I have decided it's time for an universal remote to replace the 4 ones I use (TV,STB,receiver and DVD player).

I ordered the MX-500 which I expect to arrive tomorrow from newegg.

Amongst the great reviews I read about it, I found out that it cannot learn macros from another remote (or mybe I got it all wrong as I haven't gotten it yet, thus I didn't get the chance to read any manual). But I thought I'd rather ask in advance.

1. How would I program it to turn on my Outlaw 1070 which, as far as I know, fires off a sequece of codes when powered on on any given input?

2. Is there a way to get hold of discrete codes to teach MX-500 to switch my TV (Samsung LN-S4095D) on any given input directly? The TV expects you to either cycle through sources or use an intractive menu to get to the desired input...

Thank you very much,

The MX-500 can learn individual commands from other remotes, but macros are not something that can be transferred between devices like that. You can build your own macros to suit your specific needs, however, which is how they are most useful anyway.

The 1070 is easy, as the 1070's discrete power on capability was designed specifically for this purpose. For each device that you set up, set up its main menu input button to send the device input command. This will turn the 1070 on if it isn't already. I talk about this some in my MX-500 and MX-700 reviews. There isn't a separate "power on" command being fired off - the 1070 is simply always looking for those input signals and will turn on set to the correct input when it receives one.

Discrete input codes for your TV are a tougher nut to crack. I'd check Remote Central. If you find them, it won't be immediately useful since the MX-500 doesn't have a PC interface, but you'll at least know if they exist at all.

Thank you, Gonk, very helpful reply as usual.

Thus Outlaw's input source switch is a simple discrete code, not a macro.

Now the "no audio" bug will show up its ugly face like never before... Maybe I'll have to insert an "input selection" -> "power off" -> "input selection" cycle in the macro for every device in its main page, for my unit almost never starts up right and needs at least a bounce.

Did anyone else try this? If yes, what's the best delay between the commands?

Here's what I'd suggest: a "power on" macro. You set up a macro to turn on the 1070, the TV, and whatever source is most often used. Around here, that's the cable box - wife picks the remote up, presses "Power" at the top left corner, and the remote turns on TV, cable box, 990 (set to Video2, also known as "Cable"), and makes sure the TV is on the correct input. If you need to power cycle the unit at start-up, do it then. The individual buttons on the main page of the remote just handle changing the input.

Good suggestion. The sad thing is that we are reduced to it, though...

Depending on who else uses your system, a central "system on" macro is going to often be your best bet anyway, especially if you have some devices without discrete power on/off commands. Even with my MX-700 (which has much greater support for macros), the fact that only some of my devices have discrete power on/off commands. I've got discrete on/off for the 990, the OPPO players, and the Roku SoundBridge; a discrete off for the TV (but no discrete on, oddly enough); and nothing but a power toggle for the cable box, HD-DVD player, and DVD recorder. If every component had discrete on and off commands, I could just create macros for each device button on the main page that would handle everything for me and a globel "system off" macro shared by all devices. Since I don't have that, though, I use a central "power on" and have had very good luck.

Gonk, I totally agree with you.

When I said "The sad thing is that we are reduced to it" I was referring to the fact that 1070 doesn't power up properly most of the time and I have to think of power bounces in the "power on" macro.

I currently have a MX-500 and have a MX-650 on order. Will I be able to clone the MX-650 from the MX-500 or are they incompatable?

Thanks in advance

Excellent question, Dannic. I can't find anything that speaks to this specific question, but a few things make me suspect that it will not be possible. First, the MX-650 supports controlling twice as many devices (20 rather than 10) as well as much greater macro capability (eliminates the MX-500's limitation on buttons that can store macros), so there are clearly differences in the memory and in at least part of the interface. Second, the MX-650 uses a different button layout (it is the same layout as the MX-700, with an extra button between the volume and channel rockers and no row of macro buttons at the bottom). I'd start from scratch with the 650 rather than even attempting to clone it from the 500.

Thanks Gonk

Once again, you are an excellent resource that benefits all of us Outlaws on the forum.

Have a happy Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

Happy turkey-day weekend - and let us know what you think of the 650 in comparison to the 500...

I have been considering the mx-500 to replace my Harmony remote. Overall the Harmony works ok but has anyone who owns a Harmony have any issues with the volume going out of control. I'll just try to raise the volume a few notches (pressing only a couple of times) and it will max out the volume on the 990. It will do the same when trying to lower the volume. Is that flaw just a Harmony trait or will the MX do it as well.

Have you tried messing with the settings of the Harmony for how many times it resends a command?

I had that problem with my preamp and my Monster Cable remote, which is basically the same software as Harmony.

Had to change it from 3 repeats down to 1 or 0 to get good results.

You have to mess with it though to get good response times and get rid of the out of control volume problem.

I updated all componenets to zero. Now all my sources behave except for "Listen to CD" You press the volume + button once and it goes from -76 to +8 within 3 seconds. I had that issue with the "Watching TV" function but your suggestion alleviated that problem. Se looks like I gotta live with the volume issue when listeng to cd's