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Acoustic Research XSight Remote

post #1 of 675
6/23/09 at 12:27pm
Thread Starter 
The new AARX18G from Acoustic Research has been delayed till September 2009. No news on why the delay. Can't wait for this remote to hit the retail market. Hope this time it will be out in September. Last I heard this was going to be release in the Spring 2009. I was going to purchase the Harmony 1100,but saw this on the web 2/24/09 and wanted to wait for this remote. Everything sounds good about this remote. Harmony watch out! You Can go their website to find out more information www.araccessories.com
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post #2 of 675
6/24/09 at 5:27am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Char57 View Post

The new AARX18G from Acoustic Research has been delayed till September 2009. No news on why the delay. Can't wait for this remote to hit the retail market. Hope this time it will be out in September. Last I heard this was going to be release in the Spring 2009. I was going to purchase the Harmony 1100,but saw this on the web 2/24/09 and wanted to wait for this remote. Everything sounds good about this remote. Harmony watch out! You Can go their website to find out more information www.araccessories.com

I am interested in what you percieve to be special about this remote? From the limited information on the AR website it just looks like another RF remote to me.
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post #3 of 675
6/24/09 at 6:46am
The XSight remote is interesting and from what I understand has been successful for Universal Electronics in Europe. I hop Audiovox throws some marketing and support behind this when they introduce it in the US because it could be a nice alternative. But I'm not holding my breath.
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post #4 of 675
6/24/09 at 7:07am
Thread Starter 
Acoustic Research XSight AAR18G will be worthwhile contender to the current favorite universal remote Logitech Harmony One. Harmony one @249.99 is not a RF remote,Harmony 1100 which is a RF remote @499.00 plus the wireless extender @99.00; total of 598.00. The AAR18G will run about plus 250.00 add the 100.00 RF extender kit total of 350.00. But the big improvement over the Harmony is the inclusion of built-in RF capability;add the RF Extender Kit and you can operate componets outside your line of sight(such as closed cabinets,or even in another room). XSight models one-up the Harmony with multiple user profiles and favorite channels list,and the flexibility to be programmed directly from the remote or via a pc. The built in setup wizard lets you choose the make and model of your coponents,and cycles through control codes untill it hits the right one.

AAR18G ($250.00) 2.2-in color touch screen and controls 18 devices,rechargeable lithium ion battery,and a charging cradle,remote can be operated even while it's docked
AAR15G ($180.00) is the step down model,same basic model,but it controls 15 devices,it's color screen isn't touch sensitive,it uses standard AA batteries(no charging cradle) and it has on RF option
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post #5 of 675
6/24/09 at 7:17am
Thanks for the responses.....I missed the fact that it was a touch screen. I have two Harmony 890's today and I couldn't see an advantage.
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post #6 of 675
6/24/09 at 8:13am
Another feature that has DirecTV subs excited about this remote is that it supposedly works directly with their RF capable receivers just like the OEM remotes - no extenders, bases or blasters required. That's what AR tells us anyway. Well see when we actually get our hands on one.
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post #7 of 675
8/12/09 at 7:59pm
Here are some reasons I'm excited about the xSight Touch:
  • it is supposed to have macro capabilities (like Harmony remotes) but we still need to learn if there is a limit to the number of steps;
  • it has dedicated RGBY color keys (much needed for DIRECTV);
  • it has multiple profiles per activity, so one activity can have numerous arrangements so that each user in the house can have a customized remote with their own name and channel favorites, but it's working the same activity;
  • it has a dedicated LIST button (great for any DVR user)
  • it can be programmed and updated for basic functions without a web site
Now I'm just hoping AR is still on track for the September date from Post #1, as this remote is calling me!
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post #8 of 675
8/12/09 at 8:09pm
Pretty sweet remote. It was being discussed over a year ago at RC, i cant believe its still not here. I contemplated adding it to the family but the T1-B has my attention right now. It doesnt have a touch screen but it has custom hard buttons for macros. No fav icons suck but i dont really need it.
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post #9 of 675
8/12/09 at 8:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by 39CentStamp View Post

Pretty sweet remote. It was being discussed over a year ago at RC, i cant believe its still not here. I contemplated adding it to the family but the T1-B has my attention right now. It doesnt have a touch screen but it has custom hard buttons for macros. No fav icons suck but i dont really need it.

There are two versions of the xSight - the Touch is a touch-screen rechargeable remote, while the xSight Color is not touch-screen and is not rechargeable. (Here's the AR page for the xSight series: http://66.77.167.108/araccessories/A...ACTION_REMOTES)
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post #10 of 675
8/13/09 at 4:21am
LOL.

I like the Advanced Features video in that link, lots of remotes converging on just one, the Xsight. However, at least 2 of those remotes are universal remotes, a Harmony 5xx and a URC MX-xxx.
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post #11 of 675
8/25/09 at 8:10pm
@remoteshoppe

Jim, have you been holding out on us? Are the upcoming Nevo C2 and C3 the reincarnation of the vaporware AR Xsight? More importantly, when will you start selling them?

Thanks
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post #12 of 675
8/27/09 at 2:01pm
Not holding out. The AR remotes will still be introduced but we do not have any info on when or where.

Nevo will be introducing the new custom series at CEDIA and we hope to have them by the end of September but I'm reluctant to make any comparisons to the XSIGHT remotes. I'll leave that up to you guys to do on your own ;-)
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post #13 of 675
8/27/09 at 2:10pm
Was at hh gregg Sat. and they have these remotes. Go to their web site and they are there.
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post #14 of 675
8/27/09 at 2:18pm
Thanks Jim and Dale. HERE's a link to the xsight at hh gregg. I just called my local hh gregg and they have them too! HERE are more details from remotecentral.

Now someone needs to confirm it really works with native DirecTV RF

EDIT: According to the MANUAL (pg.22) it does!

HERE's the Xsight Color manual.

HERE's the main product web page at One-For-All. Follow the links at the bottom for short demos of it's capabilities. The Activities setup actually looks a lot more logical than harmony's.
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post #15 of 675
8/28/09 at 8:05am
Has anyone picked up one of these? I saw these on the front of the Frys sales paper this morning, and they look pretty good.
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post #16 of 675
8/28/09 at 2:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrMayface View Post

Has anyone picked up one of these? I saw these on the front of the Frys sales paper this morning, and they look pretty good.

I picked one up at Fry's today, but unfortunately they didn't carry the RF extender (which I'll need.) I'm also going to pick up the Harmony 900 tonight and eval both units to see which I like best.

First impression: There is no indication that any charging is going on at all while its in its docking cradle or plugged in to my PC via usb. For all I know the device is dead, but the instructions say to let it charge 3-4 hours before proceeding, so I suppose I'll do just that!

Rick
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post #17 of 675
8/28/09 at 2:30pm
Ok, so while the Quick Start guide that came with the remote doesn't say any of this, the online owners' manual says this:

Quote:


The supplied battery comes partially charged, but we recommend charging it for approximately an hour before use. To do this, connect the charging cradle to a power outlet using the supplied AC/DC Adapter and place the remote on the cradle. The display will show the battery charging icon.

None of this is happening so I'll assume the battery has a zero charge or that it's NG out of the box and I'll have to swap it out for a replacement.

Rick
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post #18 of 675
8/28/09 at 2:35pm
ender,

Do you happen to have DirecTV? The touch is supposed to be able to work that via RF without the extender. If so, please let us know.

Thanks
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post #19 of 675
8/28/09 at 2:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mdavej View Post

ender,

Do you happen to have DirecTV? The touch is supposed to be able to work that via RF without the extender. If so, please let us know.

Thanks

Yeah I sure do. That's one of the reasons why I hope this remote works well. I just hope it powers up! I'd rather not drive all the way back to Fry's for an exchange!
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post #20 of 675
8/28/09 at 6:10pm
DirecTV RF capability confirmed! I added my HR20 as a device then went into the settings on the remote itself and enabled DirecTV RF and it works!

Gotchas: 1. It only has pre-programmed devices for HR20 & 21, though that shouldn't matter. 2. When you enable RF in the HR you have to punch in a series of codes into the remote. One of them is 961, but another is evidently a unique 6-digit ID for your device. You need to jot this down or memorize it, as the Touch needs you to plug it in in order for RF control to work.

Now to find the RF extender and I'll really be able to test drive this...

Rick
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post #21 of 675
8/28/09 at 8:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ender21 View Post

I picked one up at Fry's today

Can you verify if this remote has macros or not?

Thanks
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post #22 of 675
8/29/09 at 3:55pm
I went to Frys today to check this out, and it looked nice. I just couldnt pull the trigger. I hoped to come back in here today and see that a punch of you had picked it up and left some reviews.
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post #23 of 675
8/30/09 at 1:24am
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrMayface View Post

I went to Frys today to check this out, and it looked nice. I just couldnt pull the trigger. I hoped to come back in here today and see that a punch of you had picked it up and left some reviews.

Ha! I need to play with it a bit more first. I found the RF extender at Best Buy so that was an unexpected find. I'm putting together my dedicated HT right now so that's keeping the remote experimentation at a minimum.
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post #24 of 675
8/30/09 at 7:37pm
As a DIRECTV customer with three HR20 receivers in my living room, I'm curious if the remote has multiple IR code sets native or if I will have to learn commands for additional IR sets.
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post #25 of 675
8/31/09 at 1:01am
I'd love to know how this compares overall to the H900...

Pissed that 'Losertech' left out proper macro programmability!
If anyone gets it let us know!

Next hurdle will be getting it to Australia, same old dilemma :-(
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post #26 of 675
8/31/09 at 1:10am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Drew2k View Post

As a DIRECTV customer with three HR20 receivers in my living room, I'm curious if the remote has multiple IR code sets native or if I will have to learn commands for additional IR sets.

Yeah since it wants the unique RF id for each receiver I'm hopeful that it'll control more than one easily enough. I just haven't had time yet to try that out.

I apologize but I haven't tried out macros yet either. In fact this is the first time I've been on the PC all weekend. Just burning the midnight oil in the new HT room, but will hopefully program more within the next couple of days. But I am hopeful that it does macros just fine since it's present in the software.

Rick
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post #27 of 675
8/31/09 at 8:10am
No worries, keen to hear more when you can...
You'll have the perfect basis for comparison, considering you own both remotes!

Cheers
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post #28 of 675
9/1/09 at 8:32am
Will this remote be able to control my PS3?
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post #29 of 675
9/1/09 at 8:36am
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrMayface View Post

Will this remote be able to control my PS3?

It does not incorporate bluetooth so you'll need a ir-to-bluetooth converter for the PS3.
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post #30 of 675
9/1/09 at 8:52am
Quote:
Originally Posted by jalyst View Post

I'd love to know how this compares overall to the H900...

Pissed that 'Losertech' left out proper macro programmability!
If anyone gets it let us know!

Next hurdle will be getting it to Australia, same old dilemma :-(

I briefly looked at the new AR remotes at BB when I bought my 900 last Sunday. I sure wish the 900 had sequences or macros, but even if the AR remote offered that, I didn't give the AR remote serious consideration because it ddn't have the key layout or feel of the Harmony One or the 900. The AR keys are much too small for my hand and feel spongy compared to the Harmony One or 900. At the end of the day, once any remote is programmed the way you want it, if the ergonomics of the remote don't make it appealing and easy to use, you won't care that it had macros or not. Not needing macros now but thinking I might need macros in the future was still not enough reason for me to buy an AR remote that didn't appeal to me ergonomically.
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