Which remote control, IR tx/rx ?

[zehd]

Hello to all:

I think I have my PVR all planned out but I'm trying to find out which direction to go with remote controls. I've been having a hard time finding advanced information on the various remotes, IR, and RF, transmitters, receivers etc.

I will be having a server box with two PVR150s (OEM), two STBs connected by s-video to the PVR cards. The STBs are DCT 2000 and DCT 2500 cable boxes from Shaw Cable.

I have a TV, Audio Receiver, and DVD that I also want to remote control. Originally I was drooling for a Harmony remote because of the one key macros I could create. (one 'Movie Key' would turn on TV, DVD, and Receiver, set Receiver to 5.1, adjust sound, turn TV's OSD clock off)

I think I read somewhere that the Harmony is difficult to use with GB PVR. Maybe I have to config the config file...

Anyway, I'm getting mixed info on the IR receiver-transmitter that comes with the PVR150 card (might not come with the OEM version) - Don't even know what it's properly called!

Does it connect to USB or the PVR card itself?
How would I tell the computer or GB PVR to control a certain DCT? How would I differentiate between the two cable boxes...?

Is the main concept that my remote beams to the computer's receiver, than the computer transmit other IR codes to peripherals?

Is it true that the IR technology for AV Remotes is different and incompatible with IR Mouse/Keyboard technology?

My first choice was to get a Firefly. (Don't NEED RF but it's nice :-) )

Then I heard of the 'All For One' remote. WinMCE remote... Hauppauge...

All of these would probably work OK for one device (computer) but can they be programmed to control other devices too?

Believe it or not, I'm pretty good at writing documentation and if I'm able to get some good info, I'll collect it, and post it on the wiki...

Any help would be greatly appreciated...

Frank

PS. What I might have to do is buy all of remotes, play with them, write down the info and then return the devices. But that seems pretty lame. I'd rather not bang my head against the wall...

[A_Brass]

Ok, I'll give you what I know, which is not a complete answer.

I have a TV, Audio Receiver, and DVD that I also want to remote control. Originally I was drooling for a Harmony remote because of the one key macros I could create. (one 'Movie Key' would turn on TV, DVD, and Receiver, set Receiver to 5.1, adjust sound, turn TV's OSD clock off)

If you want total control over all devices you will need a universal remote. I understand the Harmony will work (don't have one, so don't ask for help). I use a One-for-All and JP1 (a program/hack to reconfigure an off the shelf remote). It runs all my devices, GBPVR, DVD, Home Theater, VCR and TV.

Anyway, I'm getting mixed info on the IR receiver-transmitter that comes with the PVR150 card (might not come with the OEM version) - Don't even know what it's properly called! ...

The ir reciver/blaster is different depending on which card you get.

The PVR150 retail has a built in receiver/blaster. The cable has two dongles and plugs into the 150 card via mini jack. One dongle(gray one) is the receiver the other black/red is the blaster. It must be placed right on your STB ir sensor.

The PVR150MCE comes in two forms. One is a just the card OEM style no remote no blaster. The other is a upgrade pack with a MCE remote and MCE ir receiver/blaster. The receiver balster is USB and works on WinXP-SP2 and WinMCE. It can also be made to work on other systems with HIP or Girder.

I have both so if you have questions please ask away.

Does it connect to USB or the PVR card itself?
How would I tell the computer or GB PVR to control a certain DCT? How would I differentiate between the two cable boxes...?...

Not sure, I don't use STB's. I think you can set which blaster to use for which channels in the config.

Is the main concept that my remote beams to the computer's receiver, than the computer transmit other IR codes to peripherals?..

To STB or VCR's (maybe). "peripherrals" to wide a term. It wont operate your DVD, or TV, unless you add a 3rd party app like HIP or Girder.

Is it true that the IR technology for AV Remotes is different and incompatible with IR Mouse/Keyboard technology?

I don't think so. I have heard Universal remotes can read the codes from IR keyboard's but IR keyboards are getting hard to find. (At least cheap ones).

My first choice was to get a Firefly. (Don't NEED RF but it's nice :-) )

Then I heard of the 'All For One' remote. WinMCE remote... Hauppauge...

All of these would probably work OK for one device (computer) but can they be programmed to control other devices too?

See above. One-For-All - yes, Harmony - yes, Hauppauge - Nope, MCE - maybe with 3rd party App's.

PS. What I might have to do is buy all of remotes, play with them, write down the info and then return the devices. But that seems pretty lame. I'd rather not bang my head against the wall...

Oh, don't do that. Lots of us have done the head banging already. Just search the forum.

Good luck.

[bungle]

The PVR150MCE comes in two forms. One is a just the card OEM style no remote no blaster. The other is a upgrade pack with a MCE remote and MCE ir receiver/blaster. The receiver balster is USB and works on WinXP-SP2 and WinMCE. It can also be made to work on other systems with HIP or Girder.

I have a front end in the works that will probably run Geexbox or W2k/GBPVR and needs a remote. Unfortunately I can't use my 150's remote since it plugs into the card, which is on the back end. I also thought about getting another 150, so the 150 with the USB remote could satisfy both needs. Do you know much work it is to make it work on Windows 2000? Does HIP work with GB-PVR?

Other options would be just to get an ATI Remote Wonder, or one of the ATI 500 cards that come with USB remotes so I could use them on the other machine. If I could get a receiver for my extra MVP remote that would be great, too. Just getting an IR keyboard might be the easiest thing.

Thanks
John

[A_Brass]

I have a front end in the works that will probably run Geexbox or W2k/GBPVR and needs a remote. Unfortunately I can't use my 150's remote since it plugs into the card, which is on the back end. I also thought about getting another 150, so the 150 with the USB remote could satisfy both needs. Do you know much work it is to make it work on Windows 2000? Does HIP work with GB-PVR?

I'm not sure what you mean by "back end" but the MCE remote can be made to work with WIN2K if you use HIP (http://www.byremote.com.au/). Or Girder. You don't even need the MCE remote just the receiver/blaster(but I haven't seen it available seperately). You could use your Hauppauge remote with the MCE recevier/blaster.

Other options would be just to get an ATI Remote Wonder, or one of the ATI 500 cards that come with USB remotes so I could use them on the other machine. If I could get a receiver for my extra MVP remote that would be great, too. Just getting an IR keyboard might be the easiest thing.

It sounds like you may be working on a project like mine. I had a PVR150 retail. and I got the MCE upgrade kit for my second tuner. I'm going to move my 150 into a dedicated PVR (server) box and add the MCE. The set up various PC's in the house as clients. I'm going to use the MCE remote on a WIN2k box in the living room. This way the "server" will run all the time in the basement and my wife will stop shutting it down because she "thinks it's using too much power".

Let me know if you want my HIP config files. Others have posted them as well. Check out this thread or search for HIP. http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php?t=11547

[bungle]

I'm not sure what you mean by "back end" but the MCE remote can be made to work with WIN2K if you use HIP (http://www.byremote.com.au/). Or Girder.

My backend just has the tuner cards and GB-PVR. Currently I have one MVP as a front end at the TV. I'm thinking of using an older computer as another front end, but having a remote would be nice.

You don't even need the MCE remote just the receiver/blaster(but I haven't seen it available seperately). You could use your Hauppauge remote with the MCE recevier/blaster.

I wish I could just get a cheap USB receiver then, since I have an extra Hauppauge remote. Both my 150 and MVP came with one but I don't need one for the computer since it's only a backend. If Hauppauge would just come out with their wireless MVP I'd probably just get that and stop screwing with everything else.

[zehd]

Awesome posts A_Brass. I'll be adding that info to the FAQ I'm writing.

Thanks

[A_Brass]

Awesome posts A_Brass. I'll be adding that info to the FAQ I'm writing.

Thanks

Your welcome, but I can't take too much credit. This forum is a huge resource. I cant tell you how many times I asked a question and then started digging around. There is a ton of remote control info especiallyl recently.

Let me know when your FAQ is done. I'd like to check it out.

[zehd]

A_Brass, just wanted to clarify something...

PVR150 (model 1045) has a cable that connects to the 150s backplate via mini plug, that splits into two dongles, one receiver, one transmitter?

PVR150 MCE kit (model 1062) has a receiver (beanbag) that connects to the computer via USB and then a transmitter that connects via mini to the beanbag?

[A_Brass]

A_Brass, just wanted to clarify something...

PVR150 (model 1045) has a cable that connects to the 150s backplate via mini plug, that splits into two dongles, one receiver, one transmitter?

PVR150 MCE kit (model 1062) has a receiver (beanbag) that connects to the computer via USB and then a transmitter that connects via mini to the beanbag?

Yep, that's exactly what I have. One 1045 and one 1062 and the cables are as you described. I don't use the "blasters" yet, so my descriptions may have been a little off. Oddly enough my MCE kit included the pvr150 but it does not have an FM tuner. A regular oem type PVR150MCE is supposed to have a FM tuner.

[zehd]

Thanks again. I think I got it. And after all that, I'm starting to think that I will not get hauppauge remotes. But then I've said never before....

Here's the page that I'm starting. I want to put a lot more in, including other remotes.

http://members.shaw.ca/ztest/IRremote/wi...ntrols.htm

BTW. It looks like I will need a USB-UIRT if I'm actually planning on using a different remote like firefly or Harmony. But they're expensive! All I need for my server are two Blaster 'buds'. I'd like them to be USB... Are the cheap DIY worth the hassle?