I'm converting a game room into a HT room and with any luck hope to be up and running in 1-2 months. I currently have B&W Phillips Pronto (TS-1000 I believe) but would like to go with something with more hard buttons like the URC remotes. Background info:

Room is 14'x18'
Equipment is in a closet behind a GOM fabric covered false wall
New yet to be determined projector
AT&T Uverse HD provider
Preamp
Outlaw 990 AV Receiver
Monoblock amps
PS3
Oppo 980 DVD player
DVD/VCR Combo
Logitech Duet (Squeezebox) for music

The projector will require delayed shutdown and I don't have any fancy lighting plans yet but won't rule out down the road. I do have an older Hot Link Pro I can use as well. I also realize I can't directly control the PS3 with anything but it's own remote so I'm looking for recs there as well.

While I did program the Pronto years ago (and will program this one) it was a bear to get thru the learning curve and planning so ease of programming will be a minor factor.

Right now I'm leaning toward one of the URC remotes in the 8xx - 9xxx range but I'm not sure which one/ones best match to my needs. Your suggestions?

Ron

Got to be some non-Harmony remote users out there somewhere.....

PS3 remote control solutions:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1016741

Unless you just have to have color, the MX-900 is your best bet in the URC lineup.

I'm still a big fan of the 850, but I can agree on the 900

I really like the mx-900, easy to program, not too expensive. With the money you save buying a mx-900, you can buy a msc-400 rf base station. The sensors are what make the msc-400 such a nice box.

For example:
You manually turn on the ps-3 and insert a disc; the msc-400 senses the video output of the ps-3 and turn on the rest of your system to support using the ps-3. Likewise if you have any toads you can use a voltage sensor to KNOW if the device is really on. Variables are nice, but sensors are better.

I really like the mx-900, easy to program, not too expensive. With the money you save buying a mx-900, you can buy a msc-400 rf base station. The sensors are what make the msc-400 such a nice box.

For example:
You manually turn on the ps-3 and insert a disc; the msc-400 senses the video output of the ps-3 and turn on the rest of your system to support using the ps-3. Likewise if you have any toads you can use a voltage sensor to KNOW if the device is really on. Variables are nice, but sensors are better.


Forgive my ignorance....toads?

Toggle Only Actuated Device. Fancy term for things like power which use a single command to toggle on and off. When programming a remote, it's preferable to have seperate power on and power off commands so you don't have to keep track of whether the device is already on or not. Devices lacking these discrete commands are toads. Programming to account for toads is more complex, requiring memory to keep track of the on/off states.