Hey all,

I'm planning on purchasing a new remote and want to make it as wife friendly as possible. I had convinced myself to go with the URC300 but then I saw the Pronto Neo and thought it might be a better fit.

If you don't mind, I'll describe my system and you can let me know what you think.

Displays:
Sony TV
BenQ projector

Sources:
htpc
Xbox
Time warner HDTV

Audio:
Pioneer receiver

Basically, I'd like to take an activity based approach. First choose activity (watch movie, watch tv, CD's, Radio, PC, Xbox) then choose display device if required (TV or Projector). Upon button push of TV or Projector, macros fire off to switch sources, turn on components etc. All of my devices have discrete power codes except the projector. Obviously for this to work, all my LCD buttons must be customizeable which is why I want the 300 or Neo.

The Neo seems to have many more LCD buttons available at a time which is nice but I'm just not to familiar with it and it's quircks. (moving learned keys to macros and to defined buttons etc.)

Just wondering if it's possible to set it up this way with the URC300 or the Pronto Neo?

Thanks for any advice,

Russell

You'll find the URC-300 much easier to program, and will do everything that you want it to do as described above.

The Neo still has OS and programming quirks, even after being out as long as it has.

You will be able to set up activity-based programming.

Just make a Label called TV - and when you push the button you can invoke the macro that will turn everything on that you want.

Same thing with any other activity, since you can have up to 190 step macros.

Then, when the remote takes you to the actual pages of the "activity", you don't need to simply have the TV controls on that page. You can control you HDTV box, etc. by learning and labelling the buttons, which give you 10 per page.

Very easy to program. Very easy to use. Very easy to explain to someone else. And very powerful.

If you have any other questions, please ask or email me a [email protected]

Any questions that I answer via email I will post in this thread.

Greg

You say that all of your devices have discrete power codes. Does this mean that the remote for each device has a separate on and off button? If not, you will need another device, like an OFA, to program the code and then learn it to the URC-300.

This is not difficult, but involves the purchae of another remote just for this function.

Bplayer,

I currently have a RS (forgot the model :blush:) that is JP1able and has the magic button as well, so no worries there.

Gregorious,

Call me a nerd but I've built a virtual remote in Excel based on some things that I assumed the 300 can do. From the device pages, can an lcd button push jump me to a different screen, and if so, can that jump be built into a macro? This would be absolutely necessary for my activity based approach to work. Also, can LCD buttons be setup for single touch macros or do they require touch and hold? I read all this once before but it's been months and I've forgotten.

I guess the only real advantage the neo has is computer programability and more LCD buttons with better naming options. I do love the ability to customize the neo buttons any way I want them. That would really help out with WAF. I just don't want to get stuck with it not being able to do something or learn something that I must have. I must admit that I'm a bit afraid based on all the problematic posts I've read about the NEO.

Thanks guys,

Russell

This message was edited by russ fulks on 09/10/04 09:07 ET.

Russel,

For activity based control, don't forget to look at the Harmony line of remotes.

Martin :-)

Martin,

I have looked at the Harmony remotes. Even took the test drive. Unfortunately with my dual video display setup I couldn't find a convenient way to use the Harmony. Further complicating things is the fact that I have an HTPC as my DVD player and CD jukebox. The test drive was rather poor IMO, as it didn't let me customize things to my desire. I assume that with the actual remote there are more advanced features available, but I couldn't get any info from Harmony's site, nor their demo.

I am actually seriously considering a Pronto Neo or TSU3000. As I mentioned, I built an Excel remote that operates like the URC-300 and found that I could get it to work just like I wanted, however my labels were somewhat cryptic. In further reading, for the same price as the URC-300, I can get the Pronto Neo and not be limited in my button labeling or design.

Any strong case for the URC300 over the Pronto besides the additional hard buttons? I really only need the following hard buttons:

Channel +-
Volume+-
4-way cursor
Enter
Tv/Video

I think the Pronto Neo can give me all of these hard buttons.

Thanks guys,

Russell

Single press will take you to the device page. Press and hold can have an associated macro. You can use the macro to jump to any page.

bplayer,

is it push and hold for macros on every lcd button, or just on the main page? For instance, after pushing the tv device button, it will take me to the tv device page. On that page, can I have an LCD button be a single push macro?

Russell