[mythtv-users] totally confused about remotes.

[Bret Wade]

An alternative way to handle the remote issue is to use an IR keyboard 
with a JP1 compatible remote (Radio Shack or One For All) that can be 
configured to send keyboard commands. See 
http://www.hifi-remote.com/ofa/ for details. You need to pick a keyboard 
that has an upgrade file available for it. I use the Liteon. In the end 
you have a single remote that controls all devices including the linux 
box. You can create  custom hot-key commands for the window manager and 
then created a macro on the remote to send the appropriate hot-key sequence.

My configuration is an RS 15-2117 controlling:
Panasonic SA-XR25 AV receiver using device key macros
Sony DirecTivo using JP1 upgrade
MythTV box w/ Liteon SK-7551 IR keyboard -upgrade (Airboard-KM-All 
Commands.txt )
Panasonic DMR-E55K DVD recorder - no upgrade needed

Bret



Matt Morgan wrote:

> Thanks, that was a really helpful summary!
>
> Joseph A. Caputo wrote:
>
>>On Thursday 03 June 2004 23:39, Matt Morgan wrote:
>>  
>>
>>>OK, I know a lot about Linux but had never before two weeks ago given
>>>a moment's thought to my TV, cable box, or remotes. Just so you know
>>>where I'm coming from. Thanks to some helpful people I now understand
>>>what an IR Blaster and some other important prerequisite info for
>>>MythTV. But I'm confused about how many remotes I need, and which
>>>remotes I need, and whether I need to set up two instances of lirc,
>>>as in
>>>
>>>http://members.cox.net/rwraithr/IRBlaster_Howto.txt.
>>>
>>>Basically, I think my confusion is this: I can find instructions
>>>about how to do anything, but I can't find instructions telling me
>>>what, of all those options, is what I actually want to do. That is,
>>>I'm totally unclear on which sets of instructions I need to follow
>>>and why.
>>>
>>>So here's the simplest way to phrase a question about this. I have a
>>>Scientific Atlanta Explorer 2200 cable box. I want a PVR basically
>>>for two important tasks: commercial skipping and recording shows when
>>>I'm away or in bed. I'll use other features (like weather) if they
>>>work, but not if it means having more devices. I'm likely to buy a
>>>Hauppauge PVR-250 with the remote it comes with, if that helps, and I
>>>want the simplest array of hardware with the fewest possible pieces
>>>(remotes, IR blasters, whatever). That is, I want one remote in my
>>>hand that does everything. How can I do that?
>>>
>>>Thanks!
>>>    
>>>
>>
>>
>>OK, you will need the following:
>>
>>- an IR or RF receiver (the one on the PVR-250 is OK, or you could get a 
>>separate one that has a serial cable connection)
>>
>>- a remote control that will work with your receiver. The serial, aka 
>>'IRman', type of receiver will handle just about any IR remote.  The 
>>Hauppauge receiver (PVR-250) is typically limited in the remotes (or 
>>emulated remotes) it can handle; IIRC it uses the RC-5 protocol which 
>>is generally used by Philips remotes (or universal remotes emulating 
>>Philips).  If you want, you can use a multi-device universal remote, to 
>>eliminate having separate remotes for Myth, TV, stereo, VCR, DVD, 
>>etc...
>>
>>- a method of controlling your cable box.  This can be either a serial 
>>cable (if your cable box supports it) or an IR blaster.  An IR Blaster 
>>is an IR transmitter -- basically a remote control that, instead of 
>>being operated by pushing buttons is operated by serial control from 
>>your PC using LIRC.  The IR Blaster is a little dongle/box that connect 
>>to your Myth backend machine.  The dongle must have direct 
>>line-of-sight to the IR (remote control) sensor on your cable box.  
>>Myth can then change channels on your cable box by telling the IR 
>>Blaster to send remote commands, just as if you had pressed the 
>>corresponding buttons on your cable box's remote.
>>
>>So, to sum up, you need:
>>
>>1. an IR receiver
>>2. an IR remote compatible with your IR receiver
>>3. a way to control your cable box (serial cable or IR Blaster)
>>
>>HTH,
>>
>>JAC
>>_______________________________________________
>>mythtv-users mailing list
>>mythtv-users at mythtv.org
>>http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
>>
>>  
>>
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