Acoustic Research XSight Remote - Page 15

I ordered the Nevo RX-433 which is supposed to be the same as the Acoustic RX-433 that is difficult to find. I ordered from discount home automation through google shopping. Took a risk because reviews were a mix for the site and there was no phone number. I started to get worried when the item has not shown up in 5 days with 2 day shipping, so I emailed them yesterday and it took about a day to respond and the item showed up this morning. I haven't had a chance to test it with the Xsight 18 yet, but will do so this week.

Is there any reason not to buy the Next Generation RF extender when using the Xsight 18? I know its is ugly but the whole idea of RF is that your not looking at your equipment because it is out of sight. The Nevo is very hard to find and it costs a lot more right? Anyways, I'm really on the fence about buying this remote with all the love or hate reviews it gets. Right now I use my Directv remote which almost gets the job done for controlling my TV, Bluray and AV rec. The only thing it can't do is switch the AV receiver to DVD/BD. It can switch it to all the other modes but I'm out of luck when I watch a movie.

I am currently using a Sony AV-RX4000 which does everything I want it to do. The buttons are starting to get worn, but I have not found anything that can replace it. I noticed Amazon has the AR18 for $54. I was wondering if AR is coming out with new models after the CES show in January and will the AR18 perform the same functions as my Sony? I have a macro set to watch a blu-ray, to turn on the blu-ray player, turn on the Parasound processor and set the input to blu-ray and then set the TV to the correct HDMI input. It also will switch the TV speakers off so the sound operates through the processor. When I am finished watching the movie, I press another macro button, and the remote will lower the processor volume, switch the input back to FM, then power the processor off, stop the blu-ray player, then switch the TV back to the TV input and switch the TV speakers back on. (pretty confusing isn't it?)
The low price on the AR makes me wonder if they are closing it out. Also does the LCD screen show some of the function buttons depending on the device? I have read good reviews on it on Remote Central.
So far on all the remote sites all the information they show is how their units turn equipment on and off with a single button press. Thanks in advance

The macros you've described are no problem for the Xsight, but you may have to teach it a few commands like the discrete speaker toggle for your sony tv. However, it doesn't have variables in case your macros need to know the current state of devices. If you can do all of that today on your sony remote with discretes, then it'll also work on the Xsight.

You choose which devices you want to assign to each key group (channels, vol, transport, menus, etc.), including the LCD, for each activity macro. You have complete control over what commands are in all your macros, unlike harmony.

FWIW, I also do macros similar to yours with my $5 JP1 remote (I've programmed about 30 at last count). But with the advent of HDMI control, I've simplified them a great deal. For example, a simple discrete on to my blu-ray player will in turn power on my tv and switch to the proper input via HDMI.

I have no idea if the Xsight is being discontinued or if new models will be at CES, but I do know since it was introduced in Europe and the US a few years ago, the family of Xsight models has grown from 2 to 6.

Thanks. One of the other questions or issues I have is that I alway have the Sony TV on when I press the macro to watch a DVD or Blu-ray etc. Will this be a problem for the Xsight? Also is the Hello and Goodbye necessary? From what I understand it looks like you have to power on all of your devices before you run any macros, then power them all off with the Goodnight. It would be nice if AR put more sample pics of the screen and expainations on their website.

I don't use Hello or Goodbye either. My activity macros power up only the devices they need and set the inputs and key groups like you said, then Goodnight turns everything off. I use discrete on for my Sony TV in all the macros that use it. If the TV is already on, then the discrete on has no effect of course. Just don't use power toggles in your macros and you won't have any problems.

However, I find I need a pretty big delay (12 seconds) before the my Sony LCD TV will accept commands, like input switching. Xsight can only delay 10 seconds max per step, so I had to spread my 12 second delay across 2 steps. What I do is have 2 discrete input commands in each macro, one near the beginning that acts immediately if my devices are already on, and a duplicate at the end after all my delays in case the tv starts cold.

There are some quirks to the software, so be sure to read through my other posts in this thread related to learning, favorites and arranging functions on the LCD.

You aren't forced to make your macros in any particular way, its up to you.
I've found that its best to make an activity with macros for power on and power off for the specific devices used that can be assigned to soft keys on the LCD display. You can also assign such macros to a hard key like the power button for that activity. Then I have the activity's macro that executes when the activity is selected, just do the hardware input selection codes. This allows for switching between devices temporarily and getting back to the activity without powering on/off devices.

Its all customizable to suit your personal needs in detail, you can go far beyond the examples after you play with the device and learn all the features from practice.

I've been setting up my xsight the last couple days and it's starting to work pretty well. You do have to play with it some to figure out what is logical for your situation.

For example since we mostly watch TV I want the power on function to turn everything on and set inputs for TV watching. We can then hit an activity for movies that switches inputs and then an activity to switch back to TV. Also when in the Power On activity or the TV activity I set the hard power button to be a power toggle for the TV and AV Receiver (non discrete), so it can easily turn off and back on as a normal power switch would. I use the discrete power codes in the activities so if they are pressed a second time they won't turn off any devices. Also when the system is powered off while in the movie activity it returns inputs back to where they should be for TV watching so the next time the system is powered on it's quicker to start up.

I have the harmony PS3 adapter setup to turn on and turn off the PS3. I'll post up the turn off macro later tonight for anyone that needs it. This remote works very well with the PS3 harmony adapter.

Also got the xsight working with a Monoprice 5x1 HDMI switch, works like a charm.

The xsight is so much better then the harmony 1000 I tried to like. I just couldn't give up all the hard buttons. Being able to use the PVR controls without hunting and pecking on a screen is really nice. There are so many buttons on the xsight you can bind them to do just about anything.

Next up is to setup the RF extender.

Redoing the AV setup in my apartment and just ordered this remote and RF extender! Really can't beat the price for touch and RF.

For anyone wondering, I bought the Nevo C3 RF extender, hopefully it works!

I was looking at the AR remotes and doing my research on the web. I read on Remotecentral.com in the forums, that someone wanted to by the RF extender and could not find one, so he called AR (Audiovox). They told him they no longer make the RF extender and are discontinuing their remotes. I decided to call AR myself and talked with a support supervisor and he did verify that they no longer are going to manufactor the remotes. He also told me that he does not know if they are going to have any replacements. He did say they will still offer suport.
Currently Amazon has a good deal on the remotes, but with an internet based programming setup, I would be hesitant to purchase one, especially once the support is gone, so will updating your remote.

Well that pretty much SUCKS!! I was looking into this remote as I want to upgrade a older Harmony remote I currently have!! Looks as if I have even a much more limted choice now

^^the last 2 gents are preaching to the choir... most folks who are enjoying their equipment have read this thread and have heard of the limitations and the available alternate RF extenders.

So in essance would it be worth getting this remote?? TO be honest I am a bit scared of a touch screen as I have kids that are 5 & 7 and sometimes the remote gets tossed on the floor, more than I would like to see it anyhow . I was looking into the Harmony One but there were quite a few reviews that mention the screen is VERY esy to break. I dont need to control to many devivces as I only need 5 but maybe 6 as future goes. I do want PC control/set up as I do like that so the URC is out of the question. I did look into the Harmony 700 but it has no backlit buttons... need that for the wife. Anyhow, I still may get this remote as its at a VERY good price and gets good reviews.

With the kids factored in you should investigate a JP1 remote for them and a H1 for the adults. There is a bit of work and research in setting up the JP1 but the remotes are dirt cheap and if one breaks just get another. You would not need all the commands or configurations loaded into the JP1.

The one and only problem I have with my remote is that there seems to be something iffy about the battery situation. With no rhyme or reason, the unit will go dead spontaneously. It isn't frequent, but it is mildly annoying, and certainly limits the WAF. What is the best practice to resolve this issue? Are the batteries known to be wonky? Is the unit probably defective? Who do I call? Thanks.

I have one of those NGRCE that I use and my Harmony Xbox360 remote just died. This remote looks like a great option for me and is a bonus if I don't have to keep swapping out those miniature rechargeable batteries from the NGRCE. Is there some setup with using the NGRCE or does it just work with the ARRX18G?

It just worked for me. You can play with the slide switch setting on the base unit if needed.

Just got mine in the mail today, and I think it might be DOA. I popped the battery in and it fired up, (the motion detector turned it on), but the screen showed two broad bars across the entire touchscreen, a motley yellow one across the bottom 3/10ths of the screen, and a motley blue one from 4/10
ths to 6/10ths the way up the screen. No change since I fully charged the battery. In the space above that, I can set the time.

Anyone else have and overcome this issue? I think it's going to be an immediate return

Here's a crappy picture of how my screen looks (I haven't figure out how to take close-ups with my camera).

Never mind, you can all rest easy. I popped the battery out, put it back in and all was well. Setting up devices was really easy, except neither preinstalled Roku code worked. Still, not a bad start. I'm not sure I'm up for setting up activities via PC tonight - that may have to wait for tomorrow.

So far, so good - seems like a really nice piece of hardware, and the box it came in was a work of art. Nice glossy user manual too.

what IR to blue tooth adapters work well with the 18G? (this will be used for the PS3)

I found my way to this thread after a recommendation from mdavej. I have been using a Pronto touch screen for years in my media room. I run several simple macros to change inputs on the TV and the receiver. For anyone that has used a Pronto you know it takes a bit of programming but once you are over the learning curve it isn't that bad. I bought a Harmony 900 to replace my Pronto and got it yesterday, it is a big improvement over the Pronto. While you can make a lot of pretty looking screens with the Pronto the lack of hard buttons and the fact that it took two hands to hold and operate was no good.

In a conversation I had with mdavej he brought up the Xsight and I have been doing a bit of looking and reading and you can buy the 18 with RF for dirt cheap, about $25 on eBay. It appears that for another $50 you can buy the RF base so for $75 you can have a nice RF remote....about half the price of the Harmony 900.

That leads me to my quesiton, why aren't people using these remotes instead of the 900. There are 15 pages on this thread compared to about 150 on hte Harmony thread. Is it because they are a bit more difficult to program? Is it because they aren't as mainsteam as the Harmony? Is it something else? How would the Xsight 18 compare to the Harmony 900?

Mike

Not sure because I went the other route. I found an IR adaptor for the PS3 that plugs into one of the front USB ports. You can then use any IR remote that uses Sony DVD codes.

OFA has a bluetooth adapter for ps3

My guess is a lack of brand recognition, and they aren't on sale at BB. Mine works fine, although I wish it had 2 hard power buttons - one for device one for system. The all-on option is an activity on touch screen, which requires an extra press. No biggie. I like the power cradle, but since I don't need RF, the remote is really overkill for me.

Got ARRX18G April 2011 and love it. Last night my battery indicator was red so I put it on the charger. When I get up this morning the remote is DEAD. I've had this happen before but it always comes back after I tried:

pulling the battery in/out several times
putting it in/out the charger several times
plugging in/out to computer usb several times (tray icon running and/or logged into site)


This time nothing works, can't wake it up. Is there anything else I can try before contacting support?



EDIT: Got it working by putting onto charger while usb was connected to computer. Battery is showing red still even after being on the charger all night? When I left it last night it say "CHARGING" on the screen, so seems strange...

The battery may be getting worn out.
I see there are replacement compatible batteries available online from sources like amazon.

It uses a common camera battery. These should work and should cost less then $10

Fuji NP 60
Kodak KLIC-5000

what is OFA?

^^^
One For All, the maker of the Xsight and other UEI (Universal Electronics Inc.) remotes. Acoustic Research and Nevo are only brands.

Vortech, thanks for the battery info!