[mythtv-users] Combination RF/IR remote?

[Matt Goebel]

I use the "Niveus PC Remote Control"...  It's an X10 remote almost
identical to the ATI version but with RF and IR.  The PC is controlled via
a USB connector and RF (and only the PC), everything else is IR.  You just
enter the codes for whatever device it is you are trying to use..  OR you
use the learning function to create a custom setup.  It works very well
with MythTV.  I've got enough buttons to do just about any
MythTV/Mplayer/Xine function without using a keyboard.  (except typing of
course)  It was easy to setup (the mouse portion was a little tricky, but
otherwise ok)  Everything was done through lirc and lirc_atiusb module..
no compiling anything.  Anyone interested in my lircd.conf and lircrc let
me know.


> Maverick wrote:
>
>>On 7/14/05, Tim Hamer <tdh1 at cec.wustl.edu> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Ross wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>I've been looking around for a nice remote for my myth front end, but
>>>>I can't find one that I really like.
>>>>
>>>>I would like a RF remote (see though walls, etc) that can do IR as
>>>>well, so I can control everything else in the AV cabinet with the one
>>>>device.
>>>>
>>>>Niveus have a remote that seems perfect:
>>>>http://www.fstop-blues.com/2005/05/windows-media-center-tip-use-rf-remote.html
>>>>but I'm not sure about linux support, or if it's available any more.
>>>>
>>>>Any thought/suggestions?
>>>>
>>>you can get a much better remote if you use a regular rf/ir universal
>>>home theater remote and regular ir on the mythbox. i get 100' range from
>>>my urc-200 and rf basestation (expensive but cool). the one for all 9910
>>>does a pretty decent job too, about 50' range and comes with the rf
>>>basestation for only $50 at fry's.
>>>
>>I found this thread about using the ATI RF remote control:
>>
>>http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/archive/index.php/t-453429.html
>>
>>Howto:
>>http://www.fedoranews.org/contributors/youssef_makki/remotewonder/
>>
>>Looks like there might be some weird kernel hacking involved,
>>
>>
> Only if you do it the hard (and less useful) way: using the kernel's
> built-in keyboard driver (which, interestingly, is often considered the
> easy way :).
>
>>although, if it's lirc compatable,
>>
> It is.
>
>>myth should have no problem using it.
>>
>>
> No problem, indeed.
>
>>If you get it to work, let me know, I might want to go that route! :)
>>
>>
> I'm using the ATI Remote Wonder.  I like it because it provides a bunch
> of buttons and is LIRC-compatible.  Many people using the RW are using
> the kernel's built-in "keyboard" driver for it.  The main problem with
> that is that each button sends a keycode, so you have to map your key
> combinations for each application with which you want to use the remote
> (which means you start memorizing your non-default settings for use with
> a real keyboard and--depending on how you set things up--you may lose
> functionality or break applications with bad key configs--i.e. as new
> commands are added to new versions, they may conflict with your remapped
> key configs).  Also, LIRC provides a means of doing virtually anything
> (from sending a message to an app to sending keystrokes to running
> scripts/applications to ...) whereas keyboards provide only a means of
> sending keystrokes...
>
> So, I highly recommend use LIRC.
>
> That being said, I also recommend not getting a combination RF/IR remote
> (i.e. like the X10 Lola--which is basically the ATI RW with IR modes).
> With that, you would have to have "modes" (i.e. TV, VCR, Myth, DVD,
> etc.) so the ("stupid") remote knows what to send and how to send it and
> a ("smart") person who knows which buttons to push in which order.
>
> Instead, you can use one remote (RF or IR) and an IR blaster.  Then, you
> program the ("smart") computer to do what it should when a key is
> pressed.  For example, you press the "TV" button on your remote, and
> your computer sends a "discrete" power on command to the TV and the
> Audio/Video receiver using the IR blaster, and sends the appropriate
> message for the LiveTV jump point to Myth using LIRC (zero to LiveTV in
> 0.25 seconds).  You press the volume down button, and your computer uses
> the IR blaster to send a volume down to your A/V receiver (instead of
> trying to control the volume in software--which is especially wrong with
> digital sound).  You press the "Music" button on your remote, and your
> computer sends a discrete power on command to the A/V receiver and a
> discrete power off command to the TV (assuming you don't want your TV on
> during music playback) using the IR blaster and sends the appropriate
> message for the MythMusic jump point to Myth using LIRC.  With this
> approach, you're only limited by your imagination (and, to some
> extend--barring additional software--the number of buttons on your
> remote).
>
> HTH.
>
> Mike
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