I know there are many mx remote lovers on this site. But lots of us have wrestled with time wasting problems created by them as well.
I've finally switched to RTI, and for those of you who have not tried it yet, I reccommend at least looking into it. I posted this on the RTI forum as well, but I just want the HTM users to see it too, if it helps anyone solve thier current problems:

Since switching to RTI, life has been great, but today was the real clincher! Over the last month, I've spent a few days wrestling with Arcam zone 2 control. The unit required a firmware update, and once that was done, there were some new ir codes that needed to be used for main zone control.

The homeowner had bought her own mx800's and hired me to program them. Well naturally, the new codes were not in the mx db. I had arcam email the hex codes to me, and I made an ir panel to put them into the mx remote. Long story short, the mx remote would not accept the code. I spent over 2 hours waiting on hold with HTM to troubleshoot the remote. They still have not found what was wrong.

So today, I bring my t2+ on site, and put the hex into it. It works flawlessly. I learn the code over to the mx remote and problem solved.

If it wasn't for RTI, it may have taken days or weeks for HTM to get thier act together and solve the importing problem. I can't say enough good things about RTI, and I've only scratched the surface of what thier systems can do!

I've seen the light, and I won't sell an HTM remote again.

Man, I LOVE my MX-700. You had a programming problem of a uncommon device and now you will never sell an HTM remote again? Give me a break!!! There are many here that will disagree with you, as URC remotes are arguably the highest rated remotes out there. Perhaps you are simply trying to stir up some business for yourself to sell off your lot of RTI's??? :P

BTW - The URC line of products has had 284 user reviews with an average 4.67/5.00 rating.

Tippy,

Wow! I'm really surprised, since I haven't seen many issues/complaints posted by you. I can understand though...if you had several issues, you need to do what you think is best to get the job done.



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

You have to love the guys that come to the dark side and start using the RTI Stuff

RF that works and the ability to import hex

Had my share of issues with URC as well, but wont go there

I know tons of guys here have great success with the URC and thats awsome, and a few of us have Issues and try the RTI and it works for us so we switch over to it

Tippie...glad it worked out for you with the RTI

I have used both URC and RTI remotes but have had much more experience with URC. I prefer URC for the following reasons:

1) Development. I have had RF problems with many URC remotes but they have improved their performance greatly in the past year with even greater strides coming soon. I have seen URC develop new products and improved technologies much faster then RTI. I also like that they produce a complete product line for all levels - consumer to pro. Knowledge of both markets trickles into all products and I'm convinced one of the reasons they offer Variable support in the MX950 and MX3000 is because low-end consumers found the Harmony Activity based models so easy to use.

2) Design- The MX500/700/800/850 design has always been a favorite and the new MX950 is one of the best looking remotes I have used. The T2+ seems retro to me and just doesn't sit well in my palm. Personal preference...

I also prefer the widescreen MX3000 layout over the T3 for touch screens. The T4 does look very nice though too.

3) Customer service - As an installer I am sure RTI treats you well but as a consumer I would rather have the resources you offer combined with the support of the manufacturer. As long as RTI refuses to give end-users access to their software and very limited end-user support they will always be half as good.

I personally would rather an installer who had many product options to choose from.

We dont do low end so most of the entry level MX remotes we would never use, we started with the MX800 as an entry level remote and went to a mx3000 then to crestron. But the RF on the URC was so flakey for us we actually lost money on our jobs with URC. we tried out an RTI T1 in a clients home 500 miles away as our first shot with RTI, the install went faster that expected(we used all of our URC experiences as a reference for our time) went so well we actually had time to do 5 more for the client in the time we alotted for 1. Same client now has 6 (T1's)in the main house, 2 (T1's)in the guest house and 2(T1's interfaced with AMX) on his yact along with 2 U1's.
The yacht is always at sea and never close to home...Think Traveling to a yacht several times a year would be fun to trouble shoot a bad RF problem?? it wasnt as the MX800/MRF 250 gave us problems, its now a T1/RP-6 and havent had a single issue.they actually pulled all the equipment in its rack and shipped it to us for looking at....400-500 shipping for a 400 remote setup and shipping back...we returned it with RTI and they loved it...Client hates touchscreens and didnt really care for the LCD display

we will still sell a MX remote to a client as long as its IR or linked to the crestron.
had a client throw a MX3000 because the RF was so bad from day to day..destryed the MX3000, its now a T3 and RP6..havent been back for a call in 2 months now

yep, a year ago, I might have felt the same way if someone said what I said about urc, but RTI is THAT much better. No, it's not the remote line for consumers that want to tinker with it themselves, urc is great for that. But for a custom installation shop, slow reponse or no response button presses can hurt your reputation, AND your accountant. People that pay money for YOU to select and set up thier toys, because they are too busy, have 0 tolerance for it just not working. Fact is, URC has cost us money. Every "issue" (lack of experience with the product) that I have had with RTI has been responded to within an hour or less, and I can usually get an answer in a minute or 2. URC even hurts my cellphone bill, with the 2 hour tech support waiting line. Not sure about URC adapting new technologies faster, unless you mean the color touchscreen, which many people dont even want. They've got variables that work, you don't miss steps in a macro - if anything gets through, it all does, they will be sooner to adopt 2 way wifi, IN THIER CURRENT LINE, and even without 2 way, you can already control toad devices through sensors. The Mrf-500 just seems like a poor attempt to keep up with the rp-6, and with URC's reputation, I bet a round of beers to our seattle members that it will still have mrf-250 / 300 style issues right out the door. I think I'm fairly competent with urc products, having worked with them for over 2 years, but once I saw what RTI could do, it was no comparison, to me, my business, and my customers.

I don't program remotes for a living so I have to give the nod to you guys as to what works best for your business. I guess as an over-qualified consumer the experiences in my house may not be the norm. I can control RF noise before it starts and I tweak every gadget so much that no config is ever complete.

I should also mention that I have a complete lighting control system based on X10 that works perfectly (no module more expensive then $80)! maybe i just have the magic touch ;-)

hats off to you. you should step into CI while that magic touch lasts.

Looks like I was wrong about RTI. I have had my MX-700 for only a few weeks and still am very happy with it. I have a simple Home Theater system and love to tinker with the remote for fun. I saw the RTI in the remote reviews section and do not like the look of it, however, I did not realize they had many other remotes available on their site (which all look really cool). For the price I paid for my URC, I couldn't be happier, especially compared to the $500 RTI pricetag. That being said, I can completely understand how slow customer service, increased programming time, etc. can affect one's bottom line (and make customers angry). You are all certainly much more knowledgeable than I when it comes to this stuff and I really appreciate all of the help and advice people have given me here. Please pardon my comments above, as I'm an idiot and was actually just kidding around anyways. You guys are what make this site so great. Thanks for all of the info!

Scott

Hey, no offense taken. I knew you were kidding. I would have felt the same way some time ago, but now that I've seen both sides of the coin, I feel differently. I just hope some of you that haven't looked into RTI yet will give it a try.

Scott, the T2 that is in the review section is an old model, the new one is a T2+ and has better battery and batery life, more buttons, works with the RP-6

Look here for the whole line
www.rticorp.com

the price is 599 MSRP and the screen is actually a touchscreen, unlike the URC where its is just a display for the button names

I just did a T2+ for a client and included an RP-6 and RM433 antenna, programmed it for HD sat with Tivo, Cable, VCR, DVD, XM radio and Shades..Took me 2 1/2 hours to install and program...including favorite Channels for all sources and it worked

If I were to do a URC it would have been about the same install and programming time then doubled or longer to get it to work properly

If it were IR then no problem. They have crestron throughout the house and this is for the little AV system in the office for the wife...Looking into adding the House audio controls to the remote as well...save her from reaching a few feet to the touchscreen

I have a MX700 for basic code learning and teaching but really havent used it in the last few months because of the RTI learner and ability to import hex codes..including toggle bit codes

URC is a great product but just didnt work in my area well so had to look at another product and RTI was it

If you are a tinker bug and like this stuff then URC is for you, But I have to deal with installing and programming them then the Irate phone calls due to something not working...those became to be a daily thing..had to do something

I have found the URC's, especially the MC-3000 to be superior. Suppose everyone has had issues with different remotes, like I have with certain RTI's, so it's always going to influence your opinion/comments on them.
My customers just seem to prefer the URC's, looks, quality, and performance wise. (especially the MX-3000!!)
I guess it comes down to personal preference, and experiences etc, but MX has been good for me (no excess calls for problems, no issues with programming etc) and no complaints from customers. RTI burnt me a couple times, and URC's customers service has been brilliant when I've needed it.
As with everything use what suits you, and whatever keeps the customer happy!!!
I'll be sticking with URC:)

Obviously, I am very proud of our products at Universal Remote Control and our Customer Service department, which has been expanded enormously over the past few years. We are absolutely dedicated to custom installers from the top down at URC. I have always offered to help anyone over the phone, and I am the VP of Technology.

This thread disturbs me, because of the opinions stated as fact in much of TippieTie's and Glackowitz's evangelizing about RTI. Don't get me wrong, I think RTI is a terrific competitor. They make good products. That doesn't mean people who prefer their products should engage in this kind of negative bashing of RTI's competition.

I've offered Glackowitz my personal assistance on any job where he spends more than 5 minutes troubleshooting our products. He isn't using URC right now, so he hasn't taken me up on it. But he is interested in seeing the new MRF-400 Automation Station when it ships. So he hasn't completely written us off, even though he prefers RTI right now.

And no, the MRF-400 is not a rip off of RTI's RP-6. I've been developing automation products for many years and the RTI RP-6 was inspired by the Niles IntelliControl, which I developed at Niles many years ago. URC has long recognized the need for the Automation Station, but other products and technologies had to come first. The MRF-400 is in Alpha testing now, and is doing very well. I expect to Beta test in the field soon, and deploy sometime soon in 2006.

To Tippie Tie, I'll buy you and the Seattle members that round of beers if you'll let me assist you in troubleshooting any site you want. After your 2 hour hold for URC support, I owe you more than a beer anyway!

Our technical suport department is expanding constantly. We don't want anyone to go through that kind of wait.

To everyone, if you have a problem that you can't resolve with a quick call to URC support, give me a call!

Best Regards,

-Eric

Eric Johnson
VP of Technology
Universal Remote Control, Inc.

Technical Support - 1-800-901-0800
Direct Line to Eric - 1-800-247-7001

Folks, I can attest to Eric's and URC's commitment to its customers. I had a very unusual issue with my MX-3000 that has been resolved now (touch screen acting peculiar). Eric and Joe Spinelli at URC bent over backworks for me.

Dino