Before buying my mx-500 I read many post on this web page, and many were about the thumb pad on this remote. I just wanted to tell you guys a story the thumb pad on my remote.

I have been using mine fine without any problems for a few weeks now. The other day I was trying to show my wife how to use the remote and she can not use the enter key on the thumb pad. I have watched her push the button many times and it looks like she is pushing directly in the center and I hear the remote click, but the little lcd that lights up when sending the signal will not come on when she pushes the button. She will push the button and get lucky if it works 1 out of 10 times. I was just beginning to wonder how many of these remotes are defective and how many people just have a spouse like mine that can not push the button right :) It cracks me up just watching her try to push that button 10 times with no luck and hand the remote to me and it will work on the first time. I guess it is just the shape and size diffance in our hands, but I was not able to see why she can not use it. I just ended up making another key on the lcd just for her now.

Rare

There have been one or two other reports of exactly the same thing happening.

It might be that your wife (and their wives) don't quite have the hand strength to push the thumbpad all the way down to make the proper contact.

However, I would get some other people to try it out to verify that it is not indeed a bad thumbpad.

If it is, get a replacement.

... Greg :-)

Word from HTM is to contact [email protected] for a replacement thumbpad.

... Greg :-)

Hmmm. I would def say the thumbpad is the only weakness of this remote, which I love.

Specifically, the ENTER (select) button, because if you are not precise, you would hit a directional command instead.

I personally do not have this problem, but I can def. see how it could be a prob for others.

If you want to see a shining example (IMHO) of how a directional input (and again, specifically the selector, or "enter" command) should work, check out a Sony hw series rear projection TV (they have them at Best Buy, Sears, and CC) - I would call it a mini joystick more than a thumbpad, but that thing WORKS, and works very well.

It's so fast, and so responsive, but the best thing is the feeling of quality feedback when you push it...

In a way, I hated to consolidate that particular remote into my MX500 because I liked it so much!

My wife could not get the hang of the joystick button "enter" function at all, so I just used the "learn" function to program the ENT key at the bottom right of the remote to have the same function as pressing the thumbpad down. WOrks great

I just got an RA number from HTM for mine. The "down" button doesn't work, and with a DirecTiVo, this is painful! They've been pretty cool about it so far...

I got lucky and found the origional version on display at Good Guys. I had to pay $189 for, but I thought it would be worth it.

Now that I'm reading this I'm beginning to think that a remote that only responds to the man of the house isn't such a bad thing;)