URC MX HomePro Programming Manual
Hide thumbs Also See for MX HomePro:

Advertisement

Quick Links

MX HomePro
Programming Guide

Advertisement

Table of Contents
loading
Need help?

Need help?

Do you have a question about the MX HomePro and is the answer not in the manual?

Questions and answers

Subscribe to Our Youtube Channel

Summary of Contents for URC MX HomePro

  • Page 1 MX HomePro Programming Guide...
  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    Add Two Way Devices to the System..............26 Using the Home Overview Display................30 Welcome to the MX HomePro Editor................1 Home Overview Description................30 Account Registration.....................1 Download to the System.....................40 Entering the Programming Key..................2 Advanced Programming....................41 Add this System to an Existing User’s Account..........3 Automate Activities in the System..............41...
  • Page 3: Welcome To The Mx Homepro Editor

    Use this editor to program all of the audio/video equipment, create automated activities (macros), automation events, and much more. This guide is design to teach all the parts of the MX HomePro Editor as well as the programming steps to get a system running.
  • Page 4: Entering The Programming Key

    ● Add this system to an existing user’s account: Use when the end-user has an existing MX HomePro account. 2. Enter the programming key into the Provide a URC Programming Key field. ● I need to create a user account: Use when the end-user does not posses an MX HomePro account.
  • Page 5: Add This System To An Existing User's Account

    Add this System to an Existing User’s Account: Enter the user’s account information in the field for username and password. If the system is being installed for someone else, then the log in credentials for their account must be obtained. Select Next and the account information is verified.
  • Page 6: I Need To Create A User Account

    I Need to Create a User Account: New MX HomePro customers are required to have an MX HomePro account. This account can be added to a Dealer/Employee account by check the box at the left of Add this system to my Dealer/Employee Account.
  • Page 7 5. Create New User Account: Enter the following information into the corresponding box: a. Temporary Password: Enter the password sent by URC’s server. b. End-User Email: Enter the end-user’s email address, assure that the end-user has access to this email account.
  • Page 8 7. Add New System: On this page, various system properties are entered into the MX HomePro system. Almost all properties here can be changed from within the MX HomePro Editor: a. What Room is it in?: Enter a room name (i.e. Living Room, Master Bedroom, Guest Room, etc.).
  • Page 9: Support Resources

    Support Resources: Embedded within the MX HomePro Editor are all the training resources to aide in programming a system, all found within the Help button. Locate the following: ● Contact Information: For additional help beyond what is provided in this menu, contact URC Technical Support via email or phone.
  • Page 10: Programming Menu Overview

    ● Program a different room: MX HomePro supports up to eight (8) rooms to a system, use this option to select another room for programming.
  • Page 11: Advanced Menu Overview

    Advanced Menu Overview: This menu houses additional options which can be utilized when programming more complex systems that require multiple controlled rooms or custom layouts. The Advanced Menu is displayed the first time you view the editor, but can be hidden from the interface.
  • Page 12 ● Integrate with an External Service: Program the system to with an external service such as Amazon Alexa. ● Program a different room: MX HomePro supports up to eight (8) rooms to a system, use this option to select another room for programming.
  • Page 13: Home Overview Display

    Home Overview Display: The overall layout and content of the system can be quickly viewed by navigating to the Home Overview display. It provides a convenient location for accessing critical information about the system and allows for changes to the system name, room name, and more.
  • Page 14: Download

    Download: Selecting Download starts updating the system with all of the programming contained within the online editor. Selecting the Start button sends the programming data from the editor to the MXHP-H500 hub and the remote control. To begin the download process, select Start.
  • Page 15: Dealer Control Panel

    ● Account Settings: Username and associated email address are displayed, along with options to change the email address or password used to login to the MX HomePro Editor. ● System Settings: Change the time zone and format settings for the system, replace a control hub, select a different system to program, or permanently delete a system from a job list.
  • Page 16: Mx Homepro Programming

    MX HomePro Programming: Once the system has been registered, it is ready to begin programming. Start by selecting the Programming Menu. 1. Add a remote to the room: Although an optional step, this button is used to assign a remote control (MXHP-R500 or MXHP-R700) to a room.
  • Page 17: Add Entertainment Devices To The System

    2. Add Entertainment devices to the system: This button is used to add devices to control in the system via IR (infrared) or IP (internet protocol), these are referred to as Entertainment Devices. a. Use the drop-down menu to locate the Device Type category of the device being programmed and select it.
  • Page 18 c. Enter a custom name for the device, this label displays on the remote control. The default name displayed is the category type that was selected on the previous page. d. Select Next. e. Select the device’s manufacturer or brand name. When the field is selected, scroll down the list or enter text into the search list to locate that manufacturer/brand name.
  • Page 19 g. Select How the device will be controlled: Select the control method being used: IR Controlled (infrared) or Network Controlled (IP). Both options are not always available, some devices do not have the option for network control, while others do not have an option for IR. The unavailable option is not selectable in software.
  • Page 20 Test the selected code set: Select the Test It! button and a window displays which allows the MX HomePro Editor to send commands over the network to the hub, then to the device being controlled. The Test these commands window allows the MX HomePro programmer to test the Power and Mute commands of the selected code set.
  • Page 21 When testing IP code sets, the IP address of the device is required in the Test these commands window. Enter the IP address into the available text field. The Port number is automatically populated from the code set. Select the Save button after completing the testing process.
  • Page 22: For Network Controlled Devices

    k. Choose the base station (hub) output setting, there are two (2) options: ● Wired IR: Select the drop-down menu and choose which emitter port is sending data to the device. ● Wireless IR: Assure that the device is in line-of-sight range for the front IR panel of the hub.
  • Page 23: Using The Search By Model Button

    Using the Search By Model Button: As mention in the previous section (page 17), when programming Entertainment devices to the system the MX HomePro Editor allows a search based on the device’s model number. 1. Quick Setup for Device Control window: 2.
  • Page 24: Favorite Channels

    Favorite Channels: When programming a TV, DVR, cable, or a satellite box there is an option that enabled the favorite channel listing to appear on the user interface that operate this device. After following all the steps mentioned in the Adding an Entertainment Device section, perform the following: 1.
  • Page 25: Setup Volume Control Fro Devices

    Select Setup volume control for devices. a. Choose one (1) or more devices from the list. This selection is to tell the MX HomePro Editor which device(s) performs all the basic control except for sound. In this example, the Cable, Blu-ray, and Apple TV devices were selected.
  • Page 26 Choose which device to use for volume control, this tells the MX HomePro Editor which device in the system is being used to control the volume when the previous device(s) is selected. In this example, the AVR is selected to perform all of the volume controls for the device’s selected in the previous step.
  • Page 27: Add An Additional Controller

    (4) IR emitters or for devices that are out of reach of a single IR blaster. Select Add an additional controller. The MX HomePro Editor automatically searches the network for an available MXHP-H500 hub. a. Enter a name for the hub so that it is easier to recognize when programming through the MX HomePro Editor.
  • Page 28: Add Two Way Devices To The System

    Entertainment devices, and the exact method varies depending on the type of device. For more detailed information on programming advanced devices please review the MX HomePro Two-way Devices Quick Reference Guide. Select Add two way devices to the system. a. Use the drop-down menu to locate the two-way device to add to the system.
  • Page 29 c. Enter a name for the device, this label appears on the user interface and is used for selecting the device. The default name for any advanced device being added to the system is the device type label. This name can be changed at any time from the Home Overview menu.
  • Page 30 ● Devices like Sonos, the MAC address of the unit must be entered manually into the MX HomePro Editor. The MAC address is not automatically discovered by the software, this information is usually found on the device itself. ● Other devices like the Nest Learning Thermostat do not require additional setup here.
  • Page 31 This option remains unavailable until an additional room has been added to the MX HomePro system. Instructions on how to add rooms to the MX HomePro Editor are found in the Advanced Menu section. When additional rooms are available, select this button to program other rooms...
  • Page 32: Using The Home Overview Display

    A key icon is next to the primary hub. This hub is associated with the URC Programming Key, it cannot be deleted from the system. Selecting the info icon displays vital information about the hub. Use it to...
  • Page 33 A trash can icon deletes a hub and is displayed next to the pencil icon, this icon is not displayed next to the primary hub. 4. Remote Control Information: Each remote control in the room is listed by model name and ID. Select the info icon to display vital information from the remote control.
  • Page 34 5. Device Information: Each device that is programmed for control in the room is listed by name, along with the brand and code set or model name if added by exact model. Trash Can Icon: use this to delete a device from the system, this process is irreversible and the device would be required to be re-added as a new device to the system.
  • Page 35 Star Icon: is displayed next to any device that can have Favorite Channels programmed to it, a filled star indicates that the device has Favorites enabled. An outlined star indicates that Favorites is currently disabled. Selecting the star opens the Favorite Channel editing window, displaying the following: Inside this window, choose whether or not to use Favorite channels.
  • Page 36 Pencil Icon: use this icon to edit the device properties The name of the device can be changed by editing the displayed text. Command Repeat settings effect how the hub sends out commands to the device. There are two (2) settings which can be adjusted here, though this is normally not required or advised unless the device is not working properly.
  • Page 37 Command Routing can be edited for IR only. IR device properties allow editing of the IR control method that the hub uses to control the device, the IR port assignment and the selection for the available controller which operates the device. Network devices allow for the editing of its IP address and network port number.
  • Page 38 Speed setting is also available only on network controlled devices. The first value controls how long the user must hold the button down before the command begins to continuously repeat. This is useful for a command like volume up. Smaller value make the repeat action begin faster. The second value controls how quickly the command repeats once the button is held down long enough for it to start, useful for controlling how quickly a command like volume, ramps the device to maximum or minimum...
  • Page 39 6. Two way devices Information: Each two-way device that is programmed in the room is listed by name. This is the name given to the device when it was added to the system or edited, not the device type name. Trash Can Icon: this deletes the device from the system and is displayed at the right, this process is irreversible and would require reprogramming.
  • Page 40 The name of the device can be changed by editing the displayed text. Two way Device Type describes what kind of device is present, this label cannot be changed in the MX HomePro Editor. Version indicates the software version of the module being used to control the actual device.
  • Page 41 7. Scheduled Entertainment Event Information: All of the Scheduled Entertainment Events which have been added to a the room appear here. Each is listed by name, there is also an indicator describing whether the even is set to on or off after the next download to the system. There are three (3) available options for Scheduled Entertainment Events: ●...
  • Page 42: Download To The System

    Download to the System: Simply open the Download tab and select the Start button when ready. For best results have all the hubs powered and connected to the network as well as any of the optional remote controls.. A window with an indicator appears when the download has begun. This indicator disappears once the download has completed.
  • Page 43: Advanced Programming

    Advanced Programming: The Advanced Menu contains the tools needed when programming goes beyond a single room solution. Use this menu to make one button automated activities (macros) to perform multiple system commands, add additional rooms for control, edit the look of the user interface, and more.
  • Page 44 2. Choose the type of automated activity to program, there are four (4) options to choose from: ● Turn off all devices in this room: This is intended to turn off all programmed devices in the room with only one (1) button press. This can only be programmed to the Off button.
  • Page 45 3. Construct the automated activity by using the Automated Activity Editing screen to select which commands from the various devices in the room to record and add to the command list. Add any commands that suit the needs of the devices in the room. Select Next when complete. The example provided at the right displays the process of creating an Automated Activity to select a device in this room.
  • Page 46 4. After completing the macro steps, the editor grants the option to display a Done/Help screen at the end of its process. Think of this as a safety net which can be used to correct issues that result if devices miss one or more power and/or input commands.
  • Page 47 5. When programming a Scheduled Entertainment Event, there is no Done/Help screen available. Instead, select when the event is to occur. There are two (2) options for each event: ● When manually selected by the user: Select this option to have the Entertainment Even occur when the end-user selects it and schedules it from the Entertainment Menu.
  • Page 48 6. After completing the automated activity, a new screen appears with the following two (2) options: ● Continue programming: This option returns to the list of automated activity types to choose from so that they can quickly begin programming another in the same room. ●...
  • Page 49: Edit Your Automated Activities

    Edit your automated activities: Select this option to edit previously created Automated Activities. Although some features are not enabled for all automated activity types, the general layout is the same. Each feature is described below: ● Command List: Displays all the device commands and delays which have been added to the Automated Activity.
  • Page 50 Command List Cont… They are displayed in the step by step order in which they are sent to the devices with the first step appearing at the top and the last at the bottom. ○ Device Command Steps: Each device command step is listed by device name and command function name.
  • Page 51 ● Device Command Selection: Use this area to select any device command function from any device in the room and add it to the command list: �Device: Select the desired device from the drop down list. �Add: Select to add the command function to the command list. The drop down menu displays all the available commands in the code set added to the system.
  • Page 52 ● Special Functions: Add a special function to the automated activity by selecting this button. This displays a window that has the following options: �Variables: May be used in countless advanced programming methods. There are two types of variables that can be selected for use in automated activities.
  • Page 53 New True/False variables have two (2) possible states: True or False. New String variables are set to a given text string. This can be any group of characters desired.
  • Page 54 New Integer variables are set to a given name and numerical value, usually one (1) or zero (0).
  • Page 55 When creating either type of new variable, it must be given a name and a default state. True/False variables must be set to either true or false and String variables must have at least one (1) character entered into the value field.
  • Page 56 The variable is displayed in the command list with VAR to indicate that it is a variable, followed by the variable name and the value that is set when the automated activity is used. The variable function can be re- positioned in the command list just like any other function.
  • Page 57 �If/Else: This allows the automated activity macro to be branched on the state of a variable. In other words, If a certain condition exists to do one thing, Else do another. The condition is tracked by a variable that was previously created.
  • Page 58 Once a selection is made, the If/Else is placed into the command list, the branches display as such on the right. Add additional commands to each branch, the If/Else only runs the commands that are correct based on the variable condition that was selected.
  • Page 59 Add delay. Enter the amount of time in seconds for the automation to pause. The MX HomePro Editor supports a delay from 0.1-99.9 seconds. ● Add a jump to: Select this button to add a step that tells the user interface to change the screen for controlling a particular device.
  • Page 60 ● Test: Select this button to test the steps in the automated activity by having the commands sent to the devices by the hub. After selecting Test, a window appears and list out each macro step. While the test is in progress, each step indicates its status when its turn arrives. Keep in mind that this test is running through the Internet, so the timing of these steps may not be the same as when the macro is triggered by the interface.
  • Page 61 ● Delete All Steps: Select this button to delete all of the steps in the automated activity. A confirmation notification appears on the screen, selecting Yes permanently erases all the steps from the automated activity. Selecting No returns the screen to the previous screen.
  • Page 62: Editing Previously Created Automated Activities

    Editing Previously Created Automated Activities: Editing an automated activity which was previously created is very similar to the method used to create it. 1. Advanced Menu: Select Edit your automated activities.
  • Page 63 2. Choose an Automated Activity to edit. Select from buttons on the Entertainment Menu or the room’s Power Off activity. Browse through available activities by using the page buttons on the bottom of the list. If the button has not been programmed with an automated activity it is not selectable and appears as a gray text on a white background.
  • Page 64: Adding Additional Rooms

    Select Add a room to the system. 3. Enter a name for the room being added to the system. The MX HomePro Editor automatically searches the network for an unassigned hub and displays it in this menu. 4. Select Finish.
  • Page 65: Editing The Entertainment Menu

    Editing the Entertainment Menu: Alter the look of the Entertainment Menu for every room in the system. The button images and text can be changed to give the desired look. 1. Advanced Menu: Select Edit the Entertainment Menu. 2. This list represents the buttons on the Entertainment Menu of the room selected.
  • Page 66 3. After selecting a button there are two (2) editing options: ● Pencil: Select to edit the button. ● Trash Can: Select to delete the button and the device it represents. 4. The Pencil icon presents the following options: ● Edit the Button Name: Select the text field and enter the label, this edits what appears on the user interface.
  • Page 67 Select an image and confirm it using the Select button. This sets that new image as the button icon on the user interface. 5. Reorder the button in the Entertainment Menu by dragging a menu item up or down on the list. Release the button once it is in the proper position. 6.
  • Page 68: Editing A Device's Layout

    Editing a Device’s Layout: After adding a device to the system it is ready to use after downloading. However, if there is still room for improvement this option can alter the layout of any device that has been programmed on the Entertainment Menu. The button positions and text can be changed or deleted entirely.
  • Page 69 3. The Device Editing screen display. When the screen first opens it displays the first page of menu buttons that appear on the user interface. Hard buttons can also be viewed by selecting the Hard Buttons tab at the right of Menu Pages. Move through the available groups of these buttons by using the numbered page indicators below the button layout.
  • Page 70 5. Add additional menu pages by selecting the Add a new page button If any pages are left blank, the MX HomePro Editor automatically deletes it. 6. Select the Hide pages button to hide any pages that the user does not need access to.
  • Page 71 7. Select an empty button space to reveal the advanced Device Editing options in the MX HomePro Editor: ● Add a button: Allows the programmer to add a new button to the current device’s layout. ● Add from navigator: Allows the programmer to add a button from almost any code set from the IR navigator or, when using IP, IP navigator.
  • Page 72: Device Layout Editing Screen

    Device Layout Editing Screen: The main points are described below: When choosing to change the way that a device looks when it is used on the user interface, use the Device Layout Editing Screen to do so. ● Button Type Selection: Select the button type to display in the simulator.
  • Page 73 Button Swapping: Use the swap function to move a button to another page Selecting a blank space is also possible. In this case the original button from the one it is on or to move hard button command. moves to the blank space and there is no button where the original was located.
  • Page 74 Button Function Editing: To change the text label on a selected button or change the command assigned to it, select the pencil icon to edit it. From the window that opens, add button text label by selecting the field text and entering what needs to be displayed or edit the text that is already present.
  • Page 75 Deleting a Button: To remove a button, simply select the trash con icon to delete it. A window open for confirmation, select yes to permanently delete the button. Deleting the button does remove it from the user interface, but the device command function is not deleted.
  • Page 76 Hiding a Button: In some instances, deleting a button is not always what is best. For those cases, prevent that button from displaying on the user interface by using the hide button option. Once hidden, the button does not appear on the user interface, this process can be undone by deselecting the Hide button option.
  • Page 77 Data Repeat Settings: When selecting a button the data repeat options are visible. Most of the times these can and should be left at their default state. However, in certain situations they need to be changed to a custom setting for an individual button to improve performance.
  • Page 78 Hiding Pages: There may be times when an entire menu page of buttons needs to be hidden. Select the Hide pages button and select the pages to hide. From the Hide pages menu, select the menu pages to hide on the user interface. Whenever a page is hidden, a *Hidden Page* text is labeled below it.
  • Page 79 Adding a New Page: Select Add a new page and an additional blank menu page is added after the last page. If any page is left completely blank, the editor automatically removes it.
  • Page 80 Adding a Button: Choose an empty button space then select the Add a button option. In the edit window enter a name for the new button and then assign a command function to it by selecting one from the list. Use the “Test It!”...
  • Page 81 Mapped Commands: The Done Screen feature organizes power and input commands to make it easier for a user to enjoy the system and stop worrying about finding commands on the user interface. To speed up assembling of the Done Screen, choose to designate mapped commands for power and input on devices.
  • Page 82: Learning Codes From An Ir Remote

    Learning Codes from an IR Remote: The hub has the ability to learn most IR commands from other remote controls and then store them so that they can be used by your system to operate the original device. Learning IR commands, though a powerful feature, is a last resort. Remember the following when learning IR commands: ●...
  • Page 83 2. Decide where in the system to save the learned commands to and select Next. Learn commands to either an existing device in the system or create an entirely new device. If there are database codes that work the device but are missing some functions, the save time by learning codes to that existing device.
  • Page 84 4. If learning IR commands to an existing device, select which device to learn IR data to. Select the device to learn to and click on Next. 5. Select exactly what button to store the learned command to. Use the button simulator for this. Pick a blank button or a button that already has command data on it.
  • Page 85 6. The Learning IR window opens and the hub is readied to accept IR commands into the front panel lens. ● Status: The status of the learning system is displayed at the top of the window. This informs on whether the system is prepared to learn a command of if there is some problem.
  • Page 86 ● Learning Codes: Across the bottom of the window are the control buttons for operating the learning functions. From left to right, these are described below: Retry: This restarts the learning process, it can be used when attempting to relearn the current butt or if there was an error and the learning process did not start Skip: this skips the current button attempting to be learned on and selects the next one in line.
  • Page 87: Integrate With An External Service

    Integrate with an External Service: MX HomePro supports Amazon Alexa integration for voice control. Through the usage of the URC Smart Home Skill, Alexa can control almost any macro with voice control. Full details on Alexa Integration can be found in the Voice Integration Guide...
  • Page 88: Program A Different Room

    Keep in mind, this button only becomes active when an two (2) or more rooms are present in the MX HomePro Editor. Select this button to program a different room in the MX HomePro Editor (see below). Once a room has been selected, click on Select.

Table of Contents