MX980 Universal remote update

[bandphan]

from URC

"You've asked for it - come and download it! The Complete Control Program is now the editor of choice for programming the MX-980. You can program MX-6000's and MX-980's in the same editor program. Each file is based on a whole-house approach to programming, so now a single file will include all the rooms, remotes and base stations for each customer. Easy import of all your existing MX-980 files and devices."

a move thats a long time comming, now just getting the rest of the complete control line on the same program

 

[drof2th]

URC MX 980 PC Editor Software

Hello,
My URC MX 980 remote did not come with the editing software. Can you please instruct as to the procedure to download it? Thanks a ton!
Ron

 

[adk highlander]

Hello drof2th and welcome to the forum.

URC has a policy for their software that states you must get it from the dealer you purchased the remote from. Did you buy the remote from an authorized dealer?

 

[highfigh]

CCP is over a year old. Unfortunately, some of the older remotes that were programmed with a PC don't carry over to it but since they're probably going away in a short time, it wasn't worth them trying to make it work with all of their models. The trainers say that the software has progressed with every generation and there's no way to make one editor work with everything.

 

[highfigh]

Hello drof2th and welcome to the forum.

URC has a policy for their software that states you must get it from the dealer you purchased the remote from. Did you buy the remote from an authorized dealer?

The software isn't supposed to be supplied by a dealer to a consumer, AFAIK. These aren't the consumer models, anyway. As much as I understand people wanting to program their own remotes, URC doesn't and when consumers try to do this, URC invariably ends up with a buttload of phone calls from people who don't know how to program them.

 

[jostenmeat]

The software isn't supposed to be supplied by a dealer to a consumer, AFAIK. These aren't the consumer models, anyway. As much as I understand people wanting to program their own remotes, URC doesn't and when consumers try to do this, URC invariably ends up with a buttload of phone calls from people who don't know how to program them.

highfigh, what would you say to me if I told you that I wanted to learn how to program a pro level URC myself? Perhaps . . . don't? Hire a pro to teach me? Falsify documents that say I am a pro with an AV business? just kidding on that last one . . . but seriously . . .

Thanks.

 

[highfigh]

highfigh, what would you say to me if I told you that I wanted to learn how to program a pro level URC myself? Perhaps . . . don't? Hire a pro to teach me? Falsify documents that say I am a pro with an AV business? just kidding on that last one . . . but seriously . . .

Thanks.

They require registration to buy them, there's a dealer agreement that includes choosing a main distributor and they don't allow cash & carry or internet sales unless it's from an authorized re-seller. Any remote bought from a non-authorized re-seller comes with no warranty. I guess you could open an account at a local distributor but they're going to require some estimate of how much business you'll do with them and if you only go to the training sessions without buying anything, they'll end the agreement. Also, if a dealer teaches someone how to program these and releases the software, they won't be able to buy URC products anymore because it violates the dealer agreement.

As I posted before, I understand wanting to know how to do this but sales of URC products is restricted. Apple is only sold through selected stores and it's not generally discounted. I would love to be able to sell Airport Express, iPods, iPads and AppleTV and make a few bucks, but I can't because there's only one distributor and there's not enough margin to make it worth signing on. They all want us to use them as our main source and since none carries EVERYTHING we want to sell, that's just not possible, practical or sensible.

 

[adk highlander]

highfigh I have been through all of this with URC and it is perfectly acceptable for a dealer to give out the software at their discretion.

The is a quote from Eric Johnson VP of Technology Universal Remote Control, Inc.

Custom Installation professionals should go to The Control Room and download URC programming software. Then they’ll have zero problems. URC will continue to aggressively pursue unauthorized dealers and those who illegally traffic our software.

We understand that there are some do-it-yourselfers who would like to use URC professional products. A URC authorized dealer may decide to provide them with software.

Under no circumstances will URC supply CCP programming software to end users. We can refer any end user to dealers in their locality.

However, only a dealer can decide that they want to support an end user learning how to use professional software. The dealer has the right to download URC programming software, burn it to a CD and provide it to a client. However, because of the support necessary, few dealers like to do this.

No dealer is allowed to provide an end user with access to URC control room. The site is for pros only, and the resources on it are not available to end users in any circumstance.

I have been fortunate to have a understanding dealer and friends in the industry that have allowed me to have access to the software. I have been using CCP and several of the standalone editors for a few years. To do an efficient job takes time and there is no replacement for a CI most people.

 

[highfigh]

highfigh I have been through all of this with URC and it is perfectly acceptable for a dealer to give out the software at their discretion.

The is a quote from Eric Johnson VP of Technology Universal Remote Control, Inc.

I have been fortunate to have a understanding dealer and friends in the industry that have allowed me to have access to the software. I have been using CCP and several of the standalone editors for a few years. To do an efficient job takes time and there is no replacement for a CI most people.

I have never seen that, nor have I heard this from any of the trainers but if they're OK with it, it's good to know.

I would never say that programming these remotes is rocket surgery but there is a learning curve, especially for those who A) have never done this kind of programming before and B) they're accustomed to the way a different brand is programmed. It's really easy in the beginning to forget that some of the commands need to be passed-through or added to each page, too.

Have you read the complaints from programmers who complained about the MX-810 remote? They expected it to be programmed the same way as all of the earlier ones, even though URC repeatedly told people that it's different.

 

[adk highlander]

I have never seen that, nor have I heard this from any of the trainers but if they're OK with it, it's good to know.

I would never say that programming these remotes is rocket surgery but there is a learning curve, especially for those who A) have never done this kind of programming before and B) they're accustomed to the way a different brand is programmed. It's really easy in the beginning to forget that some of the commands need to be passed-through or added to each page, too.

CCP is was a major step for URC. Having the ability to set up a whole house with one file and use a variety of remotes and base stations is great. I think having struggled through early on with the MX-850 editor made me really appreciate CCP.

I think most dealers don't offer the software up because they don't want to be tech support for someone who thinks they know what they are doing because they have programmed a Harmony remote. This is a valid reason and I would not want to have spent hours setting up a system for someone and have some hack go in and try to make a change which breaks macro's or screws up variables.

Have you read the complaints from programmers who complained about the MX-810 remote? They expected it to be programmed the same way as all of the earlier ones, even though URC repeatedly told people that it's different.

I had a MX-810 and I traded up to the 880 just to get away from that software. I knew it was "wizard" based but after having too many issues and having to do a complete reset every time I was downloading got to be too much. Getting a MSC-400 was the biggest game changer in my system. Getting RS-232 control and the ability to track each piece of gears "status" has made my system bullet proof. (which makes the wife happy).