I know a few URC guys who used make all the same excuses and comparisons, now they all do RTI and wont touch a URC project with a 2-mile pole; further, they all say they wish they switched to RTI sooner!

Wow! Thanks so much guys.

You know, after hanging around here for the last few years I learned that control was more important than the sound and picture to most clients, even if they didn't think so. I also picked up that RTI seemed to be the 'Pros' choice for most of you. So I looked at it a while ago but never really took that much time with it as the disty was a bit precious and I didn't need it that bad. But Mike made a good point that I would like to try to stick to and that is to stick with one brand. As a small one-man band and living and working in a less than affluent area I cannot afford to be working with different brands of controls if I am to stand a chance of being proficient with them.

Not to mention the cost difference. I am finding it hard enough selling the virtues of URC. RTI would be very tough for me at the moment.

Would anyone be prepared to disclose a retail price comparison of URC vs RTI for a model or two? The reason is I get the impression some UK distributors must almost be paying retail for their stock with the prices they charge.

Once again though, thanks for the feedback and opinion.

We are now using the RTI T2C as our standard remote for any crestron systems where only one way control is required. We can sell it for the same price as the Crestron ML600 which is basically a URC remote with Crestron firmware and the customers love it.

The RTI bitmap library is really good and the programming software has been easy to pick up.

We have been using URC for non crestron projects up to a short while ago - now we have switched to RTI. Yes the remote is more expensive, but it just works. Ultimately we found that to us the cost of install was about the same, as we spent many more unbillable hours trying to troubleshoot the URC stuff. With RTI the customer sees more value in the product (at least with the T2C that we offer as the entry level unit). It costs the customer more but they seem willing to pay for it, and we actually MAKE more money as the profit return on the equipment is more due to the higher price, and we don't get hit with time consuming problems meaning the labour comes in at what we allowed for.

A lot of CIs, myself included, are in the same position. I was originally taught how to program Marantz (Pronto) Remotes and not quite two years ago changed over to RTI and haven't looked back since.
Occasionally I am put in a position where either an existing, but usually a new customer, has bought (maybe a better way to put it, has been sold) a URC or Harmony remote and wants me to program it. In the past, whenever this happens, it invariably turns into a disaster and usually ends up costing me time (money!).
In the future the answer will be a straight out NO. (HiFiRobbie, make sure I stick to this one!)
The analogy I will use is that if the customer owns PCs and has an IT guy who services them, and all of a sudden the customer goes out and buys a MAC, because the salesman says 'They're really good and anyone can set it up'. The Microsoft Engineer doesn't have the time nor the inclination to learn all the intricacies of an Apple Mac set up. Not that I would normally be so blunt to say (to the customer) that if the salesman says it's so easy, let them do it!

RTI all the way wouldn't use any other

When clients are offered choices, it's either a color RTI if price is not an issue, or an MX850/900 if price is an issue. Especially if RF is added - URC can keep the cost down, and I happen to be in an area where RF issues are practically nil. I keep both around so I have something for every client.

Don't presume anything with your clients. Offer the better products and let them choose. They will surprise you often. I gulped when I bought my first T3 but showed it on the way home from the distributor and sold it right there. Whoa!

I think the new MX980 will make some rumbles in remote land. It looks like a keeper.

BTW, though I currently am doing more RTI, when I do an MX850, it is still a lot faster for me. Maybe the familiarity factor, I don't know...

Its not even a touch screen right? It has a wizard too? I am just not sure how to compare the new remotes from URC yet.

Fins, we just completed a CT600.3 system using some CK1.2s and a RTI K4 & T1s, and the customer would rather have the RTI. With the T1 I can control the TVs as well as the CT600. IR routing is much easier through the RP6 than the CT, and programming was much easier as well. It is also easier for the end user to understand. We will be adding a U1 soon, and I will have that programmed to control 2 zones (party mode). All of my new bids for B&K will have at least T1s (practically the same price as the CK1.2s) if not better for control.

The MX980 is not a touch screen. It has buttons to the side of the icons. It is not a wizard remote either. It will have similar programming software to the MX3000, so I'm told.

To me, other than aesthetics, that is the biggest issue. Obviously if you want a touchscreen, the "MX-almost-all-of-them" won't work for you... I'm sure RTI's are just fabulous and honestly I don't have that much experience with them. All I'm saying is that I prefer the looks of the URC (personal opinion) which would make them easier to sell (if the customer feels the same), and it can do everything I've ever asked it to do.

If you could afford the RTI high-end offering, and a URC "medium-end" offering, that might be ideal, but for a 1 man shop... well you'll have to make your own decision. Maybe RTI is better for you, is it better for your customers?

I guess I'm glad I picked a winner (RTi) for my first custom line of remotes! I never programmed anything but a Harmoney before moving to RTi. "One job and 8-16 hours of working/learning with TT Designer software", and I'm already planning to move from programming a T2-C to a T-4 without any worry! "Dido" on the tech support everyone!

"Ditto" to other avenues of distribution.

The "Ditto" (sp.) part was for Ernie.

RTI has a product now for just about every price point, The M2 looks like an 850, its at the same price point, but the M2 is more powerful fom a system perspective, you can also add and change black and white icons on the screen, versus the URC text only concept. The T1 costs even less.

Like a new lawn in late spring, my reputation pre-seeds me.

In my world the 850 and M2 are in completely different ballparks. Shame. I hear what those of you in the know are saying but the massive price difference makes the choice a lot easier. For NOW, I'm sticking with URC handsets with the occasional RTI keypad.

So much great insight here, thanks for all the replies.

Now, one other thing. If my disty can't come up with the goods by the end of the week, is somebody here prepared to mail me a back box to the UK for an RK2 for a solid wall. I've been waiting for over two weeks and still nothing. It's for solid walls in Thermalite - the ones you can chase out without breaking into a sweat by hand. As far as I can tell it is not a J-box or multiple gang J-box. Perhaps someone can tell me how it mounts as the info sheet doesn't tell me much. The solid wall it's going to go in is going to be "dot 'n' dab". That means solid block with drywall 'glued' on top. If possible I'm happy to mount it into the drywall as if it was a stud wall and chase out a chunk of block to create a void behind. Not ideal, but needs must as my builder will want to get on....

Now I know what it's like from the other side now.