Hello all. I've started a whole house AV project and am looking to control it all. Here is the long term plan.

- family room: samsung lcd tv and 5.1
- game room: projector and 5.1
- bedrooms: tv video and sound
- basement: 1 or multiple cable boxes, wdtv, htpc, 2 receivers, 2 multi-channel amps and most likely an hdmi switch

I'm starting with the family room and part of the basement setup to get my feet wet. I'm housing everything in a server rack. I'm temporarily using a Harmony 880 and Monoprice IR extender, but the lack of reliability is wearing thin. I'd like a setup I can expand with and purchase remotes as needed for each room. I will need RF capability between 1 floor for the family and game rooms and 2 floors for the bedrooms. I'm looking for good performance, but hoping to not spend too much as this is a big project. Thanks for the feedback!

Based on your listing of devices, you should consider a URC MSC400 for the control, and URC MX900 or MX980's for remotes. The MSC400 is a little tricky to program, but when it's done you'll have a bullet-proof system. You may want to consult a URC certified programmer.

Thanks Joe, I appreciate the info. Are there any other setups that might be a bit more DIY friendly and/or cheaper? I'm technical and don't mind working on the programming and figuring it out.

It is a little hard to determine the right solution without knowing what your specific equipment is but I would tend to agree with Joe that the MSC-400 combined with URC remotes would be a good solution. It does get pricey quick though considering the number of rooms you have.

To save some money you could go with an URC MRF-350 to start with. Once you get past 6 devices you will have to add an additional MRF-350, split some of the emitters or rely on the blaster though. For the remotes you can use MX-450's or MX-900's depending on your need for the particular room. No matter what you are going to need to spend some money to support a configuration where you are trying to control the equipment in on place from multiple remotes.

Yep, I knew it would get up there in price, just finding it hard to justify 400-500 for a remote. I'm sure this isn't the first time you've heard that :) Will the mx450 work with a mrf350? Also, is it worthwhile to go with the newer narrow band technology? I think with the blaster and 6 emitters, I should be good to go for a while.

The equipment I currently have is Samsung LN52B750 in family room, onkyo ht-rc160 receiver, 8200 (maybe 8300) hd dvr and wdtv live all in the basement. I'll be expanding, but that's the current list. Hopefully this helps narrow down some choices.

Thanks for the help!

It sure will. The MX-450 is not PC programmable though. Honestly, if it were me and I were doing as many rooms as you are planning to I would get a PC programmable remote for one room and use MX-450's for the rest. That way, if you ever find some weird code that isn't in the database and can't be learned you still have a way to get it into all your remotes.


There is no doubt that the narrow band is stuff is better. I setup three MRF-200/MRF-250's in different houses and they all had issues with RF interference. That being said, the narrow band stuff has been the only thing available for 3 years now so you shouldn't have much issue finding it.


That is all pretty standard stuff. Any of the stuff recommended above should be fine.

Been doing some more research coupled with your advice and I will probably start with an 880 and mrf350. Thanks for all your help!