I've decided on a URC remote after using both an MX350 and a Harmony. I had a couple of questions on the URC remotes. What is the real difference, other than the fact that one is a professional model and the other a consumer, in the MX350 and the RF20? The RF20 is at least half the price, so I'd prefer it if there's no major advantage.

Also, other than warranty issues, is there any advantage to buying a professional model like an MX350 from a certified dealer? The closest dealer is 85 miles away, and due to the fact that is requires no software (that I can tell) I wondered what other advantages an authorized dealer offers.

If it helps, the only components I'll be running are...
1) 50" Samsung plasma
2) PS3 with Nyko IR Receiver
3) Yamaha RX-V1700
4) Old Yamaha CD Player

Thanks for your help. This is a great forum.

The MX-350 differs from the RF20 mainly in the use of RF. The MX-350 uses narrow band RF and can be used independently with multiple MRF-260 or 350 base stations, as well as have individual device assignment. If you're not using RF, the differences are minimal.

Mike is 100% correct. However, with the MF-100 receiver/blaster, the RF on the RF20 will work perfectly fine for many simple, single remote applications. Maybe this is you.

Thanks both of you. This is exactly what I needed. Think I'll go with the RF20.

Doesn't the MX-350 have discrete codes?

Other than the color screen is there any real difference between the RF20 and the Harmony 890?

I'm in the market for a universal remote with RF capabilities. I've been waiting for the price of the 890 to come down and I found it for $180 today. That's still alot for me to spend so I decided to take another quick look through the forums and found this thread. I found the RF20 with base station for less than $80.

Are there any advantages to the Harmony that I'm not seeing? Is it worth $100 more?

Doesn't the MX-350 have discrete codes?

Not that I am aware of...I have a couple mx350's...in order to get discrete codes into them you have to use a pc remote..example in the urc line would be the mx850 where you load by pc and once you get the discrete code your looking for you learn that into the 350 or 20 or whatever you have.

Other than the color screen is there any real difference between the RF20 and the Harmony 890?

I'm in the market for a universal remote with RF capabilities. I've been waiting for the price of the 890 to come down and I found it for $180 today. That's still alot for me to spend so I decided to take another quick look through the forums and found this thread. I found the RF20 with base station for less than $80.

Are there any advantages to the Harmony that I'm not seeing? Is it worth $100 more?

IMO, the main advantage of the Harmony is that it is PC programmable. This is implemented in a way that makes it very easy for anyone to do a quick basic setup. You can go beyond that, too. The RF20 is not PC programmable, but, again IMO, it's more flexible in the ways you can program it to operate. It's really not that difficult to program a basic setup, anyway.

IMO, the main disadvantage of the Harmony is the ergonomics, but that can be a very subjective thing. I do not care for the small, close buttons of the Harmony. I also prefer the “feel” and the spacing of the URC’s buttons and the “feel” of the remote, in general.

How well do the activities on the RF20 work? For example if I press Watch DVD and it turns on my TV, Receiver and DVD player and sets the correct inputs, will it REMEMBER that the TV is on when I press watch DVR, adjust the inputs and turn my DVD player off?

Neither knows that is was on or off. If you had SA8300 cable box get the MX350 with new MRF260 base due to IR freq issues.

I read here (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=972425) that Harmony remotes remember what state every component is in. They call it smart state. Does the RF20 have this type of feature?

I had a Harmony 659 and it drove everyone crazy *thinking* it knew what state everything is in. If something blocks the IR signal, or a component gets out of sync you are forced to push the "Help" button. The first thing it did is say "Did that fix the problem?". Then it proceeds to make you confirm every component's current state. Annoying beyond belief to us. But, I must say they are very popular and I have several friends that love their Harmony remotes. It *tries* to remember the state of everything, but it is imperfect.

Jay W

Slowly,

I bought a Harmony for my father. It was easy to program and set up, but it's really not as nice as a URC. I've used the URC and ergonomics wise it is 100% better than any of the Harmonies. What I'm thinking about doing is buying a used Harmony and programming in discrete codes to the URC with it, and then selling it again on ebay.

I read here (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=972425) that Harmony remotes remember what state every component is in. They call it smart state. Does the RF20 have this type of feature?

No, because RF20 isn't a Harmony remote, its made by URC, a completely different company.

I know its a completely different company Edmund. I asked if the RF20 tracks the state of each component in the same way that the Harmony line of remotes do. Their marketing department may label it 'smart state' but that doesn't make this type of feature exclusive to one company just because the other company names it something else. I'm comparing the features of these 2 remotes. I want to know if the much cheaper RF20 can do almost all of the same things that the more expensive 890 can do. I should probably just start a thread on URC RF20 VS Harmony 890, but I've already read reams of information about the 890 and was hoping to glean some useful information about the RF20 off of this page.