URC Bows First Weather-Resistant Remote Control

URC fans who like it wet will finally get their splash-proof remote!

The maker of universal remotes and whole-house controls systems will demonstrate its first ever water-resistant remote during CEDIA 2011.

The new URC MXW-920 is a one-way RF controller with a monochrome LCD display. Its design is similar to the popular MX-900 with “improved transport functionality,” the company says.

And if you can program an MX-900 or KP-900, you don’t need to learn anything new. The weatherproof version is programmed exactly the same way, and employs the same 418MHz URC hubs.

You won’t want to take the new device scuba diving, though. It has water resistance ratings of JIS Class 4, IP-class 54. It can withstand “dust deposits” and “splashed water,” but not “complete, continuous submersion in water.”

So what took URC so long? URC marketing director Jon Sienkiewicz tells CE Pro that the company simply had higher priorities.

“We understand that the demand for water-resistant remotes is real, but it’s also real small compared to the demand for other products we offer," he says. "Remember, we’ve sold more than 90 million remotes over the past 10 years alone.”

In any case, quality control for waterproof products was new territory for URC.

Sienkiewicz explains, “It took longer to develop the MXW-920 because significantly more testing was necessary to assure that the chassis and battery cover are, indeed, water resistant. We don’t test regular landlubber remotes as thoroughly for water resistance.”

URC has not released pricing for the MXW-920 but rumor has it the remote will sell for roughly the same price as the MX-900, which retails for $449.

At CEDIA, URC will introduce three new one-way remotes and some new products for the Total Control line (multiroom audio, energy management, lighting control, cameras).


URC MXW-920 splash-proof remote debuts at CEDIA Expo 2011