For my surround sound, I am going to be installing a 990/7700 with all the other components in a closet behind a wall. Has anyone done this and if so, what type of remote do you suggest I consider? TIA...

Depending on how many components I'd look at one of the Home Theater Masters - MX-600, 800 or 850. All have IR-RF so should work well with your equipment placement.

I'll second the vote for Universal's Home Theater Master line - in fact, my sig's remote codes link includes config files for the MX-700 (the 800 and 850 use the same file format and support RF so that you can put a receiver in the equipment closet and run emitters wherever you need to).

Gonk,

I played with mx-700 software package a liitle bit, seems very customizable!!

Can the 700 take care of all your 990 controls? power on/off? we have that weird on/off 2-button thing...

Can you assign a macro like "watch DVD" with the MX-700 that turns 990/TV/DVD player ON... puts TV into input 2 (since I run my component video straight to the TV) puts the 990 in DVD mode etc..?

When you mess with the 990 OSD you use the 990 remote true?

Thanks Vince

My MX-700 review has my complete config file, including "on" and "off" macros that my wife uses ("on" turns on the TV, turns on the cable box, sets the 990 to the cable box's input - thus also turning it on - and sets the TV to the component2 input; off turns off the TV, cable box, and 990).

I haven't had the 990's remote out in nearly a year - not since I used it to configure my MX-700. Every command I might need from every remote I have is in the 700, and all the other remotes stay in the drawer.

You can do just about anything with the 700. Like you I run all my video directly from the source units to the TV and have my 700 set to turn on anything with a one button macro, i.e. I can turn on the TV, sat box and 990/7700 with one button. If I am watching the sat and want to switch to DVD a one button macro will switch TV to DVD input, turn on DVD player and switch 990 to DVD settings. I can turn-on or switch to any component with one button macros I have setup.

Like gonk I haven't used the 990 remote since the first week I've had it. I can access OSD with the 700.

Remember though the 700 is not RF so you would need the MX-600, 800 or 850 which all work with the same software as the 700. The MX remotes are great!

The MX-600 doesn't offer a computer interface - it's based on the MX-500. The MX-800 and MX-850 use the same software as the MX-700, though.

gonk

Thanks for the correction. Wasn't too sure about the 600.

Thanks guys for the remote info...Did you guys shy away from Harmony remotes due to online downloading only technique. The URC remotes seem to have almost limitless options.

This IR vs RF issue, 700 being IR only you have to point the 700 at the ent cabinet true? with an rf rmeote you don't it could be facing the wall..so as long as you don't multi-zone rooms 700 gets the job done!!

Thanks Vince

I got the impression from your initial post there could be a line of sight issue and you would need RF, as there might be a wall or door in the way. If your current IR remotes work the 700 shouldn't be a problem.

Regarding Harmony, my first "big boy" remote was an MX-500 and I loved the product so much when it was time to upgrade I went with the 700. Plus I have had several customer service experiences with Universal and they have all been very good. I hear good things about the Harmony 880 but I have no experience with them.