Harmony 670 vs. URC MX-500

I just installed an IR repeater and would like a new remote to replace all the individual remotes. My budget is about $100. I'd like it to be user friendly for my wife, mom and mother in law. It's such a pain trying to explain to them how to change inputs from watching a movie and then back to TV etc while they babysit. I like the way Harmony has simple keys like "watch a dvd", but the URC seems to be cheaper and gets great reviews.

This remote should be able to control my DVD, Plasma, Reciever, Cable Box, HTPC and Windows MCE. Am I asking too much?

Thanks in advance.

Either remote will control your system, but the Harmony does have an advantage in the "user friendly" category since there is a Help button that will fix any devices that get out of sync or missed commands.

Thank you. I understand the Harmony uses plain language "Watch a Movie" How does the MX-500 work? Not sure if I understand. Would it work like this?

To watch a DVD. Main LCD screen has the word DVD. By pressing this button a macro would be sent changing inputs on TV, DVD and reciever and then the DVD functions would come up on the LCD?

Then, to switch back to Cable box I would go to main LCD screen and hit TV for a new macro?

I wasn't sure of the difference between the top hard buttons and the macros on the bottom?

Could I use the macros on the bottom for the same as I described above and tell my mom m1 = DVD, m2=Tv, and M3 = PC videos?

Thanks.

Thank you. I understand the Harmony uses plain language "Watch a Movie" How does the MX-500 work? Not sure if I understand. Would it work like this?

To watch a DVD. Main LCD screen has the word DVD. By pressing this button a macro would be sent changing inputs on TV, DVD and reciever and then the DVD functions would come up on the LCD?

Then, to switch back to Cable box I would go to main LCD screen and hit TV for a new macro?

I wasn't sure of the difference between the top hard buttons and the macros on the bottom?

Could I use the macros on the bottom for the same as I described above and tell my mom m1 = DVD, m2=Tv, and M3 = PC videos?

Thanks.

Yep, that's how the mx-500 works. You will need to hold down the lcd buttons for 1 second in order for the macro to run, though. The m1-m4 buttons don't have that requirement.

If you are comfortable with refurbs, J and R has the Harmony 880 available at your price limit.

http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=4168406

Could I use the macros on the bottom for the same as I described above and tell my mom m1 = DVD, m2=Tv, and M3 = PC videos?
- The only problem you'll run into is when one of the devices misses a command. This most often happens when the user doesn't hold the remote towards the devices long enough for all the commands to be sent out.

There are ways around this with careful programming, in the case of the URC, you have to send out the commands over again or else you need to know exactly which command was missed. This can be especially troublesome with devices that have only a power toggle and not a discrete power on and power off.

When you press Help on the Harmony, it will ask you questions about which devices are on and off. Depending on your answer, it will resend the commands.

Guys thanks. I'd rather not go refurbished and I am leaning towards mx-500.
One more question: My panny plasma seems to take 10 seconds or so during initial power up before you can select which input you want to use. I think I read somewhere the max delay is 4 seconds and if you go longer you start losing the amount of macros you can program.
So what I am saying is that if we turn TV on (or system power?) and hit the DVD button the Tv will not recieve the Input selection = DVD?....or can you make that at the end of a macro? For instance Tv on, DVD on, cable box off,Reciver on, Reciever input DVD, reciever sound field digital DTS, and then finally TV on??? Please advise....I have never owned a universal remote with macros.

I'm not familiar enough with all of MX-500's functions, but the Harmony does let you program a power on delay. You can specify the time in milliseconds.

Hopefully, a MX-500 or URC owner will chime in.

I have used both. I think the 670 has the edge. Mainly because you get access to the online database which has the discrete power/input codes for components that have them. With the MX-500, you are limited to learning only (unless you can get your hands on one of the defunct IRClone devices + software), & OEM remotes often lack those codes. This often forces you to get a 2nd remote (like a OneForAll w/ JP1) to get the discrete codes, wiping out the cost advantage. Harmony also has the Smart State for dealing with power toggle/input cycle only devices, and the "help" feature if the remote is misaimed during a macro.

MX-500 also has the confusing to some double labeled transport keys (e.g. chapter skip has the label "menu" right above it, but in a device you can only use it for one or the other), which was rightfully abandoned in later models. It was a great remote for its time, but after using one for ~6 years I think it's been surpassed now. Only advantage over the Harmony of this model is perhaps button size/feel.

Thanks for all the advice! I was originally all set to go with the Harmony but a friend highly recommended URC. So between its reviews and what I started reading here I changed my thoughts to URC. Now with the last 2 responses I am still up in the air. Thats the problem with the internet sometimes.......too much information......

I like the higher end, PC programmable URC remotes but with your budget you're going to get more for your money with a Harmony than you will from an MX500, IMO

Don't get the MX-500. It definately won't have discrete codes for all your devices.

I'd go with the H670, it has variables. This means it knows what your equipment is doing.

Well I wish I read those last 2 posts before I ordered. I got the mx-500. It probably will be fine. I started playing around with it and have had some problems. Maybe I am doing something wrong. I set up some macros. Lets assume TV is on and cable box is on. When I want to watch a DVD I hit M1 for the macro.
TV switches input to DVD, then mutes (I like TV speakers for general TV viewing and Amplifier for DVD watching), DVD powers up, Amp goes on, switches to DVD input and switches to correct soundfield.

What confuses me is.....If I load a DVD in the player first (which is usually the first thing you do) the power is already on, so if you send a macro to power up it actually powers down. same problem if I return to TV watching. If the cable box missed a command to turn off the M2 macro will actually turn it off. Do I make any sense here? Should I program it another way? Should I return it and get a Harmony? I think I read somewhere that Harmonys can detect if the component is on or off??????

Can anyone help me out? I feel like I should have gone with my original gut feeling.

Here's what you need to do.

Turn the DVD player off.

Use the original DVD remote.

Press all the buttons except for the Power button

One of the other buttons should turn the DVD player on. It is usually the "Play" button.

If this is the case you should use the "play" button in your on macro for the DVD player.

For the off macro send the "play" command and then the "power" command. This ensures the DVD player is on, then turns it off.

WHat cable box do you have? If it is a scientific atlantic box here is the workaround:

Go into the settings on the cable box.

Find the power on by: option

You should have two options, "power only" and "numeric and power"

Select the "numeric and power" option.

then program your macro so that when you want to turn the cable box on you send out the "0" command. Because zero is not a channel if the box happens to be on it won't change the channel.

For the off command send the "0" and then the "power" command. This ensures the box is on, then turns it off.

Brien,
Awesome! Thanks. I will try that tonight. I do have scientific Atlanta. Any other advice for setting up my windows mce remote on the mx-500? Should I jus learn the commands?

Brien,
Awesome! Thanks. I will try that tonight. I do have scientific Atlanta. Any other advice for setting up my windows mce remote on the mx-500? Should I jus learn the commands?

If you had gotten the 670 you would be up and running by now. I had both the Mx 500 and the Harmony 680 almost same as the 670, and it was no contest when it came to ease of programming and for anyone to pick up the remote and use the Harmony.

Sold the MX on ebay!!

If you can, why don't you get a 670 from a dealer who allows easy returns and give it a try. If your experience is like mine you will like it better.

Good luck.

Henry

^^^ Don't listen to him. If you use the work arounds i'm telling you to the MX-500 will be more user friendly then the Harmony

^^^ Don't listen to him. If you use the work arounds i'm telling you to the MX-500 will be more user friendly then the Harmony

I would never tell him not to listen to any advice as you have. Just shared my experience with each of the remotes.

No work arounds required with the Harmony remotes. I never found the MX 500 to be as powerful and flexible as the Harmony. One thing that is head and shoulders above the MX remotes is the support you get from Harmony. These folks answer their phones in a reasonable time and are very helpful. The couple of times I called MX, they indicated I would have to send the remote in to have them program a couple of commands which would take a couple of weeks minimum.

Guys, I appreciate all your advice. I probably should have gone Harmony, but since I invested time and money into URC I am going to give it a go. My mom is coming over tonight. If she can handle it then its probably a keeper.
Brien,
your tips worked PERFECT!!

Does anyone have any IR codes for the microsoft MCE remote?

No work arounds required with the Harmony remotes.

ACtually this is how the harmony works. Well, kind of. They use variables.

The workarounds i'm describing are a way to get the device into a known state, then cycle where you want to go.

Believe it or not the workarounds are actually more powerful then variables.

With the harmony if you hit "watch a DVD" and the dvd player misses the code you have to hit the "help" button. Then you go through a few questions to get the system up and running.

With the workarounds you just press the macro button again!

Does anyone have any IR codes for the microsoft MCE remote?

Use the original remote to learn codes into the MX

Brien,
Thanks for all your support. I was hoping that the MCE remote would have an ir code to make it a little easier, not that learning isn't easy.

I did use the learn function and it worked great after I followed this link:

Windows registry fix for MCE (http://www.remotecentral.com/cgi-bin/mboard/rc-prontong/thread.cgi?keywords=2347&highlight=Registry|Windows|Media)