Universal Remote Control MX-500 10-Device LCD Viewscreen Remote Control with Joystick Operation
by Universal Remote Control, Inc.
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List Price: Our Price: $89.98 You Save: $50.01 (36%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $49.95 (click here) Category: CE See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Universal Remote Control MX-500 10-Device LCD Viewscreen Remote Control with Joystick Operation
Customer Review: A rare product: easy to use, versatile, and inexpensive!
Summary: 5 Stars
After much research, I decided on this remote mostly because of the reviews it received. Here's what I needed to control from it:
- TiVo (most important to me!)
- Primary DVD player (Sony)
- Secondary DVD player (Cyberhome - it decodes PAL ;-)
- Cambridge SoundWorks Surround Sound Receiver/Amp
- Two Sony 400-CD linked jukeboxes
- Marantz receiver
- Comcast Digital Cable box
- JVC TV
- JVC VCR
That's a total of 10 devices! Most programmable or learning remotes capable of independently controlling 10 devices are over $400 or so, and most of them feel terrible in the hand and require touch-screen interaction (something I can't stand - I much prefer tactile buttons!). So, the MX-500 seemed a perfect fit...
...and it was! Rather than bore you with lots of text, here's the "bottom line" summary in bullet point format:
* This remote is a DREAM to set up. If your original remote codes aren't already in its database, the MX can "learn" them in a jiffy. After one hour, all 10 of my remotes had been programmed in. After another hour, I had set up all my multi-function "macro" keys. That was it - just 2 hours!
* It has very good macro support! This is the ability to assign multiple commands to one button, so for example I have the "Power" button turn on all my usual devices, set the receiver to "TV", put the TiVo into its main menu, all with only one button! And if I want to watch a DVD, I just press another macro button and my DVD player starts playing, my TV switches inputs, my surround sound comes on, etc...it's just WONDERFUL!
* The ergonomic design of this remote is second to none. I rarely even look at the buttons now, since my hand instinctively knows where things are. Suck on that, touchscreens!
* During a movie watching in the dark, I can easily see the remote with the backlight switch - very useful.
* The range and power of the IR transmitter is jaw-dropping - it will transmit through blankets and bounce off walls!! It's insane!
* The remote is built like a remote should be built - it feels indestructible! Other remotes of mine feel like they'd break if you shouted at them - not the MX-500!
There's only one single complaint I have with it: to get into the editing screen, you need to hold down two keys for three seconds. Why three? It feels like forever, especially since you need to edit and re-edit when first setting it up. Once you're done programming though, you'll never have to deal with this niggly detail again ;-)
I've already told dozens of my friends about this remote, and those that have seen it in action have already placed orders for it. You will not be disappointed!
Customer Review: Near perfect universal remote
Summary: 5 Stars
I highly recommend the MX-500 for anyone trying to control 4+ devices in a home theater system. You can program it to control almost any device with the built-in codes or use the original remote that came with your equipment to "teach" the MX-500 the necessary codes. I use it to control a Directivo, Zenith TV, Panasonic DVD player, Mitsubishi & GE VCRs, Yamaha CD player and a Sony digital receiver.Customization is very easy, with the ability to edit button labels (on the LCD screen) with the names or types of your equipment, and the ability to program buttons for 50 of your favorite channels (a must if you have satellite or cable service of 150+ channels). The MX-500 also permits macro programming, i.e., the ability to execute multiple commands with one button. For example, the "Power" button can be programmed to power on all your home theater equipment; the "System Off" button can be programmed to turn it all off. Three other macro buttons are provided for other customized, multiple commands.
You can also teach it, like most higher-end remotes, to "push down" certain commands, e.g., the volume buttons can be set to manipulate the volume of your home theater receiver, regardless of which device you are using (DVD, VCR, TV).
The IR range of the remote is excellent: I've changed channels across the room pointing the remote at the wall !! Battery life is also top-notch (it uses 4 AAA batteries) and the user manual is well-written.
The one weakness with this remote is that the "select" button (the black center bezel) is a little awkward to use because it's almost too stiff. I tend to use the joint of my thumb rather than the pad to engage it because otherwise I was inadvertently hitting the up, down, or left/right arrows.
End-user support via discussion forums and dedicated sites like remotecentral is excellent so you can always find an answer to a question you may have that the manual doesn't cover, as well as tips and tricks for using/programming the remote.
If you want absolute customization in a universal remote, then buy the more expensive Philips Pronto (or the costly Pronto Pro) which with available software, permit you to use your PC to edit every aspect of the remote. But if you want near perfect customization at an affordable price, then you can't miss with the MX-500.
Customer Review: Excellent Remote, couldn't be happier!
Summary: 5 Stars
I've had the remote for about 8 months now. It has been by far the best remote i've ever used. It looks really cool, feels great in your hands, and operates nearly perfect. I've bought other crappy, cheap, $30 and under universal remotes and always ended up not even using them and just using 4-5 remotes instead. With the ms-500, I've finally put the remotes away for good. Haven't used any of them since I got the thing fully programed.
There are just a few negative things about the remote, which don't really take away from it:
1. I've noticed that sometimes the volume on the tv mode won't read through fully and will take multiple hits of the button in order for it to work. These are the only buttons that do this for me, it may just be the TV itself.
2. This is really just a minar pet peeve that doesn't really bother me but it should be noted anyway. The numbered buttons (1,2,3 etc.) are located at the bottom of the remote as you can see in the picture. If you're trying to operate them you have to grasp the remote all the way at the bottom which feels awkward. Or you can use two hands.
Many people complain about the middle joystick portion, but I really like this feature.
Bottom line: If your looking for a suitable universal remote for 3+ devices, don't waste your money on a cheap one because you'll probably not use it in the long run and you'll regret the purchase most likely. Go with the mx-500 - you won't be disapointed!
Decided to re-visit my review and see how its aged overtime :)
As I write this it's 2/05 - i've now owned the remote for about 2 years, and it's still going strong and running perfectly! Someone else mentioned that they're a hero around the house for making it so easy to operate all of the devices, and it's the same for me. I'm thought of as some kind of genius for progamming the thing; of course I never argue with that and don't mention that it's overly simple to program it in the first place. ;)
Looking back, I think I should have listed the devices I have the remote synched to, so I'll do that now.
1. HD Television
2. DVD Player
3. Audio Receiver
4. HD Cable Box
5. VCR
6. Camcorder
Customer Review: Best remote I've ever had
Summary: 5 Stars
As a victim of countless remotes I tried in vain to consolidate as much as possible to the "universal" RCA remotes that come with satellite TV or DVD players. Unfortunately this left me with at least 2 remotes on the coffee table. I did some research but because of the hefty price, waited for someone to buy it for me as a gift. Now that I've had it for 2 months I wish I'd bought it for myself a long time ago!I can easily say this is the best universal I've ever had. The preprgrammed codes as well as the learning feature means you're going to have this baby doing everything you want and in as little time as possible. Starting with preprogrammed codes and editing to my liking, it took me about 3 hours to program nearly EVERY BUTTON from my 5 other remotes, including macros. I currently have the remote controlling my TV, VCR, DirecTV satellite with TiVo, audio receiver and 300 disc DVD player with ZERO problems. As you can imagine, each of these remotes has a few dozen buttons and they're all stored in the MX-500. I've even set up a macro to turn the entire system off/on with the touch on ONE button as well as a macro to switch the audio input and turn the DVD player on/off to easily watch movies. To get around the permanent labels for the non-lcd buttons I've used a hand-held labeler and overlayed the new text. Some of the LCD buttons can be a stretch for smaller hands but that is minimzed by the majority of often used buttons being assigned to the "hard" buttons. There's also the issue of re-learning what buttons are where but this is a problem with any new remote. Fortunately, the problem is minimized here by the similar layout to the most common universal remotes packaged with electronics these days.
After two months my wife is still commenting on how great a purchase this thing was. If you have the money and the relatively small amount of patience to program it, it's DEFINITELY worth every penny. It will take some logical thinking and know-how to maximize your benefit but the result is worth it.
Pros: highly customizable, good mix of "hard" and "soft" buttons, pass through function, macros
Cons: price, limited space for lcd labels, permanent labels for "hard" buttons, ergonomics not ideal for smaller hands
Customer Review: Best Remote I have ever owned
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this remote about 7 years ago after reading exhaustive reviews, including mentions of how long the writing on the buttons would last and the range/strength. This thing works under a blanket and from the other room or pointing it in the opposite direction. Quite amazing.
This remote is laid out perfectly for DVR/DVD use- all the play/pause/FF/Rewind buttons encircle the joystick/"d-pad", which is directly in the middle, making it extremely comfortable to use. All the buttons minus a couple are reprogrammable. I even setup my prev ch button to turn on and off my leviton light system.
The buttons still look brand new. There is a special coating on them that prevents the symbols from wearing off. All the buttons still function and do not feel worn when pressing them. Certain buttons which get used thousands of times a week still react as if the remote is new.
Macros are easy to program once you read the manual.
The remote LCD is constantly on but the backlight is activated by a single button on the side and is programmable for the duration. It also allows you to specify and label the function of the corresponding screen buttons, as well as 10 functions on 2 pages for a total of 20 functions.
It takes 4 x AAA batteries that last for about 6 months depending on use and the quality of the batteries. I bought some rechargeable duracells that take about 15 minutes to charge. Don't worry about the programming to disappear when you change the battery.
Some people complain about not having a PC/USB interface programming function. I have tried these on a couple different logitech remotes. It rarely programs the way you want it. With the MX-500 you just set it to learning mode and press the button you want to program, then point the original remote at it and press the button. It takes less than 3 minutes to program a single device for all the keys once you get good at it.
I am surprised that the remote is still available as new but you won't be disappointed if you hate touchscreen remotes that require you to look at the remote every time you want to change things. I never have to look at the remote and can feel the buttons easily in the dark.