How do you control your HTPC?

[sfryman]

I'm planning an HTPC build. I was thinking of Vista for the OS, but I'm open to alternatives. Any suggestions on the best HTPC remote control method?


Some of the options I've found so far:

Antec Black Aluminum / Steel Fusion Remote Black Micro ATX Media Center / HTPC Case - $160
This case has a built-in IR receiver, but it's a little big for my taste. I was planning to buy a smaller case, and I don't know of any w/ built-in IR receiver.

Antec Mult-Station Elite Internal IR receiver w/ VFD and remote - $85
Fits into an external 5.25" drive bay. Awfully pricey. This is more than some of the HTPC cases I've been looking at.

Antec Mult-Station Basic Internal IR receiver and remote - $37
IR receiver mounts in external 3.5" drive bay. Better price, and it claims to be able to power on the PC via remote.

Anyware GP-IR02BK Vista 2 channel IR Remote Control - $27
USB with some sort of external dongle? Even lower price, but haven't heard of the manufacturer. Won't use up a precious drive bay, but I'd rather have something that's integrated into the case. I could mod the case I guess. Maybe this is all I need? I just want to be able to control media center from the Harmony...

I have a Logitech Harmony One universal remote I was planning to use to control the HTPC, at least for media center. I'm assuming that I will be able to program the Harmony to work w/ any of the above options (I have no intention of using any of the included remotes). What do other people use, and what do they like? I've been looking on newegg primarily, but maybe you guys can point me to a better source?


Thanks

 

[The Boston Dangler]

Text

all of these use the imon system. there is very good compatibity with the harmony remotes.

edit:
are you planning on using a full-height card in the machine? if so, the antec you picked looks like a good one. the smaller you get, the bigger the price 🙁

 

[Dirigible]

I have no idea what's best.

But I have an Anyware remote (the single channel one, even cheaper) with external USB dongle and it works fine. http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16880121003

Oh, it worked with Vista Media Center out of the box. Doesn't seem to work with Windows 7 Media Center for some reason. That's fine with me since I use Event Ghost to make it control XBMC, but it may be a concern for you.

 

[krotchy]

I have a Silverstone LC-16M which came with a VFD in the front and works with the IMON remote. I use a Harmony One to control it most of the time, though it is definitely not without some bugs, since Imon doesnt use standard IR practices (Single button presses repeating is the most common problem with a harmony and Imon). Still I can start my computer, open XBMC and select all my music/movies from my One.

When I want to watch Hulu or need to work with the computer like moving files and whatnot I use a Logitech G7 and a Logitech Wireless keyboard I cant remember the model # off. I am pretty certain at some point I will switch to a Dinovo Mini though.

 

[Slick5150]

Something I've always meant to look into, but never really bothered.. What's teh scoop on being able to turn a PC on with a remote control? Is that doable?

 

[kalrith]

I bought this media-center-remote kit for $20 to use with my Harmony remote. I haven't gotten around to setting it up yet, but I'm confident that it will work well.

 

[kalrith]

Originally posted by: Slick5150
Something I've always meant to look into, but never really bothered.. What's teh scoop on being able to turn a PC on with a remote control? Is that doable?

I think you might be able to take it out of standby with a remote, but you can't turn it on if it's completely off.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

Originally posted by: Slick5150
Something I've always meant to look into, but never really bothered.. What's teh scoop on being able to turn a PC on with a remote control? Is that doable?

the internal imon plugs in between the power switch and mb header. the switch still works, but i've never been able to turn it on with the remote.

 

[sfryman]

Originally posted by: Slick5150
Something I've always meant to look into, but never really bothered.. What's teh scoop on being able to turn a PC on with a remote control? Is that doable?

Both of the Antec bay-installed IR receivers are supposed to be able to power the PC on/off. Antec has range of IR receivers actually, as well as HTPC cases w/ IR receivers built-in.

http://www.antec.com/Believe_it/product.php?id=NzEz

I'm looking into one of these now, maybe the Micro case isn't too bad. A lot of the HTPC cases out there are really huge.

 

[Modelworks]

Read up on lirc. If you can figure out a way to run a small linux distro, even in a vm and pass the info it is really the best way to go. You can then use any remote you like.
http://www.lirc.org/

I use winlirc but it does not support USB sensors only serial port ones. Still you can make a serial port receiver out of parts from an old vcr. Takes about 20 minutes to assemble. It then runs as a server in the background that can send events from any remote to applications.
http://winlirc.sourceforge.net/


The problem I have with the ones like from antec is you have to use their software.


How to build a receiver and use it with lirc and winlirc.
http://lnx.manoweb.com/lirc/?p...&partName=introduction

 

[Slick5150]

Originally posted by: sfryman

Originally posted by: Slick5150
Something I've always meant to look into, but never really bothered.. What's teh scoop on being able to turn a PC on with a remote control? Is that doable?

Both of the Antec bay-installed IR receivers are supposed to be able to power the PC on/off. Antec has range of IR receivers actually, as well as HTPC cases w/ IR receivers built-in.

http://www.antec.com/Believe_it/product.php?id=NzEz

I'm looking into one of these now, maybe the Micro case isn't too bad. A lot of the HTPC cases out there are really huge.

Yeah, that's always what irks me is that HTPC cases tend to be massive, or ridiculously expensive (I'm really not interested in paying $300 just for the case).

 

[XMan]

Originally posted by: kalrith

Originally posted by: Slick5150
Something I've always meant to look into, but never really bothered.. What's teh scoop on being able to turn a PC on with a remote control? Is that doable?

I think you might be able to take it out of standby with a remote, but you can't turn it on if it's completely off.

The cases that have built in receivers usually have a splice connector for the ATX plug, so you can turn them on and off that way.

 

[Modelworks]

Originally posted by: XMan

Originally posted by: kalrith

Originally posted by: Slick5150
Something I've always meant to look into, but never really bothered.. What's teh scoop on being able to turn a PC on with a remote control? Is that doable?

I think you might be able to take it out of standby with a remote, but you can't turn it on if it's completely off.

The cases that have built in receivers usually have a splice connector for the ATX plug, so you can turn them on and off that way.

Another way to do it is to use the Wake on Lan connector on NIC and motherboards.

 

[Slick5150]

Originally posted by: Modelworks

Originally posted by: XMan

Originally posted by: kalrith

Originally posted by: Slick5150
Something I've always meant to look into, but never really bothered.. What's teh scoop on being able to turn a PC on with a remote control? Is that doable?

I think you might be able to take it out of standby with a remote, but you can't turn it on if it's completely off.

The cases that have built in receivers usually have a splice connector for the ATX plug, so you can turn them on and off that way.

Another way to do it is to use the Wake on Lan connector on NIC and motherboards.

How would you be able to do that with a remote control?

 

[Modelworks]

Originally posted by: Slick5150

Originally posted by: Modelworks

Originally posted by: XMan

Originally posted by: kalrith

Originally posted by: Slick5150
Something I've always meant to look into, but never really bothered.. What's teh scoop on being able to turn a PC on with a remote control? Is that doable?

I think you might be able to take it out of standby with a remote, but you can't turn it on if it's completely off.

The cases that have built in receivers usually have a splice connector for the ATX plug, so you can turn them on and off that way.

Another way to do it is to use the Wake on Lan connector on NIC and motherboards.

How would you be able to do that with a remote control?

If you really wanted to do it just using the network you could have the IR sensor or an rf sensor on a pc that would send the wake up packet over the network.

What I was referring to though is using the WOL connector to power on the pc. You cross pins 1 and 3 with a 4.7K resistor and the pc will start. Sort of like using the power button connection on the front of the pc. Just another point that can be used.

 

[XMan]

Originally posted by: Modelworks

Originally posted by: Slick5150

Originally posted by: Modelworks

Originally posted by: XMan

Originally posted by: kalrith

Originally posted by: Slick5150
Something I've always meant to look into, but never really bothered.. What's teh scoop on being able to turn a PC on with a remote control? Is that doable?

I think you might be able to take it out of standby with a remote, but you can't turn it on if it's completely off.

The cases that have built in receivers usually have a splice connector for the ATX plug, so you can turn them on and off that way.

Another way to do it is to use the Wake on Lan connector on NIC and motherboards.

How would you be able to do that with a remote control?

If you really wanted to do it just using the network you could have the IR sensor or an rf sensor on a pc that would send the wake up packet over the network.

What I was referring to though is using the WOL connector to power on the pc. You cross pins 1 and 3 with a 4.7K resistor and the pc will start. Sort of like using the power button connection on the front of the pc. Just another point that can be used.

That's a little inconvenient, don't you think? 😉

I leave my HTPC on all the time. If I want to put it into S3 I can wake it with the remote. Have to enable wake on USB in BIOS.

So if you want it hard off, buy the proper case. If you want it in standby, use wake on USB.