MX3000
Overview
In a unique synthesis of hardware and software engineering, Universal Remote Control has revolutionized the standards of custom installers for color touch screen automation. The Complete Control™ MX-3000 offers some superficial similarities to previous touch screen offerings. However, in this review of the hardware and software specifications, it should be clear that the power of this new design offers custom installers and end users long needed relief in a number of key areas.

The twin goals of the design team were to improve the elegance and usability of touch screens through the physical design while streamlining the programming process to REDUCE THE TIME required to install a touch screen.

Ergonomic Principles
Touch screens for automating and controlling home theaters have been an important tool in the arsenal of custom installers for years. The usefulness of the touch screen lies in the installer's power to control the user interface and customize it to the client's needs specifically. To end users, the success of touch screens in the high-end home theater market has been a double edged sword. On the one hand, a touch screen offers understandable controls, powerful automation and a delightful aesthetic alternative to the clutter of conventional remote controls on the coffee table. On the other hand, touch screen users have traditionally suffered from ergonomic challenges that conventional remote controls do not.

Easy Operation
By assigning the important home theater operational buttons to the natural resting place of the end users thumbs, the MX-3000 achieves a new standard in use and comfort.

Physical Ergonomics
For an end user who surfs or loves to make fine adjustments to the home theater, the touch screen is constantly in their hands. The MX-3000 has a number of refinements to keep it comfortably in their hands. The most important is the use of advanced technology and materials to make the touch screen as light in weight as possible. Through the use of lithium ion battery technology and other innovations, the weight of the touch screen has been reduced to less than 11 ounces.

Automatic Backlighting
The integral motion sensor detects any movement of the touch screen and automatically backlights the screen. The user does not have to press any button to display the screen. Any movement of the MX-3000 renews the backlighting. Without movement, the touch screen stays lit for 1 to 99 seconds (programmed by the installer). The backlighting is extremely effective, even under direct sunlight. Utilizing the latest CCFL (Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp) technology, the screen is vividly illuminated in a dark room and perfectly readable outdoors.

Animated in 65,535 Colours
Powered by a 206MHz RISC microprocessor, the MX-3000 offers installers the first touch screen designed for animation. The powerful central processor enables quick, fluid page transitions and animated macros that entertain the client as your programmed automation goes to work configuring their system for them. The 3.5" screen offers a 320x240 pixel window to any graphic you as the installer care to provide. You can place BMP's, JPEG's, PNG's, GIF's or animated GIF's on any button.

The World of Sound
Equipped with a speaker and any PC recording, you can add talking help buttons (recorded on any PC with a microphone) or music to your macros via any WAV file.

Long Macros via Reliable, Robust RF/IR Repeating Add-On
Traditional touch screens generate their automation via macros of IR commands. During a long macro, the user must hold the remote steady and pointed at the equipment to ensure that all commands are received by the components. The MX-3000 includes remarkable new RF technology that provides seamless communication between the remote and the components via RF. As a result, the end user no longer needs to point the remote during a long macro. Once the button is pressed, the MX-3000 transmits the macro to the MRF-250 RF/MRF-300 RF Base Station (sold separately), which repeats the commands flawlessly regardless of whether the remote is even in the customers hands.

The MRF-250/MRF-300 RF Base Station receives RF signals from the MX-3000 and transmits commands to all components in the space (cabinet or room) either through the MRF-250 Base/MRF-300 RF Station's Front IR Blaster or the six plug-in flashers.
The MX-3000 and MRF-250/MRF-300 RF Base Station consistently achieves a range of 75 to 100 feet without any interference, even in hostile RF environments with multiple satellite receivers, computers or PVR's (all these components generate significant interference to RF remote control). The combination of troubleshooting LED's and the easy repositioning of the base station and its antenna leads to easy, trouble free installation in the most active environments.

Eliminate Plasma TV Interference Without Expensive "Plasma-Proof" IR Sensors
Because the MX-3000 can issue both line-of-sight IR and omnidirectional RF, plasma television sets can be controlled directly via IR, while out of sight A/V components are controlled via RF without the need for any IR repeater installation. Whether equipment is behind closed doors, inside cabinets, in other rooms of the house or even outdoors, the MX-3000 will send the necessary commands without pointing the remote controller at any A/V components.

Utilize Identical TV's or Other Components Without External "Black Box Routers"
A single MRF-250 RF/MRF-300 RF Base Station can route the IR commands of up to six identical components. In houses with identical TVs or Satellite receivers spread around the house, you can install additional MRF-250 RF/MRF-300 RF Base Stations. Each MRF-250/MRF-300 RF is assigned one of 15 unique ID Numbers allowing up to 15 equipment locations in a single installation. Each MRF-250/MRF-300 RF Base Station can be controlled from any MX-3000. A system can be comprised of any number of MX-3000's, MRF- 250's/MRF-300's . If desired, each MRF-250/MRF-300 RF Base Station can have a dedicated MX-3000 programmed only for the components in that room. For instance, a single MX-3000 may be used to control three different locations, or each location can have its own MX-3000.

Software Designed for the Professional Installer
Home Theater Master created new standards with the introduction of the MX-700 and MX-800 Editor programs for the combination LCD/Hard Button IR/RF remote controls. For the first time, the custom installation professional has software designed to speed programming and installation. Around the world, the MX series of hybrid LCD remotes has found huge success because of the professional orientation of the software. Touch Screens introduce many complications for the professional installer. Yes, now you can label any button with any length label, but now you have the added chore of selecting, arranging and aligning all of the graphical buttons of the user interface. In some installations, the artistic part of the programming can take days with other touchscreen programming packages.

The MX-3000 Editor enhances the reputation earned by the MX-700 and MX-800 software. In every operation, the design team found ways to speed the process of programming a touch screen for a professional installation. Rather than forcing installers to create their own graphics and buttons, Home Theater Master GUI designer, Dale Crawford (renowned for his EasyTheater template for touch screens) unleashed a torrent of creativity, producing hundreds of icons and new button designs, organized into templates and themes that can be instantly swapped into place by the installer.

MX-3000 Editor allows you to create your own designs as well, but with an added twist. You can save your designs as templates or themes and reuse them over and over again, without the labor of programming each button individually. The end result is a totally customizable production environment for professional installers.

Quick and Easy Understanding of Uploaded Configurations
The age old problem. One installer is asked to fix the problems of another installer. With MX-3000 Editor, understanding the programming of another installer is effortless. Simply upload the file from the remote, and examine it in Simulator View. Each button is flagged with a symbol identifying whether it is programmed with a Macro, a pre-programmed code, a learned code, an alias or a punch through. By browsing through the pages of the configuration, you quickly identify the change you need to make since every button is instantly identifiable without clicking or double clicking.

Powerful Macros With Sounds, Text Changes, Multiple Page Jumps, Variables, Press Times, Delays and IR Commands
The MX-3000 supports unprecedented macro flexibility and power. Utilizing a spreadsheet style of action list, the installer can program macros with much more flexibility than any past touch screen program. Each row in the spreadsheet represents a macro step, but the installer can now program several functions to occur at the same time. Thus a command can be issued, a sound played, a message displayed on the button and a variable can be set all at once.

IR Code Editing
Extensive editing of learned and database codes is possible. Now, projectors that require a sustained burst of 4 to 5 seconds can be automated, since the software enables you to edit the time the code is sent during a macro. Carrier frequency, single code repeats and labels can be saved.

Use Variables For Personalization of Macros
Macros can set up to 255 custom variables. By creating variables for each of your users, you can program macros that perform different steps for different users. Advanced programmers may utilize variables for their own purposes, creating dynamic interfaces for clients that shift with activity or purpose.

Import CCF and other Tools For Professional Installers
During programming, you can call on a number of powerful tools to ease the process. Import ccf configurations, open galleries of button art or pre-recorded sounds. An emulator of the remote control itself enables you to quickly check navigation and button art in use. Timers and clocks can be added to any button for display or automation.

Unprecedented Control of Text, Graphics and Animation
With the MX-3000, you can instantly set the parameters of any buttons text and graphics. You can select fonts, styles, and colors for your text and align multiple lines of text on one button if you like. Button art can be automatically inverted after a press or swapped out for an alternate image. Animated GIF files can be looped or run once at your discretion.

MX 900
A Control for any System
The Genesis achieves a magnificent combination of power and flexibility, simplifying and automating operation of even the most complex system via it’s virtually unlimited memory. Up to 40 devices can be created with up to 40 pages per device. This allows custom interfaces to be created for every room and every user, complete with automated favorite channels and stations.

Ergonomics and Customization
The Genesis is equipped with a bright easy to read LCD screen. The screen labels the six hard buttons (easy to find by feel) positioned on the right hand side of the screen.
Selecting a New “Activity”

The Genesis’ WATCH and LISTEN buttons display the activities you can control with your Genesis. When you want to watch something else (a DVD movie, a videotape or a HDTV broadcast), simply press the WATCH button and select the new activity. When you want to listen to the radio or to a CD, touch the LISTEN button and select what you would like to listen to.

Optional RF “No Rules” Operation
In combination with a Complete Control RF Base Station, the Genesis can control your system without being in line-of-sight of the equipment. Either the MRF-300 or the MRF-250 RF base station is compatible with the Genesis. Both incorporate RF addressing. RF Addressing gives you the ability to control equipment locations throughout your home, even if they are concealed in other rooms or are behind closed doors.

MX 850
No More Pointing - RF Capabilites
Radio Frequency (RF) operation provides up to 100' range though walls, floors and doors, indoors or outdoors. Self-adhesive "emitters" affix to the infrared sensors on the front panels of your components. The emitters relay IR commands to components out of sight to the MRF-250's/MRF-300's RF base station front blaster. The emitters plug in to the MRF-250's/MRF-300's RF base station rear flasher line outputs via their 10 foot cables. Six flashers with visual feedback are included with each MRF-250/MRF-300 RF base station.

RF Addressing Offers Up To 15 Equipment Locations
The MX-850 can be programmed to operate equipment placed throughout the house, by installing an MRF-250 or MRF-300 RF base station at each location. In operation it's simple: when you select a device located in the home theater, the MX-850 talks to the RF Base station (either MRF-250 or MRF-300) in the home theater. This makes possible a dream come true! A macro may be programmed to turn off all of the TVs in the entire house with one touch. Simply install an additional MRF-250 or MRF-300 at each TV location.

RF Routing Allows For Control Over An Array Of Identical Components
The MRF-250 and MRF-300 RF Base stations enable your installation to control up to six identical TVs or other identical components (VCRs, CD players, etc.) by routing your commands only to the device you select on your MX-850. The other identical TVs will not receive commands. This allows you to have independent control of identical devices. Very useful with devices such as cable boxes, those usually are the same make and model throughout the house.

Controls Up To 20 Components
The MX-850 controls up to 20 components. Each of the 20 components can be programmed with up to 4 pages of LCD screens, plus the 33 hard buttons. The MX-850 allows you to edit the text on each LCD screen exactly as you prefer (up to 26 screens with 10 buttons per screen, for a total of 260 available text buttons and up to 5 characters per button)

Easy To Program
A custom installer can use the MX-850 Editor system software to quickly design a remote control program to meet their exact needs in minutes. The programming package also offers the Programming Wizard to lead the first time programmer step by step through the customization process.

Windows Based PC Software
The MX Editor software contains over 1,500 "code sets" of Brands/Models, including hard to find and specific discrete codes that allow for precise control of all system components. MX Editor software also has the ability to learn new commands and Live Update the IR database over the internet, guaranteeing compatibility with any component you may add to your system in the future. MX Editor can be used on a Mac if the user has a Windows 98, XP emulator, or ME, 2000.

Extensive Macro Programming
The powerful memory of the MX-850 offers up to 912 potential macro buttons. Each of these macros can play back recorded sequences of commands that completely automate a complex system with one touch. A macro can record and play back up to 190 steps with time delays between steps when desired. For example: a single touch to the ON button could turn on the TV, the surround sound system, and the satellite receiver, then set the TV to the correct video input, the surround system to the right audio settings, and finish by selecting your favorite satellite TV channel.

50 Favourite Channels
The MX-850 allows the user to program up to 50 favorite channels and the 5 LCD screens will display the favorite channels that are programmed. This allows the users to access their favorite channel with one simple button press.

One Hand Ergonomics
The optimized layout of hard buttons enables you to naturally reach both 5-way thumbpad to navigate on-screen menus and the critical Transport, Channel and Volume buttons. You'll quickly discover that you prefer using the MX-850 to control all the special features of your system (especially digital video recorders, satellite receivers, DVD players, surround sound receivers and digital cable boxes). There will never be a reason to dig out your old factory remotes again.

EL Back Lighting
The bright backlight using the latest EL technology enables a customer to use both remote control units in a low light environment.

Memory Back-Up
The MX-850 system features a smart memory back-up system that will retain the programmed memory for up to ten years, even with dead batteries.

Centrally Located Joystick
The centrally located Joystick helps the user navigate through menus and guides with ease, a very convenient feature for DVD players, Satellite and Cable TV and Personal Video Recorders.

New Centre Select Button
The new center select button is now detached form the joystick to offer more accurate response to button presses.

Laser Etched™ Buttons
The new Laser Etched buttons have a look and feel that instantly appeals to the customer. These Laser Etched buttons add a very distinguished look and extended durability to the remote controls that will compliment any high-end system.

MX 500
A truly unbelievable value!
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.

Basic set-up of the remote can be fast and easy
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!

Ease-of-use
The MX-500 is ergonomically designed and weight balanced to fit comfortably in one hand. The brightly backlit LCD view screen and buttons make navigation within a darkened home theater environment a breeze. To further enhance the navigation of the remote control, we have incorporated a multi-directional joystick.

Additional creature comforts
The MX-500 Punch Through feature enables control of one component while the remote is actually in another component mode. For example, you can adjust the volume of the amplifier while actually in the DVD mode, eliminating the need to toggle back-and-forth from the DVD screen to the amplifier screen.

The macro feature allows the remote control to be programmed to send out multiple commands at once. The unit has 3 dedicated macro buttons, a "Power" button and a "System Off" button that send out up to 20 commands each. 10 device buttons send out up to 15 commands each, and 50 favorite channel buttons send out up to 10 commands each. For example, the MX-500 can be programmed to turn on all the components within the home theater system at just the touch of a button!

The MX-500 also incorporates a memory back-up system designed to prevent memory loss for up to one year, should the batteries be removed.

MSC 400
The MSC-400 Master System Controller harnesses the power and tames the complexity of a sophisticated home entertainment system, delivering ease-of-use and maximum enjoyment for the whole family. If you are installing a top-of-the-line component system, odds are your installation professional is specifying an MSC-400 from Universal Remote Control.

Today's sophisticated components require system controllers that do more than merely repeat signals. The MSC-400 controller has the brains to handle even the most elaborate systems. Command sequences, called "macros," allow you to make several devices work together by pressing one button. Instead of separately turning on the TV, turning on the DVD player, changing the input, and turning on the receiver, these commands are chained together in the proper sequence in a macro. The macros are programmed into the MSC-400 and triggered by digital RF (Radio Frequency) from an MX-900, TX-1000, MX-950 or MX-3000 remote control instead of being haphazardly broadcast in the direction of the device (as with some conventional remote controls).

Once triggered, the commands execute without interruption and without further interaction with the remote. No pointing necessary! As a result, the system responds perfectly to your command, as if an invisible engineer was concealed in the system cabinet, operating the system for you.

The MSC-400 tests the status of the devices it controls and issues commands accordingly. In other words, it finds out whether your TV is "on" or "off" for example. In practice, it's the difference between shouting at someone as you drive past their house compared to calling them on the telephone to make sure they are home.

The operative word is interoperability - the ability to communicate with the hardware from multiple vendors. Furthermore, the MSC-400 controls a wide range of disparate devices including IR (infrared), RS-232 (serial), Relay (contact/voltage triggered) and even USB Keyboard commands. Therefore, it can be used to operate sophisticated home theater equipment, audio components, lighting, Media Center PCs-even motorized screens, drapes and lifts. It also gives you complete assurance that it can control any components you add to your system in the future-it never becomes obsolete.

The MSC-400 takes advantage of the latest technology, including Narrow Band RF. It comes complete with one RFX-250 digital RF receiver which allows your professional installer to completely conceal all of the hardware out of sight and still maintain flawless connection even at distances approaching 100 feet. The combination of superior technologies, coupled with redundancy, error correction algorithms and advanced engineering, means you will enjoy the most trouble-free system possible.

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