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This Universal Remote Is Quite Functional But Difficult To Use
Let's face it...electronics can be complicated. That's why we get paid the medium bucks to make sense of all this technology. Universal remotes are a big part of what we offer to tame today's surround sound systems, smart TVs and other home automation technology. However, there are a lot of brands and nonsense on line so it can be difficult to determine what makes sense. The above pictured remote headstrap is quite stylish and workmanlike but it will give you a giant neck over time and you still have to press buttons on 7 remotes to make your system work. Neither of those options are great. What is a better remote control solution?
Introducing the URC MX790 universal remote!
We have carried URC remotes since our inception in 2006 and one of our team members has been programming them for even longer. One thing that URC does is completely overbuild their remotes so instead of bringing out a new one every year or so like most products, you typically see new products every 5-10 YEARS. This is one of those cases as URC's new MX-790 remote is replacing their old model (MX-780) that existed for over a decade. We put together a video at the link below that details this remote and why a universal remote is a good thing.
URC MX790 universal remote review
Come experience URC Total Control in our San Diego showroom - TRC1080, TRC820 and iPad app
There is a lot of useful and FUN stuff that the pieces above can accomplish. Here's what URC's Total Control universal remotes can do for you and your family:
Simplify your audio/video systems: Tired of juggling 7 different remotes to make your surround sound operate? Is it a 50/50 proposition that your whole-house music will work when you try to turn it on? If so, you need URC Total Control. ONE remote will make everything in your system work flawlessly. Ex: You push the Total Control button listed "Cable TV" and your TV turns ON, audio/video receiver turns ON, satellite box turns ON, DVD player turns OFF (because the housekeeper accidentally turned it on), TV goes to the correct input, audio/video receiver goes to the right input, audio/video receiver goes to the correct sound mode and the URC remote now has all of your TV-watching functions such as your DVR, recorded list, etc. EASY! We also provide cheat sheets and off-site management with your system so if something isn't working as expected, we can take you through it on the phone.
Home Automation: Adding a URC Total Control system provides a "gateway" to home automation. URCs advanced processor allows you to add and integrate things such as:
"Integrating" means that these elements all work in concert so you don't need to open 9 different apps to make your systems behave.
Ex: When you pull into your driveway, your whole-house music system goes to your favorite Pandora station, the lights turn on to the desired levels and the Jacuzzi starts heating up WITHOUT LIFTING A FINGER. This is home automation and the addition of URC Total Control allows for this.
Alexa Voice Control: URC Total Control and Alexa work in tandem to provide voice control for your surround sound systems, whole-house lighting and more. Make controlling your smart home a breeze without even touching a remote or iPad.
Ex: "Alexa...turn on Bob" triggers your lights on, turns on your surround sound system and fires up your Pandora Bob Marley station. For one of our particular clients with 8 children, having your hands free for other things is very convenient.
Like the idea of simplifying your smart home or adding smart home elements? Give us a call and let San Diego's URC Total Control dealer of choice show you what today's home automation can do for you. NOTE: We have this on display in our San Diego showroom. Call for an appointment.
San Diego URC Total Control dealer and home automation company proudly serves all of San Diego County especially the communities and cities of Central San Diego County which includes Del Cerro, Allied Gardens, Talmadge, Kensington, Hillcrest, Mission Valley, Fashion Valley, La Mesa, Lake Murray, Friars, North Park, Balboa Park, Clairemont, Kearny Mesa, Mission Bay, Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, Imperial Beach, Pt Loma and Downtown San Diego. We also gladly serve those in North San Diego County which includes Carlsbad, San Marcos, Vista, Elfin Forest, Oceanside, Olivenhain, Escondido, Encinitas, Cardiff by the Sea, Solana Beach, Del Mar, Rancho Santa Fe, 4S Ranch, Santaluz, Alta Del Mar, La Jolla, Poway and Rancho Bernardo. We aren't forgetting about our East County friends in El Cajon, Blossom Valley, Lakeside and Alpine. Need help in Murrieta, Wildomar, Temecula, Fallbrook or Bonsall...we're there too.
See the above? This is what our new client was using last Wednesday to control their television before they met us. Two hours later, this is what they used after we provided them with a new solution.
One URC MX780i remote replaced all of these - San Diego home automation
One remote, two remotes, three remotes…
Where does it all end? How many remotes do you have? Let’s start with one for the TV. Two for the cable or satellite box. Three for the Blu-ray player. Four for Apple TV or Roku or whatever streaming device you choose. Five for a gaming console such as Xbox1 or Sony PS4. Six for your receiver to turn on surround sound. The list goes on and on. Now let’s try to watch TV and see what’s involved for this seemingly easy task.
1) Turn the TV on.
2) Change the TV to the correct input.
3) Turn the cable box on.
4) Turn the audio/video receiver on.
5) Turn the audio/video receiver to the correct source.
6) Sixth, turn the receiver to desired sound setting.
After three remotes, six buttons and lots of frustration you’re probably ready to throw the remotes out the window. Why not let us at Aire Theater Designs simplify your life? We can program 1 remote with 1 button push to do ALL the above. A couple of our favorite remotes are the URC MX-780 or the step-up URC MX-980. We think you'll love them as much as we do. These are just one of MANY options we offer to make your life easier through technology and home automation.
Interested? Give us a call and find out why Aire Theater Designs is San Diego's home automation and universal remote expert.
San Diego Home Theater Installers Aire Theater Designs proudly serves all of San Diego County which includes Del Cerro, Allied Gardens, Talmadge, Kensington, Hillcrest, Mission Valley, Fashion Valley, El Cajon, Blossom Valley, La Mesa, Lake Murray, Friars, North Park, Balboa Park, Clairemont, Kearny Mesa, Mission Bay, Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, Imperial Beach, Pt Loma and Downtown San Diego. We also gladly serve those in North San Diego County which includes Carlsbad, San Marcos, Vista, Elfin Forest, Oceanside, Escondido, Encinitas, Cardiff by the Sea, Solana Beach, Del Mar, Rancho Santa Fe, 4S Ranch, Santaluz, La Jolla, Poway, and Rancho Bernardo. Need help in Murrieta, Wildomar, Temecula, Fallbrook or Bonsall...we're there too.
Have you noticed that you can't just watch TV anymore? For most systems, the series of commands goes TV ON>CABLE BOX ON>AUDIO/VIDEO RECEIVER ON>TV INPUT>AUDIO/VIDEO RECEIVER INPUT>AUDIO/VIDEO RECEIVER SURROUND MODE just to watch television. What a nightmare! This process includes multiple remotes and if something gets pushed that shouldn't...you may never be able to watch TV again. However, we here at Aire Theater Designs have the cure to the above insanity...the universal remote.
URC universal remote option - Rancho Santa Fe media room and remote by Total Control
We just finished another whole-house project and the client was so pleased that he thought EVERYBODY should know about the product line. We do too. Therefore, ladies and gentlemen, below is a description of one of our main product lines for controlling all of your home technology systems...Total Control by Universal Remote Control.
A home automation system like this allows you to easily control all of your house systems such as:
Home Entertainment: Control your home theater, whole-house music, smart home and all rooms of audio/video from any area in the house. Never juggle ten remotes again to make things work. Total Control allows you to use ONE remote to control everything in the house!
Lighting Control: Want to push one button at night to turn off all the lights in the house? No problem. How about coming home from work to a completely lighted home? Yup. Want your lights to turn on during the evening hours and to turn off in the morning? With Total Control and our Lutron Caseta or Lutron RadioRA2 lighting solutions, all of these lighting situations are easily solved with the touch of a finger.
Security: Total Control allows you to monitor your home from anywhere in the world on your computer, tablet or phone. Feel comfortable knowing that your house is monitored securely and easily. We carry options from Luma, Wirepath, Nest and Ring.
Shade and Curtain Control: By partnering with Lutron, Total Control allows you to adjust the shades and curtains anywhere in the house with a single button push. Combine simple control with elegant shade solutions in different colors and styles.
Sound interesting? Contact an ATD representative today with questions and let San Diego home automation leader Aire Theater Designs show you how URC Total Control can enhance your life and decor through technology.
San Diego Home Theater Installers Aire Theater Designs proudly serves all of San Diego County which includes Del Cerro, Allied Gardens, Talmadge, Kensington, Hillcrest, Mission Valley, Fashion Valley, El Cajon, Blossom Valley, La Mesa, El Cajon, Alpine, Blossom Valley, Lake Murray, Friars, North Park, Balboa Park, Clairemont, Kearny Mesa, Mission Bay, Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, Imperial Beach, Pt Loma and Downtown San Diego. We also gladly serve those in North San Diego County which includes Carlsbad, San Marcos, Vista, Elfin Forest, Oceanside, Escondido, Encinitas, Cardiff by the Sea, Solana Beach, Del Mar, Rancho Santa Fe, 4S Ranch, Santaluz, La Jolla, Poway, and Rancho Bernardo. Universal remotes and home automation are provided in Murrieta, Temecula and Wildomar. Need help in Murrieta, Wildomar, Temecula, Fallbrook or Bonsall...we're there too.
Interviewer: "So, Mr. Tiny Eyes...what led you to choose the URC iPad universal remote app control for your whole-house system?"
Mr. Tiny Eyes: "Well, I had two problems. One, my eyes are the size of a grain of sand so seeing the screens on standard universal remotes was next to impossible. Secondly, I have surround sound, multi-room audio with speakers, lights that I wanted to control and I got really tired of juggling different remotes around to try to control everything. I can't see well enough to find them in the room let alone view the buttons. Fortunately, I talked to Aire Theater Designs in San Diego and they set me up."
Interviewer: "What did they do?"
Mr. Tiny Eyes: "They met with me, talked about what I wanted to do, brought up some technologies that sounded cool and they went to work. They programmed the URC...URC is a company called Universal Remote Control that makes universal remotes...AND a universal remote app for my iPad. This allows me to use my iPad to watch TV, control my music, turn on lighting from anywhere in the house and even watch my security cameras. The real estate on the iPad is so easy to see compared to my old remotes. Aire Theater Designs and their URC programmers did a great job."
Interviewer: "And there you have it...It doesn't matter whether you have incredibly diminutive eyeballs or just need a simple way to control all of your audio/video and home automation gear, Aire Theater Designs can help."
San Diego universal remote app programmers Aire Theater Designs proudly serves all of San Diego County especially the communities and cities of Central San Diego County which includes Rolando, SDSU, Darnall, Cerritos, Del Cerro, Allied Gardens, Talmadge, Kensington, Hillcrest, Mission Valley, Fashion Valley, La Mesa, Lake Murray, Friars, North Park, Balboa Park, Clairemont, Kearny Mesa, Mission Bay, Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, Imperial Beach, Pt Loma and Downtown San Diego. We also gladly serve those in North San Diego County which includes Carlsbad, San Marcos, Vista, Elfin Forest, Oceanside, Escondido, Encinitas, Cardiff by the Sea, Solana Beach, Del Mar, Rancho Santa Fe, 4S Ranch, Santaluz, La Jolla, Poway, and Rancho Bernardo. Need help in Murrieta, Wildomar, Temecula, Fallbrook or Bonsall...we're there too.
"Home Automation is a term that gets thrown around a lot these days. I'd like to explain what this means to you in English regarding today's toys. Our home automation options include ways to:
1) Control your toys: You can easily control all of your TVs, surround sound, DVDs, listen to music in other areas and more with a simple hand-held remote, on-wall touchpad or an iPad. Want to make your electronics simple? Combine one of these automation devices from URC, RTI or Elan with our programmers' genius and you'll soon be enjoying your toys instead of throwing a rock through the TV.
2) Control your lights: Want your lights to come on every day at sunset, regardless of daylight savings or the seasons? How about having your entryway lights turn on when you pull into your driveway? Want your Living Room to dim like the theater when you and the family turn on a movie? All of these options are available with our lighting automation products. Be energy-efficient AND enhance your life with lighting control.
3) Control your home: Simple one-touch control for your pool, HVAC, entry gate, shades, irrigation and more. We make it easy to see who's at the front door on your iPad or make sure the jacuzzi is turned up for the party tonight. It's a breeze to open all of your motorized shades downstairs while you're upstairs. You've got enough to worry about in life...you shouldn't worry about controlling your appliances and systems. Let us help!
4) Protect your home: Wouldn't it be nice to see who is at the front door on your TV when you hear the doorbell? How about talking to them through an intercom before opening the door? See what's going on in your home while you're on vacation? See what pesky kids keep picking your roses? Our CCTV/intercom options with iPad control will provide security and safety to you and your family.
We've been helping our clients in San Diego for years with home automation and universal remotes. Sound interesting? Give us a call and let us make it simple for you to enhance your life through today's technology."
San Diego Home Theater Installers Aire Theater Designs proudly serves all of San Diego County especially the communities and cities of Central San Diego County which includes Rolando, SDSU, Darnall, Cerritos, Del Cerro, Allied Gardens, Talmadge, Kensington, Hillcrest, Mission Valley, Fashion Valley, La Mesa, Lake Murray, Friars, North Park, Balboa Park, Clairemont, Kearny Mesa, Mission Bay, Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, Imperial Beach, Pt Loma and Downtown San Diego. We also gladly serve those in North San Diego County which includes Carlsbad, San Marcos, Vista, Elfin Forest, Oceanside, Escondido, Encinitas, Cardiff by the Sea, Solana Beach, Del Mar, Rancho Santa Fe, 4S Ranch, Santaluz, La Jolla, Poway, and Rancho Bernardo. Wildomar, Temecula, Murrieta, Blossom Valley, Alpine, Del Dios and Bing Crosby...we're here.
If you haven't noticed, we REALLY enjoy this stuff and want to spread the word. Here's a spot by John about one of our toys.
"Easy? Who said this stuff was easy?
That might be what you were thinking after you unpacked your new TV, AV receiver, BluRay player, HD satellite box, CD changer, AppleTV, Xbox360, iPod dock, a plethora of cables to connect everything and a half dozen or more remotes to run the show. It doesn’t look very easy so far…
That’s why we are in business… To make your entertainment system enjoyable and EASY to use!
With today’s entertainment systems utilizing four or six or more components, the easy part has slowly faded into the sunset unless you have made the decision to invest in a true control system. When I say “true control system” I mean one that will run ALL of the devices you want and operate them easily. Watching TV shouldn't be difficult...this option makes it simple.
When most people tell me what they want out of their new system, the phrase “easy to use” is always a top 3 item. What the client is really saying to me is “PLEASE DON’T MAKE ME USE 16 REMOTES!!!” We have solutions!
The most popular control system in the Aire Theater Designs arsenal is a one-two punch from the folks at Universal Remote Control or URC. But before I go into the virtues of our most popular control solution I want to tell you who URC is and why we love them.
URC has been making remote controls for more than 20 years. More than likely, you all ready have a URC remote in your home and don’t even realize it! URC makes original equipment remotes for several consumer electronics manufacturers out there, including Denon, Parasound, Mitsubishi, McIntosh, Krell, Sharp and many others. Even the remote that came with your cable box was made by URC!
Now that you know a little bit about the control professionals we like to use, I will get back to the one-two punch I mentioned earlier. The MX-980 and MRF-350 are the pieces that make up our most popular control system. The handheld unit is wand shaped and features a generously sized color LCD display with dedicated hard buttons for volume, channels, numbers, etc, a rechargeable battery and charging stand. The MRF-350 is our little secret that allows your A/V equipment to be controlled in a closed cabinet or from another room all together. That’s right; you no longer have to point the remote at anything! Throw in a little custom programming from our top-notch install team and you can hide the 16 remotes that came with everything and you will have an EASY to use A/V system!
I’m sure you’re all wondering “how much does this thing cost?” In the course of a year or so you will spend more on aspirin than this control system if you don’t get one! (that might be an exaggeration)
So the next time you want to simply watch TV with your awesome entertainment system, just press the button that says “Watch TV” and let the remote do all the dirty work!
Did I mention this can control your lights too? Call us up to find out more!"
San Diego Home Theater Installers Aire Theater Designs proudly serves all of San Diego County especially the communities and cities of Central San Diego County which includes Rolando, SDSU, Darnall, Cerritos, Del Cerro, Allied Gardens, Talmadge, Kensington, Hillcrest, Mission Valley, Fashion Valley, La Mesa, Lake Murray, Friars, North Park, Balboa Park, Clairemont, Kearny Mesa, Mission Bay, Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, Imperial Beach, Pt Loma and Downtown San Diego. We also gladly serve those in North San Diego County which includes Carlsbad, San Marcos, Vista, Elfin Forest, Oceanside, Escondido, Encinitas, Cardiff by the Sea, Solana Beach, Del Mar, Rancho Santa Fe, 4S Ranch, Santaluz, La Jolla, Poway, and Rancho Bernardo. Wildomar, Temecula, Murrieta, Blossom Valley, Alpine, Del Dios and Bing Crosby...we're here.