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The following page was printed from RemoteCentral.com:
User reviews for the Complete Control MX-350 "Osiris" from Universal Remote Control Inc. |
| Ratings | Reviews | MSRP (USD) |
Average: 4.17/5.00 Median: 4.17/5.00 | 6 | $149 |
The MX-350 upgrades the URC-200 with more versatile RF extender options and different backlighting. You still get control of 10 devices, code learning, a preprogrammed database and macros.
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Written by ScottMcG from Charlotte NC. The reviewer has used this remote control for under 1 month. |
Review 4 made on Wednesday February 6, 2008 at 4:48 PM. |
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Review: | (Note: this is a review of the newer MX-350, not the Osirus. While very similar, there's a notice in the box wit this remote that says it's not compatible with the old one...you can't clone between them)
I bought this remote to replace a Logitech Harmony 688. I wanted something with about the same functionality and ability to customize, but with more user-friendly buttons.
I don't have a real complicated setup: Toshiba 50" plasma, JVC surround receiver, a DirecTV HR20 DVR, and an old-skool Xbox running Xbox Media Center. As such, I don't need a lot of features or showy touch screen. I just needed an easy-to-use remote that would deal with the gear I have now and maybe expand later. This one seemed to be the best match for my needs.
After suffering with the Harmony 688 for a couple of years, I decided I just couldn't deal with it anymore. The buttons are small, the text on many of them had worn off, it was slow when running macros, and honestly, the programming via USB was a serious pain in the butt. I got it doing what I wanted, but it took a lot of time and trouble. It would also periodically lose its programming, which meant I had to plug it back in to a PC and reload the software. Yuck.
The main draw for me with the URC remotes was the nice buttons. Instead of the soft, rubbery plastic found on most remotes, it's a harder plastic with a shiny smooth finish. The buttons feel good when pressed, and you don't need to look at the remote to figure out where they are. That's nice. the remote itself has a nice feel - it's kind of big, but it's weighted well and doesn't feel awkward.
I wasn't sure about the effort required to program it, but the whole process took about an hour. That's for getting the devices picked, macros set up, soft button labels edited, and everything tested. The same process with the Harmony took well over 4 hours. The code database is very extensive, and I didn't need to use the learning function. I fully expected to, but it wasn't necessary. The only thing that was a little weird was that I had to use a code from the sat box list instead of the DVR list for my HR20. There's a list of DirecTV DVR codes listed, but they're all for the Tivos. There's a code for the Xbox, which worked on the first try. It took a little while to find the right codes for my receiver and TV, since all of them for each brand turned the devices on and off. I had to save and then test for other functionality before I found the right one.
Setting up macros and editing the labels for the soft keys was also dead easy.
There's a ton of stuff I haven't used with this remote, like the favorites or learning. That's just fine with me - I just wanted to get the functions I wanted with minimal hassle. Mission accomplished.
When I started using this remote, the first thing I noticed was how much faster it is than the Harmony 688. Switching components on the 688 took 3-5 seconds, and it's less than a second with this MX-350. It also seems that the IR emitters are more powerful. I can point this one in any direction in full daylight and still get results. That's really a nice bonus.
There are a small number of gripes though - I guess nothing's perfect.
First: why isn't there a hard button for Record? Isn't that a common-enough function to deserve a button? It's just stupid that URC didn't include that one.
Next, the text on the buttons isn't very legible. The font is small (out of necessity - there's not a lot of room for text there) and the reflective button surface makes it even harder to read them. The backlight helps, but not a lot.
Overall, I think this is an excellent remote for an enthusiast or somebody with a smaller collection of components. It's possible that a serious power user or customizer who works with these a lot would prefer PC programmability. All I was looking for was set-and-forget setup and complete control of my components. I got that, and without the hassle I went through with the Harmony. |
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