URC MX-900 Non Functional after two years!

[Hi Ho]

After just two years multiple buttons have stopped working on my MX-900 remote control. This is NOT what I expected from such a pricey remote! I got it at cost through work but it was still a decent amount of money and there is no way in hell that this thing should be wearing out so quickly.

The select and skip forward buttons simply do not work at all and volume is very difficult. The conductive coating on the buttons that is supposed to make contact with the contacts on the circuit board is wearing through! Why? Because it is simply painted onto the silicone! I have never seen such a cheap way to do remote buttons. The tech at work tried to fix it by gluing small pieces of foil from a cigarette carton to the buttons but since silicone is virtually impossible to adhere to they have all fallen off after two weeks.

URC doesn't sell replacement parts. They want me to send it to them for $100+. As of right now I am extremely unhappy with this product. I though URC was a great company and their remotes are sure as hell far more flexible and powerful than anything from Harmony but my Harmony is still kicking away in the bedroom after four years. What a joke.

 

[Haoleb]

May I suggest looking into pens that are used to repair circuit board traces with a conductive type of paint/ink. It may work a little bit better than gluing foil.

 

[highfigh]

After just two years multiple buttons have stopped working on my MX-900 remote control. This is NOT what I expected from such a pricey remote! I got it at cost through work but it was still a decent amount of money and there is no way in hell that this thing should be wearing out so quickly.

The select and skip forward buttons simply do not work at all and volume is very difficult. The conductive coating on the buttons that is supposed to make contact with the contacts on the circuit board is wearing through! Why? Because it is simply painted onto the silicone! I have never seen such a cheap way to do remote buttons. The tech at work tried to fix it by gluing small pieces of foil from a cigarette carton to the buttons but since silicone is virtually impossible to adhere to they have all fallen off after two weeks.

URC doesn't sell replacement parts. They want me to send it to them for $100+. As of right now I am extremely unhappy with this product. I though URC was a great company and their remotes are sure as hell far more flexible and powerful than anything from Harmony but my Harmony is still kicking away in the bedroom after four years. What a joke.

Ever spilled anything on it? Pressing the buttons too hard wears the coating off, too.

You expect them to replace it after the warranty is over? That's a joke? OK, keep thinking that. Get the semi-conductive repair pen.

 

[Surfnsnowboard3]

That really sucks I am sorry to hear that

 

[TLS Guy]

After just two years multiple buttons have stopped working on my MX-900 remote control. This is NOT what I expected from such a pricey remote! I got it at cost through work but it was still a decent amount of money and there is no way in hell that this thing should be wearing out so quickly.

The select and skip forward buttons simply do not work at all and volume is very difficult. The conductive coating on the buttons that is supposed to make contact with the contacts on the circuit board is wearing through! Why? Because it is simply painted onto the silicone! I have never seen such a cheap way to do remote buttons. The tech at work tried to fix it by gluing small pieces of foil from a cigarette carton to the buttons but since silicone is virtually impossible to adhere to they have all fallen off after two weeks.

URC doesn't sell replacement parts. They want me to send it to them for $100+. As of right now I am extremely unhappy with this product. I though URC was a great company and their remotes are sure as hell far more flexible and powerful than anything from Harmony but my Harmony is still kicking away in the bedroom after four years. What a joke.

Another item to add to the list of the chunk pile of Asian manufacture. If we don't start putting people to work producing good quality gear, the recession will return worse than a year ago, and it won't leave.

I remember much better days for the west. I just hate that kind of junk and its around in spades. Pens be damned! Hi-Ho has every right to expect the unit to be working now and in 20 years.

 

[Hi Ho]

Ever spilled anything on it? Pressing the buttons too hard wears the coating off, too.

You expect them to replace it after the warranty is over? That's a joke? OK, keep thinking that. Get the semi-conductive repair pen.

OK I really wish now that I did not write this post late last night when I was extremely furstrated over multiple events that day. The remote was just the last straw because when I wanted to relax and watch TV I couldn't and I rambled on in the above post.

I don't expect them to fix it for free. I never said I did. I looked up when I bought it and it's actually only 18 months old. I do not feel that I am being unreasonable in expecting a remote with an MSRP of nearly $400 to last longer than 18 months before needing repair.

I am very gentle with my electronics and I keep them clean and in top notch shape. This remote is no exception and no, nothing has ever spilled on it.

I took it to work again and the tech used a different adhesive that should adhere to the silicone. He has not had good luck with the conductive paint and that is why he prefers the foil method. If it doesn't work this time I will call URC but he is confident that it will work fine as he has repaired many remotes this way and never had issues.

Here are pictures of the guts in case anyone is curious.

http://s14.photobucket.com/albums/a327/Hi_Ho/Remote/

 

[highfigh]

OK I really wish now that I did not write this post late last night when I was extremely furstrated over multiple events that day. The remote was just the last straw because when I wanted to relax and watch TV I couldn't and I rambled on in the above post.

I don't expect them to fix it for free. I never said I did. I looked up when I bought it and it's actually only 18 months old. I do not feel that I am being unreasonable in expecting a remote with an MSRP of nearly $400 to last longer than 18 months before needing repair.

I am very gentle with my electronics and I keep them clean and in top notch shape. This remote is no exception and no, nothing has ever spilled on it.

I took it to work again and the tech used a different adhesive that should adhere to the silicone. He has not had good luck with the conductive paint and that is why he prefers the foil method. If it doesn't work this time I will call URC but he is confident that it will work fine as he has repaired many remotes this way and never had issues.

Here are pictures of the guts in case anyone is curious.

http://s14.photobucket.com/albums/a327/Hi_Ho/Remote/

So, getting back to my comment about working for a company that sells them, contact the tech department and tell them it's a demo unit.

 

[highfigh]

Another item to add to the list of the chunk pile of Asian manufacture. If we don't start putting people to work producing good quality gear, the recession will return worse than a year ago, and it won't leave.

I remember much better days for the west. I just hate that kind of junk and its around in spades. Pens be damned! Hi-Ho has every right to expect the unit to be working now and in 20 years.

Since you mentioned pens, did you know that Parker is closing the Burlington, WI plant and moving production to Mexico? Rubbermaid bought the company a while back and as usual, the Mexicans in the US cost too much so they're going to have other Mexicans, who cost less, make them.