Just a quick preliminary result on Mitch's file:

I AM finding inconsistencies. I'm not quite sure if it has to do with the design of the buttons. It DOES seem that the remote sometimes needs one press to show the LCD, and then one push to "Wake Up" the remote and then another to invoke the command. This seems to be on only certain button codes though.

Also, there are intermittent non-responsive button pushes no matter how the button is pushed.

So, at this early time in my testing, I'm not quite sure if it has to do with how the firmware or hardware handles the button push i.e. firmware or mechanical; or if it just happens to be the code on the button and how it reacts with the firmware and the software program itself.

Intermittent things are very difficult to figure out sometimes.

I haven't spent time with the remote on any other configuration, so I will set up a configuration for my own system and see if I have similar results.

While Mitch's configuration is not the simplest, it certainly is not the most complex either, so the 900 should be able to handle it easily.

I would appreciate it if two or three others would send me their configuration as well so I can see if similar inconsistencies are present.

Stay tuned!

Greg

Greg,

I really appreciate you taking a look at this. Hopefully everyone else will respond and send you their files as well so we can determine what the problem is.

Keep in mind that I "DO NOT" have the "LCD ON/OFF" set to turn off the LCD after a specified period of time. I have my remote set so that the LCD screen is on 24/7.

Update:

Since changing my HDTIVO device page to database codes it still occasionally will not respond to a first press although not quite as frequently as with the learned codes.

I also sent my file to Greg.

Thanks Greg for your help.

I have noticed that intermittently, on ANY LCD button, that it doesn't register on the first press. Since it is repeatable, but not on just one particular button, or during one particular sequence, this one may be VERY hard to figure out.

I sent you an email, Mitch, about this, and I'm sorry I can be of much help.

It said, in part:

"I've been playing around with your remote config for a couple of days now, and it is so intermittent that I don't know if URC could even figure out what the problem is.

It doesn't just happen on the buttons you mentioned. It happens at the oddest times, and on virtually any of the soft buttons on the LCD. I have not had any problems with the main remote buttons."

I also mentioned in the my message to you to email Eric Johnson and let him know about this. I'm not sure what he can do though.

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You did help ME though in realizing that the 900 is more suitable for me than the 950 due to the button configuration and the length and weight of the remote, although I wish it had all of the features and ran on the same OS as the 950.

I wish I could have been of more help!

Greg

I am just about to load your file, Chuck, and see what happens. I think it will be much the same as with Mitch, where things are very intermittent and though a button will not fire within 30 seconds of me pushing buttons on Mitch's file, it is not always the same button, and on his file, it was always on the LCD screen buttons.

Hang on for some info on yours.

Hmmmmmmmmm...... I don't have much of a problem with Chuck's file.

I am really beginning to think that it is button design, both on the 900 and the 950. There doesn't seem to be a clearly defined ON mechanical feel like there is on other URC remotes.

This may be coupled with a weak IR learned signal, and when the two are put together, you get more problems.

I have tried a brand new configuration and found there to be very little button problems at all, so it may be a combination of the quality of either certain database codes (they are in most cases learned by URC from other manufacturer's remote controls) or the ones learned by the user himself, as noted when Chuck changed from his own learned codes to the database codes.

I'm sorry to report I can't be of much help in this regard!

Greg

I had posted in another thread asking about the quality of learned codes vs preprogrammed codes and didn't get much from it other than use the preprogrammed codes.

It sounds like a preprogrammed code is just a code learned from the manufacturer's remote in the same way a regular user does it.. is this correct? They don't use the Hex codes or something that manufacturers provide?

Mitch, I've installed your file on my remote and after many tries I was able to get the issue with a "Watch" or "Listen" macro not firing on the first push to occur a few times. I haven't noticed any problems with single commands, but I did have one instance when I pushed the "Watch" button and nothing happened. After playing around some more, it seems that if I convert the macro to a single one (not combined with a push-and-hold), it's working reliably. I think it definitely is a software/firmware issue.

Greg, I don't have any problems with the thumbpad, but I checked Mitch's first 900 when he sent it back and sometimes a push even slightly off from the position (like 11:55 instead of 12:00 for "Up") would send the wrong command.

Update: I just spoke to Eric about this and I'm sending him the file. He's going to have the engineers take a look at it.

Mike
www.SurfRemoteControl.com

Great Mike!

Thanks for the info on the thumbpad. Mitch mentioned he had it on the first one in an email to me.

I like the 900 and will exchange it.

So, it really does seem to be a firmware issue. That is a doable fix then, IMHO.

Great detective work!!!

Greg

Isn't it great when we all put our heads together and work as a "Team" to identify problems and possible solutions?

That's what makes this such a fantastic forum! Hopefully the engineers at URC will get it figured out.

Thanks to everyone for all the help and input. Stay tuned for any further developments and updates.

Amen TEAM!!!

For the record, I'm having the same problem with my 900. It's been very flaky lately and I often have to press a button twice to get it to respond. I'm also fairly certain that random macro steps are occasionally not being fired. The remote used to be 100% reliable, so logic tells me that something must have changed. My best guess is that a recent firmware update screwed it up. The only other thing I can think of is that I recently changed the batteries for the first time, but I don't see how this could have broken the remote. Is anyone aware of a recent firmware update for the 900?

If anyone wants to take a look at my configuration file, let me know and I will be happy to e-mail it to you.

Updating your batteries wouldn't affect anything, unless they are the dollar store variety and are not putting out enough juice.

Are you saying that everything worked fine, and then you downloaded the SAME, or an UPDATED configuration?

And when exactly did you do this? A week ago, two weeks ago. I can find out when the latest firmware upgrade came about.

Did you do a LiveUpdate between the time you had a properly functioning 900 and the "flaky" operation you have now?

You can send me your file if you like, but I won't be able to get to it until Monday, since I am moving.

Greg

Was it working fine before July 25th?

The IR database was updated as well as the ability to use Page +/1 and Nav +/-

It would be interesting to install an older version of the software and downgrade the remote to not use the new features. (if that's even possible)

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This is from their webpage..

MX-900 Editor Update History
Software:
July 25, 2006 Ver 1.10.086
Update - IR DB version 1.76
Update - MX Editor now allows Goto Page to include Page +/- and Navigate +/-
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I talked to Eric Johnson at URC today. He has sent my file to the engineers in Korea to see if they can find a problem. He also asked me to do some troubleshooting to see if I could document at what frequency the problem occurs.

He suggested trying to get the problem to surface while the backlight is on. In other words leave the backlight on while your trying to reproduce the problem. I will do some testing tonight and tomorrow night and report my findings here and to URC.

I would also like to ask each of you who are experiencing the same problems to do some testing of your own and report back on what you find as well.

Stay tuned!