I'd like to see more threads (and hopefully answers) about Wiz.it and the new Marantz.Philips remotes. Having had a RC5000 for some time, I've just "upgraded" to a RC5400. That means I have to use the dreadful Wiz.it.

Why oh why is is so SLOW? It takes me 4 or 5 times as long to download/upload to the device as the old manager. Then there's the lack of features - I can no longer drag a button to re-size. I can no longer save bitmaps from within the program. Improvements?

Then there's the design of the RC5400. It's unstable when on a flat surface. If you attempt to operate any of the main hard buttons the device slips away. The shape is rubbish. No longer the nice "hold in hand" feel of the RC5000. No longer any nicey-feely-taper of the casing. Just a block, inconveniently just the wrong size in all dimensions to feel comfortable. Real cheap plastic. As you grip the device, the flimsy battery compartment cover flexes under your fingertips to constantly remind you of it's poor quality. It doesn't HAVE to be like that. The RC5000 wasn't.

No longer does it just slide onto the charger. Now you have to mess with angles and clips.

Why did I buy the RC5400? Because I thought it would be better. I was wrong. Think VERY carefully before you buy. The big advantage - the hard direction buttons, are the only real plus I can find...?

Anyone care to join my bleatings?

Tony

The RC-5400 is based on the Pronto NG. Your inquiries should be directed to that forum..... Where there has been a bit of RC5400 chat lately.

Thanks Impaqt, I'll check it out...

Bad design? Ive been waiting for Marantz to come out with a better design due to its *&(%-up with the 5200's Rf capabilities. The RF performance on the 5400 is nothing short of spectacular. What about the improved visibility by adding to the greyscale? Buttons have been given more depth adding to the 3-D look. I see you used to have a 5000. If you dont like the 5400, you would have hated the 5200. Marantz has improved a great deal from the 5200, including the overall look and the motion sensitive backlighting (I hear), havent messed with that yet. I applaud the USB support! Im sick of dealing with the USB to serial adpater that you have to use on new laptops that works 50% of the time . Even though its a little bit slower, I love it compared to the unreliability of using an adapter. I actually had gone back to an older laptop so that I could use straight serial instead of trying to use a sorry excuse for communicating to a remote.
RF: The 5200, you would literally have to place the RF base almost directly in front of the viewing position to get any sort of reliable performance. Macros, forget about them, Id rather go IR. Dont think about turning in the opposite direction.
The 5400: Exactly opposite, maybe the planets aligned correctly, the tide was out, but I know one thing, my socks were knocked off from the RF performance that the 5400 was spitting out. I was controlling the multi-room zones with macros (and didnt lose one step in the sequence) from other rooms and would have never been able to do that with the 5200. I have a first generation Pronto, I think I might upgrade finally.

Well, just a conflicting opinion, but I've not seen the poor RF performance that dusty215 has. I've got the 9200 but it's the same software and RF hardware. I can't be sure, but I'd be somewhat surprised if the RF hardware in the 5400 is any different than a 5200. Now you'll find a certain number of performance complaints about any RF capable remote - check out the Home Theater Master forum. RF is always something of crap shoot. Perhaps you just had a defective remote.

Jim L


This message was edited by bomberjim on 03/09/04 01:01.

I have to say that being proficient at programing the 5200 and the 9200 did not prepare me at all for the crap of a program that is called wiz-it. It seems to be completely clumsy and you are correct when you say that it takes FOREVER for it to download or upload and half the time it will tell you that the remote is not connected...Most frustrating!!!! As to the look and feel of the remote I love it...But having to program multiple of the new units I miss the ease of the 5200 and 9200 program.

Um folks..... The 5400 is a TSU3000 for all practical purposes..... The software is Too damn close to tell any REAL differences... the only explanation that i can come up with is Philips and Marantz have some sort of exclusivity clause that allows Philips(The Originating developer) exclusive right for the first 12 months of the new design.

The 5200 was worlds ahead of the TSU2000, the the 5400 is too close to call.

With that being said, Marantz actually cares about their individual clients. Tech support is far superior to Philips, and they are just friendlier people from my experiences. Warranty is better too....

For a DIYer, the TSU3000 is fine.. for somene who wants a Company behind them if anything goes wrong, Marantz is the Ticket(Not just Marantz, but the AV integrater as well). Yes, you'll pay $100 or so more for the Marantz, but for the average user, its money well spent.

Impaqt,

While I agree with most of what you say .... The last time I had to use Marantz tech support (dead charger) the 800 number(s) in my owners manual had been disconected, it now requires a toll call. They also didn't really want to talk to me, wanted me to go thru my dealer. Apparently corporate policy is that the dealer is the first line of tech support and it's the dealer who talks to Marantz if necessary. When I explained that my dealer was no longer in business, all went well.

Of course maybe things have changed, or the person I talked to was having a bad day.

Jim L

All of you should know that at least one really knowledgeable Marantz remote tech, whom I spoke with on an 800 number, hangs out here quite often. And no, it is not me.

Make your issues known, and know that we have an ally in at least one guy in the trenches. As to whether he can influence things any better than us....