Or put the TV input button on every page that pertains to Video, like I do. I also have the TV ON and TV OFF buttons on each page.

RE: The TV-Video button.

You can locate the button anywhere you like. If you put it up on one of the LCD labeled ones, it could be easily identified.

What I meant (regarding where you wanted the TV input buttons) was that you can have the discrete TV input with each associated source. You could put it on the 1st page of each device or make it part of the source changing macro. This would eliminate the toggling around to find the right input. Each source would go directly to the correct one every time...

Ah, the only issue I have with that is that I can't really see setting up a component for my XBox as all it does is go to Input 4 and that's it. There is no other control to bother with.

On the MX-500 label a device called XBOX and program a single single to it to change input on your TV to input 4. Program the XBOX device button on MX-500 with your Cinema 7 for discreet Input 4 signal. Now when you press Main, XBOX will be listed on the device list, when you press on it your TV will automatically change to Input 4. If you have the XBOX DVD remote, you can program all the signals to this device.

Well, here's my somewhat lengthy take on it.

I used the RM-VL900 for a long time. It was probably an 80% solution to my needs; the biggest problem I have is the lack of keys; not just too few keys, but I also the fact that I had to make strange choices sometimes. For example, "Input" was "Instant Replay" on my TiVo (where else was I going to put it?).

The MX-500 solves both of these problems. Although I have some quibbles, a reasonable choice was made for the fixed (hard) buttons; no longer do I have to make "prev ch" mean completely different things for different devices just for lack of a better place to put them. The hard keys get assigned as appropriate, and then for each device the LCD allows for "clean-up" of commands that don't fit anywhere else.

As for setting up macros, the MX-500 could be better but it can definitely do anything that your sony remote can. Here's what you can do:

You have 10 device buttons on the "Main" page. You can set each one as follows

(1) Upon pressing it, a single command is (immediately) sent out. This could be, for example, a discrete TV input corresponding to that device.

(2) Upon pressing and holding the device button for ~1 second, a macro of several commands is sent out. So you can set up TV input, AV receiver input, AV switchbox, etc. as necessary.

You can actually use both of these on your device keys, which I do.

It is possible to set up a "fake" device that contains LCD buttons to switch your TV/AV input as appropriate; I have done this, but I almost never use it. I use the codes that are programmed into my Main screen device buttons.

Remember that "device" is just an organizational tool; like any learning remote, you can take your DVD "device" and learn a key that switches your TV input to the DVD player. The difference with the MX-500 is that you can label that button clearly rather than assign it to some random key.

My recommendation, if you are interested in discrete codes, is to head over to www.bluedo.com and order the MX-500 + URC7800 package. It's what I did and I'm very happy with it. The 7800 will find discrete codes for just about anything. Of course it would be great if the MX-500 did this by itself, but nothing's perfect.

A final note on the VL900 vs. MX-500 issue; I can say one positive thing about the VL900, and that is that it has a great feel. The MX-500 isn't quite as comfortable, but it's still very usable.

On the other hand, when I used a VL900 I had to have about 3 or 4 other remotes sitting around; with the MX-500, every other remote I have is now off my coffee table and collecting dust. Not even my Sony AV2100 allowed me to do that before.

Just to be perfectly clear, you would have to hold down the button for 2 seconds for this to happen right?

How is the URC 7800 different from the Cinema 7 or the URC 8811 I just ordered along with the MX-500 from surfremotecontrol.com? I assume the 8811 has everything the 7800 has.

It depends (and on newer MX-500's, I believe it is 1 second, not 2). You can program a single command to happen instantly; if you need multiple commands, then you can program a macro to fire after 1 second.


The URC7800 is the Cinema 7. I don't know anything about the 8811, but several URC remotes feature the advanced codes.

The 8811 is the replacement for the Cinema 7, which is no longer being made. It can control 8 devices instead of 7 and is backlit where the Cinema 7 is not.

It also has the JP1 connector pins built-in, where the Cinema 7 just has the holes for the pin connector, which must be soldered (or held) in place on the remote.

The 8811 has a few more code updates as well. Either remote can be used to teach advanced or discrete codes to the MX-500.

This message was edited by MikeSRC on 06/07/02 15:38.15.

Rich,

I also own the 900 and looking at the MX-500 (online only, no stores here have it). Do you find your MX-500 is noticeably faster at sending learned signals than is your 900??

Example: In satellite mode, on the 900 the "info" key is learned because the 900 is not pre-programmed for a Hughes DSS "info" key. I often press info twice (once for the brief description, second time for the lengthy description). On the original Hughes remote, you can press "info" key twice rapidly to get the lengthy description. But on the 900, if you press the learned "info" key twice too rapidly, the second instance does not take effect...instead, I MUST wait a bit before pressing the learned "info" key a second time.

On my 900, the transmission light stays on almost 2 seconds when a button for a learned signal is pressed. In contrast, the transmission light is on for only a fraction of a second when a preprogrammed button is pressed.

Do you find your MX-500 is noticeably faster at sending learned signals than is your 900??

Thanks, Judy

Make sure you don't get the GS1 model, the select button is horrible and only works for me 10% of the time. The VL1000 joystsick was much much better.

I will be returning mine to HTM for a replacement. I hope the GS2 model has fixed this problem.

I won't be able to answer that until I get the MX-500 which will be Monday. My 900 was pretty quick with learned signals though.


I've had this happen in the past but got it to change by re-teaching the 900 in different ways. For example, you get the best results for Volume by holding down the volume up/down buttons until the 900 says it's done. Otherwise it doesn't work well. You have it hit it once for each step in volume selection instead of it working when you hold it down.


My 900 doesn't have that issue so something else appears to be at issue here.

I talked to Mike about it before ordering and was assured it'll be the GS2.

I ordered mine online from Sweetronics I hope mine is GS2!

The GS1s were kind of hit-or-miss when it comes to the select button. From our experience, about 75% of them worked fine. The GS2 has pretty much the same stiff feel as the GS1, but is less likely to "roll" to one side or the other when pushing down the "Select" button, and it's much more reliable in operation.

The learned commands on an MX-500 operate no differently than preprogrammed ones, and both operate instantly.