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Universal Remote Control MX-500 10-Device LCD Viewscreen Remote Control with Joystick Operation |
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| Editorial Reviews: | | |  | | This preprogrammed and learning remote control is designed to simplify your entertainment experience. The brightly backlit LCD view screen actually has 26 individual pages for operating up to 10 audio and/or video components. The component buttons are strategically placed around the LCD view screen and can be renamed, according to the actual components that your audio or video system may include. The MX-500 boasts a built-in preprogrammed database of over 1, 000 audio and video component codes, and is also fully capable of learning your home theater system's audio/video components remote control codes (up to 530 functions). For those households that require more than one remote control, the MX-500 can easily be cloned via infrared from another programmed MX-500. It's that simple! | |
| Custom Reviews: | |
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| Still loving this remote after 4+ years | |
| | I bought an MX-500 over 4 years ago. It has been sat on, chewed on, dropped and accidentally flung to the ground such that it broke apart and little pieces flew out. Fortunately, it's put together so logically that I was able to put the pieces back where they belonged, snap it back together, and it kept on working as well as ever.
This remote has two outstanding features that combine to beat just about any other universal remote I've tried (under $300 anyway.) The first is the LCD section at the top. The buttons in this area can be labeled any way you like, up to five characters each including some basic symbols. The second is that it's a learning remote. You can still enter device codes to get started, but the learning capability combined with the custom LCD button labels takes all the guesswork out of what does what. No more trying to remember that the button with the little symbol on it means "Aspect"! And since each device gets two "pages" of customizable buttons/labels, you'll have plenty of custom buttons to cover every function on all your factory remotes.
The remote is designed to handle 10 devices. I only have 4 or 5 to control, so I used 3 of the "device pages" to create "function-centric" controls. These pages combine the most needed functions from my TV, receiver, DVD player, TiVo and/or HTPC so that I can just watch TV, watch a movie or listen to music - without having to go back to the main device menu and switch to another device. Of course, I still have device-centric control for accessing seldom used functions, but the vast majority of the time, the function-centric device pages I created are adequate (and very convenient!)
This remote has great macro capabilities, too. Each of the device buttons doubles as a macro (just push and hold for a second or two instead of push and quick release.) The system power and system off buttons can be programmed for macros, too, and there's three macro buttons at the very bottom of the remote. You can switch between devices and add delays, too. I have yet to find any commonly used sequence of commands that I couldn't automate with a macro.
This remote is a breeze to use in a darkened environment, too. The LCD screen and all buttons are backlit and the dedicated backlight button sits all by itself so it's easy to find. The backlight seems to use the same sort of technology that was pioneered in the old Timex "Indiglo" watches. It's very easy on the batteries. And speaking of the batteries, that's yet another great thing about this remote. Not only does it go for months between battery changes, but it also has a very good backup system. In 4 years, I've never once lost all my programming.
The 5-way joypad is very responsive. Some remotes with joypads can be unpredictable and frustrating. You thought you pressed down but it gave you right, or you meant to press left but the up button was sent or, most commonly, you press the "Enter" button in the center but it sneaks in a left or an up before sending "Enter". Not on this remote! I always get just what I intended.
Other niceties include a very powerful infrared emitter that works from a surprisingly long way away and a "Favorites" system that gives you several pages of channels. Using the custom LCD button labels, you simply press the "ESPN" button to watch ESPN. Very nice.
Bottom line, this remote is rugged and has a well thought-out design. It's not svelte or sexy but it has the perfect combination of sophistication and ease of use. If mine dies tomorrow, I'll buy another one to replace it. (In fact, I've considered buying one just to have it around as a spare- just in case!)
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| | Great product, once you read the instructions and spend the time programming. After that, will not go back to the four remotes it replaced.
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| | This product did not work as advertised. I have a Bose Lifestyle 48 and this was not able to be programed to control it. My direct tv remote could but this on couldn't because Bose does not use infered and this remote is supposedly an older model that does not have the proper codes. The company wanted me to have someone re-program the remote or find someone to copy from a newer model. Not, I sent it back!
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| Remote gets into an endless test mode loop | |
| | I have used this remote for less than 6 months and it gotten itself into a mode (test) that it can't come out of. I've checked the web and it seems this is a fairly common issue and no one has the answer to resolve it other than sending it back to the manufacturer.
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| | This remote was easy to program, although it was not quick to program. It took a few hours to get it just how I liked it. Also, I programed every key for my three different devices manually. The three quick start multi function keys are very useful. The custom screens with device-specific keys are great.
Also, my little boy stuck the remote in a glass of Mountain Dew. I broke the thing apart, soaked it in alcohol, and scrubbed it down with a tooth brush. When I got it back together it still worked just fine and didn't loose any programming.
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