Universal Remote Control

1. Program download (Power key + Stop key)
2. Adjust Contrast (CH keys)
That means there isn't any memory in the MX-1000 unit, in which case you would have to download our default software from our website and install it into the MX-1000.

1. Go to www.universalremote.com and select 'Home Theater Master.'
2. Press Products
3. Look for MX-1000 - Downloads - PC Editing Software
4. Click Download Software
5. Follow on-screen instructions

To download default software:

1. Open MX-Designer Software
2. Make sure RS-232 serial port cable is plugged into PC/MX-1000
3. Go to 'Tools'
4. Go to 'Download'
5. [touch LCD screen if it went blank] Press Power key and Stop key at the same time
6. Press OK on the PC
7. Scroll bar will be progressing on the PC while it is progressing on the remote control. When it is done, press 'Close' on your PC. Your MX-1000 is all set to be programmed now.

You may need to do a 'Touch Pad Alignment' on the remote control. Scroll up to #1 - Touch Pad Alignment, enter, and follow the instructions.

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.

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.

The MX-1000 IR commands are rated at 40 to 60 feet.

What is the benefit of the MX-1000 touchscreen?

The MX-1000 can operate up to 12 home theater Devices. The Touchscreen provides access to many more functions than a standard button remote. This is because each Device has four display screens associated with it, and each screen, or Page, can have up to 14 distinct buttons and commands. This means you can effectively have 64 commands per device, plus the 13 hard button commands and five joystick commands, for a total of 82 commands per Device. To access a command, you simply touch a button on the touchscreen display.

How would I access the individual device, if there are so many screens and buttons?

The MX-1000'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.

Chances are pretty good. The Library of pre-programmed 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. If you are unsure whether the MX-1000 can control all your devices, please contact our technical support department or phone us at (800) 901-0800.

Does the MX-1000 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 the same 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 Device code, and you find one or more that is effective on your system, you can use the MX Designer software to transfer the command functionality.

What about macros?

A Macro capability allows a device to assemble a string of commands that work off a single button. The MX-1000 has a generous capacity for remotes.

Each Device button can handle up to 28 commands; the three M buttons can each be programmed for 14 commands at a time, and up to 60 Favorite channel buttons can be created to hold up to 14 commands each.

"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 two or three digits. In fact, you can set the FAV channel buttons to switch to TV first, if you happen to be using a different device at the time. Even better, you can program any of the FAV buttons to switch inputs on any device, such as your AV receiver, so that by simply pressing one button, you are automatically taken to the device you want. The FAV channel buttons are really a set of powerful Macro keys.

Sometimes on my current remote, the time between macro commands is too short.

Macros can easily be set on the MX-1000 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.

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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-1000 can use any Macro button as a Home Theater command; in fact, you can design your own shape and size of button, and include it on any Device Page… or several.

Can I draw buttons with the MX-1000

The MX-1000 comes pre-loaded with a standard set of buttons in a variety of shapes, such as channel buttons, up, down, left and right arrows, and so on. You can design your own buttons and shapes using the MX Designer Software, available on this website.

How do I use the MX-Designer Software?

MX-Designer runs on Windows 95, 98, ME, NT and 2000. It includes a number of drawing tools for designing and editing buttons. These buttons can be saved for use on any MX-1000; in fact, your library of Designer files can be used on anyone else's MX-1000 remote as well.

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I have designed some button shapes in my favorite drawing package. Can I use these in MX-Designer, and see them on my remote?

At present, Home Theater Master is working on a Converter Program that will allow you to convert bitmaps (.bmp) files into Button files for inclusion in your MX-1000 system files. Check this site frequently for software updates.

Can I use color in my buttons?

No, color is not an option at present. Rather, four shades of white through black are used. When you consider that a regular remote control generally uses black buttons with white labels, you can see that four colors gives you quite a variety of looks for your newly-designed buttons.

So how do I get my "Newly-Designed Buttons" into the MX-1000 remote control?

Every MX-1000 Universal Learning Remote Control comes packaged with a special cable to attach your remote to your PC's serial port. This connection allows for very quick uploads and downloads of system files between your remote and the MX Designer software. Full instructions are provided in the MX Designer User Guide, available on this site.

You can create a new "Main" Page for all your Devices, and have the remote default to it as Main 1. These Main buttons can then be changed and redesigned, whereas the original Main Page buttons cannot be changed (although the text labels can).

How do I create the "Main 1" page?

Using the MX Designer software, select any MAIN Page button and right-click to access the "Send to Main 1" menu item. A new Main 1 master Page is automatically created. To create a Main 1 Page using the MX-1000 remote control, refer to the manual.

I have designed my buttons prior to the availability to the new MX Designer. Do I have to re-design or re-learn all my buttons?

No. MX Designer includes an extensive Import capability to convert your older MXOP files into one contiguous Designer file. The Import function even cleans up any anomalies in the older files.

The MX-1000 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-1000 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-1000 remote control retains it's programmed memory for months, even without batteries.

How do I reset the remote if it retains its memory?

There is a Reset button located in the battery compartment. Resetting the remote will completely restore the factory default displays and effectively remove all learned commands. To Reset the remote, press the Reset button all the way down and hold for several seconds. Then, remove the batteries and repeat. Finally, reinstall the batteries and repeat. This methodical method of resetting will restore your remote to its original state.

A Device code library is built in to the MX-1000's ROM. To access the code library, you select a specific portion of the library during the setup process. Each Device library is held under a Device name, as indicated by the default Device layout Main page when you enable the remote for the very first time.

Since you can physically change Device labels on the remote, you may have changed one of the default Device names. For example, you may have changed the default "VCR" label to "DVD" because you prefer to operate your DVD player from that button. However, the master Device code library for all brands of VCR must still be accessed from the original location of the default VCR Device button.

In this case, to program a new VCR, you would select your new VCR button as the first step, and select the DVD Device button as the second step.

Refer to the illustration of the default Main Device screen in your owner's manual to rediscover the actual locations of the Device code libraries.

This happens when you have used the "Punch Through" feature of the MX-1000. Punch Through allows you to assign any of the above-mentioned buttons to operate independently of the actual Device selected. So, for example, you can use your Receiver for volume control even though you are watching TV, without having to select Receiver as the Device in use. When Punch Through is enabled, the keys affected are controlled by the alternative device. As well, these keys cannot be "taught" from another remote while in Punch Through mode. Check to see if you have setup Punch Through for one of the Devices that does not appear to be responding. You can cancel Punch Through by going to the Punch menu item, selecting the function (Vol, Ch, or Nav) and pressing the desired Device button twice. Then, return to normal operation to ensure that the procedure was successful.