"Chris Hornbeck" <chrishornbeckremovethis@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:3ne42490qifedo6c8jfmkbql9apti76um8@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> On Wed, 7 May 2008 10:48:52 -0400, "Soundhaspriority"
> <nowhere@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>
>>> Another, but maybe too elaborate, solution is a modern universal
>>> remote that can communicate with a (proprietary) RF base. Some
>>> siting isses can still arise; the RF base probably won't like to
>>> sit near a cable box or a DVD player (although the newest
>>> generations of RF bases are *much* improved). But all issues of
>>> ambient lighting are removed, and there's "no pointing", itself a
>>> small joy in operation.
>>>
>>That would be the Pronto et al. The obstacle here is price: the Philips
>>"perfect pixel 47" 1080p set cost "only" $1365 through Buy.com. It just
>>goes against my nature to pay the same for something much less central.
It
>>certainly would be a delight to have complete low level authoring
control
>>of
>>the screen appearance. And a modern TFT screen would eliminate the
viewing
>>angle dilemma.
>
> I'm not personally a fan of touchscreens (although the big
> Crestrons are nice, for the price of a good used car) and
> tend to strongly recommend remote controls with real ("hard")
> buttons and a small monochrome screen. My (and I'd guess
> also your) iron-clad requirement is that it can be
> programmed on your computer and the program simply
> transferred to (and from) the remote.
>
> In this category the Universal Remote Control brand has
> two models that I like. The MX850 has five configurable
> buttons on each side of the screen, a limit of five
> characters on the screen, and a single "Main" button
> below the screen to return to the top of the tree.
> Serial ****t connection to your computer.
>
[snip]
You've gotten me to take a good look at their product line, and I've
identified a candidate: the TX-1000. I understand your dislike of
touchscreens, but my audio components are older, relying more on dedicated
buttons than menus, so I think I'd have trouble with a hard button
solution.
The one concern I have is mentioned in this review:
http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/remote-controls/universal-remote-control-tx-1000-medius/setup-using-the-remote-and-conclusion
,
which makes a comment about interference:
"Placing the base station is a very im****tant task. You'll find that RF
interference will quickly become the bane of your existence."
similar to yours, and which remind me of a problem with the X-10 Pyramids.
Fifty yards from my window, in a neighbor's back yard, is an outdoor pond
with a fishtank heater. The heater sets off the X-10. The X-10 receiver is
obviously the cheapest handful of components that can function at 418 mHz.
The review of the TX-1000 mentions similar sensitivity. It's hard to
believe
that they chose an unselective design, but that's the implication. Do you
happen to be familiar with the characteristics of the Pronto RF system?
Bob Morein
(310) 237-6511
|
