Remote for W7 HTPC

[Sean Melchionda]

I’m looking for a remote for my Windows 7 HTPC.  I am currently using an infrared HP HTPC remote which works ok within Media Center, but it doesnt:

Turn my TV on or off

Change the volume on my Logitech Z-5500 Speaker System

or

Control my PowerDVD 10 interface.

The result is that I am juggling three remotes all the time.

I’d like to get one Windows remote that I can teach to turn my TV on and off and control the volume on my Logitech Speaker system and control PowerDVD.  I realize that controling PowerDVD maybe impossible but teaching the other commands should be straight forward.

Anyone know of any Windows7 HTPC remotes that fit the bill?  I’d rather not go with a Harmony remote.  I have one of those and its such a hassel to configure.

[Aaron Ledger]

One option that I believe will work is the Amulet remote.

Personally, I use the Harmony to control everything. Where are you running into trouble with yours? What model do you have? I agree that the software for configuring it can be a bit frustrating to use at times, but once it is configured, you shouldn’t need to mess with it again.

[Sean Melchionda]

I’m not sure which Harmony I have.  I use it in our living room to control our home theater set up up there.  No HTPC in that set up.  The problem we have is that every time we change from one task like watching TV to another task like watching a BluRay the receiver will get turned off… or if the BluRay player is on that may get turned off too.  I know that there is a way to fix that.  I’ve tried a few times but have been unsuccessful.  Also for some tasks the volume up command for the receiver doesnt work… even though it works for others.  I’ve used Harmoney Remotes that have been professionally set up and I’ve seen them work… however it was on an all Marantz home theater set up in a vacation rental house.

 

Anyway… on this HTPC set up im really close… I just need a remote that can learn to turn my TV on and off and control the volume on my Logitech Speaker set… then my HTPC set up will be done…  That will be 3 years in the making!

[umdivx]

[quote=Sean Melchionda]

but it doesnt:

Turn my TV on or off

Change the volume on my Logitech Z-5500 Speaker System

[/quote]

You will need a programmable remote to control a TV or your logitech speaker system.

[quote]

Control my PowerDVD 10 interface.[/quote]

This is a big more tricky, as this is a piece of software, and isn’t dependent on hardware what so ever.

You need to find a USB IR receiver and control software that resides on the pc in the background to take play, pause, ect commands and translates them to the power dvd software.

I use Total Media Theatre and that has full MCE remote integration, so all of the MCE commands from the remote work with the software, haven’t used power dvd so can’t comment on that.

[quote]

Anyone know of any Windows7 HTPC remotes that fit the bill?  I’d rather not go with a Harmony remote.  I have one of those and its such a hassel to configure.

[/quote]

You could try the cheapest of the cheap logitech harmony remotes. Logitech Harmony 300i for example, is like $30 retail, could be just what you need. It only controls 4 devices but really that is all you need.

-Josh

[Aaron Ledger]

You can definitely fix those issues with your Harmony.

To disable turning off devices when changing activity, go to the activity, select “Settings”, then select “Chang options”, change “Turn Off Unused Devices”.

For the activities where your volume is not controlling your receiver, you need to run the set up wizard again on those activities and you will get an option which asks what you want to use for volume control.

The Harmony 300 will work. I do have one that I purchased recently. It certainly doesn’t have the bells and whistles of the One, but it is decent for the price. It is limited to a single activity, “Watch TV.” The configuration also is browser-based and it is fairly straightforward since there is no complication with multiple activities. It should work for your situation if you are willing to give it a try.

[umdivx]

yea i am a harmony whore, I’ve got the 650, 750, 880, and the One. Maybe its time for a complete guide on how to configure a harmony remote???

-Josh

[Chasseur]

I’m using an MCE remote with learning capabilities from Microsoft. However, this remote doesn’t exist anymore. The TV and volume buttons were learning buttons. 

http://images.tigerdirect.ca/itemDetails/M17-7900/M17-7900-callout.jpg

An xbox remote might work too. Microsoft will release a new xbox remote in november. I would like to know if it could work with MCE.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16874103254

Maybe someone at missingremote might be lucky enough to try a unit before release?

[Sean Melchionda]

@ Josh. I think I made a mistake when I bought PowerDVD. Now that I’ve implemented it I keep fining out about short comings it has that TMT doest have. Like PowerDVD forces you to use their remote as opposed to TMT which you say will work from the windows remote.

@aaron. Thanks for the harmony confit tips. I take another look and see if I can change some settings to get this thing tonworknbetter inmynliving room set up.

[Sean Melchionda]

@Chasseur – Thats what I need.  A Microsoft remote.  I’ve seen generic MCE remotes on EBay and Amazon… but the critical thing for me is that it has to be able to learn the TV command for the power button and the volume command for the Logitech speakers. 

You want to sell me your Microsoft remote?  🙂

@Aaron – I took your advice on looking at the configuration of my remote.  I changed the settings for changing activities so that it doesnt turn off devices… that fixed one problem… however volume control still doesnt work when I’m watching a DVD.  It was already set to receiver, so I’m not sure what else I have to change there.

Maybe I should get this one?  Who knows though if it can learn the TV and Volume commands?

 http://bit.ly/ruv2hg

[Sean Melchionda]

Double post

[umdivx]

[quote=Sean Melchionda]

Maybe I should get this one?  Who knows though if it can learn the TV and Volume commands?

 http://bit.ly/ruv2hg

[/quote]

That isn’t the programable microsoft remote. The programable one will have two power buttons. One for the tv, one for the pc.

-Josh

[Aaron Ledger]

In the Harmony software, click “Customize Buttons” on the activity you wish to configure. Next, find the Volume Up and Down commands. Select the device and command to send to the device that you want. As an example, I have Device set to “AV Receiver” and Command set to “VolumeUp” which controls my AVR volume.

Regarding PDVD, you should be able to utilize the standard WMC remote fine. I have used it successfully with PDVD in the past.

[Sean Melchionda]

thanks, that is what I suspected.  Since most ebay auctions or Amazon vendors dont say what model number the remote is the only tell tale sign is the two power buttons.  I only see two of them on ebay right now and both are pretty pricey.

[caddiebill]

I use this remote, OrigenAE RC197. It has the learnable volume and power buttons. And the backlight is nice for the bedroom.

[Sean Melchionda]

that is EXACTLY what I was looking for! thanks!

[Author]

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