Remote Hell

[Dhanu]

whats wrong with just using mce remote it can be programed to turn tv on and off (learning not code)
Gbpvr does everything else so theres no need for any other remote is there
i used to have all sorts of remotes but now just have the one
no bells and whistles needed it turns the tv on and off then controls gbpvr which does the rest

Hi All,

I bought a used hauppauge PVR-500 card from ebay and I'm building a PVR using Dell Precision 340 with Windows XP Home.
Currently I use RadioShack 5-in-1 remote (15-2115) with my Toshiba TV. (I don't have any other fancy equiqment)

1. I have a IR mouse that I don't use now. Can I use the IR receiver of that with my remote to control GB-PVR ?

2. If that doesn't work can I buy a cheap IR receiver from ebay and use it with my remote? If so what IR receiver do I need to buy?

3. If above two solutions won't work, I'm looking for a cheap remote from ebay. There are so many models and brands like,
- Sony RM-VL600
- DELL Remote Control Kit For Media Center Edition 2005
- Windows Media Center Remote
- HP Windows Media Center Remote Control
What remotes do I need to look in to? (You don't have to suggest one of the above. I just gave some examples.)

If I can use this remote for my Toshiba TV also, that would be great. But even if it's not I'm ok with it.

4. I think RF remotes are better than IR remote. I saw some Direct TV remotes on ebay. Will they work with GB-PVR?

[-Oz-]

Hi All,
1. I have a IR mouse that I don't use now. Can I use the IR receiver of that with my remote to control GB-PVR ?

I doubt it.

2. If that doesn't work can I buy a cheap IR receiver from ebay and use it with my remote? If so what IR receiver do I need to buy?

I made mine: http://www.lirc.org/receivers.html You can then use ircfg or girder or HIP to translate the codes into keypresses. I do something similar: http://gbpvr.com/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Hardw...echHarmony

4. I think RF remotes are better than IR remote. I saw some Direct TV remotes on ebay. Will they work with GB-PVR?

RF won't talk to your TV but it will go through walls. My IR remote worked from over 50ft line of sight.

[Dhanu]

I made mine: http://www.lirc.org/receivers.html You can then use ircfg or girder or HIP to translate the codes into keypresses. I do something similar: http://gbpvr.com/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Hardw...echHarmony

I'm not an hardware guy. So If I buy an IR receiver will GBPVR work with my RadioShack 5-in-1 remote?

If not please give me an answer to question 3.
Please note that I have Windows XP Home

Thanks

[-Oz-]

I'm not an hardware guy. So If I buy an IR receiver will GBPVR work with my RadioShack 5-in-1 remote?

If not please give me an answer to question 3.
Please note that I have Windows XP Home

Thanks

This is what I would buy: http://www.usbuirt.com/ But it is expensive but will do a more than the one I built and it runs through usb. Its advantage over prepackaged remotes is you can use it with any IR remote. On the other hand you could simple get an MCE remote for about the same cost.

EDIT: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...e%2bremote that is an MCE remote that may work out of the box with gb-pvr. Sub would have to let you know if that is one of the configurations that would work. Edit 2: Comments appear to say that it doesn't work under Win XP.

[flyswatta]

I'm not an hardware guy. So If I buy an IR receiver will GBPVR work with my RadioShack 5-in-1 remote?


Thanks

The quick answer is yes, but it may take some extra work on your part to get it working. I bought a serial receiver off ebay for $5, and had it working with winlirc and ira (both free solutions) and a universal remote that I already had ( I just used a random dvd device code), however, it took a while along with some patience to get it working. Essentially the software mapped the IR input from the remote to keystrokes.

Something similar should work with the radio shack remote, but YMMV.

I haven't messed with this stuff in a while so there may be an easier way about it these days.

[Dhanu]

Hmmm... Seems to me like I'm better off buying a new remote. So I'll repeat the last question here.

I'm looking for a cheap remote from ebay. There are so many models and brands like,
- Sony RM-VL600
- DELL Remote Control Kit For Media Center Edition 2005
- Windows Media Center Remote
- HP Windows Media Center Remote Control
What remotes do I need to look in to? (You don't have to suggest one of the above. I just gave some examples.)

If I can use this remote for my Toshiba TV also, that would be great. But even if it's not I'm ok with it.

Also I have Windows XP Home, and some ebay sellers has mentioned that MCE remote only works with Windows XP Media Edition. Is this true?

[flyswatta]

Oh, I also noticed that you said something about RF remotes. Speaking from experience, I wouldn't try it. You *could* use an RF remote that goes to a RF receiving base unit that translates it to IR, then IR Blasts the IR Receiver, which would in turn be read by your software, then translated into keystrokes, but thats like going around your elbow to get to your rear end.

[flyswatta]

I just looked up the 500 on Hauppauge and it doesn't look like it has a built in IR Receiver. (I could be wrong on this, someone with more 500 experience please correct me if I'm wrong)

Sooooo, it looks like your issue isn't the remote, it's getting an IR receiver that will accept the signal from the remote and software to translate that signal to something your pc will understand. That is your issue.

You basically have three choices,
1. get a serial ir receiver
2. get a usb ir receiver. Most people have really good luck with the USB ones, especially since it's getting hard to find serial ports on PCs these days.
3. get a new remote designed for a PC - these usually have a receiver and software with it. Not sure if they are universal to where they could also control other devices.

[-Oz-]

flyswatta, you're not wrong, no ir receiver on the 500. he wants to know which remote to buy.

in general i'd say go for the windows mce remote and receiver that you appear to be able to find off ebay. It should work out of the box with gb-pvr with little to no modifications neccessary.

[Dhanu]

@flyswatta & Oz
Thanks for the info

in general i'd say go for the windows mce remote and receiver that you appear to be able to find off ebay. It should work out of the box with gb-pvr with little to no modifications neccessary.

Oki...cool
which means if I buy any MCE receiver (even if its HP, Gateway, etc...) it would work with XP Home and GBPVR