WiFi Remote

[GerardA]

Hoi Roy

Did spend some time in your WiFi solution, but didn't get it.
How to make this work, and how to select for eg. an album or next (what do you see on your phone display and how to select things).
Would like to try also, but whats needed. (hardware-wise).
And how to set it up.

First you install the demo of salling clicker on your PC and select the phone you are going to use. The software makes an installscript for your phone which you install and follow the directions. On your phone you start the new program and this will connect through wifi to a pc you choose. By installing the extra script in the 'my scripts' directory you can add extra options to the menu inside sallingclicker which you will see on the phone. On the phone you get the menu with all the options peter gave us, like 'volume up ^ and next > '. It depends on your phone if the layout looks good and fits the display.

When you click a key you see the command on your screen and XX reacts the way it is supposed to.
Other menu options are moving the mouse and zooming in and out, and much more.
Only problem is it cost you $24 after one month, and of course everybody needs a phone to control the pc.
I like how it works but don't use it much yet 
I want something to control all the programs/options like you do with your tv. And which can be used by the rest of the family too!

[AUDIODIDAKT]

oh yes,

The schematics

[AUDIODIDAKT]

Some info about IR via USB:

Also USB remote:
http://gathering.tweakers.net/forum/list_messages/1059735/0

and

http://www.irtrans.de/en/shop/usb.php

It works all the same with the same software.
So if you don't have a serial port use USB then.

[GerardA]

Hi Roi,

I found what I was looking for at :
http://www.byremote.com.au/Hip/mce_remote_faq.htm

My MCE-remote over USB can use a program called HIP the same way as winlirc/irtrans etc...

I'll try and see if I get this working with XX.
An MCE-remote is quite cheap, is included with USB-receiver and works with all modern PC's.

[PeterSt]

Gerard, I think you are up for a prize ...
I will get an MCE remote myself and see how far it brings me (without Girder or HIP etc.).

Roy, a few days ago I created a somewhat longer post which tried to tell you in a nice way (can I ? ) that serial is just not the route. I didn't post it afterall, because, well, there wasn't another good solution and I sure did not want to spoil your motivation which is VERY much appreciated, if not by others then by me. You know, this is -so far- a typicle subject I couldn't solve myself.

Gerard, don't spoil your day at trying, while I possibly can see more easily what is going on. But might you have some experience by now (did you sleep tonight ?) don't hesitate to spit it out.

Thank you all !
Peter

[Telstar]

Roy, a few days ago I created a somewhat longer post which tried to tell you in a nice way (can I ? ) that serial is just not the route. I didn't post it afterall, because, well, there wasn't another good solution and I sure did not want to spoil your motivation which is VERY much appreciated, if not by others then by me. You know, this is -so far- a typicle subject I couldn't solve myself.

If he makes the IRTrans (which is usb) work, i think is all good, isnt it?
The IRTrans is of course MCE compatible. 2+2= ?

[AUDIODIDAKT]

Hey all,

Would like to see a solution for all people here,
Hope we can control xx, from a standalone pc, without using a key board or mouse.

If it can be done by USB with MCE remote, fine with me.
But the integration with xx, still needs improvement. (like selecting an album)
Hope you can find a way to integrate this in xx.

So IR it is!

[AUDIODIDAKT]

Roy, a few days ago I created a somewhat longer post which tried to tell you in a nice way (can I ? ) that serial is just not the route. I didn't post it afterall, because, well, there wasn't another good solution and I sure did not want to spoil your motivation which is VERY much appreciated, if not by others then by me. You know, this is -so far- a typicle subject I couldn't solve myself.

If he makes the IRTrans (which is usb) work, i think is all good, isnt it?
The IRTrans is of course MCE compatible. 2+2= ?

Btw Telstar IRTrans can also do TCP serving

[PeterSt]

The major problem is that there is more than one variable, and it is hard to recognize. But I slowly learn myself. One of them (well, I think) is that the protocol must be RC6.
Another is the USB receiver itself, of which I still don't know whether that can matter. But of course, once I have something running, that will be clear within seconds (how many do I have by now ?? ).

Now, because of the pure misery of not being able to get a complete set (remote + receiver) - which btw for Vista is produced by Philips - I ended up with this : http://www.nedis.nl/datasheets/MANUAL_CMP-MEDIAREM11_COMP.PDF which should all work the same (yea, should) but with the advantage of RF and 30m reach (and I think it will shut off the microwave at using it ).

The most official combo will be this : http://www.informatique.nl/412473/philips-rc1974506-remote-control-mce.html and this : http://www.informatique.nl/651756/philips-ovu412000-ir-receiver.html (so, get those and compatibility is guaranteed) but rather expensive *BUT* also including a transmitter. Stupid thing is - and what I get from it - those remotes being able to power on/of the TV should all have a transmitter, or otherwise it wouldn't be possible. Yeah right. But most remotes don't even come with a receiver, let alone a transmitter. You can fairly easu get completely crazy of this all. Look at that Mediarem11 ... now try to find ONE webshop that explicitly tells the receiver is included. I couldn't. All these stupid shops copy that one standard text, and even in other languages it is the same (though translated). The receiver is included allright, once you have a close look at the package.

I don't know anymore how many hours I have spend on this, but I hope the last 4 just passed this morning. I should have that König fairly soon (could be tomorrow, or otherwise the day after), and as said, as soon as one set is working I (we) will be able to discern the variables (hmm ... maybe then it is not the best idea to start with an RF receiver...).

For those already owning an MCE remote (of which I'm fairly sure it can't be the "XP" one), the info in here may be as useful as the info Gerard put through earlier : http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/MCE_Remote
Note that this too explains about WinLirc and things.

[AUDIODIDAKT]

WinLirc  has a function called "RAW CODES" to see if any IR is being received.

[PeterSt]

But the integration with xx, still needs improvement. (like selecting an album)
Hope you can find a way to integrate this in xx.

You can bet it will be the first thing I do myself, once I have one going.

Btw Telstar IRTrans can also do TCP serving

Yea, that's what I thought. So here is your safety net, because the TCP thing is there too (XXTCPServ). Well, assumed IRTrans is common software (and I recall it is, because I installed that at some time, and although it comes with the IRTrans hardware (too expensive IMO) the software is written by (IIRC) some German who just liked to do it. But here we go again ... will that work with the IRTrans hardware only ? does it RC6 ? will it work with an USB RF receiver (the latter I guess so).

To keep in mind for those who really want to exploit this once the first steps have been taken : Don't underestimate the power of a transceiver (= receiver + transmitter); Once you have that on the PC side, your PC will be able to control just everything, and in the exact way YOU like. Thus, you aim your remote at the PC receiver, some program (script) turns that into what you want, and sends it out through the room, all your devices waiting for IR commands, similar to what e.g. a Harmony can do. In this case, however, you are in complete control. So, if you think you may want something like this, be sure to have a transceiver instead of a receiver alone (like the Philips I showed in the before post).

[GerardA]

Another interesting link:

http://forum.team-mediaportal.com/ir-server-suite-irss-165/ir-server-suite-version-1-4-2-test-build-3018-a-33512/

This IR-serversuite seems to work with a lot of different remotes and can send codes to the transceiver.
Only 96 pages to read through....

BTW Your thinking of an OSD-menu to help with the remote-commands? 

[PeterSt]

Yes, that for sure slipped my mind.

[PeterSt]

Now, because of the pure misery of not being able to get a complete set (remote + receiver) - which btw for Vista is produced by Philips - I ended up with this : http://www.nedis.nl/datasheets/MANUAL_CMP-MEDIAREM11_COMP.PDF which should all work the same (yea, should) but with the advantage of RF and 30m reach (and I think it will shut off the microwave at using it ).

The most official combo will be this : http://www.informatique.nl/412473/philips-rc1974506-remote-control-mce.html and this : http://www.informatique.nl/651756/philips-ovu412000-ir-receiver.html (so, get those and compatibility is guaranteed) but rather expensive *BUT* also including a transmitter.

Hmm ... I don't know where I got that "rather expensive" from, because remote + transceiver are EUR 25 together (the König is EUR 37) incl. VAT.

Well, in order not be in lack of remotes at any time I ordered both, and the mail man just brought them. So let's see what can be done with them.
Btw, the König looks very nice and slick, while the Philips is plastic.
The König comes with a driver CD which says "This driver is for using the character input for your remote, please install it before using Windows XP MCE / and Windows Vista Home Premium and Vista Ultimate". I don't know what that means, but I guess I start with the König ...

[AUDIODIDAKT]

Good Luck,

But it is rewarding!