[mythtv-users] ATI Remote Bob I and II

[Michael T. Dean]

On 03/04/2006 09:37 AM, Steve Daniels wrote:
> I've seen the AT RF remote here:
> http://linitx.com/product_info.php?products_id=363
> But I have also seen version II here:
> http://linitx.com/product_info.php?products_id=594
> I was wondering what is the major difference?
>   

button layout and production dates?

> I can only really seem to find documentation for the version two, does this
> mean that only the latest version of the remote is supported? Most likely I
> just haven't looked hard enough however.
>   

No.  Both are supported by the kernel module (which makes it work like a 
keyboard) and LIRC (which makes it much more flexible).  I use the ATI 
Remote Wonder (original version).  (BTW, I have no idea what "Bob" 
is...  Just in case that's important.)

> Do both of the remotes support the ability to have multiple remotes on
> different ID's?
>   

Yes.

> I'm assuming that the latter pricey one would be better for MythTV. I'll be
> going through one floor, and one internal single brick thick wall in a UK
> house. Range needed through this is about 5 metres total. Any ideas if this
> will work? I won't hold it against you if it doesn't as I'm sure I can find
> other uses for it!
>   

I find the range to be acceptable.  I haven't played with it too much, 
but I had to add a USB extension to increase the range beyond about 2 
feet (away from the metal case, it seems to get much better reception--I 
can now control it from about 25 feet without walls blocking and a bit 
less with walls).  And sitting on my couch with metal springs seems to 
affect its range.  And--here's the annoying one--when I have several 
people in my viewing room right next to me and the remote, range seems 
to get very bad (so I take multiple button presses to do anything).  
Maybe my visitors just have too much iron in their bloodstream or 
something...

I've heard that range is better with version 2, but I have no definitive 
proof (as I don't feel it's worth buying a new remote).  I keep saying 
I'm going to fix up the antenna a bit, but haven't made time to do it.

BTW, the range/metal causing interference thing may answer Michael 
Freeman's question about why not all remotes are RF...  (Even the DISH 
Network RF remotes transmit /both/ IR and RF at the same time to 
increase reliability for same-room use.)

> One more thing, would it be possible to use two RF remotes on one system
> independently, with two copies of LIRC running different configs?
>   

I'm pretty sure you could do that with one LIRC (if the remotes are the 
same version, one receiver can pick up signals from both remotes--as a 
matter of fact, a version 1 receiver /might/ actually work with a 
version 2 remote and vice versa).  So, just set your /etc/lircd.conf to 
contain a definition for both remote codes and configure LIRC to 
differentiate between the remote codes and you're good to go.

Mike