JohnnyCanuck
2008-01-12, 07:29 PM
Background
I recently purchased an MX-810 (http://www.universalremote.com/product_detail.php?model=128) from Universal Remote Control (URC). The MX-810 is part of the Custom Control line that URC markets primarily to Custom Installers, but all the remotes in this line may also be purchased from authorized resellers.
First, a warning about purchasing any URC Custom Control remote. Only authorized dealers/resellers have access to the latest version of the editing software. Any URC Custom Control remote with a serial number can be registered on URC's website and a version of the editing software can be downloaded. However, the version on the website is not the same as the version available from an authorized dealer/reseller. URC deliberately removes the “live update” feature and only periodically updates the web version. This was a deliberate marketing decision to support their retail channel/dealership base and counter grey market resale of their products. If you purchase from an authorized reseller or dealer, they will provide a website address, user id, and password that allows you to download the latest version of the editing software which includes the “live update” feature.
It should also be noted that URC does not consider this a consumer remote. They consider it an option for Custom Installers who are either less comfortable with their MX-Editor platform used across the rest of their product line or who are looking for a simpler product to sell their customers. End consumers are not the target market for URC with this product, but this is the third URC remote I have purchased as a consumer and while each has a learning curve, they are certainly within in the scope of most people to master the programming and use. That said, while you might get to the same end result as a Custom Installer using MX-Editor, lack of familiarity may lead you to be less efficient in getting there, and there may be tricks and shortcuts that improve the usability of these remotes that you might not discover.
One of the goals of this remote was to introduce a new programming platform called “ProWizard” that works similar to the way a Harmony is programmed and leaves less to acquired know-how and more to your personal taste.
Logitech has carved out a very strong market for its Harmony line of remotes. However, if you're looking for a remote that is more robust, more powerful, with better build quality and ergonomics, the options are limited and expensive. There are excellent products from RTI (Theatertouch), Philips (Pronto), and UEI (Nevo), but these are expensive solutions. One company that has filled the gap nicely over the years has been URC. While some of their products are very upscale such as the MX-950, MX-3000, and newly introduced MX-980, over the years they have offered more economical PC-programmable remotes that pack significant power and flexibility into very strong ergonomic packages.
If you're looking for a remote that has a better build quality, better ergonomics, more flexibility and customizability than a Harmony, I would suggest a good look at two URC remotes, the MX-900 and the MX-810. I have had an MC-900 for a couple of years and it is a fantastic remote. However, the quest for something with a greater “cool” factor and one that would be more intuitive for others who may have occasion to pick up the remote led me to purchase the MX-810.
By intuitive, I am referring to the ability for a guest or family member to simply pick up the remote and start using it. While the 900 did everything I wanted it to, it was intuitive only to me in that a great of deal of what it did was accomplished through “press and hold” macros. For example, on the main “Watch” screen, pressing the button beside the label “HD DVD” would simply switch the remote to control my HD DVD player, while pressing and holding the same button for two (2) seconds would activate a macro that would switch the inputs on my TV and AVR. In this sense, Harmony was always a very strong platform, dating back to its pre-Logitech roots. Activity based with its “state” memory always made a Harmony intuitive.
The MX-810 is the first URC remote to use “Activities” and “Devices” instead of “Main”, or “Watch” and “Listen”. It is also the first I have come across that uses “state” memory to remember whether the TV is on the HDMI or Component 1 input. Advanced programmers could accomplish similar things using variables on an MX-950 or 980, but that's not the same as having a built-in state recall for the end user that they don't have to worry about programming.
The Remote:
The build quality on all URC remotes is excellent. There is a definite heft, fit, and finish to a URC product that just isn't there on a Harmony. While the MX-810 is lighter than the MX-900 or the discontinued MX-700 I used a few years ago, part of that is the included Li-Ion battery instead of using “AA” or "AAA" batteries.
The buttons are nice and big (my biggest criticism of Harmony remotes is the tiny little number buttons (or in the case of the 880/890 buttons that all run together so you can't tell whether you're pressing '8' or '5' simply by feel)). They are well separated. With very little time it becomes second nature to locate buttons by feel.
The buttons are all backlit in blue, with two exceptions: the REC and Power Off buttons are backlit in red for a nice effect. The LCD colour display looks fantastic with good contrast and detail.
The remote has a pickup sensor so that the backlighting activates with movement and you can vary the amount of time that the LCD and the buttons stay backlit separately (eg. 10 seconds for the buttons and 20 for the LCD).
The remote charges through an included AC Adapter that plugs into the remote. It does not use a charging cradle, but has a power jack hidden on the bottom edge of the remote.
The Software:
For someone coming from MX-Editor, the ProWizard software did take some getting use to. I am not completely sure what the learning curve would be coming from a Harmony, or from no PC editing experience, but I suspect you would have an easier time than someone used to MX-Editor.
That said, there doesn't appear to be much that could be done with MX-Editor and an MX-900 that can't be done with the MX-810 through ProWizard. The exception is that the MX-810 does not support press and hold macros, however, I was using those primarily to create usability that the “Activities” and “Devices” approach more naturally fits. Many MX-900 users took the approach of making “Listen” act like “Devices” and “Watch” act like “Activities”. Others took the approach I did of using press and hold macros to distinguish between device or activity.
You start by adding your devices and naming them. You then designate the type of device:
http://lh5.google.com/mvizsolyi/R4lWP7B0MKI/AAAAAAAAAnc/Vo5301XT3Ok/s800/ProWizard%202.jpg
You then go through a series of dialog boxes that actually load the specific models from ProWizard's database (eg. PVR = Motorola DCT6412).
Once done, you're ready to set up your activities:
http://lh5.google.com/mvizsolyi/R4lVd7B0MCI/AAAAAAAAAmc/6U_xmW_hXP4/s800/ProWizard%203.jpg
After that, you can customize button placement, etc and can also change themes.
There is also a “universal browser” that allows you to import commands from another URC device file, a Pronto .ccf file, or simply from Pronto compatible hex. If you have a remote that is not the database, you can add it by using a downloaded file (either in URC or Pronto format), from the hex code, and of course it can be learned from the original remote.
Lastly, it is also possible to create your own backgrounds, icons, and themes. I did the work below in a couple of hours (on my first time through) using a couple of cell phone wallpapers and Paint.NET as my software app. The PS3, Xbox 360, HD DVD, and MediaPortal icons are ones I created. The same with the red translucent buttons.
http://lh6.google.com/mvizsolyi/R4kXnLB0L_I/AAAAAAAAAls/j-MC7weg-dM/s288/MX810-1.jpg
That all said, I have run across a couple of bugs. Sometimes, the remote needs to be unplugged and plugged back into the USB connector for the configuration to load properly onto the remote. As well, sometimes it freezes when downloading to the remote and I need to pull the battery, reset the remote to factory, and then plug it back in to successfully download the configuration to the remote. Not sure if it's a Vista issue or whether it would affect XP users as well.
In addition, the software is not necessarily intuitive on everything. Changing elements within a device or activity are done from the Tune Up screen (which gives you the capability to copy commands from one device to another, rearrange or rename functions, edit the macros that change inputs and power up/down devices/system), yet to change the label for a device or activity itself, that has to be done from the Universal Browser.
The software would also be helped by allowing the Universal Browser to access the IR database. One of the most handy features of MX-Editor is the ability to directly access the IR database (and individual commands).
One other annoying bug. The remote has a favourite channels function. As below, I have programmed four pages of favourite “cable channels”, but for whatever reason (either a firmware or a software bug that URC will need to fix), the remote itself only shows the first two pages and I can't get at the other two.
http://lh5.google.com/mvizsolyi/R4lVg7B0MJI/AAAAAAAAAnU/8H-XgiRFHn8/s800/ProWizard%2010.jpg
By the way, some channel icons were pre-loaded in the software, others I did myself. Really easy to do.
Useability:
Once configured, the remote is very easy to use. Anyone familiar with a Harmony would find it quite similar. Press the “Watch HDTV” activity and my TV and AVR switch to the right input and the remote switches to the PVR activity screen for all the buttons and functions. If I then switch to “Watch HD DVD”, the remote knows that the TV input stays on HDMI and only the AVR needs to be switched. If I turn it off, it knows what devices to turn off and goes back to the main activity. I can then pick it up and simply pres “Watch HDTV” and it will know what devices to turn on and then what inputs to set.
I created a special device that has all my TV aspect controls and AVR sound settings (eg. Dolby Digital) as one combined device. When I hit “Devices” from within an activity, it actually goes to the last device used and since it's usually my sound/picture control that is only one button press away. Once finished, press “Activities” and I'm back to the activity I was in.
The remote has a button press beep that you can turn off, or adjust the volume on. The buttons require a firm (not hard) press, and I tend to prefer that.
Final Thoughts:
If you're looking for a remote that has a bit more to it than what Harmony currently offers, I would strongly suggest looking at either the URC MX-900 or this model, the MX-810. Between the two, the 900 is more powerful, but lacks the “cool” factor of the 810's colour display, doesn't have a dedicated record button, and uses a programming interface that, while more robust and more exact, might not be as easy for a first time URC user to program.
Bugs aside, which in my experience URC has a good record of addressing through software/firmware updates, I think a lot of this remote. I've always disliked the the build quality and ergonomics of current generation Harmony remotes, issues that the MX-810 absolutely addresses.
I also like that URC's software is not web dependent. Programming is not done through a web interface and the IR database is locally stored on your computer. URC has said that they will be introducing a website for users to share graphics and templates that would also allow you to store your configuration for backup purposes, but it is not live yet (at least not for end users, not sure about Custom Installers).
On the other hand, Logitech provides first class technical support for Harmony remotes. I have not had to use URC's tech support so I can't compare the two.
Lastly, a word about pricing. As I mentioned at the top, I would be reticent to purchase this product on Ebay or from an internet retailer who was not listed as an authorized reseller by URC. The MX-810 lists for $399 US. URC has a Minimum Advertised Pricing policy so authorized dealers will not list the remote for less. However, most authorized resellers offer special pricing on URC remotes substantially lower than $399 and will provide the lower pricing to you via e-mail. Current street (or “special”) pricing on the MX-810 is around $249 US. A list of URC authorized online resellers can be found here (http://www.universalremote.com/pro/online_dealers.php). There is a Canadian distributor as well listed on URC's website.
I recently purchased an MX-810 (http://www.universalremote.com/product_detail.php?model=128) from Universal Remote Control (URC). The MX-810 is part of the Custom Control line that URC markets primarily to Custom Installers, but all the remotes in this line may also be purchased from authorized resellers.
First, a warning about purchasing any URC Custom Control remote. Only authorized dealers/resellers have access to the latest version of the editing software. Any URC Custom Control remote with a serial number can be registered on URC's website and a version of the editing software can be downloaded. However, the version on the website is not the same as the version available from an authorized dealer/reseller. URC deliberately removes the “live update” feature and only periodically updates the web version. This was a deliberate marketing decision to support their retail channel/dealership base and counter grey market resale of their products. If you purchase from an authorized reseller or dealer, they will provide a website address, user id, and password that allows you to download the latest version of the editing software which includes the “live update” feature.
It should also be noted that URC does not consider this a consumer remote. They consider it an option for Custom Installers who are either less comfortable with their MX-Editor platform used across the rest of their product line or who are looking for a simpler product to sell their customers. End consumers are not the target market for URC with this product, but this is the third URC remote I have purchased as a consumer and while each has a learning curve, they are certainly within in the scope of most people to master the programming and use. That said, while you might get to the same end result as a Custom Installer using MX-Editor, lack of familiarity may lead you to be less efficient in getting there, and there may be tricks and shortcuts that improve the usability of these remotes that you might not discover.
One of the goals of this remote was to introduce a new programming platform called “ProWizard” that works similar to the way a Harmony is programmed and leaves less to acquired know-how and more to your personal taste.
Logitech has carved out a very strong market for its Harmony line of remotes. However, if you're looking for a remote that is more robust, more powerful, with better build quality and ergonomics, the options are limited and expensive. There are excellent products from RTI (Theatertouch), Philips (Pronto), and UEI (Nevo), but these are expensive solutions. One company that has filled the gap nicely over the years has been URC. While some of their products are very upscale such as the MX-950, MX-3000, and newly introduced MX-980, over the years they have offered more economical PC-programmable remotes that pack significant power and flexibility into very strong ergonomic packages.
If you're looking for a remote that has a better build quality, better ergonomics, more flexibility and customizability than a Harmony, I would suggest a good look at two URC remotes, the MX-900 and the MX-810. I have had an MC-900 for a couple of years and it is a fantastic remote. However, the quest for something with a greater “cool” factor and one that would be more intuitive for others who may have occasion to pick up the remote led me to purchase the MX-810.
By intuitive, I am referring to the ability for a guest or family member to simply pick up the remote and start using it. While the 900 did everything I wanted it to, it was intuitive only to me in that a great of deal of what it did was accomplished through “press and hold” macros. For example, on the main “Watch” screen, pressing the button beside the label “HD DVD” would simply switch the remote to control my HD DVD player, while pressing and holding the same button for two (2) seconds would activate a macro that would switch the inputs on my TV and AVR. In this sense, Harmony was always a very strong platform, dating back to its pre-Logitech roots. Activity based with its “state” memory always made a Harmony intuitive.
The MX-810 is the first URC remote to use “Activities” and “Devices” instead of “Main”, or “Watch” and “Listen”. It is also the first I have come across that uses “state” memory to remember whether the TV is on the HDMI or Component 1 input. Advanced programmers could accomplish similar things using variables on an MX-950 or 980, but that's not the same as having a built-in state recall for the end user that they don't have to worry about programming.
The Remote:
The build quality on all URC remotes is excellent. There is a definite heft, fit, and finish to a URC product that just isn't there on a Harmony. While the MX-810 is lighter than the MX-900 or the discontinued MX-700 I used a few years ago, part of that is the included Li-Ion battery instead of using “AA” or "AAA" batteries.
The buttons are nice and big (my biggest criticism of Harmony remotes is the tiny little number buttons (or in the case of the 880/890 buttons that all run together so you can't tell whether you're pressing '8' or '5' simply by feel)). They are well separated. With very little time it becomes second nature to locate buttons by feel.
The buttons are all backlit in blue, with two exceptions: the REC and Power Off buttons are backlit in red for a nice effect. The LCD colour display looks fantastic with good contrast and detail.
The remote has a pickup sensor so that the backlighting activates with movement and you can vary the amount of time that the LCD and the buttons stay backlit separately (eg. 10 seconds for the buttons and 20 for the LCD).
The remote charges through an included AC Adapter that plugs into the remote. It does not use a charging cradle, but has a power jack hidden on the bottom edge of the remote.
The Software:
For someone coming from MX-Editor, the ProWizard software did take some getting use to. I am not completely sure what the learning curve would be coming from a Harmony, or from no PC editing experience, but I suspect you would have an easier time than someone used to MX-Editor.
That said, there doesn't appear to be much that could be done with MX-Editor and an MX-900 that can't be done with the MX-810 through ProWizard. The exception is that the MX-810 does not support press and hold macros, however, I was using those primarily to create usability that the “Activities” and “Devices” approach more naturally fits. Many MX-900 users took the approach of making “Listen” act like “Devices” and “Watch” act like “Activities”. Others took the approach I did of using press and hold macros to distinguish between device or activity.
You start by adding your devices and naming them. You then designate the type of device:
http://lh5.google.com/mvizsolyi/R4lWP7B0MKI/AAAAAAAAAnc/Vo5301XT3Ok/s800/ProWizard%202.jpg
You then go through a series of dialog boxes that actually load the specific models from ProWizard's database (eg. PVR = Motorola DCT6412).
Once done, you're ready to set up your activities:
http://lh5.google.com/mvizsolyi/R4lVd7B0MCI/AAAAAAAAAmc/6U_xmW_hXP4/s800/ProWizard%203.jpg
After that, you can customize button placement, etc and can also change themes.
There is also a “universal browser” that allows you to import commands from another URC device file, a Pronto .ccf file, or simply from Pronto compatible hex. If you have a remote that is not the database, you can add it by using a downloaded file (either in URC or Pronto format), from the hex code, and of course it can be learned from the original remote.
Lastly, it is also possible to create your own backgrounds, icons, and themes. I did the work below in a couple of hours (on my first time through) using a couple of cell phone wallpapers and Paint.NET as my software app. The PS3, Xbox 360, HD DVD, and MediaPortal icons are ones I created. The same with the red translucent buttons.
http://lh6.google.com/mvizsolyi/R4kXnLB0L_I/AAAAAAAAAls/j-MC7weg-dM/s288/MX810-1.jpg
That all said, I have run across a couple of bugs. Sometimes, the remote needs to be unplugged and plugged back into the USB connector for the configuration to load properly onto the remote. As well, sometimes it freezes when downloading to the remote and I need to pull the battery, reset the remote to factory, and then plug it back in to successfully download the configuration to the remote. Not sure if it's a Vista issue or whether it would affect XP users as well.
In addition, the software is not necessarily intuitive on everything. Changing elements within a device or activity are done from the Tune Up screen (which gives you the capability to copy commands from one device to another, rearrange or rename functions, edit the macros that change inputs and power up/down devices/system), yet to change the label for a device or activity itself, that has to be done from the Universal Browser.
The software would also be helped by allowing the Universal Browser to access the IR database. One of the most handy features of MX-Editor is the ability to directly access the IR database (and individual commands).
One other annoying bug. The remote has a favourite channels function. As below, I have programmed four pages of favourite “cable channels”, but for whatever reason (either a firmware or a software bug that URC will need to fix), the remote itself only shows the first two pages and I can't get at the other two.
http://lh5.google.com/mvizsolyi/R4lVg7B0MJI/AAAAAAAAAnU/8H-XgiRFHn8/s800/ProWizard%2010.jpg
By the way, some channel icons were pre-loaded in the software, others I did myself. Really easy to do.
Useability:
Once configured, the remote is very easy to use. Anyone familiar with a Harmony would find it quite similar. Press the “Watch HDTV” activity and my TV and AVR switch to the right input and the remote switches to the PVR activity screen for all the buttons and functions. If I then switch to “Watch HD DVD”, the remote knows that the TV input stays on HDMI and only the AVR needs to be switched. If I turn it off, it knows what devices to turn off and goes back to the main activity. I can then pick it up and simply pres “Watch HDTV” and it will know what devices to turn on and then what inputs to set.
I created a special device that has all my TV aspect controls and AVR sound settings (eg. Dolby Digital) as one combined device. When I hit “Devices” from within an activity, it actually goes to the last device used and since it's usually my sound/picture control that is only one button press away. Once finished, press “Activities” and I'm back to the activity I was in.
The remote has a button press beep that you can turn off, or adjust the volume on. The buttons require a firm (not hard) press, and I tend to prefer that.
Final Thoughts:
If you're looking for a remote that has a bit more to it than what Harmony currently offers, I would strongly suggest looking at either the URC MX-900 or this model, the MX-810. Between the two, the 900 is more powerful, but lacks the “cool” factor of the 810's colour display, doesn't have a dedicated record button, and uses a programming interface that, while more robust and more exact, might not be as easy for a first time URC user to program.
Bugs aside, which in my experience URC has a good record of addressing through software/firmware updates, I think a lot of this remote. I've always disliked the the build quality and ergonomics of current generation Harmony remotes, issues that the MX-810 absolutely addresses.
I also like that URC's software is not web dependent. Programming is not done through a web interface and the IR database is locally stored on your computer. URC has said that they will be introducing a website for users to share graphics and templates that would also allow you to store your configuration for backup purposes, but it is not live yet (at least not for end users, not sure about Custom Installers).
On the other hand, Logitech provides first class technical support for Harmony remotes. I have not had to use URC's tech support so I can't compare the two.
Lastly, a word about pricing. As I mentioned at the top, I would be reticent to purchase this product on Ebay or from an internet retailer who was not listed as an authorized reseller by URC. The MX-810 lists for $399 US. URC has a Minimum Advertised Pricing policy so authorized dealers will not list the remote for less. However, most authorized resellers offer special pricing on URC remotes substantially lower than $399 and will provide the lower pricing to you via e-mail. Current street (or “special”) pricing on the MX-810 is around $249 US. A list of URC authorized online resellers can be found here (http://www.universalremote.com/pro/online_dealers.php). There is a Canadian distributor as well listed on URC's website.