Hi - I just bought an MX-980 from Best Buy, and while I love the remote I am not willing to pay them $200 more to program it for me. I am completely capable of doing that myself but cannot get the software because I'm not a professional installer. The absolute ridiculousness of that policy has been discussed to death, but I am wondering if any of you installers can recommend a device that has the macro complexity of the MX-980 but doesn't require professional installation. The most common recommendation is one of the Logitech's, but they can't handle the macro complexity I want. It's very unfortunate that I'm going to have to return the MX-980 because of the policy, and I'm hoping I can get something else that will do what I want.

Thanks much

I am not aware of any consumer remote that offers the level of programming available in the MX-980. RTI is probably the closest and they're even more restrictive than URC. If Best Buy will not give you the software, I would return the remote to them and look for a dealer that will.

Mike

What Mike said.

 i don't understand why Best Buy even sells this remote over the counter without programming if they aren't willing to provide the software.  this isn't the first time i've heard someone complain about Best Buy doing this.  

This kind of thing goes on ALL THE TIME there. URC should review the level of programming they are even providing when they do actually "program". I would say 15% of my clients are people who purchased either products and/or programming from them and were not happy with the level of care. After seeing some of the garbage they are handing to people via URC remotes there is a developing mistrust between consumers and dealers in programming partly because of this.

I had a conversation with Hank at URC this week about it. I think URC needs to decide what they want to do policy wise and stick to it.

 i'm gonna start hanging out at best buy with my URC T-shirt and hat  :)

I was thinking the same thing!

$200 for remote programming, you shouldn't expect much.

I think Best Buy selling the remote without software stinks. Either sell it with the software or the programming. If they don't want to sell it without programming I can understand but don't sell a paperweight.

Anyway, the MX-450 is a good choice as a replacement. It's not as powerful as the 980 and you can't change the graphics but you can customize it a lot easier than a Harmony. The archiver software is available on URC's site and will give you the latest IR codes.

The R50 is a decent choice if you don't need RF. The R50 also doesn't have the archiver capability and some other minor differences like not being able to edit a macro. You just have to redo the macro if you make a mistake. Not a deal killer if you don't need RF and it is $100 less than the 450.

Thanks for the info/advice everyone. Someone was nice enough to give me a copy of CCP and I am happily programming away with no problem.

That's another kind of problem - different circumnstances but same result. Someone said before "what do you expect for $200"? Well this type of thing creates that type of market.

I agree. One thing I do know is that BB uses corporate created templates for programming. There is a group of installers who have been trained to program the remotes through the Magnolia store part of BB. The only problem is that there is little creativity from them. Should they sell the units without programming services, probably not. Should they offer the software, they can't due to contractual issues with URC.

URC has to decide where they want to put their chips - in the custom install industry or the DIY/Big Market stores. If you can get an MX-980 from your sisters boyfriend who works at Magnolia and program it yourself, or pay 200 bucks for a tv mount and get a remote with software then how can I sell this?

That's why I started doing Crestron in the first place. I like URC and the product line and really like where they are going, but they need to step on one side of the line. I think consumers are just as confused as me as to what the true policy over there is. You got guys right here on URC that one minute are asking how to turn the damn remote on and the next minute are writing tutorials for everyone to read, and even charging people for programming. It's completely out of control. I didnt realize how bad the problem was until I became a direct URC dealer. The challanges of mantaining product margins with all the undercutting and over the counter software dissemination are an incredible hurdle to overcome if you rely on this product too heavily. Unfortunately it's not about how you keep your margins anymore, it's about how you reverse the damage that has already occured and then keep yur margins (or something that resembles them).

I don't understand why an end-user (after numerous cautions about buying a remote without software), would buy a URC remote from ANY dealer without the software offering.

To me it seems like they're trying to be just another Harmony, doesn't matter who's selling our product as long as we're moving units. It won't shock me WHEN I see them at Walmart.