Creative Labs Serial Multimedia IR Remote Control for PC Only $7.95 @ Compgeeks

[Dran]

I just wanted to throw out some generally information on getting this remote to work with more than the limited list offered by the software.

I've been trying out different IR packages over the last couple of days, and it looks like IRAssistant is the easiest and most compatible so far. To use IRAssistant, download it and the generic COM driver. Install IRAssistant, copy the COM driver to the IRAssistant folder, then configure IRAssistant to use the generic COM driver and the correct port.

A port speed of 9600 works perfectly. The only other speed I tried was 115200, which caused the receiver to mistake remote input, causing it to interpret all input as 0's or the same button (regardless of which button was pressed).

For basic WinTV functionality, all you need to do is set "general macros" for each of the number pad buttons, matching the corresponding buttons to the keypad on the remote and enable them with the "learn item" function. So, you'd create a general macro for number pad 1, name it 1, then make it correspond to the 1 on the keypad on the remote with the "learn item" function, for example. For number pad +, I used the Shift button on the remote, and the Mouse button for -.

If you prefer not to set general macros, instead wanting groups of buttons that only react within specific programs, I believe you can do that as well by "learning" more than one button on the remote to activate an application (Start and 1, for instance, to start WinTV2k and activate the remote's function specifically for that group). I'll test that out later, though, as I'm just happy now that I've got a way to change the channels. You can also download various command/macro sets at the IRAssistant website, in their Downloads section, for things like general mouse/keyboard commands, ATi MMC components, etc.

I'll update as I learn more, but this adds a LOT more functionality than anything I could squeeze out of WinLIRC or Girder, and infinitely more than the software that comes with the remote.

 

[Salvador]

Damn.. I just bought this thing and I'm not even completely sure what it is or does or if I will ever use it. That's got to be a sign that you're addicted to the deals forums.

Sal

 

[tallest1]

WTF!! My remote doesn't do squat!

Edit: Nevermind

 

[waltersaurus]

I've been using this remote for a few days and I noticed its a bit slow. Slow meaning when I repetitively push a button (eg. volume up) the winamp volume bar moves up very very slowly. probably 1 notch up every second. There fore if I were to rapidly push the up volume on the remote, the actual volume increase will occur once for every 3 times i push the button. Anyone else experience this? I am running windows 2000.

 

[ChefJoe]

That's just the way winamp responds to the volume up button on your keyboard.... they didn't make an option to increase the volume by 5% at a time, etc.

 

[RAQemUP]

This is the best $8 I have spent. Works with PowerDVD XP, WinDVD 4, and Winamp 2.80 flawlessly for me. Button responce isn't exactly instantaneous but it isn't slow either. I am just glad I can use my software dvd players now without having to be at the computer. It's somewhat tough to use it with Winamp as the best thing to do is have a playlist of songs up and if you have a playlist of 500+ songs like me, skipping through them one by one to a desired track is a bastard. Not only that but I have my default Winamp volume at 50% out of 100% and it decreases and increases the Winamp volume by 1% at a time, so don't think about using the remote to decrease/increase sound since its really quite too slow to do it that way. Keep in mind that this is not even the remotes fault! It's not even Winamp's fault really since it is just how Winamp works. All in all, the remote is terrific for my needs. Glad I bought 4 other ones for family and friends.

 

[wasamicron]

mine is working great except for the eject button doesn't seem to work. Anybody else able to use the eject button on theirs?

 

[placebo139]

ordered mine... should come soon.. seems very nifty

 

[Flatbroke]

Comes with a button battery. It's a CR2025 if anyone wants to buy an extra one, if they see batteries on
clearance before the remote comes.

 

[SubfornicalOrgan]

Could someone please host the driver files or email them to me. The CD-R was blank. ...I've contacted compgeeks but I was hoping to get them quicker from one of you.

Edit: Got it. Thanks.

 

[bradm20]

SubfornicalOrgan, if you still need the drivers send an email to bradmugford@cox.net and I will send you the drivers.

 

[aceO07]

The Girder 3 IR Program is much better than the Creative IR Control program it came with. Girder 3 does take a bit of patience to read the documents and set up though. Once you figure it out, it's pretty simple to add new commands.

 

[Dran]

Here's the promised update on the remote with IRAssistant.

It's actually very simple to set up this remote to work with IRAssistant. Launching individual apps is accomplished by creating a new button group, then while in the creation dialogue for the group, create and assign a new macro that launches the app in question. You then assign between one and four buttons to the group, and a button to the launch macro, and it's done. Hit your button(s), and the app launches.

Assigning more than one button seems to require several attempts to get the app to launch. It looks like IRAssistant, or the receiver, isn't giving enough time after the first button press to read the second button as a sequential event every time. Assigning the same button twice, though, does work, but it causes problems with reading the button in a single press (such as if you assign 1, 1 as the button sequence to launch an app, then assign a single 1 in any app, pressing the 1 a single time rarely gets a response from the program).

So it's a trade-off of sorts. What I did was assign several of the number pad buttons to individual apps, but give up the number pad functionality for things like WinTV. You can't assign any single button to anything in a group if it's already assigned to a general macro or button group.

Also, IRAssistant continues to interpret the buttons after you close an app, according to the last app opened via the remote. Such as, if I use it to start WinTV, then close WinTV, the buttons on the remote continue to function in their WinTV configuration. This can cause confusion if you manually switch between remote-enabled apps, like WinTV and Winamp, but the answer is as simple as just re-launching the app (without closing it) via the remote.

Example: I start WinTV by hitting the 1, then start Winamp by hitting the 3, then use the mouse to switch back to WinTV without thinking. My remote doesn't work, because it's still set to its Winamp configuration, so I hit the 1 again and it returns the remote to WinTV configuration. Simple and easy.

Overall, between the hardware and IRAssistant, it's a pretty good package. The remote could definitely use a few more buttons, or one could use a compatible universal remote, but within its limitations, it's VERY nice. I ordered two more for future builds.

I'm continually exploring IRAssistant further, and as I run across any significant information, such as how to launch apps through multiple button presses without the problems outlined above, I'll update this thread again.

 

[spreee02]

Hey Dran

I'm trying to use IRAssistant with my ATI TV, but I'm having a hard time having the program distinguish which button is which. I can't get it to learn my buttons. For example, it learns the button 0 on the remote but when I teach the button 1, it'll say it's the same as button 0. Many of the other buttons on the remote also conflict w/ each other. I've tried different settings such as changing the speed of the port, variations, skip first commands, and I still haven't gotten the right configuration where it gives me no conflicts. Can you post up your settings? thanx.

 

[aceO07]

Dran and everybody else, here's my review of Girder 3. I haven't tried IRAssistant, so I can't compare the two.

Things I like:
1. I can start and exit a program with a single button. Hit once to start, hit again to exit.
2. I can assign buttons to groups, then I can enable or disable groups so I can have more than 1 function for each button.
3. It's highly configureable. I can assign a button to represent a key, mouse click, sequence of characters, windows function and more advanced things.
4. It can control programs, even those in the backgroup. For example, I can control winamp even though it's minimized.

Things I've done:
1. Task switch between apps w/ a button press.
2. Run programs I've set up. Exit any program I can switch to.
3. Set up to use Winamp, though loading playlist is probably still hard. I can preform other simple functions
4. With the number pad, I can type numbers, use it to navigate and also move the mouse cursor.
5. Change volume and mute.
6. All this is done without having to ever touch the Girder3 program, which is running in taskbar.

So, yes I like it a lot. I still have a few more program to set it up to work with. The Girder forums don't seem to be working, else I'd figure out how to do more cool stuff.

 

[tallest1]

Change the COM port speed to the slowest one.... 4800 I believe. Did the trick for me.

And the button combination commands work however your chances of the combo successfully being transmitted is much lower.

I use the remote for music/video in bed. Great deal!

 

[Dran]

Originally posted by: spreee02
Hey Dran

I'm trying to use IRAssistant with my ATI TV, but I'm having a hard time having the program distinguish which button is which. I can't get it to learn my buttons. For example, it learns the button 0 on the remote but when I teach the button 1, it'll say it's the same as button 0. Many of the other buttons on the remote also conflict w/ each other. I've tried different settings such as changing the speed of the port, variations, skip first commands, and I still haven't gotten the right configuration where it gives me no conflicts. Can you post up your settings? thanx.

Okay, well, first, as tallest1 said, lower the port speed in the IRAssistant configuration. Yes, I note that you said you've tried that, but you didn't specify whether it was within IRAssistant, or the actual hardware's properties in Windows. You want to set the port speed in IRAssistant's COM driver to 9600. If it still interprets all the buttons as the same press, lower it again to 4800, and check the port speed in Windows (that may need to be lowered as well, though mine works fine at 115,200).

Here're the settings I used for the COM driver in IRAssistant...
Port speed - 9600
Byte size - 8
Parity - none
Stop bits - 1
DTR control - enabled
RTS control - enabled
Xon/Xoff - on
Read interval timeout - 1 ms

Now, on the general settings of IRAssistant, I have...
Skip first commands - 0
Variation - 1
Button press delay - 300 ms
Button sequence delay - 600 ms
Number of samples in learn - 1
None of the other options checked, cursor acceleration slider located at the A in the word Acceleration.

 

[Dran]

Originally posted by: aceO07
Dran and everybody else, here's my review of Girder 3. I haven't tried IRAssistant, so I can't compare the two.

Things I like:
1. I can start and exit a program with a single button. Hit once to start, hit again to exit.
2. I can assign buttons to groups, then I can enable or disable groups so I can have more than 1 function for each button.
3. It's highly configureable. I can assign a button to represent a key, mouse click, sequence of characters, windows function and more advanced things.
4. It can control programs, even those in the backgroup. For example, I can control winamp even though it's minimized.

Things I've done:
1. Task switch between apps w/ a button press.
2. Run programs I've set up. Exit any program I can switch to.
3. Set up to use Winamp, though loading playlist is probably still hard. I can preform other simple functions
4. With the number pad, I can type numbers, use it to navigate and also move the mouse cursor.
5. Change volume and mute.
6. All this is done without having to ever touch the Girder3 program, which is running in taskbar.

So, yes I like it a lot. I still have a few more program to set it up to work with. The Girder forums don't seem to be working, else I'd figure out how to do more cool stuff.

Thanks for the information. It looks like there's a lot to recommend Girder, and since I tend to get bored and try to make more problems for myself on a regular basis, I'll certainly be trying it again at some point.

 

[arnesr]

I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of my remotes. I'm hoping that I can program the IR receiver to work with another programable remote instead of the one supplied. Has anyone tried or had any success with this. I'm thinking it might be better to use a remote with AA or AAA batteries rather than the button batteries of the provided remote. Also, I'm wondering if the range of use might be improved as well by doing so?

 

[spreee02]

Thanks Dran for all your help.

I got it to work now. I had to change the "Number of samples in learn" from the default value of 5 down to 1. IRAssistant is pretty good. I guess I will play with Girder as well now.

 

[tallest1]

Originally posted by: arnesr
I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of my remotes. I'm hoping that I can program the IR receiver to work with another programable remote instead of the one supplied. Has anyone tried or had any success with this. I'm thinking it might be better to use a remote with AA or AAA batteries rather than the button batteries of the provided remote. Also, I'm wondering if the range of use might be improved as well by doing so?

I have 2 other remotes here and the receiver didn't pick it up. I gotta try out my car Sony Explod remote 'cause they do look really similar.

 

[jau]

Ok I got my remote today... but it won't detect my windows media player.... any1 get it to work or got a solution. Works like a charm with winamp though. Maybe just need to edit the pathway to where the program is? Any1 what it is using to detect the players?

 

[ChefJoe]

I had win media 8 in xp and it didn't work with the win media profile but did with the win media 7 profile. just something to try.

 

[Flatbroke]

Good info guys, I think that this is what Anandtech community is all about. Just too bad they close the thread when it hits around 400 replies.

 

[Snuffaluffaguss]

I maybe dumb, but how do you put the battery in? Thanks in advance