Need a remote control

[possum]

I've been using GBPVR for some time now and LOVE IT LOVE IT. The problem I have is that the IR receiver for my Hauppauge remote is busted. Also, upon further inspection, the jack for the IR receiver/blaster is damaged(probably from being moved with being unplugged). I'm in a spot now where I need a new remote control for the PC. I'd like it to control the television and receiver as well(both IR devices), but I'd like the PC control to be RF if possible. Line of sight can reduce the WAF. I'm using a Windows XP Pro machine(not media center), but my understanding is that some of these remotes are compatible with both. What is the best remote suited for my application? I've looked at the Logitech Harmony series but I'm not sure if they're RF or not, or if they come with a USB receiver as they're supposed to be MCE remote replacements. I've also looked at those Gyration remotes but I currently use a mouse and a keyboard on the couch and I didn't know if the Gyration remote would bounce the cursor around if it was sitting on the couch or what-not, and also it only advertises as compatible with MCE. Any input? I KNOW one of you knows the perfect solution

[crossnet]

The Harmony remote is a good choice. I have the 620 and it works fine with XP. The libraries have both the GBPVR and MCE command sets plus numerous other systems. In addition, it can be trained for anything else needed. It is an IR unit (not RF), but it has a greater range than the Hauppauge remote. It does not come with a receiver and I don't think they offer one. I use it with the Hauppauge receiver, but I would prefer a more universal device with a standard USB connection. Maybe someone else could recommend a good IR receiver.

emr

[possum]

It seems that the Logitech remote would be the most excellent choice for my setup as it can control lists of other IR devices. The Gyration remote seemed at first that it may have been superior but I don't think that it has the ability to control other devices. I may be able to suffer with the IR limitation. I've also seen IR remotes that use a drive bay in the tower as the receiver instead of having another bean bag lying around( I have one RF beanbag for my Logitech Keyboard and mouse). Maybe I'm asking too much? What does everyone else use?

[possum]

I thought I might bump this thread and give an update for those who may have faced similar circumstances. I bought a cheap remote from Ebay(came with a USB receiver) but I couldn't use it because the USB receiver was factory set to have windows recognize it as a HID-compliant keyboard and mouse. Because of this, I couldn't use HIP or anything else to do anything besides remap the keystroke parts of the remote. The remote has up down left and right for navigation, but the only thing this was able to do is float the mouse cursor around the screen. This could be disabled by going into the device manager and disabling that specific "mouse" This still left me with a worthless remote capable of basically nothing more than ff, rw, and number pad.


SOOOOO
I purchased one of those Gyration Air Music remotes and I think the thing is awesome. It comes pre-configured as a MCE Remote(keep in mind that I'm using XP Pro) so everything worked out of the box. The only buttons that aren't functional are the big green button and the My TV, My Recordings, etc. that are specific to MCE. The Air Mouse is really neat function and having the Windows Media playlist displayed on the remote is cool too. Its an RF remote that comes with a receiver. It also has IR capability to control up to 3 additional devices, and the ability to learn IR commands from another remote. The only drawback I've seen(which doesn't even apply to my setup) is no IR blaster

Overall: 4 stars!

[mmatheny]

You should be able to remap the My TV and My Recordings to F2 for My TV and F8 for My Recordings

[possum]

how would I go about doing that? I'm not sure if the regular IR programs will be able to do it or not because it is an RF remote

[ChicoPVR]

is using all of the Logitech media keyboards the same. I have the cheap wired Logi' media keyboard, with just the standard. play-pause/ stop/ FF/REW Volume control.


My question is this I have only gotten the Stop/ FF/ REW butons to work in GBPVR. Play/pause and the volume doesnt seem to operate. Where do i go to get the controls mapped with it is in WM9 full screen Are there any other posts that I can refer to. Love my PVR.

Thanks

[johnsonx42]

@Possum, if he's not gotten it sorted yet: use EventGhost. Use the HID Plugin; on my Gyration (the ghetto model without the display), I needed to add the first and last Gyration HID devices to get at the various media keys (there are 7 total, I've not sorted out what the other five do).

@ChicoPVR:
you probably should have started a new thread, but at any rate the first thing to try is to set the remote type (in config, strangely on the DVD tab) to 'MCE Remote'. That will tell gb-pvr to recognize the standard windows media control buttons (yes, even though you're not actually using any remote... the point is that an MCE remote sends the same media key events as your keyboard probably does, gb-pvr won't notice the difference)

If that doesn't work, then you may be able to use EventGhost as well. Either the keyboard plugin or the HID plugin should be able to detect your media keys, and then you just map them to the needed keystrokes for gb-pvr. Refer to \program files\devnz\gbpvr\keymappings\livetvtimeshift.xml file for which keys to assign.

[fuzzweed]

is using all of the Logitech media keyboards the same. I have the cheap wired Logi' media keyboard, with just the standard. play-pause/ stop/ FF/REW Volume control.


My question is this I have only gotten the Stop/ FF/ REW butons to work in GBPVR. Play/pause and the volume doesnt seem to operate. Where do i go to get the controls mapped with it is in WM9 full screen Are there any other posts that I can refer to. Love my PVR.

Thanks

Anyone using a Logitech keyboard should have this installed http://www.mstarmetro.net/users/rlowens/
which allows you to map ALL media keys to actions / keystrokes rather than the default few that setpoint allows. i.e. map MediaPlay to ctrl+p to work with GBPVR

[possum]

Actually, what I ended up doing with the remote is having GBPVR recognize it as a MCE remote and then I used a program called Intelliremote which runs in background and only maps the buttons I need. In my control panel, I disabled the sleep button and used Intelliremote to send an Alt + F4 command when that key is pressed. Now, if I have PC selected, pressing the power button will close any window, and if you're on the desktop, it will provide the shutdown menu. I dont have media center edition, so the green button was dead. the program was able to map it anyhow to start PVRX2.exe. I think every button does something useful, but I haven't mapped anything to simulate the blue yellow green, etc. The only time I ever need them is the weather plugin. Any thoughts?