The benefit to the RF units when your equipment lives in a separate room (closet) is that you don't have to buy a complete IR distribution system or find a place to install the IR receiver - the RF base station includes a very high-power emitter that can often cover the whole rack as well as six outputs for individual IR emitters that can be stuck in place over individual components' IR windows. Harmony doesn't currently offer an RF solution, which puts you in the position of needing an IR distribution system. Since NickScull's equipment rack is in a closet, the discussion turned to the RF remotes. If your equipment rack is readily at hand, the RF capability isn't as necessary.

Just so you are aware, the MX-700 is discontinued right now. I would look at the MX-850. You can either do IR, with an Ir receiver and termination system, or you can do RF. I personally use the RF option as it is much more customizable. If you do, get the MRF-300 as it is a much stronger unit, and has adjustable IR output levels, This will be a must have feature if you have a Tivo unit, otherwise the IR will overload the Tivo and be a royal pain.


Also, any URC remotes bought on Ebay will not have a manufacturers warranty, so Buyer Beware.

Good luck man

So the MX-700 is finally gone? That's sort of a shame - although it's been around for a long while now. Is the MX-500 also discontinued?

I am not positive on that one, as I never use it, but I believe so. So is the 800 from what I have heard.

I used the 700 on so many jobs I am sad to see it go. It was my entry level remote for all of my systems, and then going from there to the MX-850, then to the 3000, then to either Control4 or Elan depending on the rest of the system.

I just bought the 800. So if it's gone it must have just happened.

The 700 is still showing as availble on etronics.com.

Many thanks, All, for the replies and info. Great MX 700 review, Gonk!

I will certainly take a look at the 850.

Went to the Logitech site and it appears the 890 now supercedes the 850. The reviews on Amazon really slam it and claim the s/w is buggy and has other probs.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CS1TLE/104-1169619-9668723?v=glance&n=172282

Mine is a whole house system with a media server which, I am told, will stay on most of the time. So, while watching TV, all I need to control is the cable box, TV, DVD, and CD as well as the 990/7700 combo.

The 890 might be over-kill but it looks like it's the only RF model.

Nick

You are looking at Harmony. the 850 referred to is the Universal Home Theater Master series, Link below:

Home Theater Master

I just got a MX-850/RF250. It is a godsend being able to adjust the stereo speaker volume in the great room since my current reciever is in the basement. I am going to be getting a 990 in the next couple of weeks.

Looks like the RF-250 uses a 2.5mm out jack for the flashers and the 990 has a 3.5mm IR in jack. If I can ger some sort of "jack converter" (2.5 to 3.5 or vice versa), can I just hard wire the RF250 to the 990? Anyone know if a "jack size converter" is available?