So we now have the option of going with Dish Network or DirecTV in our building, and as I despise the Comcast DVR we are looking into both options.

Programming aside (know generally DirecTV has more sports) I am now thinking the remote -- currently we have two interchangable Harmony 880's that we use both upstairs and downstairs on our systems. Upstairs is the home theater, surround system, DVR, monitor, DVD and Wii. Downstairs we have a basic LCD TV and cable box.

If we go with Dish I know we probably have to go with their remote (made the poor suggestion to the in-Laws that they get a Harmony and it didn't work with their Dish DVR...) but was hoping that perhaps we could find something else. We're happy with the Harmony, had a Pronto 1000 before and like having icons for channels we like. If we go with DirecTV we will be able to keep our existing set up I think.

So remote-wise, is there an RF remote that can also do IR and still have a screen to customize? Probably in the $200-300 range, though less is always better. I like having a single remote to somplify the clutter.

Thanks!

The URC MX450 ($250) can spit out both IR and RF (to a URF RF Receiver), and you can do SOME customization, but it's programming is nothing like the Harmony.

Thanks Joe. But from what I can tell, the URC MX450 and the Harmony 890 which also does RF only does RF to communicate to a base station; they will not directly control the Dish Network DVR which uses RF.

So I think the answer is to stay with existing IR remotes we'd need to stay with Comcast or go with DirecTV. Just thought I'd check to see if there was something I was missing.

That is correct, URC and the Harmony will only communicate RF to their own equipment.