I own a Sony VL-900 that I really like. If it had a few more buttons and a joystick, I always thought it would be perfect for my needs. I'm not a big fan of LCD displays. Yesterday I received a new VL-1000 remote for my birthday and I'm VERY disappointed with it. So now I'm thinking about trying out the MX-500 but I only see it around online.

First, can you change the names of the 10 items on the first LCD screen?

Second, is there a Sony-like feature that will be similar to their component macro feature where I can hold down one button and it will run up to 32 commands for each device? In other words, I hold down my DVD component button and it powers on the TV, the DVD, the receiver, puts the receiver into DVD mode and sets the TV to the right input mode.

Does anyone here have VL-900 experience so that they can fill me in on why I should spend more for this instead?

Lastly, where should I pick one up? Someone yesterday said they got one at buy.com for $122.21. Is that the best price around? Do any stores carry it?

I'd want to control a Sony TV, Sony receiver, Sony DVD, Sony CD jukebox, Panasonic VCR and a Hughes DirecTV with Tivo.

The answer to your first two questions is "Yes".

I used a VL900 as well and while it's a great remote for the money, it doesn't give you all the flexibility of the MX-500. To many, being able to have every button labeled with it's actual function through the LCD buttons is worth the price difference.

There are regular "brick and mortar" stores, like "The Good Guys" and possibly "Best Buy" that carry the MX-500, but you're going to pay full list ($180) or close to it.

Hope that helps you.

Mike
www.surfremotecontrol.com

This message was edited by MikeSRC on 06/05/02 09:33.10.

This package is what you'll wish you'd bought. this allows you to add advanced codes that may not be on your orginal remote.

[Link: bluedo.com]

Find out about advanced codes here:

[Link: web.archive.org]

This message was edited by paulhubbard on 06/05/02 12:08.28.

Mike,

It absolutely does. I notice that you also sell them and at a better price than buy.com. I do see that theirs includes shipping. What about yours? Also, I see you have the combo. I have a Cinema 7 already and did use it heavily for teaching my VL-900. Do you think I'd really benefit from the combo?

Rich -

Our price does not include shipping, but if you add it on, we're probably a dollar or two more. However, we do ship "Signature Required" for our Ground shipments, which costs a few bucks more, so they don't just leave your $120 remote on your doorstep.

If you already have a Cinema 7, and were able to obtain all the advanced codes you need for your VL900, you don't need another Cinema 7 or it's replacement, the 8811.

I had a Sony VL-900 and like Mike says it is good for the money, but the MX-500 blows it out of the water.

The MX-500 does everything the VL-900 does and then some, and it does it better. It has way more flexibility and with a C7 or a RS-15-1994 like I have, there's not much it can't do.

Get the MX-500!!!!!


Cheers.
Jeff.

Well, I'd *hope* a $189 remote would be superior to a $59 remote!

Does it strike anyone else as... I don't know, silly?... to need to include a second cheap remote as a source of codes? I'm not saying it's not a good idea, but it should be a wakeup call to some companies that users want a way to be able to use codes they don't already have. Even if it's the most awkward, tedious entry method that only advanced users would want, "make it so!"

Rich: I too am an MX-500 owner that has setup and used a Sony 900 for one of my friends.

As good as the 900 is, (and it is, IMO, the best remote in it's price range) you will find that the MX-500 moves up to a whole different level. Lots of macros, buttons labeled for what they really do, a good ergonomic, well balanced feel (plus, it LIGHTS UP!)

As for where to buy an MX-500, your best deal will be over the web. (Since they put in the effort to support users of their products with us here at rc, I'd recommend at least looking at surfremotecontrol or bluedo.) I imagine that in a brick and mortar, the best deal you'll score probably not much better than $150.

If you like button based remotes (vs. touchscreens), then the MX-500 is an excellent value. Argueably, THE value.

Thanks everyone. Based on the comments above, it will be the MX-500. It was either going to be that or stick with the VL-900. The VL-1000 is going back either way and hopefully quickly forgotten! I do see a few button things that concern me about the MX-500 but I THINK they're minor. I happen to like stand-alone Guide and Menu buttons and this one shares them but granted, with keys I didn't even have on the VL-900 and are welcome for my DVD and CD player.

What's the choice for a TV/Video Input button? I have that now and like it.

Also, what's the deal with the Page/Main/Fav buttons? Are they special buttons or just oddly shaped? Main??? What device has a Main that it got its own button???

Lastly, how close will I get to being able to match the macro I described earlier where I just hold down the component button for 2 seconds and it rips through a large number of commands to power up and set my whole setup FOR EACH COMPONENT. In other words, if I do this for TV I get the best TV setup. If I do it for CD, the best CD setup, etc. Not just one or two "System" buttons, etc.

I am looking forward to this.

Oh, sorry, I am thinking about getting it from Mike but am thinking about the combo deal. I already have a Cinema 7 but the JP1 thing sounds interesting. Should I bother?

And again, thanks. This place is great as usual.

Hey, this is from Daniel's review:

"Even though it initially sounds like the Favorite Channel section can only reference the keypad from a single device, this is in fact not so. Hitting the [MAIN] button allows you to select a new device and then record any number of channel macros for it - meaning that macros can be mixed and matched for television, VCR, cable, satellite and DSS devices in the same section, though take note when playing back that they can only reference the device they were recorded with, not the device you were in when you selected the [FAV] option."

Does that mean that I can have 50 favorite channels for DSS, 50 different ones for radio, 50 different ones for TV, etc???? I cannot imagine that being the case. It would be AWESOME if true. If the component is set to Receiver and I hit FAV it'd be great if it showed radio stations instead of TV stations, etc.

Well...

The MAIN page is your starting point. The 500 will support up to 10 separate devices, so this is where you place the start for each one. Each device name can be customized any way you want. (ANY device name, function or favorite label is customizable.) You are limited to 5 characters, but I've found that is more than enough for me.

The PAGE button scrolls you through the the 2 pages that each device has and the 5 pages that the FAV(orites) button supports.

The FAV is where you can write macros for direct channel access (these macros need to point to only one device.) As an example, if you want to watch CNBC, you just press the button marked CNBC and the 500 punches in the correct numbers, enter and voila, you're watching CNBC. Pretty slick! All you need to do is press the one button. And, you can set up to 50 of these. Make a page of 10 for each of your 5 family members! (or however many you want/need.)

As for macros, you mention powering up the system, switching to the correct input, etc. The 500 can handle this with NO trouble at all. Macro-wise it can do the following:
M1, M2, M3 keys send out 20 commands each
Power Button sends out 20 commands
System Off Button sends out 20 commands
10 device buttons send out 15 commands each
50 favorite channel buttons send out 10 commands each

That's 65 different macros. More than enough for most of us.

As for your TV-Video button...where do you want it? Under TV? Or why not put each discrete input code on a spot under each device? (Discrete inputs for Sony TV Video 1 thru 5 are available from your Cinema 7.)

If you want to take a look at how you can make your 500 look, and you have MS Excel, download Daniel's MX-500 planner. [Link: remotecentral.com]

Finally, is JP1 worth it? Yes BUT, there is a learning curve and if you don't plan to keep tinkering with your setup, it may not be worth the trouble. I've tinkered with JP1 and plan to do a bit more. But I'm doing fine without it.

Well said, Mr Tonks! At the very least URC needs a converter, especially for the MX-700 or Mx-1000.

>>Pretty slick! All you need to do is press the one button. And, you can set up to 50 of these. Make a page of 10 for each of your 5 family members! (or however many you want/need.)<<

I was thinking it'd be nice for TV channels and radio stations.

>>As for your TV-Video button...where do you want it?<<

At the top level. This is the button I deal with all the time. We change video inputs like crazy. DVD, Satellite, regular TV, XBox. If you have to dig for it, it'll be very inconvenient.

I went from a Cinema 7 to a RM-VL900 to an MX-500. The MX-500 does everything I need, to the extent that I no longer lust after a Pronto.

Get the Cinema 7 too - your Macros will work much better if you can use discrete codes.

Kit

Agreed!! I was thinking about dedicating one of the M1 M2 or M3 macros buttons just for that?