Choice of remote control

[CaptainVideo]

I'm not sure if this would work for you but you could go the JP1 route with a Kameleon remote from One-for-All or Radio Shack. Its a touch screen remote that removes unused buttons from the screen. I'm not sure it would suite your needs but it might. check it out : http://www.ofausa.com/remote.php?type=URC%209960

Are you still interested in the method I used to reprogram my universial remote?

I'm interested!!! I'm trying to keep this cheap, so if I can use the PVR-150 dongle thingy that's great.

However, don't TV devices and computer devices use separate frequencies? The Hauppauge docs say it can't read TV remote signals, supposedly meaning it is on the PC side of the spectrum.

Will JP1 remotes work at the PVR-150's frequency? Is there something I should look for?

Finally, are there any good universal remotes with functions PVR users would like? Like arrow keys, and 2 sets of ffwd/rev keys?

Thanks!

[A_Brass]

However, don't TV devices and computer devices use separate frequencies? The Hauppauge docs say it can't read TV remote signals, supposedly meaning it is on the PC side of the spectrum.

Will JP1 remotes work at the PVR-150's frequency? Is there something I should look for?

Finally, are there any good universal remotes with functions PVR users would like? Like arrow keys, and 2 sets of ffwd/rev keys?

Thanks!

I think I can answer some of your questions. A universal (learning) remote can handle the MCE or Hauppauge remote codes just fine. The hauppauge remote uses RC5 Philips remote codes (I think the MCE does too). In some cases they are the same codes that control TV's. I think the first Hauppauge remote(black) had this problem. So sending the codes are not a problem. You might need a learning remote to "decode" which RC5 code is being used. Then you can construct your own code set and assign functions to buttons using the JP1 software tools.

As far as remotes go I have had good luck with the One-for-all URC-8910 and a Radio Shack model (its not currently listed on the website). I if you want extra range try the One-for-All URC 9910 It has a a RF extender, so it works from 100 feet away. The 8910 and 9910 have plenty of buttons for me. It has the two sets of FFW and RRW buttons your asked about.

I found the site that gave me the info I needed to reprogram my remote.
Check out this stuff from the Sage TV forum:
Extend Remote.ini and use JP1 Remote

On this post you will find instructions on adding more functions to the remote.ini and using JP1 to program a u-remote to replace your Hauppauge or MCE remote.

If you go this route don't bother decodeing the Hauppuge remote. I have already done it. I can send you the JP1 file. But you will still need the tools described in the Sage TV post.

Another advantage of this using this method is its not just a replacement for your Hauppuage remote. You can add more buttons by assigning unused RC5 codes to your remote. Once done you can add the new code to the Remote.ini file and assign a function to it.
I did this to add an aspect ratio change to my remote. I added rc5 code 19. assigned it to a button. Edited the remote.ini so code 19 is the same as the f7 key. You could also make any JP1 remote function like a Hauppauge 45 button remote even if you didn't have the real 45 button remote.

Check out the Sage Post and try to Make some sence of it. When you have questions let me know. It took me a while to get it all working. Just make sure if you do the JP1 route you get a rermote with enough buttons to have all the functions you want. If you get really confused or just dont want to bother I might be able to do it for you.

One more thing, some digital cable and satliite remotes are JP1. So you might already have what you need. Look under the battery cover for a 6 pin jumper header.

[A_Brass]

Has anyone made any progress with a universal remote? Just wondering if anyone found it useful.

I also have a question somone might be able to answer about MCE remote's.
Will the MCE remote/receiver work with WinXP (none MCE)? Has anyone tried this? Does GBPVR respond to the MCE remote?

Along the same lines does anyone know of a cheap USB remote or infared receiver?

I have a laptop PC running GB PVR but it doesn't have a Tuner or remote. I use it to watch my recordings in another room. I'm looking for a cheap remote soltuion. (I have already built a "simple IR serial receiver" but I'm not happy with the preformance).

Any thoughts/suggestions?

[CaptainVideo]

Wow A Brass! Thanks! That's a lot of good information. Thank you!

I was up until midnight getting my PVR hooked up in the living room (was in basement). Now the fan noise is driving my wife nuts. Fixing that, rather than getting a remote that I can configure to operate everything, is my top priority.

[CaptainVideo]

Something that has been bugging me:

If your remote is going to be used in the living room on components sitting in front of you, does it make any sense to get one of those universal remotes that's really RF remote with an IR repeater?

It seems to me you'd need to position the blaster where you are sitting anway. AND plug it in, or add batteries. Is it me, or does this sound like more trouble than it is worth?

[A_Brass]

Something that has been bugging me:

If your remote is going to be used in the living room on components sitting in front of you, does it make any sense to get one of those universal remotes that's really RF remote with an IR repeater?

It seems to me you'd need to position the blaster where you are sitting anway. AND plug it in, or add batteries. Is it me, or does this sound like more trouble than it is worth?

My first universal remote was on of the IR/RF units. Which is actually a IR/RF remote and and a RF receiver/IR transmitter. In other words the remote works as an IR remote and has the repeater which works great if your in another room. As long as you position the RF/IR repeater in the right spot.

That being said, I found I didn't use the repeater very often. When I did use it from another room I would leave it lying around and spend 2 hours looking for it. So the next remote I bought I didn't bother with the RF/IR unit, and I dont really take it out of the living room.

[cheval]

Attached is the rmdu (remote master device upgrade file) that I created for the 45 button remote. It contains all of the buttons found on the original Hauppauge remote. The buttons are then mapped onto an old One For All universal remote URC-6800. The remote they are mapped onto really doesn't matter that much since you will want to arrange the buttons on your JP1 compatible remote the way YOU like them.

There is actually a very good tutorial found here: http://www.hifi-remote.com/jp1/help/index.shtml

It will walk you through all the steps required to get this loaded onto your JP1 remote .

The one comment regarding making a cable is questionable. If you look for the plans on how to build a parrallel port JP1 cable it rather straight forward. Even for people with NO solder electronics experience it was easy! The easiest thing was simply going into the local electronics parts store and asking them for the parts. They talk that the hardest part to find is a 6 pin connector to connect the wire JP1 cable to the remote. That part is true. However, I was lucky (and I think most people would be) that the opening around my remotes connector is big enough to use a 10pin connector (I can't remember what they are called but it basically the same as a motherboard USB connecter that has two rows of 5 pin connections. [here is a picture of one: http://www.computercablestore.com/detail.aspx?ID=1017 ]).

The latest remotemaster software can be found here: http://controlremote.sourceforge.net/
The latest ir.exe can be found here: http://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/ (in the software forum).

In fact everything can be download from that last link (all the RDF maps and images you will need, etc....). http://www.hifi-remote.com seems to have taken over as the most complete source of information on JP1 remotes.

[cheval]

Caught up on some of the other replies just now and have to really agree about the URC-8910 or URC-9910. Both remotes have a lot of buttons. Using the power of JP1 it really doubles the number of keys by allowing you to use shift key patterns. Basically it gives you a shift key on your remote simular to the shift key on the keyboard. If you then upgrade the remote using the 8910 extender, you can now get an additional double shift set of buttons. The only problem being that you have to remember what those keys do .

[cheval]

The reason I bought the URC-9910 which does both RF/IR (never tested the RF to an RF receiver) was that having the PC running GBPVR in the living room was never going to be acceptable to my wife (or me). The noise from the fans was to loud. I suppose I could have spent another 200-300 getting a case and fans to quite the thing down. However, I decided it was easier to throw the entire thing in the garage and run a few wires through the wall.

If the Hauppauge MVP was more stable (it has been better recently) I would have gone that route. Its serving as the link in the play room.

[A_Brass]

Glad to see someone else found the OFA 8910/9910. I think its a great replacment for the 45 button remote.

On your remote what buttons did you map the Red, Green, Yellow, Blue to?

I used the L1, L2, L3, and L4. I mapped the Radio, Pictures and one other button to the Macro buttons. I also mapped F7(GBPvr aspect change) to the PIP button. I couldnt really think of any other place to put it. Maybe TV/Video.