MX-810 Universal Remote Control

Universal Remote Control, Inc. released the MX-810 Remote Control today at the 2008 International Consumer Electronics Show here in Las Vegas. A winner of this year’s CES Innovations Design and Engineering Awards, the MX-810 provides Home Theater owners and professional installers with dedicated, custom control over single-room Home Theaters or AV entertainment systems. Each MX-810 remains dedicated to a single room’s equipment, complete with a user-changeable label identifying the room.

Featuring Radio Frequency (RF) addressability and a bright, color LCD display, the MX-810’s readiness for programming allows custom installers to put any command on any LCD page, and fully personalize the screen’s iconography for any and every user. The RF capability also eliminates the need to point the remote at whatever it’s activating, or even remain in the line of sight of any equipment. It can control components up to 100 feet away from locations throughout a home, even components concealed in cabinets or behind doors.

The remote’s addressability feature lets it communicate with a specific location or device, like the Master Controller, and comfortably co-exist with other RF remotes in a home, and AV systems in other rooms.

Custom programming a complex Home Theater is one of the most challenging aspects of an audio/video installation. Setting a Theater system to play a DVD with just one button, for example, can require programming a macro that instructs the screen to lower, the lights to dim, window shades to close, the projector and sound system to turn on, and the DVD player to start, while also making sure the cable box and iPod dock are turned off. The MX-810’s compatibility with the MSC-400 makes such tasks easy for installers to program and easy for clients to use.

The MX-810 features a big, bright, active matrix LCD, larger and more vivid than comparable remotes, and a broad array of snappy, iconic graphics readable at a glance. It provides access to a vast array of custom control solutions, available free of charge on proprietary software online at the URC Control Room.

The MX-810 is PC-powered, programmable by any Windows-compatible laptop or desktop computer with a USB port. An installer can set up the remote by connecting a PC, then following the instructions of an onscreen programming Wizard. This can be done in advance or onsite, with a laptop in the Home Theater being programmed. The laptop need not be connected to the Internet.

URC’s ProWizard programming software guides the selection of operating instructions for any combination of A/V components, in part through access to  a library of professional control codes. Afterward, installers can archive their programming instructions on the Web by accessing URC’s dedicated ProWizard website ( http://www.WizardRemote.com ). Even if the installer suffers a future hard drive crash, his MX-810 programs will be safe and available.

The MX-810 can also be customized with a broad array of graphic “themes,” including one-of-a-kind graphics provided by the remote’s owner. Installers can ask the remote for Help at any point in the process, and be guided to an answer through an intelligent, context-sensitive response process.

Once programmed, the MX-810’s color screen labels the six adjacent buttons with whatever functions are needed at the moment. The labels for the buttons change based on what the user is watching or listening to. If a user selects “Watching TV,” he or she will see a list of buttons useful for watching TV. If a user selects “DVD,” the buttons will control the DVD player.

Fully programmed, the MX-810’s powerful 32-megabit flash memory can customize controls for up to 24 activities on eight LCD pages for each of 24 different devices, for a total of 384 pages.

The MX-810’s built-in IR signal is effective at a range of 30 to 50 feet, depending on room conditions. It converts to RF “No Rules” Operation, with the addition of URC’s MRF-350 or MRF-260 Complete Control RF Base Station, both of which extend the remote’s range to 50 to 100 feet, and eliminate the line-of-sight requirement.

Additional features include a motion sensor that automatically turns on the LCD screen when the remote is picked up, and a one-touch blue backlight that ensures the MX-810 can be used easily in dim or darkened rooms. A small integrated speaker optionally beeps in response to button pushes, indicating the remote has understood the instruction. A built-in time/date display, low-battery alert, rechargeable lithium ion battery, and a supplied USB programming cable further enhance its convenience and ease of use.

The MX-810 Remote Control is available now from authorized Universal Remote Control dealers at a suggested retail price of $399

About Universal Remote Control, Inc.
Headquartered in Harrison, New York, Universal Remote Control, Inc. is a world leader in the design, engineering, manufacture and distribution of high-quality remote control devices. Since its establishment in 1991, the company has become highly regarded by consumers and professionals alike, and won numerous industry awards.  It supplies millions of remote controls each year to consumers around the world through four primary distribution channels: consumer retail, custom professional, subscription broadcast and OEM.

For additional technical information, please visit www.universalremote.com.

Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.