Hi,
advice please my system includes:

Logitech 890( dead again)
Yamaha RX V3800 receiver
Pioneer PD-M423 CD Player
Sony Blue Ray BDP BX58
Dish Network VIP722 DVR(hopefully to be replaced by AT&T Uverse when available)
Networked into my Router to various PC's

I want to stay away from Logitech, many hardware failures. My budget is $300 or less. Looking for a something that will last at least three years...

Must have RF, components are in a cabinet

Cheers
Tim

If your budget is $300 for just the remote, I'd suggest the URC MX780. Keep in mind you will have to either pay a dealer to program it, or find a dealer who will supply the software. It is up to their discretion if they wish to supply it, it not required to. URC does not offer the software to end users directly.

There will be a learning curve if you are programming it and have no experience with it. It does not use a wizard the way Harmony does. It will be a much more reliable piece, and should last quite a bit longer than the Harmonies. In order to add RF capabilities, you'll need with the $150 MRF260 basestation, or better yet the MRF350 which is a two piece unit with a separate antenna. The separate antenna allows you to move it around in the event you have RF Interference (sat boxes are notorious for emitting interference).

So there are no suggestions?

Agree with goldenrulze, but if the 780 is to expensive the only other option is to get another Harmony based on his budget and his needs.

What is the real life span of the urc remotes? I see plenty of posts on them. My Harmony 890 had lasted 4 and half years and now has suffered from the loss of 6 buttons. From what I hear this is actually really a long life for the 890.

I went to a local dealer and he wants much more than $300 for the mx-780 and he claims that he would lose his dealer status if he gives out the software again. He also claims that he has had issues with the frequency of mrf260 and recommended the 350i and the i version of the remotes as it allows for switching between two frequencies. Additionally the programming rate is $150 an hour. The 350i is $250. So I would end up at almost $1,000 all said and done, note the i versions are listed as commercial line on the urc website.

Obviously this is just one dealer. I see via amazon market I can do much better than this dealer. For mx-780 $240 and the mrf260 for $140 so under $400 total.
Of course the big issue is getting the software to program it.

I don't mind spending the money for a quality product that will last and programming a remote is no issue as I write computer software for a living.

Do these remotes really last? And does urc actually give the software to end users?

The best part of the harmony has been the quick ability to swap components out. I have replaced most the components in my system at least once an for the cable box probably 3 times since I bought the Harmony so having to pay a dealer for this will be really inconvenient and costly.