- Feb 22, 2007
- 16,240
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A friend wanted to know how I was controlling my pc with the cable companies remote control so I wrote him a quick tutorial , figured others might be interested too.
You can use almost any IR remote. My remote is a universal remote so I set it to DVD mode and programmed it to use a code that made all the buttons work, a pioneer dvd . It really doesn't matter what device you use as long as the remote sends out a signal.
That is what I liked most about this , is that I can use remotes I already have to control the pc, without being stuck with a specialty remote or stuck with having to use software and drivers written for just one remote.
The first thing you need is a reciever that supports lirc.
There are plenty of them out there. I made my own by taking parts from a old vcr.
The main site has a list of devices as well as schematics on how to make your own. They are really easy to make.
http://www.lirc.org/index.html
If you are on windows like I use mine, then you need to download winlirc.
http://winlirc.sourceforge.net/
The program does not use a installer so just stick it in a folder where you can find it.
Plug in your receiver to the serial port and run winlirc.exe .
When the configuration window appears set it for the correct com port and select DCD device, enter a name for saving the config file and then click raw codes.
If your reciever is working then when you press a button on a remote control pointed at the receiver you should see a bunch of data scroll up.
Next click Learn
Enter a name for the remote, anything you want
press enter for Desired margin of error
press enter for Gap and Length
Follow the prompts instructions.
Then you can start naming your buttons.
Enter the first button name - This is the name that winlirc will send to all other programs , so if you name it Left, then other programs will get a text string that says Left.
The next time you run winlirc.exe it will just go to the taskbar as an icon. It will light up green when it recognizes a key on a remote.
Now to make use of winlirc in other programs.
The easiest media player to use it with is The KMPlayer.
Http://www.kmplayer.com
Once installed , go to options, prefernces, General, Keys/Global Control . Check the box WinLirc.
Click new for preset and give it a name.
Now click anything on the list above and then press a remote control button, it should appear in the RemoteCMD area.
Repeat for all the buttons.
Winlirc can be used to control just about anything on the pc by using another program http://www.autohotkey.com
Download it, then download this script:
http://www.autohotkey.com/docs/scripts/WinLIRC.ahk
After you install autohotkey, then double click the script file you downloaded.
Then right click the icon in the taskbar and pick edit script.
Scroll down to where it says :
Basically replace the labels like VolUp: with whatever you told winlirc your button names were, like VolumeUP or Left or whatever.
Autohotkey can perform just about any task a person can and then some so you can use the remote to do anything you like on the pc.
Have fun !
You can use almost any IR remote. My remote is a universal remote so I set it to DVD mode and programmed it to use a code that made all the buttons work, a pioneer dvd . It really doesn't matter what device you use as long as the remote sends out a signal.
That is what I liked most about this , is that I can use remotes I already have to control the pc, without being stuck with a specialty remote or stuck with having to use software and drivers written for just one remote.
The first thing you need is a reciever that supports lirc.
There are plenty of them out there. I made my own by taking parts from a old vcr.
The main site has a list of devices as well as schematics on how to make your own. They are really easy to make.
http://www.lirc.org/index.html
If you are on windows like I use mine, then you need to download winlirc.
http://winlirc.sourceforge.net/
The program does not use a installer so just stick it in a folder where you can find it.
Plug in your receiver to the serial port and run winlirc.exe .
When the configuration window appears set it for the correct com port and select DCD device, enter a name for saving the config file and then click raw codes.
If your reciever is working then when you press a button on a remote control pointed at the receiver you should see a bunch of data scroll up.
Next click Learn
Enter a name for the remote, anything you want
press enter for Desired margin of error
press enter for Gap and Length
Follow the prompts instructions.
Then you can start naming your buttons.
Enter the first button name - This is the name that winlirc will send to all other programs , so if you name it Left, then other programs will get a text string that says Left.
The next time you run winlirc.exe it will just go to the taskbar as an icon. It will light up green when it recognizes a key on a remote.
Now to make use of winlirc in other programs.
The easiest media player to use it with is The KMPlayer.
Http://www.kmplayer.com
Once installed , go to options, prefernces, General, Keys/Global Control . Check the box WinLirc.
Click new for preset and give it a name.
Now click anything on the list above and then press a remote control button, it should appear in the RemoteCMD area.
Repeat for all the buttons.
Winlirc can be used to control just about anything on the pc by using another program http://www.autohotkey.com
Download it, then download this script:
http://www.autohotkey.com/docs/scripts/WinLIRC.ahk
After you install autohotkey, then double click the script file you downloaded.
Then right click the icon in the taskbar and pick edit script.
Scroll down to where it says :
Basically replace the labels like VolUp: with whatever you told winlirc your button names were, like VolumeUP or Left or whatever.
Autohotkey can perform just about any task a person can and then some so you can use the remote to do anything you like on the pc.
Have fun !
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