I posted this at remotecentral but didn't have any responses. You guys have been good to me so I thought I would try my luck here.


I need a little help picking a remote. What I'm wanting to do is control my cable box (Motorola DCH6412) from two different rooms. The cable box is going to be in a closed cabinet. I'm going to split the HDMI out going to two different TV's. I have a Toshiba 46lx177 so I will need something that can do IR and RF. I've been looking at the 810 and 450 and plan on using the MRF-260. My question is which one would be better for someone new to programing remotes? I don't have a dealer near me and feel comfortable trying to setup it up my self. I would like to be able to clone the TV remote so I could change inputs and set the sleep timer. Anyone have any suggestions which one would be better for a new user. Can you have these shipped off for programing if you can't do it?

Thanks for your help.

Surf remote will do programming of URC remotes, not sure about the 450 though. Since your do not have alot programming required, why not look into somethin like this (http://universalremote.com/product_detail.php?model=102).

PC programing ability is a big plus with the 810. It lets you easily play around with the remote, if you screw up, just reload a previous version.

The real issue is the mx-810 or mx-880, not a big difference in price. They are similar but program very differently ( 810 uses a wizard, 880 programs with the mx editor )

The 810 is VERY easy to program as long as what you want to do falls within the scope of the 810 prowizard tool. The 880 is much more flexible but might require more effort on your part.

BTW, what you want to do seems rather straight forward. RF control of the cable box, with local ir control of the tv in whatever room you are in.

Thanks for the input. What I'm wanting to do seems easy, but I've never worked with one of these devices so I don't feel comfortable assuming it's easy. The things that I worry about not working would be setting up a button for changing Inputs and setting the sleep timers. If I needed to go through any of the tv menus, I could just pull out the original remote. The reason I like the 810 and 450 was the price and looks. I like the looks of the 450 more but need something that I can program.

im in the exact same boat. i have a harmony 680 remote which was super easy to setup via the wizard. i found it to have quite a bit of options as well. however this remote requires new batteries once a month even with backlight on for like 2 seconds. its a pain so im looking for something better built. how "easy" is the 810 software to program? would it be comparable to the harmony software? what about the mx editor software, does it require a lot of reading, etc. to learn how to program it?

here is a nice review with screenshots of the mx810 editor. in response to my question, yes it looks very easy to use and very similar to harmony's editor.

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=78382

The mx-810 wizard is VERY easy if you are willing to program the remote the way URC wants you to. It is straight forward. To me it seems much like the harmony wizard. This is great if what you want to do falls within the limits of the wizard.

okay, so what things is it not able to do that the mx editor can? i realize this is a really broad question, but some examples would help me out. thanks.

The MX810 Wizard gets smoked by the Harmony wizard.

That does not mean the MX810 is difficult, it is just quirky. Most of these issues have been ironed out and it is not a powerful universal remote. It is a simple one zone solution.

I really love the control that you can have over the MX-810 and the results are pretty nice if you have lots of components with discrete inputs and power on/off. I find that the software interface is a tragedy. If you go into it thinking that it is a sort of puzzle, and if you have time and patience you will be happy with the results.

I do have a hard time recommending one if you don't already have something like a Harmony to download codes with. The database for the 810 is very sparse. Few of my components have been in the database -- and even those require additional programming. I don't know how I would have gotten mine fully functional without the Harmony to pull down codes from the internet.

I would describe the MX-810 as the perfect remote for somebody that has been using a Harmony and wants to move up onto something a little more elegant.

and in terms of the 450, one must program every single command one at a time for it to learn it? or does it have an internal database for components.

and in terms of the 450, one must program every single command one at a time for it to learn it? or does it have an internal database for components.

Internal database..... Moving up to the 880 gives a little more programming flexibility..

okay, so what things is it not able to do that the mx editor can? i realize this is a really broad question, but some examples would help me out. thanks.

For me the biggest issues are:

can not program page jumps

power states on only managed in activity not in device



Do either of them really matter, maybe not most of the time, but when you want them and can not have them it is a pain. In truth, we use the 810 as a pretty front end for the msc-400; we used to use the 900 alot until the 810 came out. Now that the 880 exists, we might switch to it, since the price is almost the same.

and in terms of the 450, one must program every single command one at a time for it to learn it? or does it have an internal database for components.

Well, I've been trying the MX-450 and maybe there are secret instructions someplace, but near as I can tell this isn't quite ready for prime time.

Glaring holes in the database (no DirecTV HDTiVo HR10-250, no unit 2 codes for Panasonic DVDs (DVD + BluRay both Panasonic), no unit 2 codes for DIrecTV HR2x DVRs (only supports default set, so again no 2 units).

The "easy interface" is like most easy interfaces: a problem if you need to do something complicated.

But the killer problem is the volume up/down doesn't auto-repeat, at least with my Denon 3808. Want to go from -40dB to -10dB in half-dB steps? That's 60 key presses. FEH!

If you want one of these, it'll be on Ebay soon.

Edit: Solved the volume up/down problem, so I may keep it, but I still think they need to support many more device codes, especially alternate unit codes.

got my MX-450 today, I have not played around much with it yet. Programmed normal Receiver, TV, Directv onto it so far. No problems. I have not done any macros yet.

Thought I was going to have a problem with my Directv unit but the first code worked perfect for me.

Using it in a bedroom, but so far aiming anywhere in the room works fine for me. Glad I went with this over the 810.

hey what was the volume problem you mentioned? just want to make sure i know what to do if i run into the same thing. thanks.

I have the HR21-700 Directv and it found it no problem.

I have the Onkyo 606 receiver and the volume works fine. Hold down the button and it keeps going up. I have a Denon 3808 in the other room and would like to see what the fix was before I buy another one of these for that room.

I have some questions that i have had a hard time clarifying via these forums... if I purchase a 450 or 810 or even 880 from an "unauthorized" dealer, does that mean that I will not have access to updates for new components? Does each of these remotes have enough memory to learn all commands for components of a new system?

I guess since each new component I will buy comes with a remote, it's not a big setback for me to "learn" all of them into a URC remote, but if it runs out of learning memory I'm hosed.

One concern about the 450 is that if it gets reset for some reason I would have to reprogram the whole thing, while the 810 can reprogram from software, right?

I have heard that the 810 from an unauthorized dealer does not allow you access to the programming software updates, while the 880 does not allow you to access any software at all. True?

Makes me lean towards the 450, but how is the 450 supposed to respond to new devices in the future?

Edit: Solved the volume up/down problem, so I may keep it, but I still think they need to support many more device codes, especially alternate unit codes.

Can you share how you solved the volume up/down problem?
Thanks

I have some questions that i have had a hard time clarifying via these forums... if I purchase a 450 or 810 or even 880 from an "unauthorized" dealer, does that mean that I will not have access to updates for new components? Does each of these remotes have enough memory to learn all commands for components of a new system?

I guess since each new component I will buy comes with a remote, it's not a big setback for me to "learn" all of them into a URC remote, but if it runs out of learning memory I'm hosed.

One concern about the 450 is that if it gets reset for some reason I would have to reprogram the whole thing, while the 810 can reprogram from software, right?

I have heard that the 810 from an unauthorized dealer does not allow you access to the programming software updates, while the 880 does not allow you to access any software at all. True?

Makes me lean towards the 450, but how is the 450 supposed to respond to new devices in the future?

very good questions. i would like to know the answers as well. if anyone can respond that would be very helpful.

So now that the 450 has been on the market a while, does anyone have any additional thoughts?

I'd say mine is only OK. Programming is a little slow with a decent learning curve. I kinda wish I would have gone with one with a web interface. Also I bought the URC/Lutron RF switch for some sconces and it doesn't have it in the memory. Per URC customer support, I have to send it back to my dealer to update it, and I know he ordered it less than a month ago directly from them. Why wouldn't this have been done before it left the warehouse? Anyway, it was a decent purchase for the money but it's going to be a headache until I get it just right.

There is a 450 archive program. Not sure if it is public or only for dealers or CI. It will back up your 450 and allow to load previously saved files. Great if you are doing 25 of the same remote.

BTW, I do not think that the ir database is updateable in the mx-450.