I've had an MX-850 for a couple years now and am considering upgrading to an MX-980. My main reasons are that I want more "activities" options and I have upgrade-itis.

Right now I have the main screen on my 850 setup like this:



If I select one of the buttons on the right side of the screen that takes me directly to that device. If I select one of the "WATCH" or "LISTN" button on the left it activates a macro to completely setup that device, then takes me to page 1 of the device. I like this option because I can bounce around between devices without activating a macro everytime.

Then on Main page 2 I have devices that aren't an activity. For example, on page 2, TV is for my TV controls and RECVR is for my AV receiver's controls.

The problem with this setup is that I only have 5 activities and I want/need more.

My question is this: How would I implement a similar setup on the MX-980? In other words, I understand that if I want to watch something I would select the "WATCH" button, then select the desired thing I want to watch. But how could I set it up so that I can go straight to the device and bypass the macro? For example, go straight to my DVD player device/controls?

Also, where would I place devices that aren't a direct activity like my receiver, TV, etc.? With my 850, I go to those devices quite often to change sound modes on my receiver and pic modes on my TV and so forth. I want to be able to bounce around that stuff without constantly and unnecessarily activating macros.

Also, I would plan on using both of the WATCH and LISTEN pages for respective watch and listen activities, so I don't want to, for example, use the LISTEN section for TV and receiver devices. Also, I don't like push and hold macros where one fires the macro and one goes to the device.

Thanks!

The easiest way to bypass the macro would be to set up direct access to your devices as press-and-hold macros. When you press the button normally, you'd get your activity. When you press and hold, you'd jump straight to the device without issuing the macro, but you indicated that you don't like that setup.

So, the second easiest thing would be to just create a second or third page that allows direct jumps to the devices. MX-980 doesn't limit what you put on the Watch and Listen pages, so you could easily implement the setup you're wanting.

Thanks for the reply. Say, for example, that I filled WATCH page 1 with 8 watch activities, then put my TV & receiver controls on WATCH page 2. If I've executed a WATCH->DVD macro and want to adjust something on my receiver, would I then press WATCH->PAGE+->RECIEVER? Then what would be the easiest way to set it up to go straight back to my DVD controls without firing a macro?

If I were to implement a setup like that I would probably setup LISTEN the same way where I would have the activities on LISTEN page 1, then receiver and other controls on LISTEN page 2.

By the way, somebody in another thread mentioned how it would be nice if these remotes allowed a user to have an option to have WATCH/LISTEN OR DEVICES/ACTIVITIES buttons on their remote as desired. Has that been considered by URC? How difficult would it be for somebody to pop open the remote and replace the buttons? It's inconsistent how the 980 has WATCH/LISTEN buttons and the 810 has DEVICES/ACTIVITIES buttons. Curious what logic lead to that.

2 different remote for totally 2 different audience. These 2 remote are even to be compared. (not in the same class at all)

Add a page for your surround modes, picture, lights, etc. to each device and assign a simple macro to that button.

By paging left or right you will find the 'adjustments' you are after and still keep it simple for someone that didn't 'do the programing' to operate it.

It might take another 20 minutes to program this way,but, anyone could pick up the remote and get the desired results.

While using the 'if/else' can acheive similar results without duplication on each source, my wife and my clients prefer the simplicity of paging to find the sound, picture adjustments, light settings, and favorite channels.

I also have to agree with remotejr............I used to love the 850(700 prior to that)......then I bought a 900 and 950........I had no idea how limited I was when I had an 850.

I'm looking forward to the arrival of my 980.

It makes FAR more sense to me to have the 'watch' and 'listen' when it is so easy to have control of your 'devices' on any page of any source!

Why they put the 'devices' on the 810 is a mystery to me..........do you want to watch or listen to something???

You can control your selected 'devices' from every 'activity' if you program it to do so!

On the MX-850, if you press and hold MAIN, then another button, it will skip the macro and just go to that page...