Choice of remote / blaster setup

[djones]

Sorry if this becomes rather long! I have been lurking on here for a while now reading the problems, advice, successes etc whilst experimenting with GBPVR at home. I have searched, read, searched and read some more but I am still confused about some things.

I am planning a (dedicated) PVR/Mediacentre based around GBPVR, XP and a Shuttle system and currently have a WinTV PVR-USB2 and a Nova-T USB2 to use as tuners. These two tuners obviously come with a remote each and have built in IR recievers. I know that I can use one remote to control GBPVR (and XP if the iremote.ini is setup correctly) which in turn will select the correct tuner etc etc.

I would also like to be able to control my surround speakers, tv, projector, standalone VCR and DVD player from one remote. I know this cannot be done with the Hauppauge remote and so have been looking at the Harmony 885 to do this job. The first question is can this be used to control GBPVR in a similar way to the supplied Hauppauge remote?

The second question / problem is that I will have a UK Sky Digibox (Panasonic)connected to the PVR-USB2 via the component connectors and need GBPVR to change the channels on the digibox. For this I understand I'll need a IR blaster/transmitter but which one?

I could buy a PVR-150 and use the blaster that comes with that but I'm not sure whether it will work with the digibox - latest drivers are rumoured to.

However, I would prefer not to buy a PVR-150 as the Shuttle only has one PCI slot, I am waiting for Hauppauge to release their dual DVB-T tuner card and the PVR-USB2 already fulfills the analogue tuner role.

Therefore, how about a USB-UIRT? Will it work with the Harmony 885 remote? Will I have to buy Girder as well in order to send the correct commands to the digibox?

I'm sorry this is long and a tad rambling but I'm confused! :confused:

Dave

[pBS]

i have a Sony "learning" remote, and programmed it with the pvr remote's codes by sucking them out of the hauppauge remote head to head, and it controls all sorts of stuff and can learn the codes of anything you have the remote for..
it's a RM-VL900 but there are tons of learning remotes out there for not much $$ that can consolidate all of them into one..very simple and usually better range too
but you have to get a learning one, cuz obscure remotes obviously aren't going to be in any preset 'lists'...pretty much guarantees compatibility..
not *every* remote can be learned, cuz sometimes they don't use normal ir signals, but 99.9% have for me so far..[i've had it for almost 10 yrs!]
the forums at SHS may be a good place to look for answers about the digibox compatibility,my pvr150 shows 3 categories for panasonic with several condes under each..so looks good but not sure..
another option is the MCE remote/blaster combo...but again not sure about digibox on those either..i see it for $39 some places by itself..
off to try the new version of gbpvr woohoo looks cool..