is there any way to turn on your computer by remote control?

[Maverick]

I'm building a HTPC and I wondered if there's any way to do this by putting the computer into hibernate and then turning it on from the couch.

 

[SerraYX]

Throw something at the mouse ?

If you went crazy with the wiring yourself, it could probably be done.

 

[ObiDon]

I did it with a cordless Logitech keyboard/mouse combo and a motherboard that supported keyboard power-on.

 

[alm99]

this came to mind, don't know if you could turn the pc on, but you can control some multimedia stuff with it


EDIT: Obidon suggestion is pretty good, I forgot about the wireless keyboard aspect

 

[Maverick]

Originally posted by: ObiDon
I did it with a cordless Logitech keyboard/mouse combo and a motherboard that supported keyboard power-on.

hmmm well I haven't purchased the motherboard for it yet...which one are you using?

 

[ObiDon]

Or, if you're ultra-impatient (or ultra-lazy) you can pick up one of these at Outpost. I've also seen them at Fry's Electronics.

A much better description with pictures can be found at the Pactech website.

 

[ObiDon]

Originally posted by: Shiva112

Originally posted by: ObiDon
I did it with a cordless Logitech keyboard/mouse combo and a motherboard that supported keyboard power-on.

hmmm well I haven't purchased the motherboard for it yet...which one are you using?

I was using an MSI-6182 until it died. It was an old Intel 810 chipset board.

Keyboard power-on is fairly common these days. I know that the ECS K7S5A and the Epox 8KTA3+Pro also support it. I haven't tried the cordless setup with those though it should still work.

I believe your power supply has to put out at least 1 amp on the 5V Standby for the keyboard power-on to work though, so you might want to check yours if you already have it.

Now that I think about it, I still have a spare 6182 somewhere...too bad I already rebuilt that system with a board that doesn't have that nice feature.

 

[Pariah]

Originally posted by: ObiDon
Or, if you're ultra-impatient (or ultra-lazy) you can pick up one of these at Outpost. I've also seen them at Fry's Electronics.

A much better description with pictures can be found at the Pactech website.

I got one of these and it works pretty well if you can get it working in the first place. It can be finicky when initially setting it up.

I like this part of the description from the above link:

"It serves as a friendly user to those who couldn't get the hang
of pushing the POWER/RESET buttons of their PC."

There are some sad sad people out there...

 

[DN]

Originally posted by: Shiva112
I'm building a HTPC and I wondered if there's any way to do this by putting the computer into hibernate and then turning it on from the couch.

While sitting on the couch, throw a heavy object towards the computer, that should do it..

 

[Maverick]

Originally posted by: ObiDon
Or, if you're ultra-impatient (or ultra-lazy) you can pick up one of these at Outpost. I've also seen them at Fry's Electronics.

A much better description with pictures can be found at the Pactech website.

I wonder if a learning remote could pick up this signal..hmmm.

 

[ObiDon]

Originally posted by: Shiva112

Originally posted by: ObiDon
Or, if you're ultra-impatient (or ultra-lazy) you can pick up one of these at Outpost. I've also seen them at Fry's Electronics.

A much better description with pictures can be found at the Pactech website.

I wonder if a learning remote could pick up this signal..hmmm.

Your learning remote does RF signals? :Q

 

[Maverick]

aww damn its RF. I don't have a remote yet but I guess it won't work

 

[lukatmyshu]

SInce you haven't bought anything yet you might want to check out the girder forums. For those who don't know, Girder is basically software that allows you to program your remote control to do anything you want on your PC. THe cool thing is they have a wiring diagram/PCB Boards for an IR receiver that can do exactly what you want to do. I already had a Packard Bell remote control (which I've had for over 8 years now) which has it's own IR receiver so i haven't bothered looking into that but if I remember correctly what the unit does is connect to your WOL. You hard-code an IR sequence into it's memory and whenever it sees that input it turns on your PC (of course you have to have WOL). Nice solution 'cuz you can use any remote control and it'll integrate pretty seamlessly into your HTPC setup. I'm planning on buying one when I finally get my capture device setup properly in my living room computer. Forgot the website for girder is www.girder.nl ....there is a whole section the Universal Transmission Device - http://www.girder.nl/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=7