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Frequently Asked Questions
- WHAT'S THE BASIC DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE MX-1000 AND THE MX-500?
The MX-1000 utilizes an LCD Touchscreen, allowing you to design your own buttons. Hard buttons on the MX-1000 are kept to mainly navigation and power buttons, and a very effective programmable joystick.
The MX-500 has an LCD Viewscreen that allows you to label Device buttons and a certain number of command buttons. The remote is highly-populated with hard buttons, all of which can be taught, and it also has a thumbpad which offers full joystick-type capability.
- ARE BOTH REMOTES PROGRAMMABLE?
Both the MX-1000 and MX-500 are completely programmable Universal Learning Remote Controls. Both include a complete library of preprogrammed device codes, allowing you to set up almost any device you have, including X-10 power modules.
- WHICH REMOTE IS BETTER?
After using a number of remotes, many people change their priorities in a Universal Learning Remote Control. Some prefer touchscreens, some prefer hard buttons, some like a combination of both types. So it isn't a question of "which is better"; it is a question of what you prefer.
- WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE JOYSTICK AND THE THUMBPAD?
Only the shape, really. Both the MX-1000 Joystick, and the MX-500 Thumbpad are easy to use and completely programmable. They both offer swift access to your many Device options, such as easy navigation through TV and DVD menus. In the case of the MX-1000, the Joystick is also the key tool for using the remote's own menu and program system.
- SINCE THE MX-500 IS SO POWERFUL, HOW HARD IS IT TO PROGRAM?
The MX-500 was designed for ease of programming. Your manual details how easy it is to enter preprogrammed codes, learn from your original remote, set up macros, etc. You will be up and running quickly with a remote powerful enough to control very complex home theater and automation systems.
- HOW FAR DO THE INFRARED (IR) COMMANDS GO?
The MX-500 IR commands are rated at 40 to 60 feet. The range will vary however depending upon your system's ability to pick up the IR signal. However, the angle at which you hold the remote may affect the IR strength. And be sure not to have anything obstructing the "line-of-sight" between the remote and the component being controlled.
- WITH SO MANY SCREENS AND BUTTONS, HOW WOULD I ACCESS THE INDIVIDUAL DEVICES?
The MX-500's basic display is the MAIN Page. Here, all Devices buttons are located. You can access this page at any time by pressing the MAIN button under the screen. Then, pushing the Page button accesses the two Device pages available to that specific Device. There are 10 labels on each page that can be relabeled; each label can also be taught individual codes from your original remotes. In fact, the master Device code you assigned will already have added some commands to these pages. Once you get used to it, it is very easy. You will have all of your original remotes' commands available in one very easy-to-use and powerful Universal Remote Control in the MX-500.
- CAN THE MX-500 LEARN ALL MY DEVICES?
The library of preprogrammed Device codes is extensive and covers pretty much all Devices available. However, there are always exceptions, especially in the case of some equipment whose Infrared (IR) signal codes are outside of the "normal" range. And new equipment is being introduced all the time. But Home Theater Master has gone to great lengths to include the frequency sets for an extended variety of Devices.
There is a strong likelihood that the MX-500 will be able to handle all your devices. If you start with a preprogrammed device code, but find that one or two of your original remote commands are missing, then you can simply "learn" that command from your original remote. Even if there is not a preprogrammed code for your device, you could "learn" the entire Device from your original remote control.
- DOES THE MX-500 LIBRARY INCLUDE "DISCRETE" DEVICE CODES?
"Discrete" codes are commands that are designed to offer specific functionality. For example, an AV receiver might have both an On and an Off command, whereas a TV set generally uses a single command for both On and Off. At this time, the HTM library of codes does include Discrete codes, on a Device-only basis. That is, you cannot individually assign discrete codes to buttons. However, if they are included with a preprogrammed Device code, they can be used that way.
- WHAT ABOUT MACROS?
A Macro capability allows a device to assemble a string of commands that work off a single button. Your MX-500 has three types of macros. The M1 - M3 buttons, the Power and System Off buttons, and the 10 Device buttons. See your manual for programming macros.
- "FAVORITE CHANNEL" BUTTONS+ WHAT ARE THEY?
As the name implies, you can set buttons to go directly to your favorite channels, rather than have to press the appropriate buttons on the number pad, and risk making an error. You access these FAV channel buttons by pushing the FAV button just under the LCD screen on your MX-500. You can have up to 50 FAV channel buttons that you can identify with up to 5 characters such as ABC, NBC, etc. You then just push the button for that channel and the remote sends out the channel numbers. You don't have to remember what they are!
- WHAT BUTTONS CAN I USE WHEN PROGRAMMING MY FAVORITE CHANNELS?
Favorite channels can use all of the number pad buttons (0 - 9), the DIS, ENT, PAUSE/INFO, POWER and SYSTEM OFF. These are the only buttons you can use.
- SOMETIMES ON MY CURRENT REMOTE, THE TIME BETWEEN MACRO COMMANDS IS TOO SHORT.
Macros can easily be set on the MX-500 with variable lengths of time between each code sent to the Device, to give that Device time to activate one command before it attempts the next command. You can add pauses between commands in 0.2 second increments.
- I'VE SEEN REMOTES WITH A "HOME THEATER" BUTTON, THAT ALLOWS YOU TO TURN ON YOUR ENTIRE GROUP OF DEVICES AT ONCE WHEN WATCHING A DVD MOVIE.
Generally speaking, that type of button is simply a Macro with a special label. The MX-500 can use any Macro button as a Home Theater command. You simply program all of the commands into your macro. For example, for TV watching, you would program the remote to: Power On the TV, change the TV to your favorite channel, turn on your Receiver, and change the Receiver input to TV. In this way, you can have your remote turn on to your favorite morning News program every day+ with just one push of a button!
- MY LCD SCREEN STAYS ON ALL OF THE TIME. DOES THAT NOT QUICKLY DRAIN THE BATTERIES?
The LCD screen requires very little power. In fact, because of this, the designers at HTM decided to leave the screen on at all times, for quick access to your MX-500. The MX-500 comes packaged with four alkaline AA batteries so you can start using the remote right away. Under "normal" operating conditions (in your Home Theater room, watching a typical daily ration of TV and movies and listening to music), the MX-500 remote control will last up to six months before requiring a battery replacement. Many people use two sets of rechargeable batteries to keep the remote going continuously.
- DO I HAVE TO REPROGRAM THE REMOTE WHEN THE BATTERIES DIE?
No. The Flash ROM in the MX-500 remote control retains its programmed memory for months, even without batteries.
- WHAT IS THIS "AUX 155" CODE?
After using the remote for a while, you may want to change things around and put a Device on a different button. Applying this code to the Device button you want to reprogram (or learn to) basically gives you a clean slate for that Device.
Sometimes using this "feature" also allows a user to program a Device that has some "corrupted" buttons; e.g. if you can't learn to that button, or use it at all in your Device.
- I COULDN'T FIND A PREPROGRAMMED CODE THAT WORKED... NOW WHAT?
In some cases, it's possible that the Power Off transmission when entering a code will not work for your device when you are entering a device code. When your component Powers Off, that is the usual indication that you have the correct Device number assigned for preprogramming.
In rare cases, the component will not Power Off, even if you have programmed the correct device code. If none of the preprogrammed device codes seem to work, save the preprogramming, exit from Set Up mode, and try the Device. You may find it works just fine. If you have tried all of the Device codes for your components, and they still don't work, you can always learn everything from your original remote control.
- MY "POWER" BUTTON WILL NOT TURN ON THE DEVICE I HAVE SELECTED. INSTEAD IT SENDS OUT GARBLED COMMANDS.
Remember, your Power and System Off buttons can contain one command, or a system macro, but not both. If you want your Power button to only act as a Power On button, then you have to erase what is probably a macro you may have programmed on to the Power Button, and either reprogram the Device or learn the single Power On command from your original remote. The same is true of your System Off button. It can contain a macro or a single learned command, but not both.
- CAN I SET UP THE REMOTE SO THAT MY RECEIVER INPUT CHANGES WHEN I PRESS MY DEVICE BUTTON?
Yes. You have the choice of: pushing a Device button to control a chosen Device; or pushing the Device button and have it transmit an input change on your Audio component (such as a receiver). You merely program the Device's input change command to the Device button. Each Device button can be programmed to:
- simply change to that device
- change to the Device and send out one command (such as an input change command),
- or contain an entire macro that is invoked by pressing and holding the Device button down (for the time specified in your manual, usually about one second).
*This can only work if the original remote control has discrete input buttons.
- CAN I HAVE CAPITAL AND SMALL LETTERS IN MY LABELS? CAN I USE ANY SYMBOLS?
No. The labels are upper case for readability. Check your manual for the extra symbols you can use in your LCD labels.
- WHY DO SOME BUTTONS HAVE TWO LABELS, SUCH AS THE MENU, GUIDE, EXIT AND INFO BUTTONS?
These buttons are designed to be used for different functions in different devices. For those devices that require both, one of the other commands can easily be put on a convenient LCD button, if you prefer. The ability to relabel the LCD screen is one key to the great versatility of your MX-500 remote.
- CAN I PROGRAM THE JOYSTICK (SOMETIMES CALLED THE THUMB PAD)?
Yes. It is a 5-way joystick, and each position can have any command programmed to it. You can use this capability in a variety of ways.
- CAN I MIX COMMANDS FROM MORE THAN ONE REMOTE TO A SINGLE DEVICE ON MY MX-500?
Yes. This makes your remote highly adaptable to your own needs. Many users will put an input command, sound field command, or surround sound command from their receiver on different device pages so that they don't have to go back to the Main screen and select, for example, their Amp, then press an input, or sound field mode, or surround sound button, and then have to retrace their steps back to that Device. Very handy!
- DOES THE MX-500 HAVE BACKLIGHTING? AND DOES IT BACKLIGHT ALL THE BUTTONS?
Yes. The MX-500 will light up your entire LCD screen and EVERY button except the joystick, which has a bezel around it that lights up . The backlight on-time is adjustable in the Set up menu.
- IF I MAKE A MISTAKE IN PROGRAMMING OR LEARNING TO A BUTTON, IS IT HARD TO CORRECT?
No. You can easily erase a button you mistakenly learned to, or a macro that you have not programmed correctly. The Setup menu makes this very easy to do.
- THE JOYSTICK SEEMS FRAGILE AND I'M AFRAID IT WILL BREAK EASILY.
The joystick has been tested to withstand hundreds of thousands of presses in each of the 5 directions. It will last a very long time.
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