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Review 1 of 1
Price Paid:
$124.00
from Newegg Summary:
I picked up the MX-600 to replace my Sony AVR-3000 (I realized touch screens and remotes don't go so well together...they just look cool). The MX-600 comes with the MRF-100 base station allowing one to use RF and IR signals (no pointing the remote at the devices to get long macros sent).
The remote:
It's a nice size allowing easy button usage, screen view, and "feel" while using it. The IR transmitter (if you don't use the base station for RF signals) is amazing with great range and spread. If your components are in front of you and within about 60degrees of where you're pointing it, you won't even need the RF base station. Programming is simple, but I did most of it using direct learning from my old remotes to get my buttons just right. I didn't have the patience to sit and check how well the codes covered all the device functions, but more complicated devices will have big gaps in the preset codes (not a big deal, since individual learning is quick). Macros work great, but it'll take some time to get the sequences right since the remote won't visually play them back for error checking. Another challenge is the finite number of buttons this control can place macros on. I think the manufacturer forgot that having a complex system "on" macro won't work for turning it all back off again...you'll need separate on and off macros for each "activity" (dvd watching, tv watching, etc. Also, more macros are needed for switching between activities (tv to dvd, dvd to tv, etc). This is where the challenge comes in. You can change key labels for the main screen, but the same buttons that select devices to control (dvd, amp, tv, sat, cable) double as macro buttons if you hold them down for 1 second. This is where the problem arises. Let's say you program your DVD "on" button to the DVD device button (hold it down to run the macro). You now need a second macro to turn the dvd and other devices off appropriately (the same macro won't do it correctly), but where do you put this dvd "off" macro? You could rename a main menu button to "dvdoff" but then you'd be changing the original label of another device (which you'd use to select that device for individual control). In the end, you'll have to just memorize where you've placed certain macros...you won't be able to label all of them. You can also place macros on the main "on" and "off" buttons but be ware! If you macro those two, you can't use them to turn individual devices on and off because the macros punch through to all devices. In the end, you'll have to be creative to get it working in a way that is intuitive for you...but for $125, this is a great remote with many advanced features. Buttons with screen labels can all be renamed, and Favorite channel buttons can be programmed with...your favorite channels (device commands too like tv on or off, but multi-device or system macros, sorry). Worth mentioning is that higher end models mx-700 for example, can put macros on almost any button and can contain many more commands. This one is limited to the 10 device keys, on and off keys, and 3 dedicated memory keys (m1, m2, and m3) and can only hold 20 commands each. Fortunately, inserted delays and device switches on the remote don't count as commands (only transmitted signals are counted). With all my components, I don't think i ever exceeded 7 commands in a macro.
MRF-100 RF base station:
This is where something is left to be desired. My remote worked beautifully until I set this thing up. While the connections are simple enough with the supplied adhesive pads, the unit is extremely sensitive to surrounding interference. You can't place it near any electronics (within 3 feet of all the devices you're controlling essentially, wifi hubs..anything powered) or it's status light will flicker meaning it's receiving aberrant signals. This translates into remote control commands being missed by the hub and thus your macros get completely out of whack. I did get an improvement by removing the antenna, but then this cuts down range (note: not by much...I live in an apartment and can control everything via RF even without the antenna). Once you get the noisy environment under control and that "status" light doesn't flicker unless you're pushing a remote button, the RF station works quite nicely. It just takes fiddling to get it there.
Overall, it's an improvement to my Sony AVR-3000 which was big, clumbsy, and had a non-tactile touchscreen that required one to look at it to know what buttons were being pressed. While the MX-600 macros are tricky to program initially, you'll get used to it quickly. Strengths:
Great flexibility, feel, customization, and construction. RF and IR control for under $150. Weaknesses:
Macro labels are limited requiring one to memorize where they place some.
RF unit is hypersensitive to surrounding electronics and won't work properly until you either 1) move it away from them or 2) remove the antenna or 3) do both. Similar Products Used:
Sony AVR-3000
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4 of 5
