I posted this question a few days ago and it seems to be the only post that old with several views but zero replies. Maybe I did not state my problem/question well so I will try again. I also sent the question to URC in the hopes they can help. Maybe my MX-500 is defective?

I have attempted to program this macro on my MX-500 many times and cannot get it to work. It seems to follow the example in the instructions but does not behave the same. I have spent many hours researching this. Here are the exact key presses.

(Main-Ent)
(Macro)
Page
TV -this is the button label on Main I want to record the macro for
TV -go to TV device page
Page -switch to Page 2
CH+ -do a channel up, learned from original remote
CH- -do a channel down, learned from original remote
Page -go back to Page 1
SOURC -send a source command to the TV
Main -go back to main
SAT -select the SAT device from the Main device screen.

PROBLEM - it does not go to the SAT device page, it goes back to the TV page 1. I have tried this starting with the DVD or SAT instead of the TV. However, every time I get to the last step no matter what device I choose it takes me to TV Page 1.

Clarification - this occurs while trying to program the macro, not run it. Also my intent was not to end the macro here but to then issue some commands directed at the SAT device, but I cannot get there.

Why can't I get the macro to go the SAT page (or any other page besides TV Page 1)?

Thanks,
Frustrated (aka Mike)

You do know that you can't include CH UP command or whatever is mapped to the CH UP key in the macro? Because that's key you use to set and lock the macro.

OK, never thought of that but I am not sure it applies in this case.

The CH UP I am using is an LCD button I defined and learned from the TV remote. The actual CH UP hard-button is learned from my SAT receiver.

I just verified - the hard CH UP and CH DN only change the SAT channels no matter what device I am on. The only way to get the TV channel to change is to go to Page 2 of my TV device and use the CH+ and CH- buttons I put on the LCD. I never press the hard CH UP in my macro.

So my possibly feeble logic says that is not the problem.

And thanks so much for a response!

I have been working on this more, and contacted URC. Still working with them, but I have simplified the problem (though a problem is still a problem).

If I start a macro from the Main page by starting the macro:
1) press PAGE
2) press TV (or DVD, or SAT, or VCR) indicating I want the macro stored on this button,
3) press another device button (on the same MAIN page)

No matter what button I press in step 3, the remote goes to the device page pressed in step 2. I can get this much more complicated, but the bottom line seems to be when creating an LCD macro from the MAIN page I cannot navigate to any devices except the button for which I am programming.

Hope that makes sense.

Some additional insight that might help others.
First, Edmond was correct about not being able to use the CH UP button in a macro (although in my case that was not the problem, depends on what device).
Second, URC pointed out that if the second device on the MAIN page has a macro attached it will not work (because you can't chain macros).

Once I understand the first problem (being unable to navigate when defining the macro) I will have to figure out how to get around the second problem (chained macros) because - I don't want to chain macros, but I do want navigate to other devices within my macros. Seems this will be a challenge when I was planning all my MAIN page device buttons to have macros, so then how do you actually navigate to the various device pages?

Obviously not a problem with more sophisticated remotes like the MX-700.