When are the new MRF Units coming out? I am dying to get my hands on the rack mounted controller w/ RS232 and Video/Voltage Sensing. I have a job that will be trimmed out in about 3 months and was hoping to use this piece.

Mike

I have a spot set asside for mine. The wires are already run.

Should be next month.

BTW, the designation has been changed from MRF to MSC (ie: MSC-400).

Mike
www.SurfRemoteControl.com

I just got one today for beta testing. If all goes well they will be out within a few weeks with a 2 way serial unit to follow. It looks cool. Ill keep you posted.

Vincent, What are you finding out on that thing?? Anything good or bad yet??

Keep us posted

This Box is the deciding factor if URC is a line we want to still carry...not that we sell much now anyway...Damn RF is the fault of that

The MSC-400 has a very narrow RF band, so it shouldn't have the problems of the MRFs. So far, I'm getting very good results from the beta unit.

Mike is it using the New mxf250 antenna? How many ports of IR, Sensors, 232 and relays?? What type of sensors are supported and will URC sell them??

I was hoping to get a unit for Beta as most of the 300's we installed in our area didnt work without several days of messing around and tweeking to get it up to 90% at best.

I sure hope this new 400 is all is said to be

Yes, it uses the RFX-250 antenna.

12 ports - 6 dedicated IR and 6 IR or RS232
6 video or voltage sensor ports
2 relays

All sensors will be sold separately.

Does it have the same issue that will defeat the IR routing if you are trying to control two of the same cable or sat boxes (addressed on different IR outputs) at the same time with two remotes?



Thank you,
Damon DG
= = = = =
http://www.ProRemotes.com - Authorized Dealer & Remote Programming Services

There are a few issues with the IR in the Beta unit, but overall it is a huge step up for urc. There is 2 usb ports and one is for controling a HTPC. I have not had a chance to test this yet, but if it works it could be huge. It also uses complete control suit. This is a program that allows you to have all of the MX editors opened in one screen, tabbed so you can toggle between the remote and MSC editor. There are extensive ways to trigger macros and the sensors will finally give us power feedback. This is huge for everyone who deals with cable boxes! In my area they have enabled the power on from # option, but I have a few jobs in NYC where they have not.

The First problem I ran into is that all the RS232 plugs were the wrong Gender. and the standard Radio Shack Gender Changer, which I thought was straight through, but maybe not, doesn't actually work (or at least that's the going theory). URC is building me a gender changer and sending it out so I can test the RS232 stuff. I'm also assured that URC will have gender changers available, so that we won't run into this again. I personally think that Both gender cables would be nice, but whether this happens or not is yet to be seen.

Also, From the information that I have, the little cables and such won't be included with the unit out of the box. So you need to buy a bag of URC RS232 cables or IR cables and such. This was done to keep costs of the unit down and not included tons of stuff that people aren't using. (if you don't want to use the video sensors, don't order them, and pass the savings on to your clients)

The RFX250 seems to work pretty good. I haven't had any problem yet, but I've not put it to the limits, yet either. The ability to use If Else statements in combintaiton with the video sensors and all that I think will turn up being a really helpful tool, but it's definatley geared towards CI's. It's really not a consumer product, which in my opinion is good.

the 232 gender changers should be a common item, if its a null adaptor your thinking of those are standard as well. I think the nessasary cables should be included.

I have stopped my URC sales and have gone ful tilt with RTI. We are getting call backs on the MX3000 and MRF 250/MRF300 base units still....

I am actually headed out to a job in the morning to replace 3 URC systems in a house with RTI

Customer is Pissed,,,we have gone above and beyond our norm to attempt to correct the issues...URC tech has been less than helpful..same story on every call..did you try this? try that? move this, move that...

will have a few mx3000 systems on ebay soon

Hi Wire Pulling Monkey,

Unfortunatly, we cannot supply a full complement of every imaginable cable and connector, just like RTI, Crestron, Niles etc. don't. The unit has so many possible wiring permutations, it would be unbelieveably costly that way. We are offering bulk packs of six of each of the accessories, this makes them much less expensive for installers to stock. In addition, we offer an MSC-START kit, with a retail price of around $130 (there actually isn't a list price, but this would be at standard CI margins from the dealer cost). The START kit includes 2 RS232 cables, 2 Video Sensors, 2 Voltage Sensors and 6 addtional emitters (the MSC-400 accomodates up to 12, but includes only 6).

On your enthusiasm for RTI, I can't argue with you. They make great products. However, I believe that I could assist you if you decided you would allow us to help FIX a URC job.

I have always publicly offered to help any of our professional installer customers personally, if they have not been able to get a problem resolved via our technical support department. So, if you'd like to give URC another chance, I do have resources available that technical support do not have, such as beta product and on site assistance.

Best Regards,

-Eric

Thanks Eric,
The 232 cables and sensors should be extra as well as the emitters and such as you mentioned..I guess I was pertaining to having a correct 232 connection that was industry standard...But I dont know enough about the New 400 so I guess I am wrong.
are the 232 cables a standard cable or some new configuration..maybe thats what I was refering too

I have only started with RTI 5-6 months ago and its always worked for us..even in homes where urc didnt...where we had a MX3000 and MRF250 or 300

I have given URC another try to many times now and it seems to be the same story..different product

it all began with the MX3000 and MRF250 we had issues...lots of them

then the 300 was out and it made a few systems actually work while others were the same or worse

If the new 400 shines as everyone says it will, maybe another chance will be in order
Until then...well URC is back burner for now

Thanks for your reply
Monkey

I can vouch for Eric helping out on site. Eric and Joe came out to one of our sites with terrible RF to get it working. BTW, it is an area that the illustrious RTI doesn't work either, the RF is just that bad. They gave us some beta antennas for the MRF-300 which worked great over 100ft range and they were excellent to our customer and upgraded him to a brand new 950 (previously a 650). The customer has also agreed to let them come back and test more RF equipment. YMMV, but I would definitely use them as a resource before you get too frustrated on a given job.

Bob

Ps. Joe, I'm waiting for my beta MRF-400:-)