I have a friend that is looking to get a new remote. Here is a list of the equipment:

Directv receiver SAT-A55
Faroudja VP250 Line Doubler
Lexicon DC-1 Digital Controller
Rane THX44 Home Cinema Equalizer
Sunfire Cinema Grand Amp
DVD-VCR Sanyo DVW-6100
Vidikron VPF50 HD Projector


I need something that is easy to program but will still control of all this equipment. I have emailed Harmony, Crestron, and Phillips so far. I just thoght this forum would have an unbiased opinion.

Thanks in advanced,

Jeff

With the remotes you've listed you are covering quite a price range. If budget is a concern (doesn't appear to be from the equipment list) I would use the Pronto. If not find a Crestron or AMX dealer in your area and let them program a system for you. Take in account going from a Pronto to a Crestron/AMX system is the difference of several thousand dollars. It may help if you posted where you are located. Someone in your area may be able to assist you.

I am in the Northern Ohio region, half way between Toledo and Cleveland. I know it is a big price range, would like to program myself so if something went wrong I could fix it.

Thanks,

Jeff

If programming it yourself is an objective then rule out Crestron. I say go with a pronto. Maybe a TSU7000. Easy to program and tons of support on the forum.

if a wife/kids are going to use it consider e mx-850 or the rti t2+ which has become limited to custom installers only.

Go with a HTM MX-850 you will not be dissapointed. Easy to use for all and Fairly easy to program.

One of the most important issues, which all in this thread have missed so far is...

Do you prefer hard buttons, or is a touch screen good?

This is always a trade off!

Hard buttons have a better feel, are easy to find in a dark or dimly lit room, without having to look down at the remote. But hard buttons will have fixed labels, and will not allow for every function on each piece of equipment to be on the remote with a meaningful label.

A touch screen allows excellent flexibility of button placement and grouping. Every function on every piece of gear can be assigned a button. There is no tactile feedback, so the user must look down at the remote to use it.

Many people opt for a combination of the above. The pronto's have a few hard button's for the most used commands, with a large screen area for use in programming lesser used commands on the touch panel.

Several remotes (like the MX) use lots of buttons, ch, vol, transport, numbers, joypad, etc, along with a small screen of lesser programmibility than the pronto's.

This is really a matter of personal preference. Think about what you want. How often do you perform functions like changing surround mode, altering input setups, etc. This depends on how the gear you have functions, and how you tend to use it.

Myself, I'm a set it up and forget it kind of guy. I've owned both types of remotes, and I'm still looking for the "holy grail of remotes." I now tend toward mostly hard buttons, and on those occasions when I need to tweak items, I pull the origional remotes out of the drawer. I set up my mostly hard button remote as task based. I really like some of the new harmony remotes.

Good luck in your quest!

Thanks everyone for the great replies!!! I will have to look at the MX-850. I will have to see what he wants to spend. Bcf1963, thanks for the thoughts. I will have to keep that in mind.

Thanks again everyone!! I will let you know how it goes.

Jeff

That was my point about wife/kids

if you want easy to set-up go with harmony. As for oex's comment I dissagree, many wife and kids like touch screens (and many do not). It is taste for all people some like buttons others like touchscreens.

If you go with a Pronto be prepared to spend many hours to set it up