I'll second that, Rich_Guy.
I'm a partially satisfied MX-700 + Sidekick owner. I haven't tried downloading Complete Control and won't after reading all this. Power users should be treated with the same respect as "authorized dealers". I'll wait till it gives up or cannot do what I want, then ...my next remote won't be from URC. The LCD is something from pre-history compared to your average PDA or cellphone, anyway.

Rich, you of all people know that you are not to make posts like this any longer. Unless Daniel said something that I missed, I assume the policy in this thread still holds true.

[Link: remotecentral.com]

What I will agree with is the serial numbers could be affixed better. The labels do tend to come off easily.

It's what should be said here, whether or not advertisers who sell and make a living with URC like it or not. The poor policy should have been changed to help URC customers and this should have been a place for everyone to stand together and make that happen. What URC did to customers was wrong.

URC should do a lot more than make their serial numbers more permanent, they should control their product distribution and support the customers who purchase their product and require the software. URC should make the software freely available as it was when many customers made their purchase and URC should supply updates to everyone who purchased their URC product that supposedly came with the updates.

Ah Rich...

Last we heard from you on this issue, you got a thread shut down by trying to enrage URC customers by comparing URC's software distribution policy and its employees to the terrorists act of blowing up the World Trade Center. Your methods of fighting for your "cause" had several us us begging Daniel to ban you for good for good.

Back again to finish the job, I see?

Sincerely,
Gorignak

Can you not understand the rules? Since you apparently cannot find the rule posted in that thread, I will copy that post right here.


I'm not going to call out for a ban, but according to this post, your account should be closed, as you're clearly violating the rules.

Seriously, if you have no respect for Daniel or his site (which this obviously shows you don't, you're just using it as a tool to vent), then you really don't deserve to be here.

Who is the one exaggerating here? I've said what I have to say and I am not here to argue with anyone, it really should not even be a point to argue. URC's policy change is still having bad a affect on URC customers and it's a real shame, it accomplished nothing good and it hurt many good customers, it should be corrected.

If you want a comparison to terrorists (which was your idea not mine), it's people like you supporting URC's change that are like those who support what those terrorists did. Many innocent people were hurt for bad reasons and it never should have been done.

I'm not here to argue, so good night.

Rich, I think we all know what you said in that thread, and if you start digging up this topic again I will make good on the promise recently quoted. You've had numerous "second chances" already, please don't trample on my tolerant nature.

Thanks for all of the suggestions folks. From the possibilities suggested, I think my MX-900 had the serial number removed to allow resale. Anyway, I am happy as a lark at around $200.

Thing is, if it's resold, it still should have a serial number. In most states, it's illegal to sell or resell anything with the serial number defaced or removed.

It's worth reminding readers about this. A lot of research in other threads confirmed this with the following clarification:

1) It is a criminal offense (in most states) to sell household appliances which have been serialized by the manufacturer and which have had the serial numbers removed,

2) It is also an offense to POSSESS such an appliance,

3) A TV remote is considered a household appliance.

See that, to all you cheapos trying to skimp out and save a buck by purchasing resold goods, not only are you not entitled to the proper warranty/support but your actually lawbreakers too. Buy Legit, even my crack has a serial number..

Sort of. Reselling is legal, reselling with a removed serial number is not.

Not that I reccomend purchasing from anyone other than an authorized dealer, but it is legal to purchase from someone else, unless they remove the serial number. Then it's against the law.

Unless one has only an MX-500, of course.

WOW! I am a newbie to the whole remote thing. Here is my two cents for what it is worth.

I have a friend who is a part time installer. I have been a programmer (computer industry) for decades so he asked if i would like to help him out programming some remotes on the side. I thought it would be interesting. By coincedence, I was using a Harmony 880 that i found pretty cool when i bought it years ago. It just happend to die (buttons lost contact points etc.). So i thought to myself, Ill look into a higher end remote for better quality and kill two birds with one stone so to speak as i would get first hand experience in the programming aspest of it.

Now, I find Rich_Guys remarks to be childish. I dont know many people that would realistically go out and pay 300+ for a remote and not do a little research on what it will provide them, what they will be capable of themselves in use and programming, and what would require expert help.

By doing my research, I chose the MX-980 for several reasons. One: it can handle everything i wish to accomplish with my system, two: I looks really cool *grin*, three: my friend the installer is thinking of using it for his upcomming projects and installations (so i could get some extra $ helping him, see above).

Now, with that in mind, I went the route of a normal home based retail customer. I read everything i could get my hands on regarding the MX-980 and URC policies. Is that not what any semi intelligent consumer should do? I knew from my research that I had to purchase from a URC authorized retailer to obtain the updatable software. I am not going to argue URC's policy as this is America and they have the right to make any policy they wish regarding their products and customer base. I KNEW from my research if i purchased it from a big name retailer like Best Buy or Magnolia that i would "only" get the software that was not updatable. If i was unable to find a dealer that was able to give me the software then i simply would have gone a diffenent direction. If i had bought it and realized i was unable to get updatable software (due to lack of research) i simply would have returned it. I believe that is referred to as "common sense"?

Furthermore, I had some issues with getting Vista to recognize the remote. I read posts here and elsewhere. I even posted my delima and received several replies as to what could be the issue, all very welcomed and giving me some sort of direction. I called the authorized dealer and though they could not directly help me assured me they would support me if no resolution was found. I called URC and found the tech support guy to be nothing less than professional and helpful. He was not aware of the issue i was having but regardless, never questioned my status as a retailer, dealer, installer etc... he just simply tried to help me figure it out.

I was able, with some time and playing, figure out a work around to my issue. I also sent the retailer and URC my solution and was thanked by both. I got several thanks on this forum for posting my findings as well. All good things in my opinion.

So, in conclusion, I have found my first exploration into the high end remote world to be a good one. I never had to wait hours on the phone waiting for some customer service person to reply, I have been treated with respect from both dealer and URC. I was welcomed here at this site by long standing members even though I was asking newbie type questions.... and I ended up solving my delima.

So i have a hard time reading posts like the ones from Rich_Guy because it seems to me like its all sour grapes (buyers remorse) for not fully researching what he was getting into.

my two cents....

There was much more to this over a year ago. I agree that URC has a right to determine their own policy and anyone purchasing now should be well aware of their policy. When the policy was first enacted over a year ago it was done retroactively. Many who purchased from non-authorized sources lost their updateable s/w; this was not something that could have been researched. You would need to read through the following thread to have a better understanding.

[Link: remotecentral.com]

Glad to hear you had a good experience with the MX-980, it looks like a nice remote.