Awesome deal and much better than the 900, which can't even do simple macros.

Squareeyes is close to releasing a full set of channel logos for Xsight as well.

Here's a lot of tips, even if you don't plan to use Remote Master software:
[Link: hifi-remote.com]
[Link: avsforum.com]

When Xsight was first released, you had to download software for it. Not so anymore. Just go to the EZ-RC website in IE and create an account. You'll probably only have to download the conduit program, which I've also posted at the link above.

And of course there's a lot of great info in the review on this very site:
[Link: remotecentral.com]

I don't know how a couple of Chinese sellers ended up with so many of these, but I'm glad they did.

I saw the JP1 community has fallen in love with the all the Xsight models, the Touch being the cream of the crop. They developed a method to back up the remote, locally, and have their own software. My only hesitation, is that I paid $68 for the whole set w/extender, and I could have purchased a MX-780 for roughly the same amount. I am not particularly a glutton for punishment, but I have read, so far, that the Xsight can be a challenge, after initial EZ setup.

@mdavej, I saw your review, and frankly that is what I am referring, with the JP1 comment. I am so glad to have bumped into you. I may be asking a lot of questions in the future. I do read a lot, so not too many questions ;-)

JP1 is a poor man's URC. Being a pro remote, URC is in a different league than Xsight or Harmony of course. I'd jump all over that 780 for that price. That's an amazing deal. Best price I've seen is nearly twice that with the base being another $100 or so.

I see from your earlier posts that you already have a Harmony 650. Besides RF, rechargeable battery and more devices, the Xsight won't be much different. So I hope you aren't disappointed.

If you do have Xsight questions, the JP1 forums are the best place to ask since more experts hang out over there. The developers are the real experts and know these remotes inside and out.

The x-7, which is the exact same remote as the mx-780 is discounted greatly on amazon and ebay. But you still need to come up with access to CCP software. Which is NEVER included with the remote.

I am kinda tapped out now. The Xsight is coming and the RF extender. I am going to have to wait until next month or two, to consider the X-7 or MX-780. By then the price may go up...

Users have gotten a lot of flack for buying the URC remotes and asking for help with the software. So my main concern was that the MX-780/X-7 would be too much work. After reading the full review on the Xsight, and the lack of variables and power states, I think I may be able to take on the MX-780 comfortably. It seems we are without much choice of a simple solution. I am a decent programmer, VB, C++ etc.

Maybe the JP1 community has some answers regarding the cons of the Xsight. I have one device that I am certain, needs a power state variable. (Pillips DVP-5982)

Everything else I have, has discrete on/off commands. Sometimes it's better to go with higher end equipment. Logitech definitely has the upper hand here.

In my process of acquiring a replacement for my Harmy 550 (my 650 is upstairs), I picked up 3 Harmony 720 remotes, in various states of functionality. (total cost, about $50) 1st unit The IRs don't fire, but all the buttons are perfect, and wear free. 2nd unit all buttons work, with some significant wear, except the left second activity was lazy. The back was sticky. 3rd unit All buttons work, good condition, slight wear. The back was also sticky. I combined remotes 1 and 2. So I have two working units. I could try and replace the IR LEDs on the 1st unit, but I may put it back on eBay for someone else project. I found a way to remove stickiness on rubberized paint, works well. The secret? Windex.

All my equipment is behind smoked glass. It's okay, but not perfect. IR commands get through, but I have to point directly at my DVR. The DOG gets in the way. So with FM I can fix that. The Harmy 720 does not do FM. That's why the Xsight Touch looks exciting. I will use all the remotes.

Watching TV is like this: "Who has the remote? Skip the commercial" Well now I can just tell anyone, you have a remote, you skip it.

My cable company recently installed TiVo boxes in my home. They seem to have solved the problem. There is no way to turn the units off. They stay on all the time!

Be careful about getting the software from the seller. Otherwise you end up with crippled software because you're a consumer and not a professional installer. It's this hassle that steers me away from Universal Remote Control (URC) and towards Harmony.

I have a URC MX-850 at work and I love it. But it was a hassle getting the non-crippled version of the software. You do have to be willing to do the programming yourself, something that I actually enjoy. It's like a man-conquers-machine experience for me. I'll do whatever it takes to get a remote to do my bidding.

So far I've had good luck with the Sony VL series, but I'm at a point now where I want something with more features.

That's IT!!! Man VS Machine. Why on earth would they not support that for the adventurous type, referring to URC. I say, let us sign an MOU and give us the full package.

Since integration is their bread and butter, I don't think they'd be too keen on giving that up no matter how adventurous the DIY market feels about it.

Forget about URC, get some JP1 remotes and tweak to your heart's content. Even though Xsight doesn't do state tracking, a dozen other models do. And you can buy 20 of them for the price of one URC.

What JP1 models, do state tracking?

All the models on this page with Yes in the Extender column, about 70 models in all. But only some of those are currently in production.
[Link: hifi-remote.com]