YET we have a whole industry to support those that are either too busy (or too rich) to figure it out themselves.

One thing is for sure, the remote is so simple to program and install that even paying for the service shouldn't be all that expensive. RF interference and the occassional in-op code problems however might make it a frustrating experience ultimately for the end user. But I bet your 14 year old Playstation Master cousin could do it for you in no time.

RobZ

Logitech is coming out with the 890 with RF capability but obviously it is unproven. RTI's RF capability is, IMO, far superior to URC's although I admit that I have not yet tried the new MRF300. I had a lot of interference problems with the 250. I did eventually get it to work flawlessly but only after a lot of trial and error. I too have never been able to justify spending 2x as much (or more) for RTI and I'm a control freak so I like to set things up myself.

The MXEditor software is easy enough for most and it seems to me they are still massaging the user interface to make it even more intuitive with each new upgrade. Download the software and give it a shot.

As far as RF goes, my MRF300 is no better or no worse than the MRF250's we installed all last year. The adjustable IR does make you feel like you are at least doing something about the interference, and the IR pass through is pretty cool.

Incidentally, if the MRF held the codes and programming and the remote only issued a short button press pulse (i.e. 'press1, press2, pressPAUSE, etc.) there would be far less chance of interference because there would be less information that could potentailly get 'lost'. I've seen this suggested in other posts and I WHOLLY agree!

RobZ

Apparently the new MRF-500 base station (to be shown at CEDIA) will have this one shot macro capability - the codes and macros will be stored in the base station, and the remote will only issue a single "command".

Looking forward to hearing more about this next week.

Dino

They should fix the MRF 250/300 RF issues before they make more of a poor product. My RF experience with URC has been terrible and I no longer spec them on a job or carry it in the office..Have several MRF 300's new in box about to go out with the trash
We now sell the RTI and never looked back or upgrade even further to Crestron.

RTI RF base(RP6) has sensing capabilities and 232 output

we swapped out several MRF250 for the 300's and things were better on one job and even worse on the others.

Sarcasm I hope? Otherwise you must not think your time and knowledge is worth anything.