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Topic:
WARNING!!! New CCP Update requires dealer login!
This thread has 289 replies. Displaying posts 31 through 45.
Post 31 made on Monday July 19, 2021 at 12:40
Loraquest
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
June 2002
348
Mother f***er!!!!

I wish I had read this before I just updated. I hadn't used the program in a long time, but I just purchased a new TV and I wanted to add it to my MX-900. I saw that an update was available, and I never in a million years would have dreamed that it would lock me out of the program. Like others, my installer version of CCP is very old. If it doesn't work, I'm going to be beyond pissed off. This was a terrible decision by URC. I've bought at least a dozen of their remotes over the years, and I've also recommended them to countless friends. Never again! I will not support a company that is willing to screw over its customers like this!
Post 32 made on Monday July 19, 2021 at 14:27
Johnny Canuck
Long Time Member
Joined:
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January 2003
292
No ... different PC entirely. New install.
Post 33 made on Monday July 19, 2021 at 14:35
Johnny Canuck
Long Time Member
Joined:
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292
I suggest we start voicing our frustration at them through their social media channels. I don't do facebook, but have already tweeted at them about this.
Post 34 made on Monday July 19, 2021 at 16:03
goldenzrule
Loyal Member
Joined:
Posts:
July 2007
8,470
On July 19, 2021 at 12:40, Loraquest said...
Mother f***er!!!!

I wish I had read this before I just updated. I hadn't used the program in a long time, but I just purchased a new TV and I wanted to add it to my MX-900. I saw that an update was available, and I never in a million years would have dreamed that it would lock me out of the program. Like others, my installer version of CCP is very old. If it doesn't work, I'm going to be beyond pissed off. This was a terrible decision by URC. I've bought at least a dozen of their remotes over the years, and I've also recommended them to countless friends. Never again! I will not support a company that is willing to screw over its customers like this!

Imagine how you'd feel if you were a dealer for well over a decade selling their crap and them dropping your dealership when your numbers dip due to the PLETHORA of issues you have had with their equipment on countless jobs, and wait until a pandemic to drop you to boot.
Post 35 made on Monday July 19, 2021 at 17:20
Johnny Canuck
Long Time Member
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January 2003
292
On July 19, 2021 at 16:03, goldenzrule said...
Imagine how you'd feel if you were a dealer for well over a decade selling their crap and them dropping your dealership when your numbers dip due to the PLETHORA of issues you have had with their equipment on countless jobs, and wait until a pandemic to drop you to boot.

Figures ... I've kind of had that sense of them as a company that only cares about you if they need you. At least there are some competitor products that hopefully treat dealers better ... the DIY and consumer space is pretty barren these days.
Post 36 made on Monday July 19, 2021 at 17:57
Loraquest
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
June 2002
348
I tried rolling back to a restore point from a week ago, but something went wrong and Windows wouldn't load. Unfortunately, this forced me to undo the restore.

I then tried installing an older version of CCP, but the only version I have is from 2009. It's so old that it only supports the MX-880, MX-980 and MX-6000. If I upgrade it, I'm fairly certain it will upgrade to the newest version that requires a username and password. :( This sucks. Does anyone have a version of CCP that will support the MX-900 without requiring an update?
Post 37 made on Monday July 19, 2021 at 17:59
bitzerj
Founding Member
Joined:
Posts:
May 2002
28
Figured I would reach out to see if there was anything that could be done to restore access...

Thank you for contacting URC.

Our products are only available and delivered through a certified, local dealer. This ensures that they are programmed and updated correctly.

URC software has never been distributed or allowed to be used by END USERS. We have always promoted this as a “dealer only” solution.

Over the last few years, we have detected unauthorized use of our software. In order to ensure proper operation, we have instituted a password protection feature to ensure that only our authorized dealers are able to use our programming software.

If you would like assistance finding a dealer in your area, please visit our website and click the Find a Dealer tab ([Link: urc-automation.com]). If you enter your information and submit as a NEW URC SYSTEM, our local sales team will send a list of certified dealers to program your remote.

If there are any further questions or comments please feel free to contact the Universal Remote Control, Inc. family at 1 (914) 835-4484, Monday through Friday between 9 AM to 5:30 PM EST.

---------

I was able to hit a backup and get a somewhat recent copy back..Ugh!

I really HATE these guys.
Post 38 made on Monday July 19, 2021 at 18:00
shokwaverider
Regular Member
Joined:
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January 2021
95
There is yet another update today. We did it then put the July 12th EXE files into it and cleaned out the url.ini file.

Seems to work OK. We have not tried all the features though. We would recommend sticking to the July 12th update. The database codes rarely change from a given manufacturer.

"Updater Beware".

They are really trying to screw us over.
Post 39 made on Monday July 19, 2021 at 18:31
bitzerj
Founding Member
Joined:
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May 2002
28
On July 19, 2021 at 17:20, Johnny Canuck said...
Figures ... I've kind of had that sense of them as a company that only cares about you if they need you. At least there are some competitor products that hopefully treat dealers better ... the DIY and consumer space is pretty barren these days.

That's the problem, where do you jump. I was almost ready to pull the trigger on a Harmony and be able to get IP support. But... they are dead in the water.

I guess I won't get any new updates for my MSC-400. I will just learn the commands from any new remote, or import the HEX.

I change the way I do things often, add things, remove things. I cannot imagine having to contact a "Professional" to modify the remote everything something changes.

Never did it, never will.

This change was a dirty trick. I get it not updating the software if you don't have an account, but to kill access is a slimy move.
Post 40 made on Monday July 19, 2021 at 18:52
Loraquest
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
June 2002
348
On July 19, 2021 at 18:31, bitzerj said...

This change was a dirty trick. I get it not updating the software if you don't have an account, but to kill access is a slimy move.

Exactly. If they really wanted to take a stand, they should have disabled future updates, not removed access to the program altogether. By doing it this way, they've completely screwed over people that spent a lot of money on their products.
Post 41 made on Monday July 19, 2021 at 20:11
Johnny Canuck
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
January 2003
292
On July 19, 2021 at 17:59, bitzerj said...
Figured I would reach out to see if there was anything that could be done to restore access...

Thank you for contacting URC.

Our products are only available and delivered through a certified, local dealer. This ensures that they are programmed and updated correctly.

URC software has never been distributed or allowed to be used by END USERS. We have always promoted this as a “dealer only” solution.

Over the last few years, we have detected unauthorized use of our software. In order to ensure proper operation, we have instituted a password protection feature to ensure that only our authorized dealers are able to use our programming software.

If you would like assistance finding a dealer in your area, please visit our website and click the Find a Dealer tab ([Link: urc-automation.com]). If you enter your information and submit as a NEW URC SYSTEM, our local sales team will send a list of certified dealers to program your remote.

If there are any further questions or comments please feel free to contact the Universal Remote Control, Inc. family at 1 (914) 835-4484, Monday through Friday between 9 AM to 5:30 PM EST.

---------

I was able to hit a backup and get a somewhat recent copy back..Ugh!

I really HATE these guys.

This is a lie from them. They specifically allowed dealers to provide the software to their customers. Daniel posted the information he received directly from URC in 2013:

On March 4, 2013 at 02:26, Daniel Tonks said...
If you’re an end-user looking to buy a URC remote control so that you can program it yourself, please note the following important information:
  1. URC’s computer programmable remote controls DO NOT include programming software in the box.

  2. URC dealers ARE allowed to provide consumers/end users with the programming software for Complete Control products, but not for Total Control products.

  3. Dealers are NOT obligated to provide you with this software, and may require you to pay for professional programming. So check on a dealer's individual policy before you buy.

  4. URC will NOT provide you with the software for a remote you just bought online, and additionally, will not support the hardware warranty on products purchased from non-authorized dealers.

  5. If you buy from an authorized dealer and they do give you the software, URC still does not offer programming support to consumers/end users. If you require after-sales assistance, you will need to contact your original dealer, or post in the forums here on Remote Central.

  6. As a final note, if you’ve recently purchased a URC remote and find yourself without software, please do not ask someone on this site to give it to you. This is against URC’s policies. If your dealer will not give you the software and did not inform you at the time of purchase that professional programming was required, then they should not have sold you the remote in the first place. Return it and buy from someone else.

    Similarly, if you have URC software do not publically offer to give it to others, as this is also against URC's policies and will result in the removal of your post and/or RC account.


Their dealers will corroborate this. It's a malicious change and it's underhanded. They used a tactic to market CC products by allowing DIYers to use them as long as they obtained the product and software through authorized channels. They could have either established a login system for authorized end users or simply blocked future updates. Instead, they went further and deliberately de-activated the software. It's slimy, underhanded, and scandalous behaviour.
Post 42 made on Monday July 19, 2021 at 23:10
daves22
Junior Member
Joined:
Posts:
July 2021
12
And quite possibly illegal.

I had authorized access to the software, per URC's policy and my authorized vendor. There's dialog above documenting the policy with many more quotes on the 'net, some by URC representatives.

They used their update mechanism to nefariously remotely disable functionality on my computer and put that functionality behind a password dialog. I'm told by URC support that I now need to pay one of their authorized dealers for changes. This is no different than the criminals who engage in ransomware attacks: they withhold access to your computer's functionality/data until you pay the ransom.

I will be contacting my state's Attorney General as well as the FTC. I will show the parallels with ransomware attacks. I'm sure they'll be interested. I suggest you all do the same.
Post 43 made on Monday July 19, 2021 at 23:34
edmund
Elite Member
Joined:
Posts:
April 2002
13,838
On July 19, 2021 at 23:10, daves22 said...
And quite possibly illegal.

I had authorized access to the software, per URC's policy and my authorized vendor. There's dialog above documenting the policy with many more quotes on the 'net, some by URC representatives.

They used their update mechanism to nefariously remotely disable functionality on my computer and put that functionality behind a password dialog. I'm told by URC support that I now need to pay one of their authorized dealers for changes. This is no different than the criminals who engage in ransomware attacks: they withhold access to your computer's functionality/data until you pay the ransom.

I will be contacting my state's Attorney General as well as the FTC. I will show the parallels with ransomware attacks. I'm sure they'll be interested. I suggest you all do the same.

Its also similar to Tractor makers preventing the farmers from working on their own equipment, which a President Biden's executive order is dealing with.
Post 44 made on Monday July 19, 2021 at 23:37
edmund
Elite Member
Joined:
Posts:
April 2002
13,838
I downloaded the old mx-900 stand alone software from URC Control Room, but is useless on the mx-900 I have because they have programmed before with CCP software. :(
Post 45 made on Tuesday July 20, 2021 at 11:19
Johnny Canuck
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
January 2003
292
Given the limitations of Complete Control in a modern home theatre environment, these products really aren't worth all this effort by URC to lock us out (it's not like we have access to Total Control or MX-Home).

What it does ensure is that I never purchase another URC product again, irrespective of my needs. That potentially deprives the very dealers they are claiming to protect from my patronage.

Yet another reason to back YIO Remote Two when it goes live.
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