I'm getting closer to having the MX-700 working the way I want. If I only had a off discrete for my VCR I'd be much happier.

This is how I have the thing currently set-up. Is this the best that I can do or are there some well known tips/techniques to make it better? My goal is to make this remote idiot proof - anyone that walks into the HT can pick up the remote and run anything in the house.

On the main screen, I have listed the names of activities to perform such as TV, DVD, Video, CD, Radio and a couple of devices to control such as RCVR,LGHTS,CABLE. I did not program and all on command onto the "ON" button but did program an all off push and hold macro onto the "OFF" button (does this push and hold macro always occur on every page or does it have to be programed onto every page of every devices "OFF" button?)

The hard buttons on the main page then turn on and configure the system for the LCD button that is pushed and brings the person to the 1st page of that device. Once again, this is a push and hold type of macro and this is something that is not intuitive to someone unfamiliar with the remote. Push the hard buttons once quickly and you are only brought to the 1st page of that device. How has everyone else handled this? Is it better to have only the activities on the first page with no push and hold macro and then put the devices on the second main page?

I am still working on the quick abilty to switch between activities. I have it down to switch between them and everything seems to be working OK but what I don't have down is turning off the equipment not used when switching activities. The darn VCR (Mitsubishi UH-550 or something like that) has no discrete off and seesm to be screwing things up. I can program PLAY then STOP then POWER and that seems to work but seems cumbersome.

I have DIM and BRGHT on the first two LCD buttons on page one of each device and then the most used buttons on the others. It seems to me that there could be other universal ways to use some of the LCD hard buttons for each device.

Anyway, enough for now. I do appreciate the feedback and answers to a couple of the qiuestions hidden in the above rambling.

Mark

It will only work on the MAIN page. However, you can shortcut to it from any other device if you want it to be system-wide.



I don't know if it's better, but that's what I decided to do with mine.


Just include play & stop in a macro to turn it On and play & power in your system off macro. It may not be pretty, but it's the result that counts. ;-)

Mike
www.SurfRemote.com

Thanks Mike. Any other useful things you have on your remote? Anything to make it more user friendly than it already is? Just looking for some wisdom from people who have usedthis great remote for some time.

Thanks for the reply.

Mark

On the MAIN 1 page, I put text across the screen like:
WATCH DVD
WATCH TIVO
LISTN CD

Then, I have identical macros on the buttons on either side of the text so if either is pushed, you get the same result.

On the first page of my TIVO and HDTV devices, I have shortcut macros to Tivo menus and a few favorite channel macros. This is where the ability to have macros just about everywhere is really useful.

If you do a search here, there are a few threads where people have come up with some great ideas to make their 700/800s very user-friendly.